Pine Lake Graffiti
Teresa Gallagher
As most of you know, there are ongoing problems with graffiti at the pedestrian bridge for Pine Lake/the Rec Path. The latest rash seems to be the work of one or two people, and is much more extensive that in the past. It all says “TOA” and “ion” (over and over and over), with “neg” or “negative” (as in “negative ion”?) and “we taken over”. Maybe just initials. But after noting that TOA is consistently caps and ion is small letters, I did a quick search and found that “Tales of the Abyss”, a popular Playstation 2 game, is often abbreviated “ToA”, and “Ion” is a main character of that game. Who knows.
I removed everything I could from the bridge railings and granite post using 100% acetone (most of it was marker), graffiti remover, and elbow grease. I think power tools may be necessary to get it all off. I then coated the railings with Thompson’s Deck Sealer to prevent new marker from being absorbed, and coated all the granite posts with a penetrating granite sealer.
Here are some pictures:
http://picasaweb.google.com/sheltontrails/2009_11_23RecPathGraffiti?authkey=Gv1sRgCIiEmoyf45ecZw#
I highly recommend installing a deer cam on a pine overlooking the bridge. Even if the camera doesn’t get any good pictures (a very high quality one should be able to), the deterrent effect may be what’s needed most. Kids don’t know if a camera can take good pictures or not. It’s 50 ft from the pine to the center of the bridge. A fair number of kids use the bridge on their way home from the High School.
There is quite a bit of spray-paint graffiti under the bridge on the abutments and on the red gate house or whatever that building is. I recommend that all this graffiti be removed or covered over ASAP, since it encourages more graffiti. It’s been there for a few months. I am wondering if Conservation wants to hire a firm to remove it, or wants me to paint over it, or just leave it. I spoke with Dean and he is in no rush to remove it.
The graffiti on the bridge abutments is touchy because any use of chemicals could cause dripping of toxic chemicals into the stream.
-Teresa
McCreery, Edward P.
From: Teresa Gallagher [mailto:conser...@cityofshelton.org]
Sent: Monday, November 23, 2009 2:38 PM
To: shel...@googlegroups.com
Cc: adminis...@sheltonpolice.net; pzaks...@sheltonpolice.net; r.he...@cityofshelton.org; Lynn T. Reid; Jim Taradine; Richard W. Skudlarek; Terrance Gallagher
Subject: SheltonCC Pine Lake Graffiti
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Shelton Conservation Commission" group.To post to this group, send email to shel...@googlegroups.com.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to sheltoncc+...@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/sheltoncc?hl=.
James W Tate
I agree with Ed.. I think its good use of our funds. Lets get the deer cam or something similar so we can catch the little SOB’s and then have them clean up everything!!!
Teresa Gallagher
I’m going to try a poultice on the remaining ink that’s on the granite post. For some reason the graffiti on our post bothered me more than all the other graffiti.
Teresa Gallagher
The Town of Monroe installed Reconyx RC55 camera’s with additional security boxes at Web Mtn Discovery Zone after some major vandalism. I spoke with Tom Elboggin, Chairman of the Conservation Commission about it and these were done by a friend who is in the security camera business. Note that was a year or two ago, so there might be newer models available. Here is a good page of deer cams that can be used for security purposes. The one Monroe uses is the 3rd one listed. The security box can be another $150 and then you need batteries (I would use Lithium batteries to avoid constantly having to put new ones in) and a good size memory card.
http://www.trailcampro.com/securitycameras-2.aspx
One option is to put a camera on either side of the bridge (there are good tall pine trees for this). That would do a much better job of covering the bridge (kids can otherwise just lean over facing away from the camera to do their marker graffiti). Also, the far end of the bridge would be a stretch for a camera.
Tom Harbinson - Personal
Teresa Gallagher
I just took a drive to the Pine Lake bridge and this time brought a cordless drill with a special attachment we’ve never used and was able to remove a few spots on the railings that I previously couldn’t remove. The drill worked well, I only wish I had it earlier, it would have saved me a lot of scrubbing. I recoated those spots with deck sealer (the entire railing was all beaded up when I arrived).
I was going to try a poultice on the granite post, but it was wet to the touch, so I will try again some day after it dries out.
I also did a little testing on the gatehouse with some antigraffiti spray I picked up. The old brick is extremely porous and all the spray solvent was immediately sucked in and disappeared. I kept spraying it back on and it kept disappearing. After a few minutes I scrubbed and only a tiny bit of the paint came off. The paint looks like it was absorbed into the brick as well. Graffiti removal can be very destructive to bricks, especially old weathered brickwork (they are only hard-fired on the outside and are rather soft inside). I think the best option may be to paint over the gatehouse with brick red paint (which is what they do with the Hope Lake gatehouse). Painting the building would actually provide some protection from the weather for the bricks. With my recent experience house painting I could pick up some paint at Home Depot and have it painted over very quickly if the weather cooperates.
James W Tate
I agree with Tom… lets move on it. I think we can try 2 cameras as see how it goes. Lets install these cameras with some secrecy , somewhat hidden so as not to be their own target!!
From:
thomas.h...@ida-intl.com [mailto:thomas.h...@ida-intl.com] On
Behalf Of Tom Harbinson - Personal
Sent: Tuesday, November 24, 2009 10:43 AM
To: shel...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: SheltonCC Pine Lake Graffiti
Lets move quick on this item. Eliminating graffiti promptly takes away the reward from the perpetrator. It disgusts me to see graffiti at the school campus simply accepted as "so what". City also looks blindly to similar effects at Riverwalk, but I won't accept that non-chalant attitude on our trail amenities.
At our CC mtg next week, lets hear Teresa's proposal on model and price after comparison of options, and what Monroe has had success with in terms of process or how they used them. We have money in various line items that on their own, or in combination, can amply supply funds for 2 cameras, but I would suggest thinking about 4 as I think about the Eklund Garden and ability to have a spare one due to damage of others or need to mobile dispatch to a one-off location. Whatever qty level keeps us under the BoA&T purchasing nonsense that would delay this months further.
I'd also not be to public about them (he said to any public reading this) as they generate controversy over privacy (which is a crock in my opinion). Seymour and Derby have had issues with how, where, and even if to use cameras over those types of issues. I don't need to see that type of discussion bog this down.
I'd like to see cameras up by mid Dec.
Teresa Gallagher
That’s what the bear cage is for…with a padlock. The ones at Monroe are very visible and have survived for a couple years now. I think what we really want is the deterrent value rather than the ability to identify culprits after the fact. These will be underaged kids most likely, and the courts have a tendency to throw out the case. One camera on either side of the bridge pointing towards the other camera will catch anyone attempting to fiddle with the cameras.
McCreery, Edward P.
Teresa Gallagher
<but rather the parents who would be forced to pay for the clean up.>
Absolutely, but keep in mind that enforcement can be elusive. Even if caught and convicted, the parents may turn out to be poor and have no resources to pay for the clean up.
Bill Dyer
Teresa Gallagher
<Painting the red building seems like creating a clean canvas for a new generation of graffiti artists>
A wall without graffiti just invites graffiti?
McCreery, Edward P.
Teresa Gallagher
The company that Swenson’s Granite referred me to recommended a similar system for the granite posts called “Graffiti Block” and a cleaner to remove any graffiti over the proprietary block. At the time I just wanted something I could buy quickly and locally (hazmat shipping is expensive) and found a penetrating granite sealer at Home Depot, and which wouldn’t change the appearance of the granite. I do like the idea of a block, however.
Tom Harbinson - Personal
Teresa Gallagher
Ha, that’s true, there is the OSHA Hazard Communications training that is required for use of any chemicals. I used to be a certified hazardous materials manager and gave the training at Ansonia Copper, so I should think I’d be all set on that one, but that would not be true of other employees.