A graffiti attack on a Fernie bridge has outraged a local volunteer organization that spent years planning and fundraising for the facility.
The Fernie Trails Alliance raised more than $300,000 through various grants to build the Fairy Creek Bridge, which was finished in 2016 after nearly 10 years of planning work.
The facility allows for safe access to Mt Proctor trails, Fernie Visitor Centre, Dicken Road and the Ghostrider business area.
“Prior to the bridge, pedestrians were forced to make use of the highway bridge that has no sidewalk on the trail side,” said FTA volunteer Simon Piney.
“Many folk, unwilling to walk or bike due to the dangers of highway traffic, were driving and parking dangerously in the Fairy Creek pull-out, causing a number of accidents.”
Last week, Piney went to check the bridge for winter damage only to discover someone had vandalized the inside and removed the top of a coniferous tree near the signboard.
Volunteers have now spent hours removing the graffiti.
The FTA has not reported the incident to police but is planning to install concealed cameras.
“This is a community asset, almost everyone in the community respects that and supports it and we would simply ask that those who would look to damage it or steal trees from the site consider the hard work that has gone into this on a purely voluntary basis for the benefit of everyone,” said Piney.