Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - While Buffalo Police investigates recent incidents of vandalism at Martin Luther King, Jr. Park, cleanup efforts are underway for the City of Buffalo's Department of Public Works.
"The vandalism at Martin Luther King Park was pretty extensive. Very disappointing, extremely disappointing to me, disappointing to the entire community," said Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown of the damage at the park. "Over the years, the city has invested millions of dollars in Martin Luther King Park, making it a place that people enjoy in the Masten District, East Buffalo. People come to Martin Luther King Park, though, from all across the City of Buffalo.
"It is really sad that someone would do this kind of damage to such a well-loved park and facility in our community, and have an impact on the ability for members of our community to be able to enjoy it and use it."
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Buffalo Police and officials with the Department of Public Works say the majority of damage occurred at the MLK Park Casino, which has been under construction. Vandalism to the casino includes damages to the kitchen area, significant damages to walls, broken doors, windows and light fixtures, and exterior signage was also torn off the building.
As the Department of Public Works attempts to make the necessary repairs to the casino, Commissioner Nate Marton says the summer at MLK Jr. Park is not a lost one.
"We were close to finishing the project that we were working on and getting ready to have that be able to be open and turn over the casino itself. This damage sets us back some," said Marton on Thursday. "As the mayor said, it's unfortunate and kind of sad news that this vandalism occurred. Extensive damage to interior walls and furniture fixtures, thermostats ripped off the wall, it activated the fire alarm system, the ANSUL system. A lot of things that we've got to go back, restore, rebuild, take out, replace. It's not lost, but certainly we're going to move as fast as we can to get that completed and get it open."
Police are also investigating an incident of vandalism where a large amount of industrial glue was poured near the basin of the MLK Splash Pad. Marton says removing that glue will require outside help.
"It's not anything that we would do ourselves. It is a heavy industrial glue, so it's got a really tough bond to it," he said. "We've got some other folks coming in to help us clean that. It's not anything that we can do. Our contractors can do the basic repairs, but that kind of thing is a special adhesive."
Department of Public Works officials say the splash pad will be closed until the clean up work is finished. With the summer months providing hotter days for the community, Marton says they will work to get that glue removed and the park re-opened as soon as realistically possible.
As for the damages done to the MLK Casino, Marton says there is no timeline, at this point, as to when cleanup efforts will be wrapped up.
"Depending on some of the lead items, there's some time to fix some replacement items," he said. "Wall repair is a quicker element, a thermostat replacement can be quicker, some of them might be a little bit more extensive. I don't have a definitive timeline, but we're working on it actively."
Marton adds the total damage that was done is in the $50,000 range, but that could increase as they get estimates for repairs.
While the DPW continues to clean up the damage, Marton says they continue to work closely with Buffalo Police to try and identify and prosecute whoever vandalized the not just the casino, but also the splash pad.
"We've got cameras in-and-around the facility that are all part of our review of everything. Right now, we're focused on making sure the building is secure once again," Marton said. "We've boarded up the windows just to protect everything, broken windows and the like. We're gonna get in there, renovate it, re-renovate it as fast as we can, and get it open hopefully soon."
The City has invested over $2 million over three phases for the reconstruction project of the MLK Casino. There has also been an additional $8 million in capital improvements to the park, including the splash pad, playgrounds, park shelters, pathways, sports courts, security and other improvements.
While the vandalism to the park is discouraging for both Marton and Mayor Brown, it has also extended to one local leader at the State Assembly level, who has already offered a lending hand to the mayor.
"I got a call from New York State Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes this morning also expressing her great disappointment in the vandalism at Martin Luther King Park, and letting me know she would be working at the state level to help provide resources, funding to the city to repair the significant damage that has been done to Martin Luther King Park," Mayor Brown said. "So very disappointed, but very thankful to hear from our Assembly Majority Leader, expressing her concern and her desire to help provide resources to help the city correct the damage."
Anyone with additional information into the vandalism at MLK Jr. Park is asked to call or text the Confidential TIPCALL Line at (716)-847-2255.