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Cartagena Parque Sauces dinosaurs targeted by vandals yet again
Miscreants have ripped legs and arms off several displays in Parque Sauces
It's been almost five years since the dinosaurs first appeared in Parque Sauces in Cartagena but sadly, what was supposed to be an urban retreat has turned into a bit of a nightmare for residents. Vandals have repeatedly trashed the dinosaur figures that make this central park locally famous, leaving a decidedly unsightly scene in this heart of the Ensanche district.
Unfortunately, the vandalism has become such a problem that this time round, many residents are are calling for the models to be removed altogether rather than repaired yet again.
This comes on top of other complaints related to uncollected pet waste and haphazard street cleaning in the area surrounding the park.
The new-look Parque Sauces was inaugurated in December 2021. The project, as a whole, cost €218,997, according to the municipal press release.
"It's a shame they treat the dinosaurs like this because they give the park its identity," said Francisco Aguilar, a local resident.
“Not long ago one of the dinosaurs caught fire. The whole park almost burned down,” the local man added, recalling the alarm the incident caused among the neighbours, occurring just a year after the park was renovated in July 2022. The local police even identified the arsonist, who was just a child. His parents ended up covering the cost of the damage.
Beyond deliberate acts of vandalism, the park is falling into disrepair all by itself. According to local reports, the fencing, made of wooden posts and netting, is constantly toppled over, if not broken.
Independent councilwoman María Dolores Ruiz also commented on the state of these extinct animals through her social media.
"They are worth a fortune. These things don't belong in a public park. They belong in a supervised park," she wrote.
While the poor condition of the dinosaurs is the most visible issue, the residents' complaints don't stop there and extend to the cleanliness.
"This is a consequence of people's lack of civic responsibility. The park has become a dog toilet. You walk by and the smell is unbearable," criticised Eugenio Azorín, parish priest at the nearby Church of Santa Florentina.
"In winter, it's still bearable, but in summer, when the heat is intense, it's very noticeable," added the priest.
Local visitors claim the surrounding streets are full of litter and smelly bins, but a City Council spokesperson insists that "the Parks and Gardens Service carries out routine maintenance tasks in the landscaped areas and children's play equipment, as usual."
The same source confirmed that the dinosaurs will be repaired in the coming days and that the fencing around the enclosures has already been fixed.
Image: Antonio Jiménez/Twitter
