For eight years people ambling along the Crox Creek Path in Albany have been able to read about the history of the area and the creekside land restoration project there. Until now.
Every few weeks a bike ride takes me along the paved path behind Lowe’s in Albany, between the store property and the heavily wooded channel containing Periwinkle Creek.
The south leg of the walking and bike path between Albany Station and Swanson Park was built in 2015. Ever since then, the concrete blocks of the path’s retaining wall have proved irresistible to vandals with their spray cans.
Starting next year, Albany will have a city employee to patrol the parks and trails, watch out for trouble, and do something about it when trouble is found.
Albany doesn’t have as big a problem with tagging as some other places — yet. But the splashy display that recently showed up under the Pacific Boulevard overpass makes you worry about what’s next.
In Albany, now would be as good a time as any to wipe off or paint over the graffiti that have started to show up here and there along one of my bike routes and possibly elsewhere. Tagging is likely to get out of hand if we don’t.
Where the need to clean up never ends
Riding the bike on the Periwinkle Bikepath extension behind Lowe’s was easy Saturday because for once, nobody was camped on the path itself.
Tags: graffiti, graffiti cleanup, Lowe's, Periwinkle Bikepath, vandalism