Vandals Destroy Flower Planters at Church, Ridge Ave.

Unknown vandals uprooted the work of local volunteers, as flower beds and planters were disrupted overnight July 9.

Members of , Friends of Gorgas Park, the Roxborough Library Garden Club, and Roxborough business owners woke up Tuesday to find flowers ripped out, pots destroyed and soil strewn about the sidewalk and Ridge Avenue. The corner of Hermitage and Ridge, maintained by three volunteer groups, was hit hard.

Members involved on Wednesday vented about their frustrations but tried to put a positive light on the situation.

"We cleaned it up and planted again. I'm hoping this won't happen again," said Eric Dorville, officer manager and associate for church growth at Leverington Presbyterian.

Dorville filed a police report but didn't expect much to come from it—"I understand there's more important things than this, but it was a little frustrating."

Located at the corner of Hermitage and Ridge, Leverington Presbyterian Church has worked with its neighbors at the  and  to make that corner a well-maintained, green spot.

"We're all trying to clean the three corners as part of a revitalization program. That's a central point in Roxborough," he said.

Bernard Guet, executive director of the , said he tried to have perspective about incidents like this.

"It's good, on one hand, that's there's not murders, rapes everyday in Roxborough, and these are the kinds of problems we have," he said. "But it gets me upset and frustrated, at the same."

Through the , the RDC has installed planters up and down the main corridor. Only one RDC-owned pot was disrupted Tuesday, but Guet said business owners were struck.

"One store owner was growing fresh basil to put on pizza. I thought, 'Oh, maybe someone stole it,' but no. They just threw it on the street," he said.

Guet said the RDC just cleans the mess up and tries to move on. He speculated that the vandals were home-grown.

"I don't think it was people from Germantown, Mt. Airy. These are local people... Some dumb person wants to destroy things. I guess they think they're funny or they are bored," he said.

The RDC leader had a proposal for vandals or graffiti artists.

"If you're bored—let us know. We'll get you in touch with the Mural Arts Program and you can paint a wall here," he said.

On Wednesday, Ridge Avenue appeared normal. Volunteers were back at Leverington Presbyterian, watering plants and maintaining the grounds.

"It was hard for the older members who put all the time in. They just can't understand why someone would do that... We'll rebuild, and hopefully, God willing, the planters will stay there," Dorville said.