A double heart made of steel has been installed at Lover’s Leap as a way to keep a romantic tradition from ruining the fence at the park.
Hannibal Parks & Recreation employees mounted the 10 foot-by-10-foot structure on a concrete pad this week at the 5-acre park located on a bluff above Route 79.
In recent years, locks have been placed on the fence and have been repeatedly removed by Parks & Recreation officials to keep the fence from being pulled down.
Park Board members asked Central Services Director Andy Dorian to construct a structure to allow the locks a place, other than the fence. Hannibal Machine built the structure for $3,200.
A love lock or love padlock is a padlock that couples lock to a bridge, fence, gate, monument, or similar public fixture to symbolize their love.
The double heart at Lover’s Leap includes a disposal box for the keys to keep the keys from polluting the ground or river.
The locks on the fence will be cut off by early next year.