Ask The City: Love Locks

The Question:

Why did the city cut down all the love locks on the railroad bridge?

“The City removed the love locks because the footbridge is a historic structure owned by Union Pacific. The Parks Division has received public comment in a negative light about the love locks. Per the 1929 agreement with Union Pacific the City is responsible for routine maintenance of the footbridge. We discussed the issue amongst staff and decided to remove the love locks before this became common practice. Finally, Municipal Code related to parks rules and regulations states:

12.52.020 Damaging park facilities. No person (other than authorized city employees) shall willfully mark, deface, disfigure, injure, tamper with, or display or remove, any building, bridges, tables, benches, fireplaces, railings, paving or paving material, water lines or other public utilities or parts or appurtenances thereof, signs, notices or placards (whether temporary or permanent), monuments, stakes, posts or other boundary markers, or other structure or equipment, facilities or park property or appurtenances whatsoever, either real or personal.

Additional information about love locks can be viewed here http://www.latimes.com/travel/la-trb-love-locks-paris-20140610-story.html. “