Dozens Of Statues Vandalized At Popular Bellevue Hospital Garden
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Bellevue Hospital is looking at ways to repair dozens of statues vandalized in a popular garden.
Nearly all of the animal statues and sculptures inside the hospital's Sobriety and Pediatric Garden were beheaded or damaged, CBS 2's Don Champion reported.
The vandal left behind an eagle without a head and a pig without a nose. Nearly every animal statue in the garden was damaged, Champion reported.
Hospital police believe the vandal struck sometime in January, more than likely in the dark of night. Surveillance cameras on a neighboring building didn't catch a glimpse of the person, Champion reported.
"It's a shame that they'd do that, " said visitor Adolpho Vega. "The staff come down and relax, smoke a cigarette, drink coffee during break time."
"It was a beautiful place for the patients and the hospital staff who would relax there and have lunch," said psychiatrist Annatina Miescher. "It looks awful right now, it looks terrible."
The hospital is trying to figure out how to repair the statues, many of which are made of concrete and chicken wire. But Vega said that will be hard to do considering how they were made.
"This has a history, a lot of the people who put this together were handicapped and some of them were addicts in recovery," said Vega.
The hospital is also looking at ways to improve security in and around the garden, including putting up lighting and fencing.
In a statement, a hospital rep said "We at Bellevue Hospital Center are dismayed that a person or persons might engage in this act."
The hospital will have the garden area cleared so patients can enjoy the area in a few weeks when it gets warmer.
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