missing Conway – Somerville officials say all 16 brightly colored Adirondack chairs at Conway Park have vanished over the past year, and they’re asking residents to contact police or email the city for tips.
On a sunny patch at Conway Park in Somerville, there was supposed to be a bright set of places to sit—16 Adirondack chairs with the words “City of Somerville” on them.
Instead, the chairs are gone.
City officials say the movable Adirondack chairs were added to the park at 550 Somerville Ave. more than four years ago. Over the past year, they have all vanished. The city says it posted the chairs on Instagram this week to ask for help finding them. noting that the public space and urban forestry division originally chose not to bolt the chairs down so people could “move them into the shade. relax after a hard day. watch your child play little league. or talk with a friend.”.
Using aerial photographs, Somerville officials confirmed the chairs began disappearing in April 2025. By September, not a single chair remained.
Each chair weighs 38 pounds and is described by officials as “VERY heavy,” a detail the city included as it asks residents to come forward with any information. The officials wrote, “This theft has left us really sad.”
The plea also carries a distinct tone aimed at the local internet. Along with instructions to contact Somerville police with tips or email [email protected], the city asked residents to “tell your friends on Reddit,” calling them “super sleuths.”
The missing chairs echo a separate, high-profile disappearance from just last month. Flour Bakery issued a similar plea for its Boston Common soft serve cone mascot known as “Swirly. ” which has been missing since October. Though “Swirly” has not turned up, a tip led the bakery to find “an eerily similar soft serve cone” replacement.
Somerville officials say anyone with information about the missing Conway Park chairs should email [email protected] or contact Somerville police with tips.
Somerville MA Conway Park missing chairs Adirondack chairs public space and urban forestry Somerville police Instagram plea Reddit
Why would anyone steal chairs that say City of Somerville on them… wild.
I saw this on TikTok or whatever, and they were like “super sleuths”?? Sounds like the city just wants attention. Also if they were “very heavy” then how does one person even move 16 of them?
Wait so they didn’t bolt them down because people wanted shade and relax… so basically it’s the city’s fault they got stolen? Like if you leave stuff unanchored, it’s gonna walk off. Sad but also come on.
This reminds me of that Flour Bakery soft serve mascot “Swirly” thing, like now we got chair theft too?? Next they’ll be stealing the “little league” vibes. Honestly, I’m surprised the Instagram post worked at all, but “tell your friends on Reddit” is such a choice lol.