Park Carvings Fall Victim To Rot/Pests

    “It’s unfortunate, but it is what it is.”
    The City of Umatilla on Monday had to remove or drastically cut back three of its estimated 12 wildlife carvings in Cadwell Park. The carvings, believed to be part of the largest collection of such creations in one place in the state of Florida, had fallen victim to the elements and had deteriorated to the point that safety was a concern.
    “We’ve been trying to shore them up, but they do have a lifespan,” said city manager Scott Blankenship on Monday. “We tried to do it surgically so we could save the actual carvings.”
    The carvings have been a popular addition to the local landscape in recent years, after having been created from stumps and trunks of trees that had large amounts of rot in them and were to be removed. Over the span of years, the city contracted with chainsaw artists to create new carvings as trees were taken down, resulting in the eclectic collection.
    The carvings received regular maintenance, including a return visit about a year ago from the artist, who repainted, resealed, and put puddy in holes.
    However, on Monday a moon, bear, and eagle carving had to be removed.
    “There was one trunk that had a million termites in it,” Blankenship said. “They were coming up through the trunk in the ground.”
    Blankenship said he hopes to be able to display the carvings in new homes around the city, hopefully in places that will protect them from the elements.