Lawrence High Football Field Trashed After Brazilian Festival

LAWRENCE (CBS) -- A large cleanup effort was underway at Lawrence High School's Veterans Memorial Stadium Monday morning after officials said attendees at a weekend Brazilian festival left quite a mess.

Mountains of empty beer cans, bottles, and food were left on the football field after the one-day festival.

Lawrence Mayor Dan Rivera couldn't believe what he saw.

"We're disgusted, and just shocked that this would be left this way," Rivera told WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Carl Stevens. "It was the third time they've used it, and the first time they did this."

Lawrence Superintendent of Public Schools Jeff Riley tweeted a photo of the mess Monday morning.

He also said a beer truck left at the field was towed.

"Are you kidding me? What is the message to our kids?" he wrote in the tweet.

Rivera said the field still smelled of alcohol Monday and would need to be sanitized.

"A lot of money was put into this whole complex," said former City Councilor Marie Gosselin, who was on the committee to restore the stadium a decade ago.

"You know Lawrence doesn't have a lot," Gosselin said. "And what we have, we try to make it good and better for the kids."

Rivera said the city will pursue its legal options in terms of damages.

"It's a shame," said Rivera. "We give somebody the privilege of using our field, and the way they left it? Somebody will pay."

WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Carl Stevens reports

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• Christina Hager
• Carl Stevens