A Philadelphia agricultural high school is asking for the public’s help in raising awareness and locating resources to rebuild structures that could protect their property from vandals, who struck multiple times during a two-day period.
Police were notified Thursday after someone drove a truck through the fields owned by the Lankenau Environmental Science Magnet School on Spring Lane in Roxborough. According to the Philadelphia School District, the vandalism took place on both Tuesday and Wednesday at unknown times. A student posted a video of the aftermath on Facebook, pleading with the public to help find those responsible.
"The act of vandalism has affected our student body as a whole here at Lankenau High School and it continues to bring frustration upon our school," said Rakai Lynn Richardson in her post on behalf of the student body.
The land damaged by the vandal(s) was home to several gardens, which took volunteers and Botany Club members more than 500 hours to complete. In addition to the gardens, classes are held in the open field areas in the warmer months. The school says that, in their current condition, the fields can't be used for any outdoor activity. Estimated costs to replace the gardens alone could reach upwards of $12,000.
Anyone with information on the vandalism is encouraged to contact Philadelphia’s 5th Police District at their non-emergency number, (215) 686-3050.
