The graffiti, bearing messages such as “Junkie,” “RIP Madden,” “KIA Boyz,” and “LLM,” has defaced the recently restored Bombardier Park artwork.
Bombardier Park, a beloved recreational spot in Milton, was the target of an act of vandalism on Dec. 20.
Numerous recently repainted murals on the baseball field dugouts, frequently used by Milton Little League, have been defaced with spray paint and permanent marker.
The graffiti, bearing messages such as “junkie,” “RIP Madden,” “KIA Boyz,” and “LLM,” has covered the meticulously restored artwork.
Jenna Tucker-Eugair, director of the Milton Recreation Department, highlighted the affected areas that extend beyond the murals to include one dugout interior, the fieldhouse and specific playground equipment.
A police report has been filed and a collaborative investigation with the Milton Police Department is underway. Bombardier Park security camera footage is being reviewed.
The Milton buildings and grounds maintenance staff has commenced the removal of some graffiti, but complete eradication awaits warmer weather conditions.
“We are disappointed to see our beloved park amenities vandalized like this, but we are most disappointed to have the murals, which were just repainted this summer by Mural Mom, defaced in a way that will not be easy to repair,” Tucker-Eugair said. “We will be working closely with the muralist to restore the murals to the original design as much as possible.”
The offensive nature of the graffiti adds a layer of complexity to restoration efforts, prompting coordinated endeavors with the muralist to revert the artwork as closely as possible to its original design.
Ben Nappi, assistant Recreation Director, said over 50 hours were invested in repainting the murals last summer, excluding the time spent on material sourcing and coordination.
“The mural project itself was a little over $4,000 in funds to complete,” Nappi said.
The Milton Walking Club, a group daily of Bombardier Park walkers, first discovered the vandalism during an afternoon walk.
“I am very upset over this vandalism,” Milton Walking Club organizer Dan Dougherty said. “This is senseless. The culprit(s) may never be found, but I can only hope that this type of activity will cease.”
Acknowledging the community’s pride in Bombardier Park, Tucker-Eugair expressed gratitude for the prompt reporting of vandalism and offers of assistance.
A community clean-up day in April will be announced once the weather warms up. Interested volunteers are encouraged to contact Milton Recreation.
Information related to the vandalism is requested to be reported to either the Recreation Department or the Milton Police Department.