Residents in Groton, New York, are speaking out after a string of complaints about teenagers misbehaving at the local park, with many saying the situation has gotten bad enough that families are now avoiding the space altogether.
The discussion started in the Groton, NY, Community Facebook group, where a post described a group of teens, believed to be around 17 years old, driving a red Chevy pickup around the park and shouting offensive language near children at the pool.
The post called on parents to step in, saying the behavior was unacceptable.
Families Say They No Longer Feel Safe
The comments that followed painted a picture of growing frustration.
Beth Buchanan said her family decided not to bring her five-year-old granddaughter back to the park after witnessing the kind of behavior described in the post, adding that it happened during a Girl Scout pool day.
We won’t let our 5 year old granddaughter go to the park because of just this type of behavior. It’s supposed to be a community park, but it’s not somewhere young children can go. Sad.
She said it was disappointing to see, especially since the park is meant to be a community gathering spot for families.
Patty Hess responded that she grew up going to the park herself and later brought her own kids there, saying it used to be her favorite place to go.
Beth Buchanan followed up, noting her concern isn’t really about kids being kids; it’s about the language she regularly hears while walking past the park, language she’d rather young children not be exposed to.
Carl Dann reminisced about what the park used to look like, recalling afternoons with a dozen or more guys playing basketball, people playing softball, kids flying kites, and a general sense of community that seems to be missing now.
What had happened to Groton? The memories of 10-20 guys playing basketball people playing softball flying kites little ones on the playground with parents i guess is over so sad. My childhood was great. None of that bullshit happened. Basketball all day on that court
Calls for Accountability and a Mixed Response
Not everyone responded with concern. Some commenters used the post to call out specific individuals by name, while others made jokes referencing the situation.
Eric P Hodson didn’t hold back, calling the teens involved “garbage punks” and suggesting their parents probably insist their kids would never act that way.
Garbage punks doing garbage things. Prob have the kind of parents that say their kids won’t do that.
The tone got more pointed in the replies. Chayce Slaven publicly called out someone believed to be involved, telling them to stop swearing and act their age, mentioning the person is 22.
When Carl Dann asked what the point of singling someone out was, Chayce explained it was meant to push the person to stop hanging around people who get him into trouble.
Chris Boardman Abbott took a broader view, saying the world just seems to be getting worse by the minute.
This world just getting worse by the minute
Patty Hess responded by recalling a time when residents were at the park from sunrise to sunset, and it felt like a genuinely safe place for everyone.
Beth Buchanan that is very sad. I used to go there as a child. That was my go to every day. My kids grow up there and then as they became teenagers they worked there as lifeguards and camp counselors. It’s really sad that it is getting that bad. The police need to really get involved and I would contact whoever is in charge now of the park because this is supposed to be a safe place. Not a bunch of dumb fool teenagers and drug dealers
The original poster, identified in the group as Mike Cree, has not indicated whether the matter has been reported to local police, though several commenters suggested increased patrols or a stronger police presence near the park could help address the ongoing complaints.
As of now, no official response from Groton town officials or law enforcement has been shared in the group, and the conversation in the comments continues to draw mixed reactions from longtime residents, parents, and other community members.
