Reprinted from the Daily Bulldog

Posted by Bobbie Hanstein • July 19, 2011 •

FARMINGTON - Vandalism is believed to blame for the destruction of two maple trees and for damaging a third maple that were planted three years ago at the new Farmington Community Playground at Hippach Field.

The trees were among those planted by the Farmington Conservation Commission for the newly constructed playground structure behind the tennis courts. A month ago, the Parks and Recreation Department crew discovered one of the 12-foot tall maples had been snapped in half.

Yesterday morning, another maple had apparently been bent to the ground so severely that it split and separated the trunk in several places, effectively killing it. In a third instance, limbs were pulled some time ago on one side of a maple in the same line of trees.

Two of the trees, which cost $150 each in 2008, were funded along with several more at the site through the state's Project Canopy Assistance Program. The tree damaged this week was a gift to the town by a Farmington couple who planted it in celebration of the birth of their first child.

According to Steve Shible, director of the recreation department, the trees may be replaced using funds from a reserve account set up by the Parents for the Playground group that raised funds and installed the playground structure in 2008.