MORRISBURG – “It’s just discouraging,” Morrisburg Waterfront Committee Chair Michael Burton told The Leader. “People go through the effort to improve the community, and this happens.”
Over the Thanksgiving long weekend, several trees were damaged or destroyed at the park.
Burton explained that some of the trees were ones planted just a few years ago by the 1st South Dundas Spark/Brownie/Guide group.
“There’s been a lot of work put in to improve the park for everyone,” he said. “Again, a few people try to ruin things for others.”
This is the second time there has been vandalism at the park in as many years. Previously a mural painted on the washroom building at the Morrisburg Beach was spray painted over with obscenities.
Burton said that since the damage was first seen, donations have already come in to replant the trees that had to be removed, and add new ones. He said that South Dundas Parks crews addressed the damage to larger trees already as well.
He pointed to the lack of youth activities and opportunities in the community as to why this kind of damage occurs.
“We have a great park, and we have the area for younger kids with the splash pad and playground. Those are great. But what about for older kids,” he asked.
Determined to do something about it, Burton is exploring forming a group in the next few weeks to spearhead not only ideas to improve opportunities for older youth in the community, but also find the funding to put words into action.
Burton is looking at connecting with existing service organizations, the South Dundas Youth Advisory Committee, local schools, and the waterfront committee to get more improvements to the park for all ages.
“We have to be able to provide something for those kids to do,” he said. “I hope others will join to help make this happen in the community.”