Paint Mines in El Paso County dealing with damage from recent vandalism, larger crowds

EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) -- You wouldn't expect someone to damage the natural, colorful beauty that makes the Paint Mines Interpretive Park such a popular attraction but that's exactly what has happened recently.

Authorities confirm that in one incident, someone spray-painted one of the towering rock formations; in the other incident, names were carved into the rock.

"That's normally not a place where that happens," said county Commissioner Mark Waller. "It's in a remote area. But that remoteness makes it difficult for us to have regular patrols there after hours. You can't put a fence around it."

The graffiti has been removed.

"We also had one of the towering rock formations knocked down," said Adam Baker, a county parks supervisor. "Climbing is definitely an issue we have out here. It's something we discourage time and time again. That just increases the erosion, which makes the formations more fragile."

People were climbing the rocks Wednesday, despite posted signs asking people not to.

The park also is experiencing a significant increase in visitors, likely due to the COVID-19 pandemic causing more people to see the park.

"The vandalism could have been done by visitors who went there after hours and thought they were in an area that wasn't park property," Waller said. "But we are seeing more damage, even during the day, from people leaving the established trails and making their own trails."

Waller said authorities are waiting to see if the pattern continues, and if it does, will consider what action to take.

"We'll have park staff patrol more often (during hours), maybe see if sheriff's deputies can patrol more often (after hours)," he said. "We have only one person (Baker) monitoring the park and he has other parks to watch, as well."

The county gets far less tax revenue to support parks than other nearby counties, but Waller said there are no plans to ask voters for a tax increase.

"We're getting around $3 million back from last year's (TABOR) revenue surplus," he said. "We could use it for parks, but with this COVID pandemic going on, we've decided to return that to taxpayers."

Roe McClaskey, a park visitor, said she wishes the county had asked voters to keep the money if it would help with park security.

"I'd even be willing to pay admission," she said. "Something between $5 and $9 seems right. That's about what other attractions charge."