Vandals Spray Paint Sanford RiverWalk Pavilion; Crews Overcome Removal Challenges

Spray paint in red, yellow and black covered one of the RiverWalk swing pavilions at the intersection of Sanford Avenue and Seminole Boulevard, city officials reported, prompting a multi-step cleanup that tested crews and equipment.

The city released images showing words painted across the pavilion and notified the public of the vandalism on Wednesday, Feb. 4. Sanford Parks and Recreation and public works staff responded, attempting an initial cleanup with a pressure washer. That first attempt failed because the pavilion material was porous and had absorbed the paint, making removal difficult.

Crews continued the effort despite chilly weather and eventually brought in a more powerful pressure unit and a commercial graffiti-removal product. Those combined tools allowed crews to restore the pavilion to its intended state, the city said. The incident was reported publicly Feb. 4 and was included in local coverage published Feb. 5, 2026.

The damage affected a visible public amenity on city property and required an escalated response from municipal crews. Sanford Parks and Recreation directed residents to report vandalism or illegal activity on trails and at city facilities by calling the department at 407-688-5103. The Sanford Police Department non-emergency line is 407-688-5199 for tips or reports related to the incident.

City officials have not provided suspect information, and no arrests or charges have been announced. The city has not said if any suspects have been identified at this time. No specific words painted on the pavilion were released in the city images provided to the news outlet.

For residents, the episode underscores how vandalism can strain local maintenance resources and temporarily affect public spaces used for recreation and gatherings. The RiverWalk pavilion at Sanford Avenue and Seminole Boulevard is a public-facing site often frequented by walkers and visitors; visible vandalism can alter perceptions of safety and cleanliness and requires staff time and specialized equipment to remedy when common removal methods do not work.

What happens next will depend on any follow-up from Sanford Police and decisions by Sanford Parks and Recreation about preventive measures. For now the pavilion is restored, and city officials ask anyone who notices vandalism to call Sanford Parks and Recreation at 407-688-5103 or Sanford Police non-emergency at 407-688-5199. Information in this story was gathered from the city of Sanford.