05/16/03

CORBETT -- State police and park officials are studying surveillance tapes from security cameras at Vista House to see whether they can catch those responsible for spray-painting graffiti on the building this week.

Kevin Price, Oregon State Parks assistant area manager, said officials discovered the graffiti Monday morning on the outer walls of the building and a nearby stone retaining wall.

"We're in the middle of a $2 million restoration and then this happens," Price said. "It's really unfortunate."

Sgt. Craig George of the Oregon State Police reviewed the tapes Thursday. The cameras, he said, were installed to deter vandalism at the building, which has stood sentinel at the mouth of the Columbia River Gorge for 85 years.

"We don't want to give the taggers publicity because it just may encourage them," George said. "But we want people to know that there are cameras in place and hope they act as a deterrent."

Officer Grant McCormick, Gresham police spokesman, said the graffiti is associated with the 18th Street gang from California, whose activities are widespread in east Multnomah County.

Officials said they hope to have the graffiti removed this week. One of the subcontractors hired to restore the building will remove it, Price said.

"Typically, we would sandblast it, or use steam washing or chemicals," Price said. "But some of these methods can just push the paint farther into the stone and make is worse."

Price said vandalism continues to be a challenge at the 33 state parks in the Columbia River Gorge. In the past three years, state parks officials have documented 135 acts of vandalism at state-run parks in the gorge.

"When it comes to insurance, we've got a $2,500 deductible for each occurrence of vandalism," Price said. "We could have 10 incidents that cost $1,000 apiece and the insurance would not pay for it. That's money that comes out of funds that could have been used for a new drinking fountain, a new bench or even better toilet paper.

About $1.2 million has been raised from private donors, corporations and foundations to renovate Vista House in time for the 2005 bicentennial celebration of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. The goal is to raise $2 million and finish the restoration by December 2004.

Three groups -- Friends of Vista House, the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department and the Oregon State Parks Trust -- are making sure the work continues.

To make a tax-deductible contribution, call the Oregon State Parks Trust at 800-497-2757

Donations can also be sent directly to Restore Vista House, P.O. Box 204, Corbett OR 97109. For information, call Friends of Vista House at 503-695-2230. Stuart Tomlinson: 503-294-5940;