Mori Point - Vandals

Mori Point - north side near Sharp Park Golf  Course

Two separate vandals?  1) spray painted sign, 2) breaking-up an bench for beach firewood. 

Probably separate and unrelated issue:  Why does all 110 acres of Mori Point "open space" exist in the middle of a city that needs a commercial downtown-- other than city leadership NIMBYS could do it:  plotted it, promoted it, and did it.  And, although most of us are sympathetic to those who suffer ANY vandalism, including sign and bench destruction, isn't "economic vandalism" a whole lot more serious?

Pacifica Tribune/Jane Northrop, 7/5/11.  "Vandals destroyed an artisan crafted thick wooden bench and marked up an information sign with graffiti at Mori Point recently.  Stunned park employees and citizen liaisons to the GGNRA have been trying to come to grips with who might have been so callous as to take the time to destroy a place where a weary walker can rest.  GGNRA liaison committee member Paul Jones said breaking up the bench to use for a bonfire was so criminally and morally wrong.

'I can say that the National Park Service and the Golden Gate Parks Conservancy (GGPC) have done a marvelous job of transforming Mori Point from a scarred landscape, abuse by off-road vehicles, trash, and years of neglect into a highly valued open space that is used regularly by lots of residents and visitors alike. They have provided functional lift in terms of the wetlands on the site while also giving recreational users a chance to stroll on a boardwalk and peer into the ponds that support threatened and endangered species. It's really the perfect mix in a residential setting of environmental restoration and vast improvement to the recreational opportunities in a coastal environment.

'The wanton destruction of a well constructed park bench is not only the waste of tax dollars, but an insult to our societal values. To burn a bench from a national park for the sake of having a fire on the beach is the truly the height of either selfishness or recklessness or both. Plus, it's the GGNRA community liaison George Durgerian, who is a park service employee, said he was really saddened by the vandalism. He invites the community to report vandalism using the phone number below.  'A lot of people have worked really hard to improve this park. We don't want the acts of a few to destroy that," he said.loss to visitors who might have enjoyed a moment of reflection looking over Sharp Park Beach, the Pacific Ocean or off to the Marin Headlands to the north. We don't know if the park service can afford to replace that bench as the funding came from America Recovery Act funds and those are used up. If all that isn't enough, the beautiful new sign at the entrance to Mori Point was hit by graffiti. This is a sad note and not much thanks to all the hard work of the Park Service staff, the dedicated GGPC staff and countless volunteers from our community who have worked hard to improve conditions at Mori Pt. It's ironic that we're in the running for the 'Best of the Road' contest when some individuals can ruin so much, so quickly with a match and a can of spray paint,' he wrote in an email.

GGNRA community liaison George Durgerian, who is a park service employee, said he was really saddened by the vandalism. He invites the community to report vandalism using the phone number below. 'A lot of people have worked really hard to improve this park. We don't want the acts of a few to destroy that,' he said. Non emergency number to report vandalism at GGNRA - (415) 561-5505."

Reference views of Mori Point -Stroller hikes,  I've added these pictures, because that's what I remember taking a long walk  into into Mori Point from the city side locked gate near the Moose lodge. The road was cut into the left side of the hill, with house back yards and a drop-off on the right side. Other articles:  GGNRA Trails Forever/Mori Point, and Wikipedia/Mori Point, picture is oceanside (beautiful).

Posted by Kathy Meeh