Vandals hit park's Christmas display

KENDALLVILLE, Ind. (WANE) - Vandals struck the Kendallville Park and Recreation Department's Community Christmas Greetings display this past weekend causing lots of damage, and police are still trying to find out who did it.

The park's lights are turned on every night from 6-9 p.m. through Dec. 31.

Saturday night was the first night the park was open with its display. When volunteers turned the lights back on Sunday, they noticed the damage.

"Initially, it was disheartening to think that someone would do this because the event is very well received in the community," said Dawn McGahen, the park recreation director who organizes the event.

McGahen said the vandals pushed the decorated boards over, stole flood lights and extension cords, and cut strands of Christmas lights on the trees and lighted reindeer.

"Obviously, it's hard to understand because most of us in Kendallville are not the type of people to do this," McGahen said.

The Christmas Greetings are all donated by schools, groups, and businesses from the community. Park staff replaced the lights and fixed what they could by Monday.

McGahen said the vandalism is just a little bump in the road that won't ruin the Christmas spirit.

"Kendallville's a very strong knit community, and people really step up when something happens," McGahen said. "We kind of get together and make sure it's fixed and back on track."

Since the incident, police patrols have increased in the park, but the parks department is asking the community to also help keep an eye on the displays.

If you know anything about the vandalism, you are asked to call Kendallville police at (260) 347-0654.