Five mini-road signs are still missing while the remainder are badly damaged. PHOTO/SUPPLIED
New signs costly
GIANINA SCHWANECKE
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Masterton’s miniature bike skills park on Dixon St has been hit by vandals for a third time since first opening less than 18 months ago.
Bike park manager and Masterton South Rotary Club member John Bunny said he was disheartened to learn the park had been targeted by vandals again.
“These signs are funded by the community for the community,” he said. “It’s just endlessly frustrating.”
The park has been targeted by vandals twice before – in January and December last year, prompting several of the damaged and missing signs to be replaced
Though two signs had been handed into Masterton Police, five were still missing and many more were badly bent.
Bunny said they would simply have to make do with what was left of the broken and damaged signs, as it cost too much to replace them.
“It’s about $1200 for a new set of signs.”
The club would possibly look at getting a new set at the end of the year to keep the area looking tidy as it was near the north entrance to Masterton, he said.
He had also spoken to the Masterton District Council who would be cutting the lower branches of surrounding trees to make the area more visible.
In the interim, Bunny asked for the community’s support and for them to “keep their eyes open”.
Police have been notified and are reviewing CCTV footage of the area.
Wairarapa Police Response Manager Senior Sergeant Jennifer Hansen said during the early stages of the lockdown there had been reports of people taking down cordon tape around the park and on Wednesday night three nearby bins were set alight.
She said the repeated vandalism of the bike park was mindless and disappointing.
“It’s such a neat place for kids and an awesome resource for the community.”
Members of the public should use the non-emergency 105 number to report any suspicious activity.
