Vandals, dumpers ruin group's beautification work at Peter's Rock?

Mark Brackenbury

NORTH HAVEN -- For five years, members of the Peter's Rock Association have worked to beautify the park for which their organization is named.

But their work has been made more challenging by the actions of people who use the park as a dump site, scrawl graffiti on structures and destroy the hiking trails with all-terrain vehicles.

First Selectwoman Janet M. McCarty is concerned about an apparent increase in vandalism during these few months -- an issue she attributes to the warmer weather.

"I think it's especially unfortunate because the volunteers of the Peter's Rock Association have done a great job and Eagle Scouts have done a great job making it (the park) a beautiful hiking venue," she said.

Peter's Rock Park is a 14-acre forested area in the southern side of town on the East Haven line and is part of the Metacomet Ridge -- the same ridge line as East Rock, West Rock and Sleeping Giant. It also has the highest point of elevation in North Haven at 373 feet.

Scouts from the area built two bridges that span a stream on the park's grounds for their Eagle projects; both bridges have since been spray-painted with Satanic symbols and one has been burned, damaging two steps that will need to be replaced, said Audrey McClure, secretary and board member of the Peter's Rock Association.

Along with vandalism, McClure considers the damage caused by ATVs "another serious problem" in the park.

"They go around and around the trails until they get it the way they want it," McClure said about the ATV riders. The repeated use of ATVs results in deep ruts that leave the trails too damaged for hikers.

There are signs prohibiting the use of motor vehicles on the park's grounds unless otherwise authorized.

The only spaces available for three- and four-wheeled ATVs to be operated legally -- other than on private property with the landowner's consent -- are out of state.

In response to the damage at Peter's Rock, the Police Department has increased patrols in the area around the park and on the trails with a John Deere Gator utility vehicle, according to Deputy Police Chief Tom McLoughlin. He added that the department is doing the most it reasonably can to prevent further damage and trespassing.

"We will keep a closer eye on (the park) for the remainder of the summer," said McLoughlin.

"If they (the vandals) see the presence of the police, then it tends to inhibit their illegal activity," acknowledged McCarty.

However, McClure, McCarty and McLoughlin recognize that police and members of the association cannot patrol the grounds at all times, and police-issued fines -- which are usually $110 to $136 -- don't stop troublesome activity in the park.

McClure said the Peter's Rock Association is working on getting the fines increased with hopes that a fine will then more effectively prevent repeat offenses. She hopes increased fines will not be necessary and the offenders will stop their actions upon recognizing the strife they have caused others.

"They are taking pleasure away from other people by destroying the hard work that they have done. To me, it's a total matter of disrespect," said McClure.

Source: http://www.nhregister.com/articles/2009/07/06/news/metro/b1-nhpetersrock-art.txt

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