Vandals Damage East Granby Park

EAST GRANBY, CT — Vandals damaged pieces of a new playscape at Granbrook Park, but town officials said the park upgrade project is still moving forward.

First Selectperson Jason Hayes said in a Sunday post on the town’s Facebook page that stored pieces for the new playscape were spray-painted earlier in the week. He said people also started a bonfire using materials at the site.

“This was not just damage to equipment, it was a heartbreaking attack on a project meant to give our families and children the community spaces they deserve,” Hayes said.

Granbrook Park is at 10 Granbrook Park Road. The town’s Parks and Recreation Department says the park includes a playground, access to Salmon Brook, a pavilion and outdoor grills.

The damage happened as East Granby is working on several improvements at the park. Parks and Recreation officials previously said the old playscape was being removed and new play equipment was expected to be installed in early summer.

Other planned work includes resurfacing the basketball court, turning the old tennis courts into areas for 4-square, hopscotch and shuffleboard, adding 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 said the town has already secured a full parts list and will replace any missing pieces. He said the town will also work with the Department of Public Works and community volunteers to repaint the playscape before it is installed.

Security cameras will be installed within the next two weeks, Hayes said.

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 the town still plans to celebrate the new Granbrook Park at East Granby Community Day on Sept. 13. The event will be held alongside the Duck Derby, and Hayes said the Lions Club will help dedicate the new park.

“This setback will not stop us from taking back and revitalizing Granbrook Park,” Hayes said.