PAGE 4, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16, 1982, WHITBY FREE PRESS whitby wz Voice of the County Town Michael lan Burgeà s, F Published every Wednesda by M.B.M. Publishing and Photography Inc. Phone 668-6111l The Free Press Buildin *- E131 Brock Street North, Pubisher - Managing EditorPO. Box 206, Whitby, y MICHAEL J. KNELL Community Editor MARJORIE A. BURG ESS Advertising Manager g, , '9 ant. Second Class Mail Registration No. 5351 The only Whitby newspaper independently owned and operated by Whitby residents for Whitby residents. Vandalism does, rndeed, hurt us all Last week, the residents of the Town of Whitby were forced to witness two savage attacks on Rotary Centennial Park. On two separate occasions, vandals destroyed over $750 worth of marigolds (thetown's official flower) and four silver maple trees worth $400 each. This park has become a showplace for the Town of Whitby, a place in which we can ail take pride. Any army of experienced gardeners spent the spring months carefully planting the flowers. The trees are the product of several years of care, des- troyed in a fleeting moment of stupidity on the part of a few people. As of press time, no one had been apprehended and charged in these incidents but town officiais have sald that If they are, they will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. In the meantime, the task of re-planting and re- growing the marigolds has been started. Who is responsible for these tragic events? In the broadest possible sense, we ail are. Those of us who live, work and pay taxes in this community have an investment in this community and a stake in its future. It Is up to ail of us to pre- vent such attacks not only now but in the future. Officials have speculated that children are pro- bably the perpetrators of this act, but in a sense we ail took part. It is up to each and every one of us to educate our children, to tell them that those parks belong to them as much as their bicycle or clothes do. Surely, they would not do such things to their own possessions. It is also unreasonable to assume that the Durham Regional Police Force and other govern- ment agencies can provide security to our parks at ail times. They do not have the manpower and financial resources to do so. Therefore, it is up to the citizens to help police these parks. If someone is walking in the park and sees an act of vandalism taking place, he or she should immediately contact the authorities so that the offenders can be apprehended and prose- cuted. We must not take a complacent attitude or refuse to "get involveWd." After ail, we are ail "involVed", it is our tax dollars that are going down the drain. Acts such as these are a blight on our community. If we believe in our community, then we ail have the responsibility to protect it. Many people may take the attitude that the flowers and trees at Rotary Centennial Park should never have been planted in the first place and that the money could have been used for other purposes. Their point is weil taken and it is not a difficult one to agree with. In these tough economic times, perhaps the money should be used in other areas. On the other side of the coin, we must consider the environment of the town. Most of us would agree that the preservation of park land and open spaces in an urban setting Is a vital necessity not only to our children but to ourselves. After ail, concrete and pavement are dulling and unexciting In color and it Is a joy to behold some pockets of nature dotting our grey landscape. 1f we have a community In which we can take pride, then we should put on our best face for not only our visitors but for ourselves. Those of us fortunate enough to own Our own home have the opportunity to do our own planting and gardening and can produce, by our own hand, our small piece of nature. Many of our citizens, including young people and senior citizens, live in apartment buildings and other establishments where they cannot have their own garden. A walk in the park is probably something that they would look forward to. Parks such as Rotary Centennial are showcases for the Town of Whitby and give evidence of our sense of community. When they are vandalized, it is as though our homes have been attacked. Vandalism is a growing problem not only in parks but at schools and other public buildings and facilities as well. It is up to all of us ta help police them and to report such incidents to the authorities. After all, it is our money being used and if we have any sense of community, we should do our utmost to protect our investment. ..A