# Swampscott rainbow crosswalks repainted

> Swampscott officials repainted rainbow crosswalks black and white after community backlash.
- Title: Swampscott rainbow crosswalks repainted · The Boston Globe
- Summary: Swampscott officials repainted rainbow crosswalks black and white after community backlash. Swampscott town officials repainted rainbow crosswalks black and…
- Keywords: swampscott, rainbow crosswalks, lgbtq community, town administrator, go fund me, public works, news, local, rainbow, crosswalks, repainted, The Boston Globe
- Source: The Boston Globe — https://bostonglobe.com/2026/10/14/metro/swampscott-rainbow-crosswalks-controversy
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: swampscott, rainbow crosswalks, lgbtq community, town administrator, go fund me, public works, news, local
## Rainbow crosswalks repainted
Three of Swampscott’s 10 rainbow crosswalks were painted over with black and white last week.
## Residents demand answers
Residents say officials covered rainbow crosswalks without warning, which symbolize LGBTQ community support.
## Town administrator explains
Town Administrator Nick Connors said contractors repainted crosswalks Thursday night as part of regular roadway maintenance.
## Private donation repainted
Rainbow crosswalks were painted through a private donation outside the town’s regular maintenance schedule.
## Residents respond
Longtime resident Pam Shea said the crosswalks were visible signs of inclusion and their removal sends the wrong message.

> Those crosswalks were visible signs of inclusion and they made a difference
## GoFundMe launched
Resident Joe Strothman launched a GoFundMe to repaint rainbow crosswalks after officials repainted them black and white.
## Next steps
Swampscott officials will review policies to ensure private donations for crosswalks are handled consistently.
## Key takeaway

Swampscott town officials repainted rainbow crosswalks black and white without warning, sparking resident outrage and a GoFundMe to restore LGBTQ-inclusive markings.