Benches and planters which young people helped to set up were stolen from a north Liverpool park hours after they were unveiled.
A group of young people helped set up the benches and planters in Millennium Green in Walton last Saturday. Just hours later volunteer Terry May received a message on Facebook saying the benches had disappeared.
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Terry, from Walton, said: "I got a message on Facebook asking me why the benches had been packed away so soon. I realised something was wrong straight away. Unfortunately it now looks like they were stolen. "
Terry, who is a volunteer with Walton and Kirkdale regeneration group, said he felt sorry for eveyone involved.
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He said: "A lot of teenagers get a bad rap but I find it heartwarming a group of Walton youngsters carried out this work to brighten up a forgotten green space. I feel really disappointed their hard work and enthusiasm has been dashed by a needless theft less than 24 hours after they went up."
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Terry, who owns a small hotel in Walton, said that he hoped to salvage something positive from the theft. He said: "We have received so many messages of support and goodwill from locals that I think we can turn this into something good. It's a reminder that most people are decent and that there is still a good community in this area."
The benches were paid for by the National Citizen Service, a scheme set up by David Cameron during his time as Prime Minister to try and encourage young people to get involved with community projects.
Terry told the ECHO that Everton in the Community was also involved in the scheme.
The theft was not reported to police.
Millenium Green opened in the 90s on the site of a former reservoir off Breeze Hill in Walton. Locals still refer to the park as the 'the rezzie.'
