Photo by Andrew Richards
The remnants of the bronze great blue heron statue in Gordon Moore Park’s rose garden.
ALTON – The giant bird that reigned over Gordon Moore Park’s rose garden has fallen.
Police reports from the Alton Police Department said an employee from the Alton Parks and Recreation Department reported Tuesday, March 18, the 4-foot bronze great blue heron statue had snapped away from its feet at the base.
The statue, which is located in the center of the Nan Elliot Memorial Rose Garden in Gordon Moore Park, had 2-inch thick legs, with one hollow and the other solid, and is estimated to be worth about $1,200, according to the employee.
Documents said the employee did not know how much it would cost to repair the statue.
According to reports, the employee discovered the statue had fallen at about 10 a.m. on Tuesday and called police at 10:08 a.m. The statue was last observed to be standing on Monday, March 17, at about 3 p.m.
Probable causes of damage to the statue, such as intentional, wind or a defect, have not been determined.