BROOKPORT, Ill. - The chirping birds - the beautiful weather and even the playground is what brings people to the park. But on Saturday, at least two people came to the Brookport Park for a different reason.
"I was just devastated at this action," said Brookport Mayor Judy Askew.
When she saw the damage firsthand she knew it wasn't just an act of vandalism. "They were mad. Obviously it's not just to tear up something in the park, they've got a gripe about something," Askew said.
The city recently bought the benches so more people could sit and enjoy the park, but Askew says it's acts like this that keep people away. "This is not the kind of community that this happens in and it seems like it's getting worse and worse and worse," she said.
Last year, vandals targeted the bathrooms which prompted the city to install these cameras. Brookport Police Chief John Barr said the cameras caught what happened and he's close to an arrest.
"Hopefully it'll all come together in fruition and they'll answer for it," Chief Barr said.
Mayor Askew is even offering $100 of her own money to help catch the culprits.
"I'm doing it as a person. It doesn't matter about mayor. I'm doing it as a person because I am so fed up," Askew said.
.jpg)
Most Popular