Durango’s version of The Arc of History is not that long and it bends toward silliness. But there is a place in the world for light-hearted amusement, and in the middle of an inexplicable intersection seems as good as any. Why not leave it there?

The arc is, of course, the stone sculpture on the island in the intersection of U.S. Highways 550 and 160 near the DoubleTree. It was vandalized in July 2015 and the Durango Public Art Commission decided last week not to pay to have it repaired.

That was the right call. The artist who created the work wanted $38,000 or more to fix it – after it cost $28,000 to begin with. That would be hard to justify.

But is the only alternative to repairing the statue to remove it? That dismisses the way locals have come to appreciate The Arc. After all, its most popular application so far has been as a vehicle for amateur art, harmless self-expression and humor. That could continue.

First erected two years ago this month, the arc has been controversial from the start. Many critics simply disliked its appearance, with some coming up with inventive (if sometimes scatological) names for it. Others decried its abstract nature, preferring something that would better depict Durango’s heritage. And, as if to prove there are fools in even the best places, someone tried to destroy it.

But a few found in it ways to express Durango’s fundamentally good nature. A Chinese dragon head showed up on The Arc. An egg nest appeared beneath it. Little “arcs” were found alongside the original, as were Easter eggs and bunnies.

In October of 2014, a dinosaur head was mounted on the statue. It was then stolen by teens who turned it in to the police. The dinosaur head was claimed by its creator and ultimately auctioned off for $5,000, which was donated to the Durango Arts Center.

There is no reason that kind of harmless fun should have to stop. Finding amusing uses for The Arc has almost become something of a local tradition. Why not let it?