Graffiti is becoming an increasing problem in Merritt, costing taxpayers hundreds of dollars, according to a city official. 


While Merritt has a plethora of legitimate forms of art around town and on city buildings in the form of country music murals, the City of Merritt says unsightly graffiti is on the rise.

"There are always small amounts of vandalism," says city leisure services manager Larry Plotnikoff. "It seems to be an increasing problem in the parks and buildings over the last couple of months."

The most recent incidences of graffiti have occurred at the Rotary Park bandshell and at the bathrooms in Voght Park. The graffiti left behind tends to be green and yellow spray paint.

"We are trying to catch who is doing this," says Plotnikoff. "The city intends to prosecute the culprits to the full extent of the law."

In the past couple of years, the Rotary band shell alone has had to be painted several times, costing taxpayers hundreds of dollars, according to Plotnikoff.

In May last year, vandals targeted Sacred Heart Catholic, spray-painting anti-religious symbols and phrases on the doors, siding, and walkways.

The Smart Step youth council will hold their second annual "Paint Our City Clean" campaign on August 8, to help battle the rise of graffiti around Merritt. Last year's event saw between 35 and 40 youth volunteers out helping to scrub clean and paint over areas across town that had been vandalized.

"Any graffiti that is identified can be passed on to the community policing office, who will in turn let us know," says Smart Step coordinator Nick Kang.

Both the City and Kang encourage the public to report any vandalism and suspicious activity in city parks and around buildings to either the local RCMP detachment or the Community Policing Office.