Letter: Respect Special Places

Kings Park Patch recently received this letter from a concerned reader, who discovered graffiti at her local park.

 This evening I took my children to Memorial Park, I was anxious to see the improvements being made to the monument area.  As I approached I reminded my children to avoid the wet concrete and not climb on the monument, as I do each time we visit.  They understand that the monument is a special place to be treated with respect. 

I noticed that someone had carved something into the concrete. I was disappointed but thought that carving ones initials in wet concrete is almost a rite of passage impossible to resist to most kids.  On closer inspection I realized that nearly the entire surface was covered with names, potty, though not foul language and most disturbing, inappropriate drawings. I was outraged as a parent, taxpayer, Kings Park resident and citizen of the country whose veterans this monument represents.   

At the end the parent in me won out and I was left worried about the future our children embody.  Parents, we must wake up and take responsibility for what we are teaching and perhaps, not teaching our children.  While we cannot always control what our children do when they are not with us we must instill in them the sense of right and wrong that should prevent this from occurring.   

While I realize that simple graffiti may not warrant the emotional response it gave me, it is often the simple things that can make the most difference.  

Sincerely,

MJ Lob

Patch is happy to report that the graffiti has since been removed and further beautification is scheduled for the park. Charles Barrett, Smithtown Director of Parks, Buidlings and Grounds, in a phone conversation, said they were able to grind out the cement area where the graffiti occurred. In addition to the new brick pavers and clean up, Barrett says new plantings will be installed next week.