"The swan is Lakeland. The swan is Lakeland,”explained a Lakeland neighbor.
The swans who glide across Lakeland's Lake Morton are graceful.
"Absolutely it bothers me,” he said.
But what happened to a swan sculpture in Elva Rath Park is ruffling some feathers.
"Yeah, it's happened several times in the last two or three years."
This sculpture, which can be found across the city painted in different ways, was toppled.
Michael Maguire discovered it on his Sunday morning walk broken off a concrete base, laying in the grass near south Kentucky Avenue.
"Every town has some identity and some symbolism, but the swans in Lakeland, are the descendants of a pair that was given to the City of Lakeland by the Queen of England back in the 1950's,” said Maguire.
Maguire took pictures of the toppled artwork, then reported the vandalism to police. The vandal also hit this street sign and barricade.
"I was upset. Maybe a prank that seems funny or silly when you're just young and foolish turned into something that damaged a valued piece of property,” said Maguire.
Lakeland Police aren't investigating because the damage is under $500.
So Maguire is asking neighbors to keep an eye out.
"This is my home. This street, the neighborhood, the lake, the city itself--it's where I live and where we all live and we should take care to protect it and nurture it,” he said.
"I hope people stop doing that. This is a beautiful town to live in,” said another neighbor.
