Police Investigating Drug Sales In Marie Curie Park

Marie Curie Park in Bayside, where police say they are conducting an investigation into reports of drug sales. (Photo by Rich Bockmann)

Queens

Police from the 111th Precinct said they were aware of reports from residents that a number of dealers were selling drugs in Bayside’s Marie Curie Park and narcotics detectives have been conducting an investigation, according to the Times Ledger.

The park, on 211th Street between 46th Road and 46th Avenue, is situated behind the Marie Curie Middle School and one block away from the Bayside School. It is filled with young children, particularly on fair-weather afternoons.

A Bayside resident of 11 years who wished to remain anonymous contacted the TimesLedger Newspapers last week and described a group of four to five black men in their early-to-mid-20s who smoke marijuana and sell drugs to adults and children in the park.

“They’re just grown men who sit in front of the bathroom in the center of the park. They don’t belong there and they don’t have kids,” the resident said, adding that the suspects congregate at the handball courts near the southeastern section of the park as well. “There are people who come up to them every 30 minutes.”

The police said they were looking at a nearby house in connection with the alleged drug sales, but would not comment further on the specifics of the investigation.

Community Board 11 Chairman Jerry Iannece said no one had come to him directly about the current reports, but added that drug dealing has been a problem in the park, on and off, for decades.

He said police used to routinely patrol the area and make arrests.

“It’s a fact of life that there’s just not enough police to go around,” he said, and vowed to take a proactive approach to work with the police.

Bayside activist Mandingo Tshaka said the park has been a hot spot for illicit activities going back to the days when crack cocaine was sold in the 1980s and that he has been working on remedies to the problem to no avail.

Tshaka has attempted to have the park renamed from Marie Curie Park to Marie Curie Playground, reasoning that this would formally prohibit visitors from entering it without children.

CB 11 District Manager Susan Seinfeld said the city Parks Department told her that regardless of the name, the rules posted near the park’s entrance govern who can and cannot enter.

In addition to banning the use of illegal drugs, the posted rules do not allow adults in the play equipment area except when in the company of children, although Tshaka argues that the delineation between the play equipment area is not clear.

He also said he would like to see more “Drug Free School Zone” signs posted around the Marie Curie and Bayside schools.

Seinfeld said she was told the city was not producing the signs anymore.

“The police say they don’t need a sign. Drugs are illegal; it doesn’t matter if there’s a sign. Anywhere they’re doing drugs they can be arrested,” she said.

Read More:

Bayside park battling drug habit

Times Ledger - March 1, 2012 - By By Rich Bockmann

Fearing Predators, Church Pushes City To Change Park To Playground

The 2.6 acre Marie Curie Park located on 46 Ave., 46 Rd. Bet. Oceania St. and 211 St. in Bayside Queens contains a pool, handball and basketball courts, and a children's playground. A local pastor is hoping to prohibit the general public from the park - other than children - by having its official name changed to a playground.

Queens

An encounter last year between a scantily dressed man, and kids playing in Marie Curie Park has spooked one Bayside pastor enough for him to want to keep many adults out, according to Bayside Patch.

Reverend Phillip Kim of Korean Presbyterian in Bayside recently filed a petition with the city asking to have the name of Marie Curie Park to "Marie Curie Playground," a move he says will make the area safer for the children who play there.

The park is used by children from the church, because they are located on opposing sides of the same street.

"It's my understanding that under the current situation, because it is a park, the area is open to the general public," Kim said.

But Kim would like to see the city officially name this public space a playground, which he said would make it subject to a stricter set of regulations, prohibiting any adults unaccompanied by children from entering.

"It's a problem because we've notice adults engaging in questionable behaviors in front of the children," Kim said.

The main incident described by Kim was that of a middle aged male, wearing shorts and a tank top— what he called "improper attire”— while playing with children in the park’s sprinkler system this past summer.

"Technically, the man wasn't doing anything illegal because he's in a park. We'd like to see it where only parents with children can use the facilities though," Kim said.

Other concerns for Kim include groups of young adolescents-adults who he said currently use the park as a meeting ground.

"Some have even brought in dangerous animals like pit bulls into the park, which poses a serious safety concern for parents of small children. Still, as long as it's a park they're allowed to enter," Kim said.

But getting the whole of Marie Curie Park declared a playground might not be as clear cut or as easy as it might sound.

"It's too early to comment on this specific case, however declaring a park, a playground, is generally not something Parks would do. We try to encourage everyone to enjoy these public spaces," said Zachary Feder of the New York City Parks Department.

Even so, for some of the parents who bring their kids to Marie Curie Park, having the entire thing dedicated a playground doesn't sound like a bad idea.

"There have definitely been times when I've come here and there's been an element that seems out of place around the children," said Cathy Rodriguez, a mother of two, who lives just a few blocks from Marie Curie Park and uses it often.

Reverend Kim is hopeful that the city will consider his request to turn 'Marie Curie Park' into 'Marie Curie Playground.'

"When you look at the 'park,' it's obviously a playground for the school it's attached to and we feel it should be officially made such," Kim said.

To see the official NYC Parks rules and guidelines click here.

Additional reporting by Lori Gross.

Read More:

Fearing Predators, Church Pushes To Change Park

Korean Presbyterian of Bayside solicits city to officially

name Marie Curie 'Park' a 'Playground.'

Bayside Patch - November 10, 2011- By Patrick Conti