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A meeting was held this past Mon., Aug. 15th to discuss parks safety with local residents and Parks Department officials.
Local community residents and elected officials gathered at I.S. 52 on Mon., Aug.15th to discuss their safety concerns with officials from the Department of Parks and Recreation, the Police Department and Councilmember Ydanis Rodriguez.
The meeting, spurred by the recent uptick in crime in Northern Manhattan parks, attracted approximately fifty residents whose concerns related to quality of life issues such as noise and public intoxication, as well as high-speed bike riding and robbery attempts.
In addressing safety concerns, the NYPD cited the efforts of auxiliary police members and their vital role in tracking crime trends, and also pointed to the information collected by cameras within the parks.
One of the new safety measures installed this year, as cited by Jennifer Hoppa, Northern Manhattan Parks administrator, are the Flash Cams, which are placed throughout the parks. As she explained it, they are intended to deter vandalism and graffiti.
Two Parks Enforcement Patrol officers, who attended the meeting, are responsible for patrolling areas in Inwood Hill Park as well as additional rotations in Ft. Tryon Park.
Considering the vast amount of land and terrain in need of constant monitoring, Councilmember Rodriguez said that the community must mobilize to get more funding for parks which can then be allocated for additional Parks Enforcement Officers.
“As the meeting tonight made clear, there is certainly a strong need for more [officers],” said Councilmember Rodriguez.
Among the meeting attendants, the most discussed concern was the issue with speeding motorcycles that speed through park areas and nearby streets as well as the need for constant foot patrol.
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