Vandalism reported at Sanford Riverwalk, historic Ritz Theater; crew faced difficulty in graffiti removal

Graffiti scribbled on historic Sanford theater, Riverwalk

The city of Sanford reported vandalism to the Riverwalk area, releasing images of words in red, yellow and black spray paint covering one of the swing pavilions. Crews faced obstacles in removing the paint due to the porous material in the pavilion, which absorbed the paint and made the removal difficult. No suspects have been identified at this time, police say. 

SANFORD, Fla. - The city of Sanford reported vandalism to the Riverwalk area, releasing images of words in red, yellow and black spray paint covering one of the swing pavilions. 

What we know:

One of Sanford's Riverwalk swing pavilions – located at the intersection of Sanford Avenue and Seminole Boulevard – was impacted by graffiti on city property, Sanford officials said. The city reported the vandalism on Wednesday, Feb. 4. 

Graffiti was also discovered on the side of the historic Ritz Theater, a landmark that has been a part of the Sanford community since 1923. 

Crews faced obstacles in removing the paint due to the porous material in the pavilion, which absorbed the paint and made the removal difficult. They initially used a pressure washer to remove the paint, which didn't work, the city said. 

The City of Sanford quickly mobilized to address the vandalism. Cleanup efforts, which included painting over the graffiti and using specialized cleaning tools after pressure washing proved ineffective, cost approximately $1,000 and required significant staff time.

What they're saying:

Sanford Mayor Art Woodruff expressed his deep disappointment, emphasizing the time and resources that could have been better spent on community improvements. 

"We work very hard to try to make Sanford look better, to fix things," he said. " … To have people come along and destroy it essentially, so that we have to go back and fix it again, is hard."

The backstory:

The Ritz Theater holds a special place in Sanford’s history. Originally opened as the Milane Theater, it thrived for decades before closing in the late 1970s. The building was rescued from disrepair in 1999 and later added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Some residents shared their dismay at the lack of respect shown to such a significant city landmark. 

"It’s so disappointing, especially a historic building like this one," said one resident. "I can’t imagine... they have put so much into restoring this building and to have it be so disrespectful."

What's next:

Anyone who notices any vandalism or illegal activity on the trails or at any of Sanford's facilities is asked to contact the Sanford Parks and Recreation Department at 407-688-5103 or the Sanford Police Department Non-emergency number at 407-688-5199.

What we don't know:

The Sanford Police Department has launched an investigation into the vandalism, but no suspects have been identified at this time. Officials are urging anyone with information to contact Crimeline. Callers can remain anonymous.

The community remains hopeful that the perpetrators will be caught and that these incidents will serve as a reminder of the importance of protecting Sanford's rich history and public spaces.