Vandals Spray Cliff Walk Love Locks Orange

After a batch of love locks on the chain-link fence along the famed Newport Cliff Walk were vandalized and sprayed with orange paint recently, the Newport Cliff Walk Commission is about to figure out a plan to deal with the locks once and for all.

Newport’s Cliff Walk is a world-renowned 3.5 mile walkway with stunning Atlantic Ocean views on one side and stunning Gilded Age mansions on the other.

Recently, padlocks covered in written initials, inscriptions and scrawlings have begun to appear on the chain-link fence that protects pedestrians from some of the steep slopes along the route. It’s part of a growing trend among some travelers to leave behind a lock in certain places as a token of sorts, much to the chagrin of local officials.

In Paris, the historic Pont des Arts bridge became so overwhelmed with the locks that the city in June cut off 45 tons worth and replaced metal grills for Plexiglas to put an end to it.

Here in Newport, the Cliff Walk Commission has been wary of the locks ever since they started appearing, telling people that they take away from the views and the experience for all visitors, reflecting the belief of many that putting a difficult-to-remove lock at a public park or historical site is a bit disrespectful, or at the very least, self-absorbed.

On the other hand, many enjoy the presence of the locks, which often represent the bond between two people connected to a special place, or a person’s special connection to the site.

With the recent vandalism, the the now-orange locks look rather hideous, officials said, leaving the commission with few choices other than to cut them off with bolt cutters.

In a post on its Facebook page, the commission said the locks “have been painted a garish orange by graffiti vandals.”

“Please refrain from placing locks on the fences along the Walk - they despoil the experience and views for all.”

The matter is on the commission’s agenda Wednesday night.

The commission meets at 5 p.m. at the Newport Public Library.

The origins of the fad aren’t exactly determined, though many point to the 2006 book, I Want You, during which a pair of lovers put a lock on Ponte Milvio in Rome.

As the fad has spread, many bridges around the world have been beset with the lock. Locks have also appeared on statues and works of art.

Photo: Vandalized locks along the Newport Cliff Walk in Newport. (Photo: Cliff Walk Commission via Facebook)