A church carnival left a public school field badly damaged, causing some controversy in Greenwich.
Saint Roch’s Church has held its annual celebration for nearly 100 years. In 2009, they stopped using the field at Hamilton Avenue School after geothermal systems were installed, preventing activities like carnivals.
After a series of expert opinions, the city approved the church to return to the field, but many are now complaining about the damage that has been left behind.
Images shared with News 12 by Greenwich Public Schools show a before and after of what the field looked like. The once green field is now yellow, with carnival ride signs still embedded in the ground.
Forward. Photo: Greenwich Public Schools
After. Photo: Greenwich Public Schools
Greenwich residents say they are disappointed the city approved the church to hold the holiday, as it could threaten sensitive technology installed under the field in 2009.
“At this point, I think all we have to do is focus on repairing the damage and making sure it doesn’t happen again, and I think that should be a common goal of every taxpayer and that in a particular case, being ensure that no taxpayer. money is spent,” said Mark Kordick, Greenwich RTM District 9.
Parishioners involved in the process to bring the festival back to the site this year say they hired experts to assess the risks and the city later approved and allowed the church to use the grounds.
“The plant biologist wrote down for us exactly what it would take to restore the field once it was finished. And it’s very simple — it’s grass, dirt and water,” said the St. Roch, Pat Cappiali.
News 12 reached out to Greenwich Public Schools for comment, who said the Parks and Recreation Department and the Facilities Department are evaluating the situation.
