WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) -- A popular West Springfield playground is now off-limits to the public, and it’s shutting families out, while kids still find ways in. The Coburn Playground, at the Coburn Elementary School, isn’t just for students. It’s also for neighbors during non-school hours and weekends. Now, a chain and padlock are standing between West Springfield families and one of their favorite playgrounds.

The park has been open to the public since before the school was built in 2023. West Springfield Mayor Will Reichelt says that the park is temporarily closed to anyone outside of the school, mostly due to an increase in vandalism. He also said that there was a small fire set on the school’s turf field.

As one of the most used playgrounds in the town, many parents say on Facebook that kids simply jump the fence, and that locking it shut is just keeping them and their young kids from enjoying the park.

Mayor Reichelt says that he wants to keep it open for the public, but at the same time, doesn’t want to let a new facility like Coburn to continue to be damaged. He also tells Western Mass News, the school subcommittee is now discussing next steps to make the playground safer, “Probably more security cameras, more trash receptacles, see if there’s ways that we can get police involved and do special patrols in the area. Just generally to have a discussion around what the future is use-wise and what they can do to make sure that we don’t have vandalism recurring in the park.”

Mayor Reichelt says he welcomes ideas from parents and regular visitors of the park, on how to keep it open for them.