Vandals target Wicker Park…again

After two nights of meetings about security issues in Wicker Park, vandals struck again. Between midnight and 5 a.m. Fri., Aug. 16, following a sweep by the Chicago Police Department, Flowers were torn from an urn and the fountain marked with graffiti. 

Contents of one of the urns around the fountain along with parts of another urn were tossed into the fountain and graffiti was scrawled on the concrete base of the fountain. 

Doug Wood and Denise Browning were greeted by this sight as they arrived for their normal early morning watering tasks before going to their day jobs. 

After documenting the destruction, they retrieved the plants that were retrievable and replanted the urn. Friday afternoon the Chicago Park District had to drain the fountain so the dirt can be removed, preventing drainage problems and graffiti can be removed. Saturday, the graffiti is scheduled to be removed. Thus the fountain may not be operational until Monday. 

This act has once again cost the Chicago Park District, the Wicker Park Advisory Council, the Wicker Park Garden Club and volunteers time and money. For those who enjoy taking time to sit or walk by the fountain, they do not have the enjoyment of relaxation they derive from seeing and hearing the water. 

The question is why perform these disrespectful acts that effect so many people?