Whoever destroyed at least four dinosaur sculptures at Allaire State Park in Monmouth County will probably get away with it.

Many New Jersey 101.5 listeners were saddened to hear about the vandalism this week.

Artist Robin Ruggiero had been lovingly creating her sculptures out of things she could find in the forest. Sticks, twigs, bark and vines were transformed into life-sized versions of a stegosaurus, pterodactyl, triceratops and a huge T-Rex.

People from all over New Jersey and from out of state would travel to Allaire to hike through the woods and find the magical creations.

This past weekend, many of the sculptures were found torn apart and left laying on the forest floor.

New Jersey 101.5 Afternoon host Jeff Deminski wrote, "Wouldn't you know some idiot had to come along and destroy what was making children and even adults who found them happy. Most of the dinosaur sculptures have been smashed and ruined."

Ruggiero went to the park to see the damage, fearing what she would find.

She told NJ.com it was clearly the work of vandals, not damage from animals or the wind. The cords that bound the sculptures together and lashed them to the trees had been obviously cut.

Among the sculptures that were destroyed was the giant T-Rex.

Callers to the station have expressed sadness and outrage that someone would do that.

Perhaps even harder to swallow is knowing whoever did it, probably won't be found. Even if the person was identified, they would face no punishment.

The Department of Environmental Protection oversees Allaire State Park. They told NJ.com while they were "saddened" about the damage, the sculptures were a personal project that was not commissioned by the DEP. Therefore, the DEP "is not in a position to pursue further enforcement actions."

Eric Scott is the senior political director and anchor for New Jersey 101.5. You can reach him at eric.scott@townsquaremedia.com

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