Merelbeke-Melle (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Merelbeke-Melle vandals destroyed Molenkouter Sports Park’s flower meadow. The resident noticed damage; Alderman Pascal Rousseaux (CD&V) filed a police complaint and warned that perpetrators would face legal action and pay for restoration.
As VRT News reported, the newly planted flower meadow at Molenkouter Sports Park was destroyed by Merelbeke-Melle vandals in the province of East Flanders, Belgium. A resident who often walks in the park with her grandchildren discovered the damage.
She said that young people on mopeds have been seen in the park before, usually after the lights are turned off. Until now, their presence had caused concern but had not led to any serious damage.
“My heart sank when I saw it,”
she said.
“This is pure vandalism. You keep your hands off other people’s property.”
The resident described the damage as deliberate.
“They come out on their mopeds when it is dark and race around,”
she said.
“But this time they went too far and ruined the flowers.”
Her account suggests the vandalism was intentional.
What happened to the Molenkouter Meadow in Merelbeke-Melle?
Alderman for Green Services Pascal Rousseaux (CD&V) said he is very disappointed about the vandalism at Molenkouter Sports Park. He said the destruction of the flower meadow is unacceptable. It damages the work the municipality is doing to maintain and improve public green spaces. The city has filed an official complaint with the police against unknown individuals responsible for the incident.
“This is truly sad and pathetic. The flower meadow was sown last October. This week, or at the latest next week, the Green Services will assess what can be repaired to limit the damage.”
Rousseaux added that if the perpetrators are found, they will face legal action and be required to pay for the damage.
“We will present the vandals with the bill to restore the flower meadow,”
he said. He also called on residents to stay alert, share any information with the police, and report any new incidents immediately.
In the past, similar vandalism has occurred across multiple cities. In Ghent in 2022, a flower garden beside a play area was vandalised by teenagers on bikes and scooters after hours.
Vandals damaged the Community Garden in the park of Leuven in 2021, while in Antwerp in 2020, the flowers on the streets were pulled from the ground by unknown people. The municipalities in all 3 cities filed police reports and cleaned up after the vandalism.
