Community watch program aimed to protect parks

Date: 1/26/2011

Jan. 26, 2011

By Katelyn Gendron

Assistant Editor

WEST SPRINGFIELD — Parks and Recreation director Victoria Connor is hoping that a renewed partnership with residents and the police department will put an end to vandalism, illegal dumping and overall destruction of the town's parks.

Connor, along with her partners in the Parks and Recreation Commission and the Community Police, will announce the formation of the Park Watch Program at the Jan. 26 public forum on Mittineague Park.

"I have a philosophy of being proactive, rather than being reactive," she said of empowering those in town to help stop vandalism in the parks. "I need the residents to understand that I'm here to act and help but that if they see illegal activity that calling me after the fact really doesn't do any good. We need people to make phone calls to the police department while they're seeing [illegal activity] happen."

Connor noted that repairing vandalized property is very costly, referencing the $9,000 needed to replace the stolen bleachers and player benches at Veterans Field last year. "You can't tell me someone didn't hear something," she said of the incident.

The Park Watch Program will cover all 320 acres of Mittineague Park to start and hopefully expand to include all recreational land in West Springfield, Connor said.

Those witnessing illegal activities, many of which have previously taken place on the property, are encouraged to call the police department at 263-3210. Unlawful activities include misuse of playground equipment; ATV vehicles on park property; defacement of property; alcohol or substance abuse on the grounds; littering; destruction of natural resources; fighting or harassment; and violation of park closing hours.

The Park Watch Program does not encourage residents to take action to stop violators, Connor emphasized, rather, note the location of the incident and take down descriptions of those involved and license plate numbers before calling the police.

For additional information on the Park Watch Program, attend the Mittineague Park forum at Town Hall on Jan. 26 at 7 p.m. or call the Parks and Recreation Department at 263-3284.