Vandalism Damages Community Pianos, Art Installations in San Francisco, Bar Harbor Parks

Sunset Dunes park in San Francisco has experienced multiple recent acts of vandalism targeting public art installations, including the destruction of a community piano and severe damage to the Ocean Calling exhibit, a phone booth installation symbolizing connection with lost loved ones. The piano was found likely beyond repair with most keys and hinges broken, while the phone booth's phone and surrounding wood structures were ripped apart and defaced. These incidents follow earlier vandalism in March when a mural was spray-painted, reflecting ongoing tensions since the closure of the Upper Great Highway to cars and its conversion into the park. Community members and officials condemned the acts, emphasizing the importance of respecting voter decisions and preserving public art that fosters community joy and healing. In Bar Harbor, Maine, a similar case occurred where a community piano was vandalized, with local authorities investigating and community members expressing heartbreak over the damage. Both locations illustrate challenges in maintaining shared public art spaces amid varying community dynamics.