CLEVELAND, S.C. (AP) - Authorities may not be able to reopen a mountain nature preserve in South Carolina if people don’t stop spraying painting the rocks with graffiti, wildlife officials said.
The Bald Rock Heritage Preserve in northern Greenville County was closed March 28 as officials tried to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
The Department of Natural Resources built a fence blocking the entrance and put a wooden plank across a footbridge welcoming visitors to the preserve, WYFF-TV reported.
But the amount of graffiti on the rocks has increased since the closure, wildlife agency spokesman Greg Lewis said.
“This is as bad as I’ve ever seen it and I’m assuming that most of this has been taking place since March 28 when the preserve was closed,” Lucas said.
The wildlife agency is asking Boy Scout groups or community groups to help clean the Bald Rock Heritage Preserve and is asking people nearly to report suspicious activity, Lucas said.
“Hopefully if the public gets involved and can help report the acts of vandalism that have happened, kind of keep an eye on the place, we’ll be able to keep it and let folks who love it enjoy it,” Lucas said.
Closing the preserve beyond the COVID-19 pandemic would be a last-ditch measure, but is being discussed, Lucas said.
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