By Nathan Duke
Staff Writer

Nick White, 11, helps spin friend Brett Williams, 10, at Barnard Park during the park’s summer recreation program. (Nathan Duke Photo)

Despite noticing the springtime addition of some equipment at Barnard Park, several area parents said they’d like to see more improvements made at Goffstown’s playgrounds, either in the form of better equipment or new, larger playgrounds.

But the Goffstown Parks and Recreation Department faces problems with limited space, vandalism and the high cost of such equipment, officials say.

“(The playgrounds) are OK, but I have seen better ones in Manchester. They have more swings and other stuff,” said Jodi Dorval, who has a 2-1/2-year-old daughter.

“I wish there were more parks to go to around here because some of them don’t look that great.”

Weare and Pembroke recently constructed new playgrounds, which some in the Goffstown community are pointing to as examples of what Goffstown should have in place.

Goffstown has two public parks – Roy Park and Barnard Park. The town’s third park, Allard Park, is privately owned and is used by the Babe Ruth League.

Goffstown Parks and Recreation Director David French said there has been discussion about building another town park, but it could take years to construct.

He said Barnard and Roy Park cover the two areas of town and that a third park would likely be built in an area of growth. Currently, the area of highest growth in Goffstown is in the northeastern part of the community, near Mountain View Middle School.

Meantime, Barnard Park did receive new equipment in the spring, including a $13,000 bungalow, which has a climbing area, play area and slide, said French.

And landscaping, which will be the final work on the park, will begin after the pool closes at the end of the summer.

Roy Park has also seen recent revisions, including the rebuilding of its basketball court, expansion of the parking lot and addition of some new lighting.

However, the park continues to be plagued by problems, including vandalism and a lack of space for further expansion.

The vandalism problem

Goffstown Police Chief Michael French said vandalism at Roy Park has been a problem for many years.

“Damage to playground areas and equipment is a problem (in Goffstown),” he said. “There is painting and graffiti on buildings and people throw rocks in the pool – those types of acts that serve no legitimate purpose.”

French said while the police perform random patrols, especially at night during the summer, it is often difficult to catch vandals.

“We are very seldom able to catch (vandals) in the act,” he said. “Most people who are engaged in that type of illegal activity run when they see a figure of authority.”

French said most of the succesful vandalism investigations at the parks have resulted from citizens reporting incidents to the police.

“I think that is an important step for prevention,” he said. “If people are living in the area and see something not right, we ask them to report it, so we can check it out.”

David French said Barnard Park used to also have vandalism problems, but now Roy Park gets the brunt of property destruction. Even the new lighting system recently set up at Roy Park has made little difference so far.

Battling vandals at the parks is simply a difficult task.

“You can’t put someone in there 24 hours a day,” he said. “It’s very frustrating because money we are spending on vandalism could be better used toward programs. Resources are finite – you don’t have a bottomless well.”

Some parents said they hope the town can find a way around these problems for the children.

“They need better, updated equipment – there is not a whole lot at the parks,” said Bonnie Gorman.

Space crunch

But while Barnard Park recently replaced some old equipment, Roy Park does not have room to expand, said David French.

“(Roy Park) is limited in space,” he said. “You have to have a certain amount of space between pieces of equipment to meet safety regulations. You can only put so many things in there.”

Equipment at Roy Park was replaced about five or six years ago and playground equipment can typically be maintained for about 10 to 14 years, said French.

However, one of Barnard Park’s most popular pieces of equipment – a slide with a circular top that was installed in 1972 – was recently replaced. French said he believed the equipment was no longer safe to use.

He said while the old equipment was often made of wood, new pieces are made of plastic and metal, in order to avoid rotting.

Funding methods

Playground equipment in Goffstown is funded through a combination of a portion of the parks and recreation department’s yearly budget and private donations, due to the high costs involved.

In other communities, it’s often completely done through private fundraising efforts, including Pembroke’s recent endeavor to build its new playground.

French said Goffstown’s planning board also obtains fees from developers that assist the parks and recreation department.