MOORESVILLE, Ind. — Mooresville police and park district staff are asking for the community’s help in identifying who’s responsible for causing thousands of dollars worth of damage to the entrance sign at Pioneer Park.
Although only a few letters are missing from the sign, the park district claims it could cost more than $11,000 to repair. The sign likely won’t be done in time for the Fourth of July, when up to 6,000 people are expected to celebrate the holiday there.
“It was hard to hear that they decided to deface the front entrance of our main park,” Mooresville Parks & Recreation Superintendent and Director Philip Cornelius said.
Cornelius says the expensive lettering and electronic sign were just installed in February.
“These are custom-made, and they’re thicker poly-metal to actually deter from it being vandalized as we see today,” Cornelius said. “Looks like we’re going to have to go a little more heavy duty this next installment.”
Pioneer Park has been vandalized in the past. The extent of the damage, however, was usually limited to words scribbled on benches. But recently, the park has been subjected to serious property damage.
“In the front of our park, the men’s restroom has been vandalized six times over the last two and a half weeks,” Cornelius said.
Cornelius added that vandals have repeatedly ripped the doors off of bathroom stalls, and the cost to repair them is getting close to another couple thousand dollars.
“I would hope that a grown adult would not be doing things like this,” Mooresville Police Chief Kerry Buckner said. “So, I’m assuming that they are juveniles. I’ve been surprised before though.”
Buckner says they’ll be canvassing the area and checking nearby security cameras in hopes of putting a stop to the destruction.
“A town our size with limited budget, we try to do the best we can do,” Buckner said. “That park is for the people that live in and around Mooresville to come and enjoy. For somebody just to tear it up for no reason, to me it’s disgusting.”
“To the individuals that are doing this, we would love for you to come to the park,” Cornelius added. “Just enjoy the park. Make sure you leave it as it was when you came.”
Police urge those with information on the vandalism to call MMPD at (317) 831-3434 or Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at (317) 262-8477.
