Holy Land Park
Holy Land, located in Waterbury, Connecticut; was created by John Baptiste Greco, who had an idea to create an attraction to replicate Bethlehem and Jerusalem from the Biblical era. He wanted a place for you to sit and be peaceful, no matter your religion, race or colour, and Holy Land opened to the public in 1995, with many areas inspired from passages in the Bible and many of the passages written around the park. There was many attractions to this park, with The Garden of Eden, recreations of life and a 17m cross (which was illuminated at night). During Holy Land's peak years, which were during 1960/1970, it had more than 40,000 annual visitors.
In 1984, the park was closed to the public, with plans to expand and improve the park for the visitors. Unfortunately Greco died two years later in 1986 and any work that was going on were stopped. John Greco left the park to the Filippini Sisters (a Catholic Religious Institute dedicated to education), but the site soon fell into disrepair, with many of the attractions falling into disrepair or being vandalised. Many blamed the Filippini Sisters for how the site fell apart, accusing them of being scared of liability and of being sued and preventing any help in getting the park restored, some however believe the sisters reluctantly accepted the park and didn't want to have the responsibility. These different accusations have led to many to wonder what was going to happen to the park.
Even though it was closed, the site still attracted a lot of visitors a year, many ringing local authorities to get directions to the park. At one point a website even said to be cautious when visiting and to make sure you are up to date with a tetanus shot.
While the park was closed, some restoration projects did take place. In 1997 a community project saw the local boy scouts repair the sign, and in 2008 the cross was replaced with a 50ft one.
Unfortunately in July 2010, the park made headlines for the wrong reasons, due to a horrific attack that took place on the site. A sixteen year old girl was raped and murdered, Chloe Ottman easily made friends and Francisco Cruz took advantage of this. He was sentenced to 55 years in jail. The media suggested that any trespassing had been on the decline before this incident, but this did spike peoples interests once again
It would be three years later, on the 20th June 2013, that Holy Land would be sold, to Mayor Neil O'Leary and Fred Blasius. They immediately announced a clean up plan, with many of the overgrown parts cleared, and the park would start to be revitalised. A new larger cross has been added and there are more projects underway to refurbish small areas at a time.
It wasn't until September 14th 2014 that the park would be opened once again to the public, this would be the first time in 30 years that the park has been officially opened.
In 1984, the park was closed to the public, with plans to expand and improve the park for the visitors. Unfortunately Greco died two years later in 1986 and any work that was going on were stopped. John Greco left the park to the Filippini Sisters (a Catholic Religious Institute dedicated to education), but the site soon fell into disrepair, with many of the attractions falling into disrepair or being vandalised. Many blamed the Filippini Sisters for how the site fell apart, accusing them of being scared of liability and of being sued and preventing any help in getting the park restored, some however believe the sisters reluctantly accepted the park and didn't want to have the responsibility. These different accusations have led to many to wonder what was going to happen to the park.
Even though it was closed, the site still attracted a lot of visitors a year, many ringing local authorities to get directions to the park. At one point a website even said to be cautious when visiting and to make sure you are up to date with a tetanus shot.
While the park was closed, some restoration projects did take place. In 1997 a community project saw the local boy scouts repair the sign, and in 2008 the cross was replaced with a 50ft one.
Unfortunately in July 2010, the park made headlines for the wrong reasons, due to a horrific attack that took place on the site. A sixteen year old girl was raped and murdered, Chloe Ottman easily made friends and Francisco Cruz took advantage of this. He was sentenced to 55 years in jail. The media suggested that any trespassing had been on the decline before this incident, but this did spike peoples interests once again
It would be three years later, on the 20th June 2013, that Holy Land would be sold, to Mayor Neil O'Leary and Fred Blasius. They immediately announced a clean up plan, with many of the overgrown parts cleared, and the park would start to be revitalised. A new larger cross has been added and there are more projects underway to refurbish small areas at a time.
It wasn't until September 14th 2014 that the park would be opened once again to the public, this would be the first time in 30 years that the park has been officially opened.
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