L-R, Surveillance image of a suspect believed to have vandalized an ice sculpture as part of Avenue of Ice along College Avenue in Appleton, a picture of the destroyed ice sculpture, February 22, 2026. (Photos courtesy of Appleton Police Department andThe Center for Suicide Awareness)
APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The man who damaged a downtown ice sculpture pleaded no contest and paid the $389.50 fine, court records show.
Kolbe Gelvin, 21, was cited for damage to property for the Feb. 22 incident.
Gelvin was caught on camera picking up the ice sculpture, which depicted two hands making the shape of a heart, and throwing it to the ground. The piece was sponsored by the Center for Suicide Awareness, a Kaukauna-based nonprofit, as part of the annual Avenue of Ice event on College Avenue.
Police say it cost $425 for the Center for Suicide Awareness to have the sculpture made. It was on display for less than 24 hours before it was destroyed.
CSA said in a Facebook post it had received “clarity” about what led to the late-night vandalism incident.
“He expressed deep regret for his actions, shared that he was having a very difficult day and personally wrote a letter to our executive director asking for forgiveness and offering to volunteer his time to make amends,” the post read.
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