As we are in the middle of a pandemic (hopefully coming out of it), many of us are looking for activities to do. What better way than to spend some time at one of our local parks? More recently, Gay City State Park has been booming, as well as Grayville Park. Hebron certainly isn't short of public parks for entertainment, that's for sure.
One park that has been garnering a lot of attention lately (and not necessarily for the best reasons) is Veterans Memorial Park. Veterans Park has been a mainstay in Hebron for several years, having a playscape and being the main place where many sports teams play during the spring and summer months. The park is also well known for its skate park, as well as where Parks and Rec used to hold its yearly summer camp. If one moves to the garden area of the park, he or she will notice bricks with written names of families and sponsors who have supported the park in its earlier days. There are so many supporters over the years, however, the park isn't exactly kept up to form these days.
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| Names of families and sponsors for the park |
More recently, the park has led itself to vandalism. Trash has lined the park from time to time, pocketed by fences and in areas of the woods. This has led to many community cleanups. People have come for yearly Earth Day cleanups and regular everyday cleanups in order to keep the park clean, enjoyable and free from candy wrappers. Littering has been an ongoing problem, and it can also be noted that the lack of trash cans do not help the situation. There are areas with trashcans, but I do know from previous experience that they often fill frequently and aren't always cleared in a timely fashion.
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| Trash lining the skate park fence |
The bathrooms, which were installed several years ago (but are still new in comparison to much of the park), have seen damage several times. They are also not the most tidy bathrooms, often looking a little more rundown and unkempt. Like the trash, most of this is due to people not properly taking care of their public parks.
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| Vandalism in the bathrooms at Veterans Memorial Park |
But probably the most alarming part of the park is the skate park. Over the years, the skate park was the highlight of Veterans Park. Many people would come and skate on the ramps. Oftentimes you would see five to ten people at once, enjoying their time on the ramps.
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| Residents at the skate park |
However, the skate park is much different today. It is often desolate, and another area which has led itself to littering and graffiti. I last visited the skate park and noticed that there was a "closed" sign etched on its fence, no longer remaining open to the public. In the former years, the skate park used to have surveillance. Someone would be assigned to watch over the park and make sure that the skate park was being used properly and was adequately maintained. Today, however, the skate park (much like the park itself on days when sports aren't being played) is often deserted.
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| "Closed" sign at the skate park |
Is this because of covid? A lack of skaters? Whatever it may be, it should be known that the skate park has been mistreated over the years. There has been little to no maintenance. People have brought in bikes even when they aren't allowed. When the park was closed, I've witnessed kids jumping the fence to get in and skate. The accountability the skate park once had is now gone, and what lies in its place is a very different skate park- one that is rundown and beat up.
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| The skate park at Veterans- notice the graffiti written on the ramp |
The question that remains is what should we do? Should we keep the skate park? Take it down? What advantage would we have keeping it if there is little to no maintenance? Is there a liability in keeping the skate park? So many questions. I do know, however, that people are tired of the vandalism and do not want to deal with our public parks being mistreated. It should also be noted that there are residents in Hebron who have petitioned to get the skate park rebuilt: Petition for Hebron Skate Park
While this is a great idea, how will we maintain the skate park so that it does not become vandalized once again?
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| Another view of the skate park |
It does seem, however, that Veterans Park has been forgotten. Since the birth of Burnt Hill Park, Veterans Park has been secondary. Burnt Hill Park is home to the Parks and Recreation office. It has more fields for playing sports and there is more surveillance. The "newness" of Burnt Hill Park attracts more people, including those who walk their dogs. Veterans Park just isn't the same as it used to be. Burnt Hill Park has become the "go-to" park. But, that doesn't mean we should forget about Veterans Memorial Park.
Hebron Parks and Recreation is entering a new era with a new director. Hopefully, Veterans Parks will be on the rise to becoming a cleaner and more friendlier park. Obviously, it can't rest on the Parks and Recreation staff alone. We as citizens need to keep our parks clean and enjoyable. Without our part, we won't have the wonderful parks. We need to do our job to keep the parks clean, otherwise we may no longer have a memorable park for sports and recreation.
As for the skate park, who knows? Should we take it down? Close it permanently? Provide staff to oversee its maintenance? (Keep in mind, some of the options require money). These are questions that may not be so easily answered, but it is a main concern looking forward. As citizens, we must really look into keeping our parks clean as well as maintaining the beauty and heritage of Veterans Memorial Park.
