Westport park vandalized

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September 4, 2008

By ALVIN REINER The Press Republican Thu Sep 04, 2008, 12:01 AM EDT

WESTPORT -- The intent of a community park is to provide a positive recreational experience, but apparently several individuals had their own idea of amusement.

According to Westport Town Supervisor Daniel Connell, vandals attacked Lee Park sometime Tuesday night.

Town workers had been at the facility earlier Tuesday and had not noticed any problems. But the vandalism was evident Wednesday.

A park bench was found in Lake Champlain in several feet of water, thrown off the boat dock.

"We had not chained the bench so parents could move it under the shade, but that will have to change," Connell said.

This past year, Westport High School senior Johnny Mahr worked innumerable hours for his Eagle Scout project fixing up the park and painting over several years' worth of graffiti.

The town recently had signs made to warn pedestrians that the footbridge at the entrance to the nature trail could become slippery when wet. One sign was removed Tuesday night, and the other had the warning obliterated by spray paint.

Perhaps the most damaging act was the graffiti covering a 100-foot-long and at least 9-foot-high section of a cement retaining wall.

The vandals "had to be here for awhile, and there had to be several of them," Connell said.

The amount of graffiti, mostly in red and black, likely required several cans of paint.

"When the community goes through the expense of putting in a playground, we want them to enjoy it," the supervisor said.

The vandals also plugged up a toilet.

Vandals also placed about 20 sand bags on the road surface at the park's entrance. The bags are used during the spring to protect the playground and park building from high lake water and then stockpiled for future use.

"Why anyone would spend time carrying these sandbags (about 150 feet) is beyond me," Connell said.

He indicated that one of the punishments for the perpetrators could be putting the bags in place next spring.

Anyone with information is asked to call State Police at 873-2111.