Toxic Algal Blooms Found In Park Water Bodies

Harmful algal toxic blooms have so far been discovered in four of the five boroughs. Algae Bloom Advisory signs were recently posted in around several water bodies including the Lake in Central Park and the Prospect Park Lake where high level of toxins were recently confirmed.

City-Wide

By Geoffrey Croft

The city is advising parents and dog owners to avoid contact with several water bodies due to the discovery of cyanobacteria, a blue-green like algae which can be toxic. 

Cyanobacteria has been detected in several ponds including the Lake in Central Park and Prospect Park Lake were high level of toxins were confirmed.  

The blooms were also detected in the Pond in Morningside Park in Manhattan,  in Queens at Kissena Park Lake and Bowne Park Pond,  and in Allison Pond Park in Staten Island. 

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) tracks the presence of Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) on its notifications page which it updates weekly.  

Blooms can be toxic and children and pets are more vulnerable to its effects.  Effects include:

• Skin and eye irritation from external contact.
• Asthma-like symptoms from inhaling water/spray.
• Gastro-intestinal and neurological symptoms from ingestion. 

If a child or pet is exposed rinse the exposed areas with clean water the City advises.  Seek medical attention if you experience skin, eye, throat irritation or breathing difficulties, and if nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, headache, or fever occur.

When enjoying fresh water features in city parks the public is being advised to try to avoid contact with any algae and observe the following guidelines: 

• Do not drink the water from these lakes or ponds.
• Do not swim or wade in any of our lakes or ponds.
• Watch children at all times near the shoreline and do not allow them to enter or drink from lakes and ponds.
• Keep pets on leashes and do not allow them to enter or drink from lakes and ponds unless in areas specifically designated for such activities.

Police Search For Suspects Wanted In Robberies In Two UWS Parks

Police are looking for suspects wanted in connection with robberies in Riverside and Mornignside Parks in the early hours of March 6th.  Police released video and photographs of suspects. 

Manhattan

By Geoffrey Croft

The New York City Police Department is asking the public for assistance with locating and identifying the individuals wanted in connection to several robberies that occurred on Sunday March 6th.

At approximately 1:40am inside Morningside Park, located at Morningside Drive and West 116 Street,  a 23-year-old male was approached from behind by three individuals who pushed him to the ground and demanded his property.  

Once on the ground one of the  assailants individuals went through the victim’s pocket and removed his wallet, an undetermined amount of cash, and a cellphone. The individuals fled westbound towards Morningside Drive.

The Incident occured within the confines of the 26 Pct.

Police released video of suspects wanted in the March 6th robbery and attacks. 

Approximately a half hour later at 2:21am the three assailants approached a 22 and 23-year-old male sitting on the bench inside Riverside Park, located at Riverpark Drive and West 108 Street.

An individual punched one of the victims in the face while another assailant took property from the victim’s pocket.  The individuals fled southbound from inside Riverside Park.

The Incident occured within the confines of the 24 Pct.

Approximately a half hour later at approximately 2:40am a 27-year-old male was walking northbound on Westend Avenue and West 73 Street near when he was approached by the three individuals from behind. One of the individuals pulled the victim by the jacket collar and tried to take his bag. An unknown male saw the incident and shouted at the robbers prompting them individuals to flee southbound on Wesstend Avenue.  No property was removed.

The Incident occured within the confines of the 20 Pct.

Individual 1: approximately a 20-year-old male, Black, 5'8"tall, 180 lbs, medium complexion, last seen wearing a red jacket, black jeans and a baseball cap.

Individual 2: approximately a 20-year-old male, Black, 5'9",tall, 160 lbs, medium complexion, slender build, last seen wearing a black jacket, black jeans, black hoody, and black sneakers

Individual 3: approximately a 20-year-old male, Black, 6'0"tall,170 lbs, medium complexion, gray jeans, blue jacket, and a gray striped hoody.

Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).  

The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime stoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577. All calls are strictly confidential.

Homeless Man Arrested In Attempted Morningside Park Robbery: Columbia Issued Warning After Series Of Robberies & Assaults

Manhattan

By Geoffrey Croft

A homeless tried to rob a park patron inside Morningside Park,  NYC  Park Advocates has learned.

Willie Frazier,  27, approached a man, 37,  with his hand in his front pants pocket indicating he had a weapon. 

 "I have a gun. Give me your money," the assailant said according to sources.

The victim screamed,  "He's trying to rob me." 

Frazier ran off.

Police responded and armed with a description apprehend Frazier minutes later at Morningside Avenue near West 114th Street.

He did not have a weapon.

The incident occurred inside the park,  near West 114th Street  at approximately 9:10 p.m. on Tuesday evening.

Frazer was charged with attempted robbery. 

A few weeks ago Columbia University's Department of Public Safety issued a warning after a series of robberies and assaults occurred in and around the park. 

According to the police, a group of 6 to 7 males approximately 12 to 16 years of age were responsible for a series of incidents on August 19th. 

One victim was punched in the face, another was robbed. The group also attempted to rob a female inside Morningside Park. 

If anyone has information about these crimes please contact the 26th Precinct Detective Squad - 212- 678-1351.

Suspect Wanted In Morningside Park Sex Assault

Police say this man sexually assaulted a 29-year-old woman in Morningside Park on Sunday Oct. 9, 2011 around 6:oo pm. (Credit: NYPD - via CBS)

An alert issued by Columbia University said that the woman had been walking on the upper path, near West 118^th Street, when the attacker approached, according to DNAinfo. After a short conversation, the man sexually assaulted her, according to the alert.

The incident has renewed calls for increased security in the area, where two separate shooting incidents occurred in June.

The Parks Department said that a new Enforcement Patrol officer, paid for by Columbia University, had been assigned to Morningside Park following the shootings, but Friends of Morningside Park board member Brad Taylor told DNAinfo that sightings of the officer had been scarce.

Manhattan

While the New York Police Department is out in force hunting the serial groper – or gropers – who have attacked at least a dozen women in Brooklyn, there’s a new predator they want to catch as well.

Police say a woman was sexually assaulted in Morningside Park Sunday at around 6 p.m, according to WCBS.

The suspect was wearing a black sweatshirt, black doo rag and blue jeans.

Police say the suspect was caught on tape by a nearby surveillance camera.

If you have any information about this incident, police want you to contact Crime Stoppers. You can:

• Call 1-800-577-8477 (TIPS). All calls are kept confidential.
• Text your tip to 274637 (CRIMES), then entering TIP577.
• Log on to the Crime Stoppers website.

Watch surveillance video of the suspect below:

Read/View More:

NYPD Hunts Suspect Following Sex Assault In Morningside Park

CBS News - October 11, 2011

Cops Release Video of Morningside Park Sex Assault Suspect

DNAinfo- October 11, 2011 - By Olivia Scheck

Morningside Park Could Get More Security Presents Following Shootings

A Walk In The Park - July 15, 2011

Two Men Wanted In String of Robberies Near Morningside Park

The two suspects sought by police for multiple robberies around Morningside Park can be seen walking by park benches in the video released by police.

Manhattan

Police are looking for two men wanted for a string of broad daylight robberies near Morningside Park, according to DNAinfo.

The suspects — one who threatened and robbed the victims while the other acted as a lookout — struck four separate times around the park beginning Aug. 12, according to police.

In the last incident, on Aug. 21, one suspect, wielding a knife, stole money and a cell phone from a 23-year-old man at Morningside Drive and 116th Street about 2 p.m., police said.

The duo also allegedly stole three other cellphones and an iPod during the spree. In one other case, they simulated a knife, police said.

The first suspect is described as a man between 16-25 years old, 5-feet-7 to 6-feet-1 and between 160 and 190 pounds.

The second is described as 18-21 years old, between 5-feet-7 and 5-feet-11 and between 160 and 170 pounds.

Anyone with information can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS (8477), submit tips to Crime Stoppers' website at www.nypdcrimestoppers.com or by text tips to CRIMES (274637), then enter TIP577.

Read/View More:

Duo Robs Four in Broad Daylight Near Morningside Park, Police Say

DNAinfo - August 24, 2011 - By Ben Fractenberg

Morningside Park Could Get More Security Presents Following Shootings

Manhattan

Morningside Park could get cameras, additional police and a Parks Enforcement Patrol officer following a June 30 shooting across from a playground at the park that has scared some area parents away, according to DNAinfo.

Police from the 28th Precinct told members of Community Boards 9 and 10 Wednesday that the June 30 shooting was likely drug-related. An uninvolved bystander was hit by a stray bullet in the incident.

Parent Melissa Chu said she was playing with her daughter, Emma, near the swings at the 116th Street playground when someone across the street pulled a gun and started shooting. She grabbed her daughter, fled the park, and has not returned since.

The shooting has mobilized area parents who have demanded more police patrols. The shooting was the second near the park last month. On June 2, a 16-year-old boy was shot at the basketball courts on 118th Street.

That shooting was a dispute involving three rival teen "crews" over a girl, said police officials from the 26th precinct, who were also at the meeting with the community boards. Two suspects have been arrested and charged with the shooting.

The shooting victims in both incidents survived.

Parks department officials also said Morningside Park was going to receive a Parks Enforcement Patrol officer. That officer will be paid for by Columbia University, a Parks Dept. spokesman said.

Uptown residents have long complained that parks in the area receive less PEP officers than downtown parks. But they also feel one officer isn't enough, given the size of the park and the heavy use of its playground and basketball court.

Community groups have called for a larger response to the issue of gun violence, particularly among young people.

"We urge elected officials, law enforcement officers, community groups, business and religious leaders to work together to find holistic solutions for the violence, most crucially to support programs that engage and provide opportunity for our youth," the board of Harlem4Kids wrote in an open letter.

Friends of Morningside Park is looking into raising funds to install video cameras in the park, said Brad Taylor, a board member and former president of Friends of Morningside Park. He added that he's optimistic about the future of the park.

"I'm glad people have raised these issues and that parents have been so organized," he said.

Read More:

Morningside Park Could Get More Police Following Shootings

DNAinfo - July 14, 2011 - By Jeff Mays

Morningside Park Shootings Worry Area Parents

DNAinfo - July 12, 2011 - By Jeff Mays

16-Year-Old Shot Playing Basketball

A Walk In The Park - June 3, 2011 - By Geoffrey Croft

16-Year-Old Shot Playing Basketball

Manhattan

A 16-year-old boy was shot twice while playing basketball in Morningside Park last evening. The youth was in the park on West 118th Street at Morningside Drive at about 7 p.m. Thursday when a gunman walked up and fired twice, hitting him in the mouth and the hip, police said. The victim was taken to St. Luke's Hospital in stable condition.

No arrest has been made. - Geoffrey Croft

Morningside Park Camera Removed

December 5, 2010. Camera in Morningside Park near the 116th stairs. (Photos: Joe Schumacher)

Manhattan

One day late last fall, December 5th to be exact, I was descending the 116th St. stairs in Morningside Park when I noticed a big ugly box attached to a lamp post, writes Joe Schumacher.

When I stopped to take a closer look the box spoke to me. It told me I was an unauthorized visitor. Seriously! In a park. In the middle of the day. I stood there staring at the camera (I did not make any obscene gestures) for a couple of minutes, hoping it would speak to me again. It didn't. As you can see there is no identification on the camera. Was it owned by the Parks Department? NYPD? Columbia? Friends of Morningside Park? I meant to ask and/or complain at the time but got busy and forgot about it.

Yesterday I noticed the camera was gone. I could have been gone for a while as I don't take these stairs nearly as often as I once did. One reason why is coming up in a future post, but if you are familiar with the 116th St. stairs you might know why.

May 22, 2011. The camera has been removed.

Read More:

Good Riddance

what about the plastic animals? - May 22. 2011 - By Joe Schumacher

Man Assaulted In Morningside Park

Manhattan

A 25 -year old male was assaulted earlier today by at least 5 teenage males in Morningside Park. The assault occurred at approximately 4:00 P.M at 114th St. & Morningside Ave. NYPD and EMS responded to the scene. No other information is available at this time. — Geoffrey Croft

Raccoon Rabies Scare in Manhattan Parks

MANHATTAN

Between 2003 and 2008, only 1 rabid animal was found in all of Manhattan. In the past month and a half, city health officials have confirmed 16 rabid raccoons in the borough, according to the West Side Independent. 

The NYC Health Department first raised the alarm about rabies last month after finding four rabid raccoons in Manhattan from the beginning of the year through Dec. 3. But since that release, the virus has continued to spread, mostly in the northern part of Central Park (and many of them on the west side of the park), the health department told the Westside Independent on Tuesday. Rabid raccoons have also been found in Morningside Park. In total, 12 rabid raccoons were found in 2009 (10 in the month of December alone), and four more since the beginning of 2010.

The city is now planning to vaccinate the raccoon populations in Riverside, Central and Morningside Parks to stop the disease from spreading, the health department told us.

Rabies Spreading Fast in Manhattan Parks; 16 Raccoons Since December

West Side Independent -  January 13, 2010