Vandalism again marks popular NE Bend trail
Vandalism that was recently covered up on a popular Bend trail is back, and bigger than before.
The tunnel under Highway 20 near Pilot Butte is part of the Larkspur Trail. A large message reading, as you walk through the tunnel, “Will your children be happy with what you have done?” has been spray-painted down the middle of the pavement, along with several other words and symbols.
Graffiti on the walls recently had been painted over, and people walking the trail say the new markings showed up within the last week.
Renata Beck walks the area three to four times a week, and said Monday it’s disappointing to see.
“It’s the gateway to Pilot Butte,” Beck said, “and it’s too bad to see the graffiti and the disrespect that’s being shown.”
Bend police Lt. Clint Burleigh said officers are aware of the graffiti — which is not far from the police headquarters — and it will be covered again soon.
He also said the walkway is a problem area for this sort of crime.
“It does typically get graffiti more than other places, and I think the obvious reason is it’s out of the way. It’s hidden. It’s a tunnel,” he said.
Burleigh said there are no plans for extra security measures, such as cameras, and the best thing you can do to help stop the vandalism is report it. This will increase the police department’s chances of finding the person(s) responsible.
