POULSBO — Things just haven’t been the same at Lions Park lately, because something is missing: the merry-go-round to be exact.

Visitors to the park will find a pale white circular outline on a black rubber mat ringing the spot where one of park’s biggest attractions once stood.

“It’s definitely one of the worst cases of vandalism I’ve seen,” said Parks and Recreation Director Mary McCluskey.

While the rest of the equipment at the park has not been vandalized, the loss of the merry-go-round is unfortunate, McCluskey said.

“The merry-go-round was so popular. But it will be replaced,” she said, noting that the city’s public works department is working to have it back in place as quickly as possible.

Poulsbo resident Jackie Aitchison said she didn’t realize the merry-go-round had been damaged until her grandchildren came back from visiting the park.

“They told me the merry-go-round wasn’t there anymore and they loved to play on it,” Aitchison said.

Poulsbo Police Chief Jeff Doran said while there are no suspects in the crime, his department is seeking the public’s help in solving it.

“Something like this is a real heartbreaker because so many kids use it,” Doran said.

The incident, which happened almost three weeks ago, remains under investigation and anyone with any information about the incident is encouraged to call Crimestoppers or the Poulsbo Police Department.

The park was refurbished and revitalized by the Poulsbo Noon Lions Club during the summer of 2000 and had become one of the more popular city parks. It was also the only one with a merry-go-round.

Public Works Director Jeff Lincoln told members of the city council’s public works committee about the incident during its Sept. 28 meeting.

“We got a call from a resident saying that the merry-go-round had been broken,” Lincoln said of the incident which occurred in the middle of September. “We then called the police department and informed them about it.”

Apparently three older youths had stood on one side of the equipment and jumped up and down severely damaging the moving parts inside it and breaking the concrete support, he said.

“It’s not just an axle, there’s a lot of moving parts down there,” Lincoln said, noting that the crux of the damage was below the ground.

However, parts for the equipment have already been ordered and the city is awaiting their arrival, he said Monday.

“It’s a done deal, it’s just a matter of them getting here,” he said. “It will be back in place.”

Lions Club member and councilman Mike Regis called the incident unfortunate.

“I feel bad that a piece of equipment gets destroyed by uncaring individuals,” Regis said.

Even though the merry-go-round will be returning to the park, its vandalism raises some issues, he said.

“We’ll have to look at more practical features in there,” Regis said.