Mazatlán launches a campaign to restore its urban image by removing graffiti

The Mazatlán Historic Center Governing Council has launched an ambitious campaign to eradicate unauthorized graffiti in the city’s first square, with the goal of preserving the architectural heritage and improving the port’s tourist image. The actions include cleaning the facades of historic buildings and iconic monuments, as well as implementing citizen awareness programs. This initiative is part of a broader plan to revitalize the historic center, which recently also included the renovation of sidewalks and streetlights.

The problem of graffiti vandalism is not new in Mazatlán. In 2022, the City Council implemented a similar program on the boardwalk, cleaning more than 50 affected areas. However, a lack of ongoing maintenance allowed the problem to resurface. Authorities are currently seeking to establish a permanent plan that combines cleanup with prevention, learning from past experiences.

As part of the strategy, the creation of legal spaces for urban art is being promoted. Recently, walls were created in the Centro neighborhood to allow local artists to freely express themselves, an initiative that has been well received by the community. This approach seeks to balance artistic expression with urban planning, following the example of successful programs such as the one developed in Central Park, where authorized murals have helped reduce vandalism.

Citizen participation is a fundamental pillar of the project. Last year, civic organizations such as “Mazatlán Limpio” organized cleanup campaigns that removed graffiti from more than 30 historic buildings. Now, the Governing Council seeks to institutionalize these efforts through agreements with schools and businesses, creating permanent maintenance brigades.

The issue of security is also part of the equation. According to reports from the Citizen Observatory, many of the vandalisms are linked to organized crime. To combat this, work is being done in coordination with the Ministry of Public Security to increase surveillance in critical areas, especially at night and early in the morning.

Urban planning experts point out that for these actions to be successful in the long term, they must be complemented with social programs that offer alternatives to young people. In this regard, the Municipal Institute of Culture has announced that in 2024 it will double its budget for urban art workshops, seeking to channel creative energy in a positive way. With this comprehensive approach, Mazatlán aspires to become a model for how heritage cities can combat graffiti vandalism without sacrificing artistic expression.