Charleston Police are looking for suspects in a weekend fire at Woodyard park. Brendan Lynch of Bike and Hike in Charleston is an advocate for the park and says vandalism is hard to prevent, but he's impressed by the quick response of the community. Charleston resident Brendan Lynch was instrumental in getting trails installed at Woodyard park. He says he expected some vandalism would happen near the trails, but was saddened to learn someone targeted a man made shelter. "I was actually out playing with my puppy when I got a series of text messages all roughly at the same time saying that the wood structure that we had seen for years had been burnt down." Lynch says with the help of the police department, the fire was handled in a timely manner. "We have an incredibly close relationship with the local police department specifically lieutenant John Bennett as well as the police chief Bryan Baker and John Bennett was notified pretty much immediately as well and then the fire department responded and then put out smoldering remains of the structure." Lynch says community support should also be commended. "I think that the communities’ response is telling in just how much we love the trails and how much the community loves the trail. The trail leadership was immediately notified, the police was immediately notified and we got it on Facebook." Eastern Illinois University student Olivia Hamilton is training for a marathon and runs near the lake often. She says the act of vandalism is disheartening. "I just think it's really sad to see something like that happen in such a beautiful and peaceful part of Charleston. I run through here a lot and just hate to see vandalism to these trails." Lynch says no injuries or financial loss to the park were reported. Officials are encouraging anyone with information on this crime to call the Charleston Police Department.
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