Work to remove Ohiopyle graffiti underway

Cleanup got under way Monday along the Youghiogheny River in Ohiopyle’s Ferncliff Peninsula Natural Area after an act of vandalism left spray-painted symbols and words on rocks just across from the visitors center.

Four employees dragged a pressure washer and generator nearly 500 yards down a trail, hoping the high pressure and some soft, biodegradable soap would take care of the problem.

They initially expected it to take all week to clean off the paint, “but we are having some success with just a pressure washer and some scrub brushes, so we are hoping we can finish it up soon,” said Ken Bisbee, park operation manager.

Vandals spray-painted graffiti on hundreds of feet of sandstone rock over the weekend, park officials said.

The graffiti was discovered by a park ranger shortly after opening the park gates at 7 a.m. Sunday, Bisbee said.

“This defaces one of the most scenic parts of the park that draws most of the visitors here,” Bisbee said. “It’s pretty unfortunate and upsetting.”

The spray-paint covers hundreds of feet of sandstone bedrock on the Ferncliff side of the Main Falls Area — and can clearly be seen from the observation deck opposite the Ferncliff peninsula, he said.

The graffiti includes words, snowflakes, flowers and other images, he said.

Bisbee said neither he nor staff could recall any other act of vandalism at Ohiopyle as big as this one.

The vandalism is being investigated by Ohiopyle park rangers. Anyone with information is asked to call the park office at 724-329-8591.