BUFFALO, N.Y. — Vandals caused significant damage at Martin Luther King, Jr. Park, spurring a Buffalo Police investigation.
Most of the damage can be found at the MLK Park Casino, which has been under construction, according to police and Buffalo Department of Public Works officials.
Damage was also found overnight at the MLK splash pads, " where a large amount of industrial glue was poured near the basin," according to a City of Buffalo spokesperson.
Crews are working to remove the glue, and the splash pads will remain closed until that task is complete.
At the casino, city officials found damage to the kitchen, walls, doors, windows, and light fixtures. Exterior signage was also torn off the building, the city spokesperson said.
Overall, the estimated damage could surpass $50,000. The city had previously invested millions to improve the building and the surrounding park.
The splash pad was open again on Thursday, and city leaders say they're working hard to renovate and get the casino building open later this summer.
"It's unfortunate and kind of sad news that this vandalism occurred," Nate Marton, Buffalo Department of Public Works commissioner, said Thursday.
"Extensive damage to interior walls, fixtures, thermostats ripped off the walls, activated the fire alarm system, the ANSUL system, so a lot of things that we got to go back, restore, rebuild, take out, replace, so not lost. We're going to move as fast as we can to get that completed and get it open."
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