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When the plastic playground at Los Duranes Park was reduced to a charred and tangled wreckage June 24, William Herring was crushed.

But when he found out the arson suspects were children from his neighborhood, he was even more upset.

"I'm shocked that they were local kids who should be playing with it instead of burning it down," Herring, president of the area's neighborhood association, said.

City officials said on July 12 they had identified two suspects, both juveniles from Los Duranes neighborhood. They would not release details but said the District Attorney's Office is expected to charge the suspects Monday.

One suspect wrote a confession, detailing why the two burned the playground and how they did it, Albuquerque Fire Chief Robert Ortega said.

On July 12, it was hard to tell a play area was almost burned to the ground.

City crews removed debris the day after it was destroyed, and a new playground is almost ready for use.

But the damage can be seen in money that never needed to be spent.

"What does vandalism do?" Bruce Perlman, the city's chief administrative officer, said at a news conference. "It takes a $315,000 project and turns it into a half a million dollar project."

The new equipment cost about $75,000, which was covered by the city's insurance policy. Albuquerque contracting company Hanson and Prezanno donated their services in installing it.

Authorities say police were able to find suspects by going door to door and reviewing camera footage from the nearby community center.

The juveniles face charges of arson, but other charges may apply, authorities say.

Herring said there will now be more police officers patrolling the area.

"The fact that it was kids makes us think it won't happen again," he said.