NPS photo. Nashville man caught in the act of spray painting graffiti at Natchez Trace Parkway
TUPELO – National Park Service (NPS) rangers cited a man caught in the act of spray painting the TN 96 bridge on Natchez Trace Parkway. The 20-year-old man from Nashville, Tennessee was spotted by a NPS employee, who reported it to law enforcement officers.
Williamson County sheriff deputies arrived on scene and detained the individual until a NPS law enforcement officer arrived. The man was issued citations for multiple violations including trespassing and vandalism. Natchez Trace Parkway will clean up the graffiti and the individual will be billed.
“The Natchez Trace Parkway’s designed landscape and scenery contribute to its status as a national park. Graffiti degrades the scenery and has a negative impact on the visitor experience. The NPS’s mission is to protect cultural and natural resources that belong to the American public. Our goal is to ensure this type of destruction doesn’t happen,” saidNatchez Trace Parkway Chief of Resource Management Chris Smith.
Graffiti is unsightly and damaging to the surface de-faced. It can take park staff hours to remove and may require using specialized equipment to access hard to reach locations. Graffiti and other forms of vandalism to park resources are harmful and illegal. Often, a damaged site can never be fully restored to its original condition.
Graffiti is a crime. If caught, a person can be cited, with a mandatory appearance before the federal magistrate, which could lead to up to six months in jail and/or a $5,000 fine. If you observe vandalism in progress, please contact the Natchez Trace Dispatch center at 1-800-300-PARK (7275).
Media Release/Mandi Toy/NTP
