Residents complained about excessive litter, graffiti and vandalism at the parks.
Four people play basketball at Szot Park. The hoops have since been removed by the Parks and Recreation Department because of complaints of litter and vandalism.CHICOPEE — The City Council is asking for a meeting with the Parks and Recreation Committee after hearing complaints that department officials removed basketball hoops from three parks in the city.
“I have had phone calls from people who are for and who are against removing them from the parks,” City Councilor Frank N. Laflamme said. “I want to find out what is happening.”
Laflamme said he has mixed feelings about the attempt to cut down on vandalism and littering in the parks by removing the hoops.
“I know there is a lot of vandalism. At the same time I think our residents are missing out,” he said.
About a week ago the Parks and Recreation Department removed the basketball hoops at Dana Park on Newbury Street, Lincoln Grove Park on Broadway and Szot Park off Front Street, the city’s biggest park, Stanley J. Walczak, parks and recreation superintendent, said.
There were few problems at the rest of the parks so the hoops remain there, he said.
“There have been problems at several basketball sites with litter, graffiti, damage to hoops and nets,” Walczak said
Walczak said he personally visited the three parks where they were having problems and talked to the players and asked them to keep the parks clean. Despite that discussion, parks employees day in and day out have had to return to pick up empty plastic bottles and other trash left behind, even though there are several barrels at each court.
Even the basketball rims and backboards have been damaged and sprayed with graffiti. It costs about $150 to replace each rim.
Although some have complained, Walczak said many neighbors have thanked the Parks Department for removing the hoops.
“When we took the basketball hoops down the problems stopped. Where they were taken down people are very happy,” he said.
Walczak said he has been working with the police department, but wants to build the relationship and find ways to prevent problems or at least catch them as soon as they happen so they don’t escalate when the hoops are returned.
City Councilor James K. Tillotson endorsed the meeting, saying there needs to be more discussion on monitoring the parks.
“We need to figure out how to control the parks so everyone can be safe,” he said.