TRAVERSE CITY — A statue installed along the Boardman Lake Loop TART Trail was cut down, causing $12,000 in damage.
The Traverse City Police Department officers learned of the damage after 5 p.m. Tuesday, according to a report. The statue was found lying next to its base after being sawn off near the ankles of the figure, according to a police statement.
An officer searched the area but no suspects were found. The investigation is ongoing.
Police said the Downtown Development Authority removed the statue remnants.
According to the TART Trails website, the statue was one of four that comprised the “Spirit of the Forest” exhibit created by husband and wife duo Steve and Dorota Coy. The installation “explores the relationship between humanity and nature, challenging our belief systems. The familiar therianthropic figure references ancient deities and mythology, prompting questions about its origin and purpose,” according to the website.
Traverse City Arts Commission’s Public Art Fund, a recipient of annual general and DDA TIF monies, plus grants and donations, funded the project.