A Neighborhood Learns the Fine Art of Fighting Back

Submitted by The Pratt-Lawndale Neighborhood Watch Group.

NASHUA - Sarah Roy has lived in the Pratt-Lawndale neighborhood for more than five years,. She enjoyed bringing her 3-year-old son to the Fields Grove playground regularly – however, during many visits, she would become frustrated and angered by the spray-painted tags and vulgar messages written with Sharpie pens all over the playground structure.

“A little over a year ago, while at the playground, something inside of me snapped,” said Roy. “I realized that I needed to stop complaining about the condition of our park and do whatever I can to make the situation better.”
Roy joined the Pratt-Lawndale Neighborhood Watch Group, which organizes an annual Fields Grove clean up day each spring, and coordinated the clean up event in May 2013. She also reached out to Cecilia Ulibarri, president of Positive Street Art, a non-profit organization striving to encourage passion for urban arts in a productive way and build stronger communities through workshops, community events, and artistic services.

In September 2012, Roy and Ulibarri met at the park to discuss how deter vandalism on the playground and surrounding wall in a positive and artistic way. They decided what would work best would be to cover both the playground structure and wall with a simple, colorful design inspired by the rolling waters of Salmon Brook.

“We (Positive Street Art) were more than happy to take on this project,” said Ulibarri. “Personally, it is near and dear to my heart — not only do my kids play at this park, but I also did as a child.”

With a design in hand, they approached the City of Nashua’s Parks and Recreation Department to get approval to do the project. At the City’s request, Roy also created a petition to demonstrate neighborhood support of the project and more than 30 people signed on to it. “The neighborhood stewardship that is being shown through this playground project is welcomed,” said Nick Caggiano, Superintendent of the Nashua Parks and Recreation Department, “The pride and ownership of the park that the neighborhood has are wonderful assets to the park.”

Neighborhood residents also donated more than $540 towards paint and supplies for the project. The remaining costs of the approximately $2,500 project will be provided through a grant from the Youth Council and funding from the City’s Community Development Division. 

The Pratt-Lawndale Neighborhood Watch Group, in partnership with Positive Street Art, the City of Nashua, and the Youth Council, will be embarking on an exciting vandalism prevention project in Fields Grove Park this summer: they will be painting a colorful design on the park’s playground equipment and surrounding wall.

Located off of Field Street and along Salmon Brook in Nashua, NH, Fields Grove Park has a nearly 90-year history of being a neighborhood and city asset. Both adults and kids enjoy using the basketball and tennis courts during nice weather, and sledding down the steep hill there during winter. The playground is utilized by families all year round, and from sunrise to sunset, people walk their dogs through the park, or sit on a bench and watch the ducks swim in Salmon Brook. The Fields Grove Playground art project is scheduled to begin the week of July 8, weather permitting.

Tentative work schedule: Wed. July 10, 6-8:30 p.m., July 11 - 14, 7 a.m.-12 p.m. on Field Street. 

The Pratt-Lawndale Neighborhood Watch Group, Positive Street Art, the Youth Council, and the Nashua Police Department will also be hosting a party in Field’s Grove Park later this summer to celebrate the completion of the project. For more information contact Sarah Roy, Pratt-Lawndale Neighborhood Watch Group, at sdisanoroy@gmail.com.