Local bike trail remains covered in graffiti, even after attempts to cover it up

UPDATE @ 10:00 p.m. (June 29):

If you’re walking along the trail at the bottom of the Woodman Bridge going over U.S. 35 in Dayton, you’ll still see a small section of graffiti on the path, despite how Five Rivers Metro Parks workers have tried to paint over it.

“It’s sad. It’s something that the bike path is to be enjoyed. The graffiti is the downside of it,” said Riverside resident Dennis Ward.

Walkers and bikers see graffiti every time they walk underneath the bridge. “What kind of people are doing this apparently people that don’t use the facilities,” said Ward.

“Some of it looks kind of artsy, it’s pretty neat to look at, but other than that most of the stuff you see is a gang member’s name,” said Dayton resident Timothy Austin.

The problem is when workers come to paint over what’s been put up, people come back to put new graffiti up, leaving many wondering how to stop this. As soon as they come to clean it up, “They cover it up. It’s back. Different slurs sayings,” said Ward.

“Little kids don’t need to see that stuff and there’s a lot of little kids around in these areas,” said Austin.

Five Rivers Metro Parks have said they’ve spent 225 hours removing graffiti in their parks, and the city has spent more than $60,000 annually in payroll to remove graffiti like the one on this trail. It’s hard to stop this from happening in any area, but there are some ideas. “Start arresting them instead of letting them free,” said Austin.

FIRST REPORT (June 5 @ 12:49 p.m.):

The trail near the Woodman Bridge is a popular place for people to bike and jog during the summer, but many residents feel the graffiti takes away from what otherwise is a nice place to enjoy the outdoors.

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The bridge is covered in graffiti and most of it is to vulgar to show. The graffiti has been there for years and one of the trail directors says once they remove the markings something new is sprayed on the walls in a matter of days.

News Center 7’s Malik Perkins is reaching out to Five Rivers Metro Parks to learn more about how officials can remove the graffiti and prevent it from reoccurring.

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