Park Rangers at Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area want to thank the public for the outpouring of tips related to the recent vandalism at George W. Childs Park in Delaware Township, PA. Those responsible for the graffiti on the Brooks Woolen Mill ruins and the original 1892 date stone have been identified, located, and charges are pending. No other information is being released at this time. Updates will be provided.
If you see something, say something “We always appreciate help from the public, especially local residents who are familiar with the park, and know when something is out of place or doesn’t look right,” said Todd Roessner, Supervisory Park Ranger. “In this case, a local resident saw the graffiti from the road while driving by, stopped and snapped a few photos, and sent them in to the park triggering an investigation, and it was tips from the public that helped us resolve that investigation so quickly.”
Previously released (3.30.23): NPS Seeks Information on Childs Park Vandals - Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (U.S. National Park Service)
Bright red paint proclaiming “I (heart) Tara” was scrawled across the original 1892 date stone that once stood at the former entrance to the site, while more red paint was used on the walls of the woolen mill to write “I (heart) Anthony.” The graffiti is dated March 21, 2023.
“Not only is graffiti a crime, but it is also unsightly and damaging to the surface defaced, and removing it takes time, money, and staff,” said Kara Deutsch, Chief of Resource Management and Science, whose team is looking into the best way to remove the graffiti without doing any further damage. “Depending on the area damaged and what the surface is, it can take park staff quite some time to remove,” she added, “and often, a damaged site can never be fully restored to its original condition.”
The 155-acre site along Dingmans Creek is a popular destination within the park, featuring 3 scenic waterfalls surrounded by an historic trail system that threads through a cool, shady eastern hemlock ravine. Childs Park was the original vision of wealthy Philadelphia philanthropist and publisher George W. Childs who, along with friend George Donaldson, developed rustic trails and dedicated it to the public in 1892 as a place for people to enjoy nature. Childs died in 1894 and his widow donated the site to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1912. It was operated as a state park until 1983 when the Commonwealth donated the property to the National Park Service.
Childs Park has been closed due to storm damage since 2018 and construction on the final phase of the restoration is set to begin in late spring, with re-opening scheduled for 2024. For more information on plans for upcoming construction at the site see Work resumes at Childs Park - Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov).
Original source can be found here.