Thursday, April 18, 2013

Police & FD Rescue Two More People Locked In Parks - 4 Incidents In A Month






























The Fire Department freed a woman last night who was locked in Matthews - Palmer Playground in Manhattan after receiving a 911 call.  Earlier in the day police had to free an 8th grader who was locked in the bathroom at Jennifer's Playground on Staten Island.   These were the forth reported incidents of park patrons being locked in park facility in a month. 

The Parks Department has refused to address the issue publicly.  (Photo: Geoffey Croft/NYC Park Advocates) click on image to enlarge.



City-Wide

By Geoffrey Croft

For the forth time in a month, park patrons had to be freed from locked park facilities NYC Park Advocates has learned.

The latest incidents occurred yesterday in Manhattan and on Staten Island.

On Staten Island the NYPD came to the aid of a child who was locked in a park bathroom.

Police received a 911 call from a cell phone user at 3:06 pm stating that a boy was locked inside Jennifer's Playground on Regis Drive, btw. Elson Court and  Farragut Avenue. 

Police were able to brake the lock of the comfort station and free the boy.  Sources say he was in 8th grade. 

Park maintenance were seen working on the door this morning.

For the second time in less than a week the Fire Department had to be called in to free a park patron.

Last night the Fire Department responded to a 911 call at 8:30pm stating that a female was locked inside a Manhattan park.

FDNY were called to Matthews - Palmer Playground - btw. W. 45/46th Sts. between 9th &10th Avenues where they were forced to cut the lock and free the woman.

The gate was open when park workers arrived this morning.

The Parks Department's press office had refused to comment on why this is happening so frequently and what the agency is doing procedurally to prevent it.  

"Evidently something's wrong, " said  a long-time parks worker speaking on the condition his name not be used for fear of reprisal. 

Last week in the Bronx the Fire Department rescued  a 5 year-old boy locked inside a park bathroom while his family in the park.

The boy was found locked inside the bathroom in the Hilton White Playground on East 161St and Cauldwell Avenue at 3: 45pm.

On March 17th in Queens a man was forced to spend the night in the bathroom.  Park workers discovered a 40-year-old man "shivering" inside the locked comfort station in  Det. Keith Williams Park near 173rd Street and 106th Avenue.   


Read More:

A Walk In The Park - April 11, 2012 - By Geoffrey Croft 

A Walk In The Park - March 17, 2012 - By Geoffrey Croft 


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