We can't have nice things: Dude Chilling Park sign stolen
A popular public art addition to East Vancouver’s Guelph Park did not last beyond six months at its new location.
It was stolen from the park sometime over the long weekend, but it is not known who might have stolen the sign or if it will ever be recovered.
Not chill, dude: Dude Chilling Park sign stolen http://t.co/J5iEg0Yk9t pic.twitter.com/lLh26jTQWk
— CTV Vancouver (@CTVVancouver) September 1, 2014
The “Dude Chilling Park” sign was installed this past February after the Vancouver Park Board gave it approval. The sign was made by local artist Viktor Briestensky, who also went to the trouble of placing it at the park in November 2012 as a prank.
It was removed promptly by park board crews, but the sign’s popularity led to a campaign and petition to save the sign and establish it as a permanent fixture in the park. Some had even called for Guelph Park to be renamed to Dude Chilling Park.
The sign gained social media virality and even captured the attention of American late night host Jimmy Kimmel.
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However, not everyone has been happy about the parody sign. It had its share of local resident opponents who believed the sign was sending the wrong message about what kind of behaviour was permitted in the park.
The sign has been vandalized twice during its second life as a public art installation. In July, the sign was vandalized with a tag that read “Guelph Park SASSSSSY!” and the “Dude Chilling Park” text crossed out.
Well this is disappointing. #Vancouver‘s Dude Chilling Park sign vandalized: pic.twitter.com/6PGGDmxTHD
— Andrea Woo (@AndreaWoo) July 10, 2014
It was tagged again just three weeks ago with the word “Dude” scratched out and replaced with “Girl” while the female symbol was sprayed on top of the word “Park”.
Don’t mess with the Dude! @ParkBoard says the graffiti on the Dude Chilling Park sign should be gone this afternoon. pic.twitter.com/jXfsvZVM5M
— Sheila Scott (@Sheila_Scott) August 13, 2014
In both incidents, park board maintenance crews made prompt efforts to clean the sign.
Feature Image: CTV Vancouver via Twitter
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