The West Grand Rapids Neighborhood Organization held a real-time demonstration Wednesday of a new graffiti removal and prevention product.
GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM) - A Grand Rapids neighborhood has decided to take a stand against the problem of graffiti.
The West Grand Rapids Neighborhood Organization held a real-time demonstration Wednesday of a new graffiti removal and prevention product.
Demonstrators sprayed the material on the side of the old YMCA building on Leonard Street.
According to developers, the material used is a combination of products in conjunction with water and heat that basically burns the graffiti off the wall.
"It will make it more difficult for individuals to apply graffiti tags and make it much easier for the infrastructure to maintain its integrity," said Timmy Sanders, who is the product developer and the owner of Omega Environmental Services.
Members of the Grand Rapids Police Department were on hand for the demonstration. They're happy more solutions are being created for the ever-growing graffiti problem in Grand Rapids.
"For me, it was certainly worth while to come out here and take a look [at the product]," said Grand Rapids Police Captain, Daniel Savage. "I'm certainly not in the decision-making aspect for the city for the removal of graffiti but it's nice to see some products out there that hopefully work against this issue."
Developers of the products plan to take it in front of a Lansing review board on Thursday. They hope to gain state approval for its use by August 1.
By Brent Ashcroft