Over the last few years, there have been more paintings on the rock walls at Ledges State Park, and they will remain there for years. Many of them are childlike, spelling out in bright colors “Be Happy,” “Stay Green,” and my favorite — “To Find Beauty In Oneself is to Find Beauty In Everything.”

There is an owl, lion, and flowers along with butterflies, stars, hearts, crosses, pot leaves, sex scenes and swastikas. There are many initials, names and expressions of young love along with some devil worship and space aliens.

Each year there are more, altering rare archaeological and geological features along the Des Moines River.

Having defaced public property during my trying teenage years I will share my story with these angst- filled artists and the public. I appreciate art and even some graffiti, but these images are troubling no matter how artistic or sweet they are. They are in the wrong place.

Who do we blame? Our parents, the schools, the president, the culture and maybe even ourselves? What will blame gain us or the Ledges? Do we post guards, hidden cameras, write tickets, put up fences or signs? Do we try to explain in a letter to the editor? Let me try.

I, like many others, have struggled with wanting to leave my “mark,” something permanent as the world around me changed. I found my name carved by other Mark’s, deep into the fragile sandstone and at many other parks.  As I grew up, my young love’s name changed and my life expanded into relationships of family, community and loving where I lived. 

This led to a job at the park; a 30-year career as Trails Coordinator for Department of Natural Resources; “pay back” for my arrogant acts and a way to embrace this beautiful place as my home. This path carried me from a scared teenager to realizing the place was important and needed protection. Instead of carving on the world as if it were my property, I realized I was here because of the natural world.   

On my recent visit to the park I found my favorite foot trail leading from the entrance down into the canyon covered in concrete. It now has a truck-wide track made of expensive hog confinement floor panels. This is not what I call a hiking trail. 

This kind of trail/road building is in the wrong place as are the paintings. We cannot remove these defacements of the park, but we can make it clear they are not appropriate here. Please let the park know what you think before there are more.