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Committee discusses graffiti removal and volunteer cleanup for Oaklair River Trail
Summary
Trustees reviewed removal challenges for graffiti on Oaklair River Trail — limited access, heavy memorial benches and variable paint types — and discussed anti-vandal coatings and volunteer workdays as possible solutions.
Committee members and staff spent substantial time on May 26 addressing graffiti and vandalism on the Oaklair River Trail, focusing on removal methods, access constraints and possible volunteer assistance.
Staff said graffiti on concrete and on memorial benches has been hard to remove with conventional cleaners and that effective removal often requires a sand-blasting setup run through a pressure washer — equipment the department cannot always get to the site because of access constraints. "Our best removal tool is a sand blaster that we run through our pressure washer. We can't get our pressure washer," a staff member said, noting bridges and soft ground limit vehicle access.
Trustees discussed anti-vandalism sealers that create a washable surface for graffiti removal, but staff cautioned that sealer work would need reapplication every few years and that seals might be more effective on painted surfaces than raw concrete. Committee members also suggested organizing annual or semiannual volunteer workdays to help with cleaning and sealing tasks that do not require heavy equipment.
Staff proposed an incremental approach: pursue small-scale cleaning plans that can be executed when access allows, explore a water/pressure-wash solution for benches and memorials, and identify potential volunteer partners to assist with less technical tasks.
What’s next: Staff will evaluate low-cost cleaning options and return with recommendations and potential funding or volunteer plans; trustees encouraged staff to pursue partnerships with volunteer groups for periodic cleanups.
