Repeatedly targeted — who has Lanshan Trail offended?
Over two years, facilities worth more than 30,000 yuan have been damaged
The Lanshan Scenic Fitness Trail is not only a platform for ordinary citizens to exercise and enjoy the scenery, but also a favorite spot for hiking enthusiasts. However, the night before last, the stone tables, benches, and speakers on the viewing platform were deliberately smashed, some trees were broken in half or uprooted, and various words were carved onto the sculptures.
At around 10 a.m. yesterday, reporters noticed while ascending the Lanshan Scenic Fitness Trail that various uniquely shaped speakers along the path were welded with two iron bars. Aunt Li, who is responsible for cleaning, said that the speakers along the fitness trail are often vandalized. Before the iron bars were installed, people would pull the speakers out of the ground and roll them down the hillside, so they had no choice but to weld the iron bars on.
As the reporters walked along the fitness trail to a viewing platform halfway up the mountain, they saw that the stone tables and benches meant for visitors’ rest had been smashed to pieces. A worker who was clearing the debris said, “The tables and benches were fine when we finished work at 6 p.m. yesterday, but when we came to clean this morning, we found them smashed.” Along the way, it could also be seen that some citizens, taking shortcuts, had trampled on lawns and low shrubs, breaking them, while some trees were snapped in half or uprooted, and various words were carved on the surrounding sculptures.
Later, the reporters contacted Mr. Yang, head of the Greening Section of the Chengguan District Forestry Bureau in Lanzhou. According to Mr. Yang, the fitness trail has been in place for over two years since its completion. Although they have continuously strengthened management, the vast area of the trail makes it difficult to prevent deliberate damage. Mr. Yang hopes that the general public can participate in protecting the park’s infrastructure, reduce the loss of public property, and jointly care for our home. He urged people to stop anyone caught damaging public facilities or report such behavior to the management authorities.
At around 4 p.m. yesterday, a relevant official from the Chengguan District Forestry Bureau of Lanzhou told reporters: “There are 23 personnel on the fitness trail, including patrol and cleaning staff, and there are also three night patrol officers. But it is still hard to prevent such incidents. Over the past two years, the damaged tables, benches, streetlights, trees, and other infrastructure are worth approximately 30,000 yuan. Most of these acts of destruction occurred at night, and some people, after drinking alcohol, would recklessly vandalize. This not only affects the city’s appearance but also inconveniences visitors.” Currently, the public security authorities have launched a full investigation into this case of malicious vandalism of public infrastructure.