It's 'game over' for Medina's Homer Miracle League statue as damage is beyond repair

The large mascot statue that welcomed Miracle League players at a Medina park cannot be repaired after it was vandalized a week ago.

League officials say they have consulted with the people who make the Homer statues, and it was determined that the Medina statue cannot be repaired.

The statue was damaged a week ago when someone attempted to topple it over and ripped up landscaping around the field. 

The Homer statue called Medina's Sam Masi Park home, where there is a Miracle League field that works to remove barriers so children and adults of all abilities from throughout Northeast Ohio can play baseball.

More:Miracle League 'Homer' statue vandalized at Medina Park. Reward offered to catch culprit

Ken Richardson of the Miracle League of Northeast Ohio said it is believed that it would cost as much as $10,000 to replace the statue.

The league, he said, simply doesn't have enough funds right now to purchase a new statue.

It just completed an ambitious project to replace the outfield grass with a softer rubberized surface.

The Homer statue did not fall over, but the vandals damaged its legs beyond repair.

The city has removed Homer and placed him in storage because there was a fear the 600-pound concrete statue might topple over and hurt someone.

The statue stood in the park for about a year and came from Findlay after the Miracle League program there purchased a new one and offered him to Medina.

The league is offering a $500 reward for anyone who steps forward to offer information to Medina Police leading to an arrest or arrests for the vandalism.

Craig Webb can be reached at cwebb@thebeaconjournal.com.