WFSB Channel 3Bristol park gets security cameras

Bristol park gets security cameras

The city plans to install six security cameras mounted on the top of street lights along Memorial Boulevard that they hope will help deter vandalism at Veterans Memorial Park.

"Ideally, you wish you didn't need those, but this is a legacy for the city of Bristol, we don't want to see it tarnished, we want to preserve that," Mayor Art Ward said.

In 2008, someone cut the legs off a bronze statue honoring the Spanish-American War. The damage was estimated at $10,000.

Lisa Baker of Bristol likes the idea.

"Just to have that extra safety and maybe have somebody think that they aren't going to do some vandalism because they're going to get caught," she said.

Security cameras have already been up and running in Rockwell Park since the city invested millions to fix up the park and wanted to prevent vandalism. Ward said the camera have been effective.

"They've caught a couple people, so it is having a positive effect," he said.

Currently, the city has mounted three cameras in Veterans Memorial Park. Three others will soon follow.

The city's parks director said he wants to put in three more so they can keep a good eye on the entire length of Memorial Boulevard and the park surrounding it.

Once the cameras are hooked up, the video feed will be available for the police department and parks officials to monitor.

All six cameras are expected to be up and running within the next two weeks.

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