Search continues for Central Park tree vandals

Huntington Beach police continue to investigate vandalism to 34 recently planted pine trees in Central Park but have so far found no leads, authorities said Wednesday.

Walkers in Central Park in front of the Shipley Nature Center discovered March 8 that someone had snapped young pine trees in half throughout the area the night before.

Some of the destroyed saplings were memorial trees planted in honor of donors’ loved ones, said Jean Nagy, director of the Huntington Beach Tree Society. Others were part of an Eagle Scouts project.

“The whole thing is so sad,” Nagy said. “They were growing so well.”

The cost to replace the ruined trees is estimated at $40,000, city spokeswoman Laurie Payne said.

Broken-off tops and branches were left on the ground next to each ruined tree, with broken pines stretching south to Lake Huntington.

The destruction shocked frequent visitors to the park.

“We’re talking a long stretch, and then another long stretch in another direction,” Nagy said. “Somebody had to plan this.”

Huntington Beach resident Ken Baumgardener walks in the park most weekends, and he appreciated the trees when they went in. Now he’s outraged.

“When I first saw them, I thought, ‘Isn’t it nice that they’re planting some new trees?’” he said. “It must be heartbreaking for people who paid to have them planted. Somebody’s got to catch the bad guys.”

The trees will never recover, said Councilwoman Jill Hardy, who visited the park over the weekend.

“It’s really unfortunate,” she said. “Those trees have to be removed and replaced. When you take the tops off like that, it won’t ever grow normally again.”

Huntington Beach police responded to a vandalism call at 7:12 a.m. March 8, Sgt. Terry Lindsey said.

It was not the only recent act of vandalism in that portion of the park. The 8-foot-by-6-foot plywood sign marking the controversial future senior center at Goldenwest Street and Talbert Avenue was scratched and dented before it disappeared and showed up in the lake on Feb. 25. It was since rebuilt. A reward of $3,000 is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the vandal or vandals involved in that incident, but no suspects have yet been found.

Donations to help replace the trees can be sent to the Huntington Beach Tree Society, 15272 Bolsa Chica Road, Huntington Beach, CA 92649.