Park Vandalism Has Pittsfield Looking to Enhance Enforcement
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Following significant wintertime vandalism of park facilities, the city is looking at a streamlined process for barring those who cannot follow rules and regulations.
On Tuesday, the Parks Commission designated James McGrath, park, open space, and natural resource program manager, as the point person when police want to enact a "No Trespass" order on an individual.
"There are times when it's important to look at enforcement of our rules and regulations and there are times when enforcement alone doesn't seem to be working," he said.
"Those are times when the police often think maybe we should effectively ban someone from this park for a period of time or for perpetuity but that's something that the police sort of sus out."
To ban a person from a park, the chair of the Parks Commission must sign a "No Trespass" order. For a streamlined process, the Pittsfield Police Department requested that McGrath be the signatory on behalf of the commission.
Chair Paula Albro requested that she be aware of the order but has no problem handing over the signatory responsibilities.
"The Police Department is looking at having the ability to more quickly enforce rules and regulations through trespass orders," McGrath explained.
"But in certain situations where they're finding their same repeat offenders, of whatever the violation may be. It's like, this person is really not getting it and we're having a hard time curbing this behavior, maybe a trespass order would be a tool we can use."
This is used sporadically but maybe something that is deployed more often in the future to deal with some issues in the parks, McGrath said. Former Chair Cliff Nilan remembered dealing with one of these orders.
"It has been used. I think the process was wrong," McGrath said.
"There had been at least one trespass order that I know that the Police Department had recommended and the park maintenance superintendent had signed it but I think once the police started working much more closely with the attorney, the city attorney said, 'Whoa, whoa, whoa. This needs approval from the ultimate managing authority, which is the chairperson of the commission,'
"So we've stepped back and said, 'Oh, there's a right way to do this. Let's make certain that we're being consistent with what the Commonwealth says is the appropriate way to actually trespass order.'"
Over the winter, vandals stripped major components from the splash pads at The Common and Clapp Park — including copper. Facilities at Durant Park and some of the Little League fields were also ransacked and/or vandalized and the city vowed to increase security measures to prevent this from happening again.
It was clarified that the police will always make the recommendation for a "No Trespass."
"I think this commission simply wants to see park rules enforced," McGrath said, adding that this is not their line of work and hope is to have park rules enforced so they are a safe place for families and lawful activities.
He reported that several parks are seeing a rise in the types of behaviors that the city doesn't condone, creating unsafe conditions. While many of these activities are occurring in the urban core of the city, this effort will be in all Pittsfield parks.
"It's not as if we're just picking on The Common," McGrath said.
"This is something we would hope the police would begin to look at as their regular patrolling, enforcing rules around the entirety of the city just so that there is consistency in how they are approaching this."
Commissioner Simon Muil observed that if there is no enforcement, the rules seem redundant. Similarly, Commissioner Anthony DeMartino feels that this will send a message to the community and ensure the parks are a safe place for everyone.
"I think the message will get out quickly," McGrath said.
"But again, we've we need the assistance of the Pittsfield Police Department and I think they're bringing to us an opportunity and overture for 'Hey, we want to help you.'"
In other news, a handful of summer events for the public were approved:
• The PPD will hold a National Night Out at The Common on Aug. 7 from 5 to 7 p.m. Officer Darren Derby reported that the event will be the "same as last year, very simple."
It will include bouncy houses, free food, balloon art, and a DJ.
• Christian Assembly Berkshire will hold a kids' outreach event at Dorothy Amos Park on Aug. 10 from 1 to 4 p.m. The event will include pickup basketball, game painting, and food.
"It's super simple," Youth Director Hannah McIntosh said. "We want our youth in our church to kind of just extend love and connection with the kids and I think Dorothy Amos Park is a great strategic spot to do that."
• The third annual Revel in Recovery event will be held at The Common on Sept. 7 from 1 to 5 p.m. Program Director Julie Macdonald said it is a celebration during recovery month that allows people to have fun together and interact.
There will be a band from 2 to 4 p.m., speakers, poetry, and kids activities.
"The idea is not just celebrating recovery, but showing the general public that people in recovery are our creative people," Macdonald said.
Tags: public parks, vandalism,
