‘Rare’ banana tree vandalized at Sunken Gardens

Lincoln Police received a report of a fruity infraction Friday morning. 

Officers were called to the Sunken Gardens, after employees discovered a “rare” Musa banana tree had been vandalized. 

The alleged act – caught on a Lincoln Parks and Recreation camera – was carried out after hours Thursday. 

“Basically what we are assuming is it got hit with a stick and got beat up pretty bad,” Sunken Garden’s Supervisor Michael Fallon said. 

Fallon said the trees are sturdy, and that whoever destroyed the one at the garden spent approximately 20-30 minutes trying to destroy it. 

Fallon estimated the tree’s value at $50. He said it’s the only one of its kind at the garden. 

The incident is the latest in a string of vandalism cases plaguing Parks and Rec properties.  Director Lynn Johnson said the department has paid upwards of $40,000 to repair damaged property this year. 

It’s not the first vandalism at the Sunken Gardens, either. Last July, thieves made off with hundreds of dollars after breaking into three donation boxes. 

Parks and Recreation declined to the share video of the vandalism with Channel 8 Eyewitness News. 

Fallon said, while the vandalism is disappointing, Sunken Gardens – which is free to the public – will continue operating as usual. 

“We all put our heart and into this place and it unfortunately happens we get vandalized but that’s kind of what we ran into with a public garden,” he said. “All are welcome here and we take pride into that fact.”