Arlington Hts. statue safely returned, but repairs needed

At a time when taxpayers are claiming pain over every dollar spent, probably very few found much to laugh about over a prank that necessitated minimal but necessary repairs to an Arlington Heights Park District statue last weekend.

Vandals broke a bronze statue of a peewee football player off its base at Sunset Meadows Park at Kirchoff Road and Dwyer Avenue in Arlington Heights, and took it nearly two miles away to the lawn of a home on the 800 block of South McKinley.

The homeowner discovered the statue there early Sunday morning and called police.

Arlington Heights Park District Executive Director Steve Scholten said the statue was installed in October 2009 and is about the size of a 5- or 6-year-old child.

Though made of bronze, the statue is relatively light after being removed from its base, he said. Nevertheless, a vehicle was most likely used to transport it as far away as it was found, he added.

Arlington Heights police responded to the found statue as a nuisance complaint and simply returned the property to the park district.

The damage to the statue is still being assessed at the park district's Davis Street Service Center, where it likely will remain until being reinstalled in the spring, Scholten said.

• Staff Writer Lee Filas contributed to this report.