Citizens can help stop vandalism

After several sessions with some specialized solvents, Jean Stombaugh has successfully removed the last traces of black spray paint from the vandalized Looking For Lincoln storyboard in Rogier Park.
With that project behind her, she resumed her daily routine of checking on Lincoln Park in downtown Vandalia, only to find that someone had pulled up several young plants and left them to die in the sweltering heat.
And not long ago, someone apparently found great delight in kicking out the spindles in the Lincoln Park gazebo.
It’s a pattern that Stombaugh – and other retired residents who voluntarily care for our parks – have encountered all too often in recent years. Such senseless acts of vandalism have diminished the beauty of our parks and frustrated those who care for them.
Try as we might, it’s hard to keep our parks looking nice when irresponsible people continue to damage them.
If you see some of that damage taking place, or if you see suspicious activities of any type in the park, call the police. If officers are going to do something about the problems, they need to catch the perpetrators in the act; finding the damage the next day doesn’t do much to identify those responsible.
Stombaugh and her fellow volunteers will continue to care for our beautiful parks. We need to help them by getting involved when we see suspicious activities going on there.
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