Stonington — The Board of Selectwomen on Wednesday voted to establish a sunset to sunrise closure each day of Donahue Park in Pawcatuck.

Selectwomen said the change means the park along the Pawcatuck River will now conform with closure times for other parks in town. Donahue Park had been closed from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. each day, which meant it was open for several hours in darkness at certain times of the year. First Selectwoman Danielle Chesebrough said police will be able to enforce the closure with warnings and summonses.

She said signs with uniform rules will be placed in all parks so residents will know they apply to all parks.

The new closure times come two weeks after school board member Chris Donahue criticized town officials and police for not doing more to stop drug use, loitering and public urination in the park along the Pawcatcuk River named in memory of his late father and grandfather.

Donahue had posted the criticism on his Facebook page after he said he received photographs of used hypodermic needles that were collected during a recent cleanup at Donahue Park.

He wrote that the park was "an effort of love of community that my late father, Pawcatuck Fire Chief Steve Donahue, undertook to make the area around the Pawcatuck River a place families could enjoy" and that he was furious about what was happening there.

Chesebrough and Police Capt. Todd Olson both have said the town and police have been doing a great deal of outreach in the park since last summer and will continue to try to help those who are causing the problems there.

Donahue suggested an increased police presence, better lighting in and around the park and more outreach to help those with addiction problems.

Chesebrough said that since last July she, police, Human Services Director Leeanne Theodore, Community Outreach Specialist Deanna Rushlow, the New London Homeless Hospitality Center and the WARM Shelter in Westerly have been meeting to address the issues in the park.

She said Rushlow was making weekly visits to the park to offer assistance to people who frequent the park. She said she has also discussed the issue with new Police Chief Jay Delgrosso.

In addition, she said, the Public Works Department has removed part of the gazebo so people cannot sleep there, and disconnected power to it. Olson added the police department chaplains have been spending a lot of time in the park talking to people.

j.wojtas@theday.com