Area teenagers are participating in a program to paint over graffiti on walls and buildings around Pinellas County.
It was two days before Christmas and most Pinellas County kids were spending time with their friends or hanging out at the mall.
But for a group of nine youths ages 14-17, the day was spent paying back to the community. It was a day to wear old clothes and paint walls as part of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Grafitti Response Program.
All nine juveniles were recently found guilty in juvenile court of misdemeanors ranging from shoplifting to domestic battery. As a result they were sentenced to varying lengths of community service, leading to the activities of Dec. 23.
“They’re all good kids that made mistakes,” said sheriff’s Deputy Beverly Borland. “They make good grades and the majority are talking about going to college.”
Sheriff’s Cpl. David Disano said the impressive thing about the youths is their enthusiasm.
“Once they do it, they want to come back. They get a feeling of accomplishment,” Disano said. “It’s a cool program. I love to see the kids’ reaction to it.”
The program, which started last month, targets graffiti-covered areas of the county about three times per month. Deputies said most of the graffiti is the work of other youths but they don’t discount the possibility of organized gang activity.
“It’s interesting to hear the kids because they’re upset with other kids that are doing graffiti that they know, and they’ve told me that they’ll say something to them next time,” said Disano.
The day started with painting at a privately owned warehouse on Lown Street North in St. Petersburg, followed by a stop at Northwest Little League, 6701 40th Ave. N.
After lunch in Lealman, the team moved on to a former Shell’s Restaurant site at Park Street and Tyrone Boulevard in Seminole, followed by even more work behind a Winn-Dixie supermarket in Madeira Beach.
Most property owners donate the paint and the program volunteers take care of the rest.
Anyone with property that has been vandalized by graffiti and would like to have it painted should contact the Sheriff’s Office at 582-6200.
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