Chillicothe — A police officer presented an idea for a “street art” wall at the new skate park to council, and showed an example in Portsmouth, intended to reduce offensive graffiti. Michael Shipley (and his son Landon) showed photos and a video of the alley wall in Portsmouth dedicated to public art by anyone.
Shipley said he has been a police officer for 16 years and knows that people won’t always behave, but the project would be worth providing permission for that kind of creativity.
He suggested building it beside the relocated city skate park. Mayor Luke Feeney explained the preferred location for the $400K budget is the north edge of the volleyball sand courts.
Shipley had a $9,300 estimate for a concrete block wall eight feet tall and 40 feet long, exposed for art on both sides. He said anyone could paint on it…but knowing that someone else might paint over that at any time. He also said that he would take on the task of keeping it clean and painting over any offensive graffiti.
See more in the below video.
Council also heard about another public art project to fight offensive graffiti, on the recreational trail under Adena Road.
