Manuel Perez Park, Veterans Memorial In Oklahoma City Vandalized As Security Returns To River Area 

The Oklahoma City Parks and Recreation Department is working to repair sections of a veterans' memorial after it was vandalized earlier this year. 

Three of the five glass placards displayed at Manuel Perez Park on Southeast 17th Street were damaged. The placards honor Oklahomans who have received the Congressional Medal of Honor. 

The department covered all the placards last month with wood to prevent further damage while it considers how to make repairs. It’s unclear exactly who caused the damage or when it happened, said Brandon Boydstun, Oklahoma City park planning and development manager. 

“Anytime we take damage like this it is very disappointing, especially for the facility that this was,” Boydstun said. “It’s not just a simple repair. We don’t want to just go back in and put the glass back up if it’s going to be a vulnerable point. We want to make sure that the repairs we do are going to be durable.” 

A challenge with replacing the glass placards is matching the aesthetic from the original park design. 

“We want to make sure we take our time with it and actually get the right solution, not just a hurried, quick fix,” Boydstun said. 

The department plans to use $250,000 to hire a private security firm to patrol Manuel Perez Park and others situated near the Oklahoma River. In May, Oklahoma City Parks Director Doug Kupper said during a budget presentation to the city council that parks along the river have been “victimized” routinely. 

“Anyone that has visited Manuel Perez Park has seen what has occurred to our restrooms there on a regular basis,” Kupper said in May. 

On Friday, Boydstun said there is no timeline for when a security contract could be finalized.