Vandalism Increases on the Trail

For approximately the past year and a half, vandalism has been on the rise in the Platteville Community Arboretum and Trail. Vigilant trail users and our Deputy Coordinator, Clay Shaffer, have documented about a dozen different incidents of vandalism since the summer of 2020. All have been reported to the Platteville Police Department.

Vandalism, like graffiti and damage to public structures, isn’t just unsightly, it also requires funds and volunteer and coordinator time to remedy. This is valuable time and funds we’d much rather spend on events, trail upkeep or habitat restoration. The PCA is a community resource– the trail and all the events and activities we hold are made possible through corporate, individual and volunteer support. Any vandalism isn’t just damaging to the trail, it’s a crime against all the generous donors who support our work.

We encourage any trail users who witness vandalism or find any vandalized property to document it with photos and report it immediately to the police. If you see vandalism, the local police can be most effective if notified right away. To report vandalism that has already occurred, call the police department non-emergency line at 608-348-2313. If you witness vandalism in progress, please call 911 or 608-348-2313.