Driver destroys popular Leavenworth park days before Christmas
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Front Street Park, a popular winter playground for tourists and locals in Leavenworth, Wash., was churned to a pit of mud days before Christmas, when the driver of a silver pickup truck did numerous donuts in the area, officials said.
Footage of the vandalism shared online shows a silver 2024 Toyota Tundra with Texas license plates destroying a 90-by-50–foot section of the park on Dec. 22 at approximately 11:30 p.m., Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison said. The suspect remains unknown but is believed to be a white man in his 20s or 30s.
“Deputies are currently conducting follow-up on the suspect vehicle and speaking with witnesses,” Morrison said. “Once the suspect is identified, there will be probable cause for their arrest for reckless driving and malicious mischief 2nd degree.”
The City of Leavenworth has temporarily closed the park in response to the damages and ongoing investigation. However, city officials say that planned performances will resume at the park’s gazebo on Monday.
“We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding as we work to restore the usability of our downtown park,” the City of Leavenworth stated on social media. “It is anticipated that the Chamber’s Christmastown programming in the gazebo today will continue as planned.”
The Bavarian-style village serves as a popular tourist attraction for visitors each holiday season. The damaged park is the center of the town's holiday festivities, KOMO reports. The city says that the public has shown an “outpouring” of support to repair the park following the vandalism.
“Happy Christmas Eve Eve!” the City of Leavenworth said. “We would like to take a moment and extend our heartfelt gratitude for the outpouring of support from the community after the incident that occurred this weekend that left Front Street Park unusable, unsafe, and severely damaged. Your kindness and offers to assist mean a lot to us.”
The City of Leavenworth said that its parks department plans to work throughout the week to restore the park and that it will reopen the park as soon as possible. Anyone with information about the driver’s identity is asked to contact the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office.