Vandals who did an estimated $10,000 worth of damage to the Winter Wonderland of Lights in Ashland’s Central Park succeeded in enraging thousands of area residents who consider the beautiful lights a beloved part of this community’s Christmas celebration and one of the few local attractions that annually draws thousands of visitors to Ashland just to see the lights.
And what did the vandals gain from their destructive romp through the park either late Friday night or early Saturday morning? Who knows?
It is hard to imagine what pleasure anyone could get from damaging displays that have brought so much joy to so many for many years. Certainly, they had nothing to gain personally by damaging the beautiful displays that have been purchased through donations from scores of area businesses, industries and individuals as a gift to the community.
We’ve never understood the crime of vandalism. We can’t imagine what motivates anyone to damage the property of others — either by breaking windows, painting graffiti on the sides of buildings or, in some cases, breaking into schools and businesses and destroying computers and other electronic equipment.
Marion Russell, chairman of Winter Wonderland of Lights, said the vandals likely went through the park from Central Avenue, where they damaged old man winter, the elf display and the train display, and then moved on to the middle of the park where they sliced up the castle display.
The vandals obviously took their time, Russell said. “From what they did to the castle, they were here for quite a while,” he said, adding the vandals also unscrewed the large spotlights to the display before smashing them.
This is not the first time vandals have struck the Winter Wonderland of Lights, but it is by far the most destructive ever, Russell said.
“Before it was bulbs and they turned a couple of things over. Now it’s escalated to four displays. It’s the first hard destructive damage,” Russell said.
Ashland Police Maj. Todd Kelley said the department had already stepped up patrols in the area and was discussing what else could be done to thwart any future attacks. He said the department would investigate the acts and those responsible would be prosecuted to the fullest extent, if caught.
The odds of identifying, arresting and convicting those responsible for the senseless vandalism are rather long, and frankly, if the culprits are identified, we would not want to be in their shoes. They already have earned the scorn of the people of this community who look forward to seeing the lights in the park each year. We can think of no more fitting punishment than to have them don jail garb and be assigned to repair the damage they have done.
Of course, that’s not likely to happen, but we can always hope can’t we?
As Russell said, businesses and individuals that donate thousands of dollars each year to make the Winter Wonderland of Lights possible, and city employees spend many hours putting up the displays do. “It is downright discouraging for those of us who are volunteers,” Russell said. “It breaks your heart really that someone is wanting to hurt the community that much.”
“This is just utterly ridiculous what they’ve done down here,” said Ashland resident Dewayne Farley of the damage. “The people of this town put this stuff up for people to enjoy. ... It’s a big letdown for the people. They bring children down to enjoy what lights are left and have to explain to their children that there are people that don’t care and want to ruin Christmas for people.”
Despite the efforts of the vandals, the lights continue to shine and be a bright spot in this community. It will take more than the deeds of a handful of mean-spirited grinches to rob this city of the Christmas spirit.
