“This piece covered 150 square feet and took a total of 35 hours of work. 7 Rangers and Volunteers that had to be taken from their regularly scheduled duties in order to help with the repair.”
Zion National Park staff is fed up with the recent cases of widespread vandalism and have released a video detailing the destruction and efforts to clean up the mess. Recent cases of vandalism include rock carvings and scratches, stickers, permanent markers, and spray paint. It might only take some punk with a rattle can few moments to leave their mark but cleaning it up without creating further damage is a time consuming, painstaking process.
Zion National Park released the video below documenting their battle and wants to remind folks that all vandalism actions are illegal on public lands and subject to a class B misdemeanor, punishable by 6 months in prison, a $5000 fine, or a combination of both. If you have any information regarding acts of vandalism in any park, talk to any NPS employee for help, or submit a tip at 888-653-0009.
Rangers and Volunteers in Zion have been spending hours cleaning unnecessary vandalism in the park such as rock carvings and scratches, stickers, permanent markers, and in this case, spray paint. Vandalism like this not only greatly impacts the visitor experience in the park, but it is also extremely difficult to remove. This piece covered 150 square feet and took a total of 35 hours of work. 7 Rangers and Volunteers that had to be taken from their regularly scheduled duties in order to help with the repair.
During this repair we used mostly sandpaper to take away the surface of the rock that had been painted. We had to be very careful when sanding not to cause any further damage by scraping or breaking off too much of the rock. This rock was also covered in lichens, which we had to work around in order to not kill or damage.
If you have any information regarding this spray paint site or other acts of vandalism in any park, talk to any NPS employee for help, or submit a tip at 888-653-0009. You don’t have to tell us who you are, but please tell us what you know. All vandalism actions are illegal on public lands and subject to a class B misdemeanor, which is punishable by 6 months in prison, a $5000 fine, or a combination of both.
After lots of hard work and time this site was restored as best it could be, but there will still be permanent damage left behind. We are asking you to do your part in protecting your national parks for future generations and leave no trace when you are visiting. Take only pictures, leave only footprints.
“This piece covered 150 square feet and took a total of 35 hours of work. 7 Rangers and Volunteers that had to be taken from their regularly scheduled duties in order to help with the repair.”
