SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- A Bay Area artist who created a mural on San Francisco's Great Highway is getting support by community leaders after her artwork was "heavily vandalized" — one day after the road was closed to cars to make way for a new oceanfront park. Thursday is last day to drive along S F’s Great Highway The mural by Emily Fromm that is located at the Judah bathroom on the Great Highway was targeted by vandals Friday night (see photo below). In November, 55 percent of San Franciscans voted yes on Proposition K to permanently ban vehicles from a two-mile stretch of the coastal highway and convert it into a park. On Thursday, the road was closed to vehicles so that the area could be transformed and readied for its opening on April 12. “It’s painful to see something meant to uplift the community and celebrate our history be treated with disrespect,” said muralist Emily Fromm in a news release. “Public art is vulnerable by nature, because it exists out in the open for everyone to enjoy. But vandalism like this doesn’t just damage a mural, it undermines the spirit of community that this project is all about." Officials with the park said a report was filed with park rangers on Saturday to investigate the incident. Anyone who witnessed the event or has information on the vandalism is urged to contact their nearest law enforcement agency. “Vandalizing a beautiful mural to protest a park is a bit like slashing your own tires to complain about traffic. It just doesn’t make sense,” said Phil Ginsburg, the general manager of the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department. “The new oceanfront park belongs to all San Franciscans, regardless of how they voted on Prop K. These murals are beautifying public restrooms and celebrating the history and natural beauty of Ocean Beach," added Lucas Lux, president of Friends of Ocean Beach Park. It is not clear what led to the incident. Fromm has said that she and other artists had previously faced verbal harassment several times from opponents of the park. “This kind of vandalism and harassment has no place in San Francisco,” said Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco). “Turning the Great Highway into a public park is a visionary project that reflects our city’s values: access to open space, community, and imagination. Attacking artists and volunteers who are bringing this vision to life is shameful." KRON4 reached out to the San Francisco Police Department for comment but did not hear back in time for this report. ...read more read less