Skateboarders Damaged Westwood Veterans' Park Benches

Skateboarders have damaged four memorial benches in Veterans' Memorial Park, according to Westwood Councilman Peter Grefrath.

The benches were purchased by local families as memorials to deceased loved ones as part of a borough program. Families for benches in other parks.

"I'm not really happy with skateboarders damaging memorial benches," Grefrath said.

Officials said chipping on two of the benches could probably be repaired by borough employees, but two others may need to go back to the manufacturer for repair.

The damage was not purposeful vandalism, they said, but appeared to have been caused by skateboards being slid along the bench edges because of chipping and multicolored paint residue.

Officials said they would see if a bolt or other object could be installed in the middle of the benches to prevent skateboarders from doing tricks on them.

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