Vandals destroy commemorative plaques on Kettle Valley Rail Trail trestle

PENTICTON – The city of Penticton is picking up the pieces after an act of senseless vandalism hit the Kettle Valley Rail Trail recently.

City works superintendent John Fenske said they were notified about the vandalism on the McCulloch Trestle at Randolph Draw on the Kettle Valley Rail Trail north of Munson Mountain about a month ago.

He said at least two dozen or more commemorative plaques lining the bridge were smashed and had to be removed.

“It looked like they had been hit with a hammer, all the plaques were broken,” Fenske said today, Nov. 13. The plaques were removed after the damage was discovered.

The plaques paid homage to individuals and corporations who had donated funds to assist in the construction of the trestle.

Fenske doesn’t believe there was any intent to steal the plaques for their metal value. While he isn't sure what they are made of, he doesn't think they are made of bronze. He said they were likely made of a "pot metal," an alloy used to make castings.

“It was malicious damage, basically,” he said.

The City is working with Greyback Construction to establish a list of names that were on the plaques, with the idea of perhaps creating one commemorative plaque to cover all the contributors.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad or call 250-488-3065 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.