Fort Ord National Monument urges visitors care for park after vandalism strikes

MONTEREY COUNTY, Calif. (KION-TV) -- Recent vandalism on the historical Fort Ord monument has left visitors and county supervisors upset.

The Fort Ord National Monument is an area many consider sacred because of its beauty, and history.

The popular hiking area was recently vandalized by what the Bureau of Land Management believes was caused by two men.

"When I saw the vandalism on the screen, it was just heartbreaking to see that somebody would do that to our gorgeous area," said Nicky Swanson who lives in Salinas.

"I'm horrified. It's such a bummer. Also Kyle's bench, just that area was for the son of some folks that I know who died. And I was part of a group that helped fund the creation of that bench. So just that someone to be so disrespectful, not only to the memory of young Kyle, but also to the landscape. Been," said Henrietta Stern who lives in Pacific Grove.

It's not just the recent vandalism from taggers that has people upset.

"I've been up there, probably was up there about a week or two ago, and there were a bunch of bottles and cans, and a good friend of mine, Julie went and cleared it all out. She rides around here with a backpack just picking up garbage," said Swanson.

"My dad was born in Fort Ord," said Wendy Askew, Monterey County Supervisor.

With deep connections to the area, supervisor Askew tells me what the county is doing to prevent this community treasure clean.

"We are working to make sure we have garbage and toilets, but it's really up to visitors to work together to keep it clean," said Supervisor Askew.

Supervisor Askew says before fort ord was declared a national monument, over 100,000 visitors came annually. Now, Fort Ord experiences upwards of 1.5 million visitors a year.

"I had the honor of shaking President Obama's hand in 2012 and asking him to create the Fort Ord National Monument. And I just hope that this beautiful place is preserved through this administration," said Stern.

The Bureau of Land Management wants to remind people that littering and dumping are illegal in the area.