Southwest Atlanta mural vandalized 2 days after going on public display

ATLANTA — A southwest Atlanta community is saddened by the senseless vandalism of a brand-new mural. Someone sliced the huge canvas artwork that hangs on the side of Pittman Park Recreation Center.

Channel 2′s Berndt Petersen learned the murals had been on the wall just two days before they were damaged.

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From a distance the seven brand-new canvas murals hanging on the side of the Pittman Park Recreation Center in southwest Atlanta are beautiful.

But Winfrey Young says up close it breaks her heart.

“We birthed this project,” Winfrey said.

Young is the Chair of the Friends of Pittman Park. The artwork tells the story of the Pittsburgh community’s connection with the railroad.

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It’s one of the city’s most historic Black neighborhoods, but vandals armed with knives shredded it.

“If it’s kids, we need to find a way to make them understand, this is a legacy. This is something you need to be reading about (as) opposed to trying to destroy,” Pittsburgh Neighborhood Association President Johnny Floyd said.

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The murals are 10 feet high and 10 feet across. They are part of a $120,000 project to transform the outside of the building.

Winfrey says the damage is at least $40,000 worth. She says perhaps repairs can be made with some paint and duct tape, but it will never be the same.

“This hasn’t even been unveiled yet by the city. We haven’t had the mayor out for the ribbon cutting. It’s like having a brand-new car and somebody keys the car and you put paint on it and you’re going to gift it to somebody,” Winfrey said.

Winfrey says they’re going to try to raise more money to replace or repair the mural.

If you’d like to help, click here.

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