Naugatuck Takes Down Its Graffiti Wall

From the July 16,2009, Republican-American:

Borough’s artistic experiment fails

Naugatuck officials say graffiti wall doesn’t work


BY PAUL SINGLEY

REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN

NAUGATUCK — Mr. Mayor: Tear down this wall!

That is the charge to Mayor Robert A. Mezzo from the Parks and Recreation Commission, which voted unanimously Tuesday night to tear down a graffiti wall at Linden Park in Union City. The wall was put up last year to provide a place where local graffiti artists could spray paint without fear of arrest.

The wall was intended to curb graffiti problems in other areas of the bor ough, but has not served its purpose, said Parks and Recreation Commis sion Chairman Pat Wagn er. The commission has the sole authority to tear down the wall.

“It’s not working out,” he said.

“Linden Park is a mess. What the wall was said to be and what it turned out to be were two totally dif ferent things. We gave it a chance, but it didn’t work out.”

He said the borough has received several com plaints about the wall from residents who thought it was an eyesore in an otherwise nice park where people walk their dogs, play games and en joy an evening stroll near the Naugatuck River.

Since the wall went up in Sep tember, the asphalt around the park has been sprayed with graffiti, Wagner said, along with other areas such as fenc ing, light posts and garbage cans.

He said the commission is looking into the logistics of how to tear down the 70-foot-long and eight-foot-tall concrete slab, which is covered with spray paint.

Wagner said the commission discussed moving the wall to another location, but they could not find a suitable place. He said there is a possibility it will be rebuilt in another spot.

The wall was paid for with money raised from teenagers and was put up at a reduced rate by Lineweber Bros. con struction services company of Naugatuck.

The wall was welcomed by many graffiti artists who are se rious about their work, but some graffiti “taggers” pre ferred to spray paint illegally on municipal property and local businesses.

Officer Chip Schofield, who was instrumental in getting the wall built and works with teens who spray graffiti, had no com ment Wednesday.

He stated last week that he believed the wall was working to keep graffiti off other proper ty, but he hoped it could be moved to a different location to satisfy everyone.

Kenny Kozma, 18, of Nau gatuck, said he is at the wall just about every day and paints on it once in a while. He and his friends enjoyed the opportunity. “It’s a waste of money and a bad idea for them to tear it down,” he said. “It’s a good thing for the town and kept a lot of people from spraying in other areas.”

Asked whether he believed graffiti would increase in other parts of town, Kozma said, “I don’t know, but my guess is probably.”

Burgess Robert J. Burns, who said he has received sev eral complaints about the wall, believes the Parks and Recre ation Commission’s decision is “for the betterment of Nau gatuck.”

“We’re talking about cleaning up Union City” he said, “and I believe that’s a good place to start.”