A project intended to benefit Bath County's young athletes has once again become the target of vandalism.
R.L. Caudill Construction announced this week that construction equipment at the new Bath County Little League Park was damaged over the weekend, marking the latest in a series of incidents that have affected the project since work began.
According to the company, the goal from the beginning was never to generate a large profit. Instead, company officials said they wanted to help make the long-awaited Little League park a reality for local children and families despite limited project funding.
That effort, however, has been complicated by repeated acts of theft and vandalism throughout the course of construction.
Photographs released by the company show significant damage to a piece of heavy equipment at the construction site. Company representatives described the latest incident as another setback for a project that was intended to serve the community's youth for years to come.
"We knew funding was limited but wanted to see the project become a reality for the youth in our community," the company stated in a social media post. "Unfortunately numerous acts of theft and vandalism during the course of the project has made the hope of 'breaking even' unlikely."
In an effort to identify those responsible, R.L. Caudill Construction is offering a $1,000 cash reward for information that leads to the arrest of the individuals involved.
The company is asking anyone with information about the vandalism to come forward and assist law enforcement.
The new Bath County Little League Park is expected to provide improved recreational opportunities for area youth once completed. Supporters of the project hope those responsible can be identified so construction can move forward without further delays.
Anyone with information regarding the incident is encouraged to contact local law enforcement authorities or R.L. Caudill Construction.