Vandals target century-old Discovery Park tree
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SEATTLE -- A Senseless act of vandalism has seriously damaged one of the oldest and most cherished trees in Seattle's Discovery Park, and now visitors and forestry experts are left to wonder why.
The damaged tree, which is located right off a popular path, was spray painted and left with deep cuts from a hatchet.
"This old tree's been good," said a park visitor. "And why do you have to torture it?"
Tina Meadows hikes in Discovery Park every day, and she's always admired the 100-year-old big leaf maple tree. Its mammoth trunk is now covered in purple graffiti and missing large chunks of bark. The open wounds are now susceptible to decay.
Tuesday's vandalism bothers the city's senior urban forester, Mark Mead. The good news, according to Mead, is that the tree will survive. The bad news is that the vandalism could prompt copycats.
"It promotes more, the same type of activity where people see it as acceptable behavior," he said.
Mead knows he can't prevent vandalism, but he can try to teach young people about nature.
"It's sad, and what it tells us is we have a lot more education to do, a lot more people to talk to," he said.
Park visitors know it's unlikely police will catch the people who vandalized the tree, but they're grateful the ancient landmark will have chance to grow older.
"It makes me sad," one visitor said. "It makes me wonder what's going on with this person that they would do this."
The damaged tree, which is located right off a popular path, was spray painted and left with deep cuts from a hatchet.
"This old tree's been good," said a park visitor. "And why do you have to torture it?"
Tina Meadows hikes in Discovery Park every day, and she's always admired the 100-year-old big leaf maple tree. Its mammoth trunk is now covered in purple graffiti and missing large chunks of bark. The open wounds are now susceptible to decay.
Tuesday's vandalism bothers the city's senior urban forester, Mark Mead. The good news, according to Mead, is that the tree will survive. The bad news is that the vandalism could prompt copycats.
"It promotes more, the same type of activity where people see it as acceptable behavior," he said.
Mead knows he can't prevent vandalism, but he can try to teach young people about nature.
"It's sad, and what it tells us is we have a lot more education to do, a lot more people to talk to," he said.
Park visitors know it's unlikely police will catch the people who vandalized the tree, but they're grateful the ancient landmark will have chance to grow older.
"It makes me sad," one visitor said. "It makes me wonder what's going on with this person that they would do this."
you have to expect this when no one has respect for others and/or their property. without respect society is doomed.