'So upset': Property damage at Kings Castle Provincial Park under investigation

Kings District RCMP are investigating damage to property at Kings Castle Provincial Park in Gladstone, P.E.I., according to a news release.

Police say several large concrete animal figurines were damaged at the park between8:30 p.m. Wednesday and 11 a.m. Thursday.

"The concrete animal statues were fixtures of the park and have been enjoyed by kids and families for almost 50 years," police said in the release.

Police say there was also damage to other property at the park.

"All I think about is the little ones coming in and they get really upset," saidDarlene Cuddy,park officer for Kings Castle.

Cuddy has been an officer at the park for more than 20 years. She said she was heartbroken to see damage done to the rabbit, one of the pigs and a mother bear statue.

"When someone does anything to the park to this extent, I feel like it's directed at my heart," Cuddy said.

Cuddy said the plan is to temporarily wrap the broken statues in gauze and bandages until they can be properly repaired.

'We're going to fix this'

It's not the first time the park has been vandalized. Cuddy said a similar incidenthappeneda few years ago.

The hope is to have the statues fixed by next week. In the meantime, Cuddy said she's received overwhelming support from the community.

"This might have been a negative thing that happened to this park but it's taken a community to come together as a family and we're going to fix this and the kids don't have to worry. We'll make sure that it looks great."

RCMP are requesting anyone who may have information about the incidentcontact the Montaguedetachment.

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