For the first time in more than a decade, the mural in Bergen Place Park has been tagged.

The markings on the border of the mural were painted over yesterday evening, June 6.

Victoria Sangrey with the Friends of Bergn Place said she may look to local artists for help with the rest, since the original artists, Alan Wylie and Charles Svob, live in Canada. It would be costly for them to travel to Seattle, she said.

Sangrey said the mural has been in place since 1995 and has never been hit by graffiti in this manner.

"I am deeply saddened to see someone has tagged the mural," Sangrey said in an email. "I hope someone in the community will turn the person in who did this and that all in Ballard will watch Bergen Place for illegal activity and report it to 911."

The mural was created through a partnership between the Ballard Historical Society and Seattle-Bergen Sister City Association to commemorate Ballard's history and cultural ties with Norway.

Though the Ballard Historical Society has a fund set aside for such incidents, Sangrey said the Friends of Bergen Place may have to fund the restoration.

The mural was dedicated by King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway on Oct. 25, 1995.