[IndianaTrails] Vandals damage greenway

[Robert J. Matter]

http://www.thestarpress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070120/NEWS01/701200339/1002

Saturday, January 20, 2007

Vandals damage greenway
Incidents of vandalism rose last month.
By SETH SLABAUGH
seths at muncie.gannett.com

MUNCIE -- Cardinal Greenway was damaged during an increase in vandalism 
last month.

"It's something that crops up every few weeks or months, but these 
latest incidents were a little worse than usual," said Jerall Ross, 
maintenance coordinator for the trail.

The segment of the trail near Gaston is a frequent target of vandals, 
but it isn't the only area.

In December, five trail signs were stolen in the Gaston area and two 
other signs were spray painted. The asphalt trail also was spray painted 
in the vicinity of Gaston.

"It's really an irritant because it takes time and money to replace 
things like stop signs," Ross said. "We can't afford to leave it like 
that. If there are no stop signs, we are liable if someone gets hurt. We 
have an obligation to try to make the trail look as good as it can and 
to be as safe as it can."

Jim Oliver, Gaston town marshal, suspected that juveniles were 
responsible for the vandalism.

"It's really a shame," he said, "because it's a really nice trail. It's 
just a shame."
At the trail head near Delaware County Road 400-N, vandals stole a sign 
and post.

At the downtown Muncie depot trail head, vandals moved a portable toilet 
and tipped over a stone marker.

In the vicinity of Muncie's Rotary Park, a motorist left tire tracks in 
landscaped and grassy areas. In addition, vandals broke commemorative 
bricks, tipped over a marble marker and damaged a metal symbol, bent a 
sign, broke a wooden rail post, and turned over a mile marker rock.

In other incidents during 2006, vandals have smashed donation boxes, cut 
down newly planted trees, hammered bulletin boards and smashed a wooden 
box hiding an infrared pedestrian counter.

Ross urges anyone who sees suspicious activity on the trail, which is 
not supposed to be open at night, to call police.

Contact news reporter Seth Slabaugh at 213-5834.

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