PITTSFIELD, Mass. — After just one season, Pittsfield's Clapp Park Little Sled Library has encountered vandalism. 

 

In December 2023, the city approved a community-led sled library to help spread the joy of winter activities.

 

After receiving city approval, resident Lindsey Marion placed a free sled box near the scoreboard at the park, which holds a collection of sleds that visitors can borrow and use on the property's impressive hills. 

 

However, last week, the Clapp Park Little Sled Library's Facebook page announced that all but one of the library's 20-plus sleds were damaged or gone. 

 

"We can do better than this. If your children were at the park today, please have a conversation with them about respecting shared spaces," the post says. 

 

The post garnered several comments in support of the program, and many offered to help donate sleds to help it rebuild its stock. 

 

"Kids will be kids, and things happen, but it's really not that serious — it's a couple of sleds. Hopefully, we can just keep it nice going forward so that everybody can use it because it's certainly not going to be put out next year if the stuff is just being broken," Marion said.

 

"We're certainly not going to just keep putting the sleds out there for people to destroy."

 

So far, three people have donated new sleds this year after the vandalism. The library could use another 20 donations, Marion said. 

 

Those interested in donating a sled to the library can drop it off at Clapp Park or Otto's Kitchen & Comfort, located at 95 East St.

 

"Last year, my gang enjoyed sledding so much. We have eight kids, and their friends met up with them to go sledding, some without sleds ... so we love this program," one commenter said. 

 

"So, very sorry to read this tonight ... come on Pittsfield, let's do better. Let's encourage our children and adolescents to do better." 

 

Since its establishment last winter, Marion said several people have reached out to share their appreciation for the program as it allows kids to enjoy sledding without having to worry about bringing their own equipment. 

 

The initial sled library only held 20 sleds, but a bigger holder has been built by Green Enterprise, with supplies funded by Martino Glass Co. The larger sled library can hold around 40 sleds, Marion said. 

 

More than 30 people donated sleds last year, further demonstrating the community's support, Marion said. 

 

"Pittsfield is making initiatives to do something nice for the youth .... unfortunately, a few can ruin it for all others... hopefully we as a community can make strides to rectify this situation," another commenter said of the post.  

 

A lot of people were just as upset as she was and were kind in sharing the post, Marion said. 

 

"Then there are the people who kind of were, like, 'we told you so. Can't have anything nice in Pittsfield,' which I don't tend to agree with," she said. 

 

This is the first time in a little more than a year this has happened, she said. 

 

"I think it was maybe a group of kids who got bored. It was only this one time because it hadn't happened at all before," she said. 

 

"There were some sleds that were broken, but I think that that's to be expected, kind of like normal wear and tear. This you could tell, it was a targeted instance."