East Granby To ‘Take Back’ Granbrook Park Saturday

EAST GRANBY, CT — East Granby is asking volunteers to help clean up Granbrook Park after vandalism damaged parts of the town’s new playscape project.

The town announced “Take Granbrook Park Back Day” will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 6.

Volunteers are being asked to help clean up trash, paint damaged playscape equipment, paint the snack shack and help with other areas of the park.

“We are all grateful for the outpouring of concern and frustration expressed over the senseless vandalism that took place last week, but even more so by the outpouring of desire to help,” First Selectperson Jason Hayes said in a town update.

Residents who want to volunteer are asked to email info@egtownhall.com.

Granbrook Park is at 10 Granbrook Park Road. The town’s Parks and Recreation Department lists the park as being open from dawn to dusk and says it includes a playground, access to Salmon Brook, a pavilion and outdoor grills.

The cleanup day comes after Hayes said stored pieces for the park’s new playscape were spray-painted earlier this week. He also said people started a bonfire using materials at the site.

The damage happened as East Granby has been working on several improvements at the park.

East Granby Parks and Recreation previously said the old playscape was being removed and new play equipment was expected to be installed in early summer.

Other planned upgrades include resurfacing the basketball court, turning the old tennis courts into spaces for 4-square, hopscotch and shuffleboard, installing a new water fountain and mister, and improving the softball field with a new scoreboard and batting cages to go with the new dugouts.

Hayes previously said the town had secured a full parts list and would replace any missing pieces. He also said security cameras would be installed within two weeks.

Town voters approved up to $50,671 for the Granbrook playscape and up to $13,600 for Granbrook fountains and a mister at a March 5 special town meeting, according to town meeting minutes.

Hayes said Granbrook Park should be enjoyed by residents for generations.

“Granbrook Park is a treasure,” Hayes said.