Graffiti at Cuyahoga Dam Draws Different Views
Photo by Morgan Dunlop
Story by: Morgan Dunlop
TheKent Dam, located in historic Kent, Ohio was completed in 1836 and holds much beauty and and is a source of peace and relaxation for visitors, but it is also the victim of much vandalism and graffiti.
The dam although serving no real function, is a location many people go to take an evening stroll, enjoy a nice summer day and even go kayaking.
Although the area is one of peace, tranquility and relaxation, there are also some negative things that take place in the surrounding area.
Some people look at graffiti as a form of art, and other look at it as a form of vandalism. The question is who is right? The answer is subjective to everyone who sees it. One may look at graffiti and see it as defacing public property, and they would be right in the eyes of the law.
Others look at graffiti and see art and rightfully so, it is creative and unique to those who create it. The form of expression is what draws eyes. This is what draws an interesting perspective and and makes conflicting views of the same topic.
Although graffiti has some negative connotation to it, one student thinks graffiti can have some positive aspects because of the message it may have.
“I think it is a form of expression, it is the same of any art that may be on campus,” student Caleb Braudus, a student who travels around the country.” I know that a lot of graffiti I see in places like New York and Chicago is talking about social issues that are going on, I would like to see graffiti artists talk about that more.”
Lieutenant Michael Lewis of the Kent Police Department does not think graffiti has any positive aspects to it. Lewis said you can also be subject to legal consequences for “possession of graffiti implements and will be offered no diversion program in lieu of persecution.”
Lieutenant Michael Lewis, Kent Police Department
The violation results in a minor misdemeanor charge, but the severity of the charge is increased if caught multiple times according to Lewis. If caught once, it is a third degree misdemeanor, if caught twice it is a second degree misdemeanor and if caught three times it is a first degree misdemeanor.
Nicholas Shearer, recently promoted to the Operations Captain for the Kent Police Department, has caught people vandalizing the area in the past.
“We have caught people in the past, said Shearer. “When the problem starts to get more frequent, we will send officers out in plain clothes to start looking for it. It is not a serious offense, but we can arrest people if we witness it.”
Nicholas Shearer, Operations Captain Kent Police Department
“It diminishes the area,” Shearer said. “There is a large segment of people that love being by the river and just taking a walk. The actual maintenance of the area is maintained by the cities parks and recreation department.”
Victoria Murray it a Trip Supervisor for the river, overseeing kayaking trips done in the location and sees all of the different aspects that the river brings to the location.
“The River brings so many opportunities for a wide variety of people. The most obvious activity is kayaking, canoeing and stand up paddle boarding,” said Murray. “Every summer we help people of all ages – young and old – experience the river in a new way through the Crooked River Adventures livery.
The location of the river is what draws many students to it. Located five minutes from the Kent State University campus, it is an area many students go after classes and on the weekends to just get away from everything for a little while and clear their minds next to some peaceful free-flowing water.
“I think the River also provides Kent State students with the opportunity to relax from school and work by taking a stroll or biking along the path that follows the river downtown,” said Murray. “Plus, it provides a great background for students and anyone else, really to take some nice pictures.”
Although Murray has many great memories of the river, she also has the vandalism of the area engrained in her head since she was young.
“I remember the graffiti being there when I used to run with friends through Kent in high school,” said Murray “I have become somewhat accustomed to frequently seeing it downtown near the river. However, I think the City of Kent is doing a great job of trying to clean and uplift some of the places that have seen a lot of deterioration and graffiti.”
Murray is “pleased” with the way the river is currently being maintained and operated, so she only has good things to say about the current conditions of it.
“The River is maintained by a variety of organizations and groups. For example, every Fall, Crooked River Adventures partners with Kent, Cuyahoga Falls, and Munroe Falls to host a river clean-up day that involves not only students, but also members of the surrounding communities. Many of these partners have actually recently joined together to advocate for the designation of Ohio Water Trail to the Cuyahoga River.”
Victoria Murray, Trip Supervisor Cuyahoga River
Vandalism is one of the most infrequent crimes committed in Portage County, occurring only 13 times since 2016.
Whether you see it as art or a form of vandalism, one common denominator remains true. No matter how you view the act of graffiti, it is still illegal and if you are going to commit the crime, you must be willing to take the penalty that can be handed down to you.
The sensitivity of free expression in the public domain is something that is tricky to deal with, kids may be walking by and see sensitive material that should not be viewed by a youthful mind. The illegality of the art form is something that can be viewed as a positive thing overall for the protection of the innocence of the young people in the area.
