Groton leaders break ground on nearly $4 million Sutton Park renovation

Town of Groton officials and community members gathered to break ground Friday on a nearly $4 million renovation of Sutton Park that officials said will add a renovated skate park, a new restroom facility, a multi-use path, a new playground and a second basketball court.

"We celebrate the groundbreaking of the Sutton Park renovation project, an investment of nearly $4 million in one of our community's most important public spaces," the event presenter said, outlining the planned improvements and crediting years of local advocacy for advancing the work.

The project, Mayor Juliet Parker said, reflects collaboration across successive town councils and local leaders. "This was a project that we all collaborated on together," Parker said, thanking members of previous town councils, the current council, the Representative Town Meeting and staff in public works and parks. She told attendees she hoped the town would reconvene for a ribbon-cutting in about a year.

Organizers said the renovation responds in part to a five-year effort by local skaters who petitioned the town to invest in the skate facility. The presenter recounted that one skater had described the skate park as "concrete therapy," saying the site provides recreation and a positive outlet for youth.

Event organizers invited councilors, RTM members and other named attendees to participate in the ceremonial shovel turn; the presenter noted there were "about two dozen golden shovels" available for participants. No construction timeline beyond the mayor's "about a year" comment was specified at the event, and specific funding sources for the $4 million investment were not detailed in the remarks.

The town named former mayors Rachel Franco and Juan Melendez during the ceremony as prior champions of the project; both were acknowledged though Melendez was noted as unable to attend. The presenter and Mayor Parker both thanked state representatives and department staff who helped move the project forward.

The groundbreaking is the latest step toward renovating Sutton Park. Officials said they will return for a ribbon-cutting once construction is complete; no firm completion date or detailed budget breakdown was provided at the ceremony.