Ongoing vandalism at Veterans Park raises concern

A bare slab of concrete marks the spot where the bench formerly stood. (Harrison Thorp photo)

MILTON - When Milton celebrates the service of its Armed Forces veterans tomorrow, visitors to Veterans Park will notice a bare slab of concrete just south of the memorial on the Dawson Street side.

That’s because vandals struck the park last month for the second time this fall, destroying a memorial bench that would cost about $700 to replace.

Paul Carlson, a former Sergeant in the Army Air Force, takes care of the park about three times a week to keep it tidy and said he’d never seen this much vandalism in the nine years he’s been the park caretaker.

“They broke one bench that the Milton Public Works was able to fix, but the other was broken in too many places,” Carlson said on Saturday.

The vandals also broke a large flower urn, which was also damaged beyond repair, he said.

The bench destroyed was one of four donated to the Veterans Park a few years ago.

He said he contacted police, but has heard nothing back.

Carlson, who lives in Milton Mills and is a member of Milton VFW Memorial Post 8393, said there are currently no plans to replace the bench.