Valley Independent Sentinel

In Wake Of Park Vandalism, Seymour Land Trust Prez Calls For More Patrols

by Melvin Mason | Jul 16, 2009 8:42 pm

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Posted to: Seymour

Seymour —

Recent vandalism at a pair of town parks prompted the Seymour Land Trust president to call for more police patrols and the installation of security cameras.

Seymour Land Trust President Frank Conroy is asking that more be done to safeguard the town parks after vandals this week hit Legion Pool off Chatfield Street and the gazebo at Veterans Park, located on the corner of Pearl and Day streets.

Conroy said garbage cans and two picnic tables were dumped into Bladens Brook at Legion Pool over the weekend.

One table was still in the water as of Thursday afternoon.

Over at Veterans Park, the roof of the 2-year-old gazebo was punctured. Graffiti was drawn and scratched into the gazebo’s roof and tables.

The damage was estimated at more than $1,000, according to a report in the New Haven Register.

Members of the Valley Community Foundation announced Thursday they will contribute $500 to help with repairs.

“We’ve been a Land Trust supporter over a number of years and I hope this will help them put their properties back in shape as soon as possible,” said James Cohen, the foundation’s president.

Meanwhile, Conroy, a member of the town’s Board of Selectmen, wants more police patrols in the parks to prevent future vandalism.

“This problem hasn’t developed overnight,” Conroy said, referring to previous reports of damage to Land Trust and town-run recreation areas. “I think we can control it a lot better than what we’re doing. We should concentrate on areas where you have this [vandalism]. I don’t think they’re addressing it properly.”

Conroy said he also wants security cameras installed in the parks, something the Seymour Police Department is considering purchasing if a $30,000 federal Justice Assistance Grant application is successful.

But, until the cameras are installed, Conroy said, more should be done to monitor the parks.

“They’ve already identified a problem. They know they have the problem, but until they get the cameras, what do they do? Beef up security,” he said.

First Selectman Bob Koskelowski said police officers are already watching the parks.

“The police are actively patrolling all of the parks. They might not be here when something’s going on. But they’re doing the best with the manpower [they have],” he said. “They get over 1,800 calls a month to respond to. So they do the best they possibly can.”

Koskelowski said the town plans to apply again to the Katharine Matthies Foundation to get grant money to purchase cameras. An application the town made last year was unsuccessful.

Police Chief Mike Metzler and Lt. Paul Satkowski could not be reached for comment on Thursday.

Denise Pokrywka, who lives across from Veterans Park, hopes something can be done.

She said the park and gazebo should be protected from the graffiti and littering that has happened at the gazebo and the bocce courts.

“It’s sad,” she said.

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