Veterans' Park, once a heavily used picnic and recreation area in Barrington, has become a victim of neglect by town officials and damage from vandals. Now, councilor John Lazzaro and others are trying to return the park to its former status.

BARRINGTON - Down a long, slightly overgrown path, just over a muddied foot bridge lay the remnants of a wild night. Empty beer cans were scattered among the trees. Toilet paper, like party streamers, dangled from tree branches, and people's clothing — dirty shirts, shorts, pants and underwear — covered the ground.

This may sound like a scene stolen from a college fraternity's front lawn, but it's not. This is Barrington's Veterans' Park, a 200-acre town-owned parcel that many officials believe is in dire need of renovation.

More than 10 years ago the area boasted 15 well-maintained picnic sites, a cleared boat launch for Brickyard Pond, a fitness course and nearly two miles of marked trails. But time, neglect and vandals have taken their toll on the land, leaving the park a soiled shadow of its former self.

"It's fallen into considerable disrepair," said Barrington Park and Recreation Chairwoman Melissa Horne. "It could be a beautiful facility, but it's been allowed to deteriorate."

The park, which is dedicated to all veterans in Barrington, has been left to the town to maintain, but over the past 10 to 15 years little has been done on a regular basis to keep it up.

Every now and again the DPW, the group responsible for preserving the park, will cut back a fallen tree or spread dirt along the entry path, but the repairs do little to stem the rising tide of vandalism. Police are frequently called to break up parties in far reaches of the woods, and often those parties spill out into fringe neighborhoods.

Bayside YMCA Director Joe Martino said he's seen numerous incidents where trash is left on YMCA property. The Bayside YMCA was also victimized by vandals who tossed paint and other items into the outdoor pool.

"After dark the YMCA becomes a thoroughfare," he said. "It's a cut-through for the park. That's how it happens."

Now, some town officials and volunteers are working to clean up the area, but the question remains whether the upcoming repairs will be a temporary fix to a long-term problem.

"I hope it gets better," Ms. Horne said. "It can be a beautiful place, something Barrington can be proud of."

Team effort

The narrow path in Veterans' Park that runs along the eastern edge of Brickyard Pond offers beautiful views of the water. But there are some less attractive sights, too.

Near the edge of the pond at the base a steep hill this week was a shredded trash bag, its contents of vodka bottles and fruit punch containers spilling out. A 30-pack beer box had none of its Budweiser cans, but was instead filled with a sweatshirt and dirty socks. And atop a small hill overlooking the pond, a 10-foot-long Dunkin' Donuts floor covering was laid out like a giant welcome mat for those just starting their walks through the woods.

The litter and trash has become a painful reminder for Barrington Town Manager Peter DeAngelis of what Veterans' Park used to be.

"In our day it was right behind Haines Park in the family outing category," he said. "But now we need to do more with it."

So what steps are being taken?

Recently the Barrington Park and Recreation Commission applied for a $50,000 grant to clean up the trails.

"We applied for a trails grant through a program being administered by DEM (the department of environmental management)," Ms. Horne said. "In the application we requested funds to renovate existing trails at Veterans' Park. The program permits grants up to $50,000. We requested the maximum."

If the commission is awarded the grant, the money will go to cleaning up, clearing out and better marking the trails. Foot bridge repairs and a map showing the trails are also possibilities.

Barrington DPW Director Alan Corvi has also gotten into the act of cleaning up the park. The DPW recently sent a crew through the upper portion of the park to pick up trash, although Mr. Corvi said it's hard pulling workers off other tasks to address the park's needs.

"Right now we're overwhelmed," he said.

The department is catching a break a little later this month. Mr. Corvi said 40 students from Roger Williams University in Bristol will spend eight hours cleaning Veterans' Park on Aug. 29, as part of the Feinstein Volunteer Day.

"We're strategically placing students at different locations (at all the elementary schools and in Veterans' Park) and pairing them up with workers," he said.

The DPW will try to outfit the volunteers with tools and materials for a more serious renovation. "I'm going to try to buy up some mulch and get them some weed-whackers. I want to make the most out of this opportunity."

Meanwhile, town councilor John Lazzaro has proposed a new ordinance that toughens the punishment for people caught dumping illegally in Barrington. Violators used to get slapped with a $100 fine, but Mr. Lazzaro's proposed law pushes that penalty to $250. It will go before the council in September.

"It's not just for Veterans' Park," Mr. Lazzaro said. "Whether it's Legion Way or South Lake Drive, people have been dumping for no reason at all. Hopefully this will stop them."

Mr. DeAngelis has discussed the proposed ordinance and likes its potential.

"You catch a couple of violators and they'll find out it's cheaper to dispose of it legally than illegally," he said.

Mr. Lazzaro is also working with volunteers who may be interested in helping clean and maintain the park. He said there are some Boy Scout troops in town who would be willing to lend a hand.

Rebuilding

Mr. DeAngelis can remember what Veterans' Park used to be —especially the 15 fireplaces, each clearly marked and ready for family picnics. Permits were given out at the fire station and just about every weekend found the facility full of people.

Now things have changed.

"We've been the victim of heavy vandalism," he said. "But we're going to better utilize it. I've always believed the community will come forward."

Mr. Lazzaro said the plans for a cleaner park include seven refurbished picnic areas lining the driveway for the upper portion of the park. He's already lined up volunteers to help build new barbecue fireplaces and others who are donating new picnic tables. Whether the work will act as an impetus to revitalizing the park or incentive for vandals to let loose again, remains to be seen.

"I think it's a beautiful place," he said. "It just needs a little work and attention."

Steps to improvement

Volunteers and town officials are coming together to help renovate and refurbish Veterans Park. Here's what's being done:

* Trails grant: Barrington Park and Recreation Commission members recently applied for a $50,000 grant from DEM to recondition and better mark the 1.6 miles of walking trails in the park.

* Volunteer day: The Barrington DPW will get a hand from 40 volunteers on Aug. 29, during the annual Feinstein Volunteer Day. Some of the volunteers will clean up school grounds while others are headed into Veterans Park.

* Tougher law: Barrington Town Councilor John Lazzaro is proposing a new ordinance for illegal dumping in town. He's looking for a $100 fine to be increased to $250.

* Pitching in: Town officials are hoping local Boy Scout troops will offer helping hands in cleanups and park maintenance. Meanwhile, Mr. Lazzaro said he's lined up volunteers to rebuild fireplaces and donate picnic tables.

By Josh Bickford

jbickford@eastbaynewspapers.com