Vandals strike Merced Kiwanis Kiddieland

Volunteer Ellen Taylor was walking to the Kiwanis Club of Greater Merced Kiddieland park Sunday morning to check on the slushy machines when she saw the vandals’ wake of destruction from afar.

Decorative flower pots that accented the mini-theme park were tossed and broken, benches were tipped over and a trash can was thrown into one of the rides.

“It almost made me cry,” Taylor said. “The park was so beautiful Saturday.”

Kiddieland, which entertains up to 8,000 kids every year, was vandalized sometime after a free Easter egg hunt at the park ended at 5 p.m. Saturday, Kiwanis President Jim Jordan said.

The club has been running Kiddieland for almost 60 years.

“I just don’t understand why,” Jordan said, adding that organizers don’t know who vandalized the park.

The Merced Police Department was investigating the vandalism Monday. No arrests have been made, Lt. Chris Goodwin said.

Some of the flowers that were destroyed were 5- and 6-year-old geraniums, Taylor said.

“Most of these, I planted myself,” she said. “It really hit me hard.”

In addition to damage to the flowers and benches, the vandals also cracked the window of the concession stand, Jordan said.

The damage could run up to several hundred dollars. But Jordan said the money is a secondary concern compared to the time needed to clean the park up for opening on Saturday.

“We were lucky they don’t seem to have damaged the rides,” Jordan said.

Kiwanis is a global service organization whose volunteers help local communities.

In addition to the free Easter egg hunt every year at Kiddieland, the Kiwanis Club of Greater Merced helps support community projects and partners with student Key clubs at the three area comprehensive high schools.

While the vandalism was “disturbing” and “insulting” to Jordan and others who spend hours at the park, Jordan had an unlikely message for the vandals.

“To whoever vandalized the park, they need to come see us and join us,” Jordan said. “Destruction is easy. But serving the community is a lot more difficult and fun.”

Anyone with information on the vandalism is encouraged to call police dispatch at 209-385-6912 or the tip line at 209-385-4725.

This story was originally published March 28, 2016 at 5:25 PM with the headline "Vandals strike Merced Kiwanis Kiddieland."