Someone painted over the wall on the 100 Steps, Someone else posted a message in response
The text reads:
“WHO TF PAINTED OVER THIS ENTIRE STONE WALL?
WHAT TF WERE YOU THINKING?
WOULD YOU ALSO THROW THE BABY OUT WITH THE BATHWATER?
IF SOMEONE CARVES THEIR NAME INTO THE BARK, WOULD YOU ALSO THEN CHOP DOWN THE WHOLE TREE?
THIS WALL IS HISTORIC & BEAUTIFUL. WELL OVER A CENTURY OLD.
MADE WITH LOCAL STONE FOUND NOWHERE ELSE ON EARTH.
STONES THAT GLIMMER LIKE SILVER.
THE PRODUCT OF MILLIONS OF YEARS OF UNIQUE WISSAHICKON GEOLOGY.
AND IN 1 NIGHT YOU DECIDED TO SMOTHER IT WITH FLAT GRAY PAINT.
LIKE ANY OTHER BORING CORPORATE-FUNDED WALL IN THE CITY.
WITHOUT CONSULTING ANYONE, YOU MADE A DECISION FOR EVERYONE THAT NOW NO ONE GETS TO ENJOY THIS SPOT IN THE SAME WAY.
AND FOR WHAT? BECAUSE OF A LITTLE GRAFFITI IN A FEW SPOTS THAT COULD'VE JUST BEEN POWERWASHED OR TREATED? COME ON.
FOR MANY DECADES I, LIKE COUNTLESS OTHERS, HAVE WALKED THIS PARK.
I RECALL FEELING WONDER AS A CHILD, WALKING HERE WITH MY PARENTS SEEING THE FLOWING WATER & SPARKLING STONES. AN OASIS OF NATURE.
THE RAREST OF PLACES IN A CITY AS HUGE AS PHILLY.
AND NOW, SOME DAY, WHEN I WALK HERE WITH MY CHILDREN, SHALL I SHOW THEM THIS GRAY WALL?
WILL THEY STARE IN WONDER AT YOUR PAINT JOB?
WILL THEY THANK YOU FOR DROWNING OUT A FEW REMOVABLE DOODLES?
OR WILL THEY BE DEPRIVED OF YET 1 MORE NATURAL SIGHT
FOR THE SAKE OF SOME MISGUIDED ATTEMPT AT SANITIZING THE WORLD?
IF YOU HAVE ANY RESPECT FOR THIS PARK & THIS COMMUNITY, WE URGE YOU TO RETURN & POWERWASH THIS ENTIRE WALL CLEAN, OR HELP HIRE PROFESSIONALS TO DO SO.
I'D WRITE MORE, BUT AS YOU CAN SEE, I'VE RUN OUT OF ROOM.
GO BIRDS, F*** THE PPA.”