BECKLEY, W.Va. — Graffiti at New River Gorge National River Long Point Trail has been removed by a private citizen.
Chief of Interpretation Julena Campbell said the National Park Service appreciates the spirit behind the effort, but the park must now clean up scrub marks left by the vigilante.
Around Aug. 14, two initials and a heart were painted in orange and green. The graffiti measured eight feet long and two feet high.
“We appreciate the intent and the passion behind this person’s efforts, but it is still technically illegal for a private citizen, independent of the park service, to remove this damage. It is still defacing a rock and damaging natural resources,” she said.
The park service has no desire to track down the vigilante, and park employees will attempt to “feather in the scaring” left behind.
When overseeing graffiti removal, Campbell said the National Park Service takes extra measures to protect lichen and other organisms growing on the rock. They also take steps to ensure paint chips are carefully removed from the site after clean up.
“We understand why this person did it, but we don’t encourage the behavior,” she said.
This isn’t the only graffiti on local federal lands. Campbell said graffiti vandalism is significant at Beauty Mountain, and a fundraising campaign is currently raising money to remove paint throughout the park.
Those looking to volunteer legally on projects that keep the park beautiful can reach out to the park’s volunteer coordinator by contacting 304-465-2634.
Volunteers are needed on Sept. 24 to help clean up an act of arson at Grandview. Campbell said volunteers will participate in the work day by repairing portions of the Tunnel Trail boardwalk that was burned.
As for the graffiti at Long Point, Campbell said the investigation remains open, and the National Park Service did not receive a single lead to help them locate the spray-painting vandal.
Graffiti in a national park is a misdemeanor and perpetrators could face up to six months in jail and a $5,000 fine.
Anyone with information about the incident or the vandals can leave an anonymous tip with the National Park Service, 304-465-6516.
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