Photo: RCMP

A number of private donors have stepped forward to repair a sign campaigning for a national park in the South Okanagan, after it was destroyed by vandals earlier this month.

The sign was taken down with a chainsaw sometime overnight March 18/19, just days after it was erected on private property just off Highway 3. The Keremeos RCMP estimate the damage caused by the vandals at $6,000.

The sign read “YES National Park,” claiming 70 per cent popular support and 700 new jobs for the area - claims that have been disputed by park opponents.

Since then, co-ordinator of the South Okanagan Similkameen National Park Network Doreen Olson said several people have stepped forward to help foot the bill for repairs.

“The landowner shouldn’t be out of pocket, so they decided to help her out on that,” Olson said. “They are all park supporters, but they may not be members of SOSNPN.”

Olson expects the sign will be reconstructed, and hopes those that disagree with it find a better way to express themselves.

“We are really disappointed that it happened, people should be able to express themselves whether they are supporting or opposing the park, but they should be doing it in a way that’s not destructive.”