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Halloween vandalism in Brackendale park

Worst vandalism in history of the park, says Brackendale Farmers Institute Park caretaker
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The home of the Brackendale Fall Fair each year, Brackendale Farmers Institute Park, was vandalized on Halloween night.

Volunteers who maintain the Brackendale Farmers Institute Park said that partying got out of hand on Oct. 31 and “Halloween gremlins” trashed the park, including destroying a home for bees.

Glenne Campbell, vice-president of the Brackendale Farmers’ Institute, posted to the Fall Fair social media on Nov. 1, asking neighbours to keep an eye out and call the RCMP if they had information.

“What people don’t understand is that park is in existence because of volunteers. Without volunteers there would be no park there,” she said. “So I thought, well, we need to provide an army of eyes to look out for the park.”

Campbell said the park’s volunteer caretaker showed up the day after Halloween to garbage and destruction in the park.

Fireworks had been let off with casings left behind, pumpkins and rocks were strewn around, garbage was left around and the lawn was ripped up by dirt bike tracks. 

Campbell said the “pollinator hotel” which houses wild bees and is used for teaching by the elementary school had been completely torn apart.

“Someone managed to just trash the thing. Not very community minded. Derek [the park caretaker] said it was the worst vandalism that he has seen in all the years that the park has been there.”

Campbell said for those who did damage the park, she hopes they come back as volunteers and contribute. She said while the mess at the park has now been cleaned up, there are plenty of opportunities to help with the annual Fall Fair.

“Everyone takes ownership of the park to help keep it clean and keep it in existence, so that all the people who enjoy it can continue to enjoy it,” she said.

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