Authorities say vandals have destroyed eight recently planted trees in Seattle's Washington Park Arboretum.
The cost of restoring the site to its original condition is estimated to be about $43,000. The trees destroyed include Chilean wine palms, monkey puzzle trees and Gunnera Tinctoria, which were planted as part of the park's "Gateway to Chile" project.
The Seattle parks department is working with the University of Washington and Seattle Police to investigate the crime. The arboretum is part of the University of Washington.
The Gateway to Chile project is part of Pacific Connections, which showcases the flora of five Pacific Rim regions: Chile, New Zealand, Australia, China, and southern Oregon/ northern California.
