A specialized viewfinder that allowed colorblind visitors to experience the vibrant fall foliage in the Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area was destroyed on the night of September 21.
The device, installed at the East Rim Overlook in Tennessee, had special lenses designed to help those with red-green color blindness see the seasonal transition from lush greens to vivid reds, oranges and golds. This damage to the viewfinder now leaves many visitors unable to fully appreciate the changing colors.
“The park is actively investigating the recent act of senseless vandalism,” Christopher Derman, chief of interpretation and education at Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area, told Newsweek.
“Anyone with information concerning this incident is encouraged to contact the NPS at 423-215-9740 or leave a confidential message on the Resource Protection Tip Line at 423-569-7301. The 24-hour tip line allows callers to be remain anonymous.”
A viewfinder looks out over fall in the Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area. Vandals recently destroyed a specialized such device that allows colorblind people to enjoy the autumnal show.
NPS Photo
The vandalized viewfinder was part of a partnership between the National Park Service and the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development to make the park’s scenic beauty more accessible.
In addition to damaging the viewfinder, the vandals left a large hole in the floor of the overlook balcony, which has been temporarily repaired but will need to be fully replaced later this fall.
“The National Park Service strives to provide opportunities for people to enjoy their park to the greatest extent possible,” Superintendent Niki Stephanie Nicholas said in a statement. “But, thanks to an act of sheer, wanton vandalism, visitors with color blindness will no longer be able to experience the joy of seeing the majestic fall colors of this beautiful landscape.”
Derman added that there is no additional information available at this time other than what the National Park Service has released.
Covering 125,000 acres on the Cumberland Plateau, the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area safeguards the free-flowing Big South Fork of the Cumberland River and its tributaries.
The park features scenic gorges, sandstone bluffs, and a wealth of natural and historic landmarks, offering visitors a variety of outdoor recreational opportunities.
The damaged viewfinder overlooks the Big South Fork gorge, a 40-mile rift through the heart of the landscape. The feature has helped shape the rich biodiversity of the area, which comprises some of the most biologically diverse temperate forests in the world.
A wide variety of animals call the park home, including over 60 species of fish, white-tailed deer and black bears. Some 160 bird species can be found among the trees.
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