A quiet family-friendly neighbourhood in London's downtown will have to do without a playground after a suspicious attack on its community gem.

London police and fire officials were called to a blaze at Richard B. Harrison Park on South Street on Wednesday at about 3 a.m. They arrived to find the entire park playground engulfed in flames — from ground coils to the trees surrounding the mulch.

London police said the fire, that caused $50,000 in damages, was deemed suspicious. (Hala Ghonaim/CBC)

"The only thing left now is the metal structure, "said Theresa Borton who lives a few houses down from the park.

"It was sad to see, it kind of brought me to tears because so many kids enjoy that playground. So many people walk their dogs in the park. There's a bike path there. It's just a community park and for someone to destroy it like that. I still don't get how or why."

London police said the fire, that caused $50,000 in damages, was deemed suspicious.

James Lavigne has lived in the area for about a decade. (Hala Ghonaim/CBC)

'It's all about the kids'

Borton and her five grandkids will have to find another playground to go to like the one at Thames Park, but even that may be inconvenient for people who aren't mobile, she said.

So will James Lavigne, who's lived in the area for about a decade — and throughout those years, he helped clean up the park.

"It's outrageous how somebody would want to do something like this to a beautiful park," said Lavigne, who visited the park on Wednesday.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police or Crime Stoppers. (Hala Ghonaim/CBC)

"It's all about the kids. There's nothing more left for them. Absolutely nothing. We're going to be all summer long with no kids to play around here. It's going to be quiet."

Anyone with information is asked to contact police or Crime Stoppers.