To the editor:

This is my opinion on the wonderful collaboration and construction of the city/county Greenway, an enjoyable and fun place to go hiking, biking, or just casual strolling. However, over the years, the Greenway has suffered many incursions by vandals who have targeted the area with graffiti. They obviously don’t appreciate what has been built for the citizens’ enjoyment.

You can look all around the Greenway from the Des Peres River to the Cliff Cave and Grant Trail connectors. Bigger problems in the city and St. Louis County, certainly, but it is like a cancer spreading. Can we clean it up? Sure, but they will come back and repeat offend. Constant whitewashing is not the answer. We need to catch and punish those who deface public and private property.

The walls of the trail are not to express political views on oil or show gang affiliations in the area. People will soon stop coming with families to celebrate the outdoors. Cars are broken into and valuables are taken. Unless there is a more robust effort to monitor the safety and integrity of the area I see things only getting much worse. City/county leaders could certainly do more. Robberies and assaults are also possible. We have no idea what nefarious people could be mixing in.

Police have their hands full with so many other issues to deal with. Ask for more accountability from the officials who should be held responsible. St. Louis city and county deserve better. Write and call your aldermen/women.

Don Quiel

St. Louis County