Sunday, July 30, 2017

City Closes "House of Horrors" Park House In Brooklyn
























Equality Brooklyn Style.  A dead rat greeted visitors at the entrance to the men’s room on Friday where users were forced to run through a gauntlet of disgusting conditions.  (Photos By Geoffrey Croft/NYC Park Advocates) Click on images to enlarge.

Brooklyn

By Geoffrey Croft

Apparently this is the city's definition of "equality," in the park system.

A dangerous and decrepit park house in a Brooklyn park was finally closed by the city over the weekend after park employees complained and a media inquiry was made about the deplorable conditions,  NYC Park Advocates has learned.

For years the city has been forcing its employees to work in  a rat invested, crumbling park house building in Bensonhurst Park located Cropsey Avenue and Bay Parkway. 

Exposed electrical wires,  rodent feces, mold, peeling paint and plaster etc. improperly stored paint and cleaning agents were plainly on view of Friday.  Water drips from the ceiling.

The charred remains of a fire were evident throughout the building.  A burnt and partially melted fire EXIT sign hangs on the inside above the building’s entrance.

Exit Sign. A charred and partially melted fire EXIT sign hangs on the inside of the park house above the building’s employee entrance.  The city's definition of "equality."


Its uncertain how many codes, safety and health violations exist in the building but appareanly no one from the parks department management thought it was a concern. 

One worker called it a, “House of Horrors.”

Park employees were told by a supervisor not to complain about the conditions to their union according to a park source.

The public bathrooms are deplorable. 

On Friday a dead rat greeted visitors at the entrance to the men’s room where users are forced to pass under a severely eroded ceiling on their way into in a putrid smelling bathroom room where an abundance of flies await  as well as broken windows. On the outside rotten wood and nest make up the crumbling facade.

On Friday urine could plainly be seen on the floor of the woman’s room. 

Rodent feces were everywhere in the public recreation room including on top of the radiator and on the children's games.


In the public “rec room,” rodent feces were everywhere. Two rusted air conditioning units were mounted above window treatments stuffed with garbage.  

The city’s initial response - the Park’s Department’s press office chastised a reporter for sending an inquiry at the end on a Friday.

The press office also represented that the section of the building where employees work out of was now was closed as multiple workers were seen entering the exiting the building.

Park management also told the president of local that represents City Park Workers that the building was closed.


Charred walls, remnants of a fire in the building. 


Yesterday a cleaning crews could be seen inside the rec room while an employee stood guard outside. 

New locks were eventually placed on the two the building’s doors.

Its clear the building should be inhabited by anyone, but the Parks Department.

“Its disgusting, It’s unbelievable,” said a park worker speaking on the condition of anonymity out of fear of retribution. 

 “It's a house of horrors in there, It’s scary,” another worker said. 

Parents in the nearby playground say they avoid the bathrooms like the plague.  They never use the bathrooms preferring instead to use the park itself if necessary or try to make it home.

“Look at the building, its falling apart. It doesn’t even look safe.  Would you go in there,” one parent said.

On Friday DC 37 sent a letter to the city demanding its people be moved out the unsafe work environment until such time the building is safe for occupancy according to a source.

The charred remains of a fire are evident throughout the building where park workers were forced to work out of.   

Exposed wiring.


Rat feces everywhere.


Crumbling ceiling above the entrance to the Men's public rest room. Apparenlty no one from the parks department management thought these conditions were an issue.



One of two severely rusted air conditioning units inside the public recreation room. 



Entrance to the rec room. A lock was placed on the door after inquires were made. 













Crumbling Park House Facade.


Detail Park House Facade.


Crumbling facade.


Filthy condtions inside the workers area.


Employee job safety and health protection signs posted without providing basic job protections.


Park Sign.

(Photos By Geoffrey Croft/NYC Park Advocates) Click on images to enlarge.




Two Injured - One Critically After Speeding Van Crashes Into Queens Park


The 53-year-old driver of the van in an ambulance at the scene shortly after striking five people including two in Brookville Park.  (Myles Miller/PIX11 News)
  
Queens

At least 5 people were injured, including one critically when a van slammed into two pedestrians and then crashed into a nearby pond in a Queens park Saturday evening.

Police say a white van driven by a 53-year-old pastor was traveling at a high rate of speed when it struck and rear ended a Hyundai Sonata after running a red light, according to the NYPD.

The van then continued and entered Brookville Park where it hit two additional people including a 19-year-old woman and 18-year-old man before crashing into Conselyea’s Pond. 

The 19-year-old suffered a head injury and is listed in critical condition at Jamaica Hospital. The man has a leg injury.

Five people in total were injured, including a 7-year old girl, a man 44, and a female 40 when they were struck in the street and sidewalk. 

Video taken on the scene shows the pastor wearing a white rope with his hands up as he exits the van as FDNY and police wade into the water.

A witness said the man kept saying, ‘praise Jesus’ with his hands up and his big long robe — ‘Hallelujah, praise Jesus, Hallelujah, praise Jesus!'”

 Several verses from the bible can be seen on the rear window of the van.

The driver is in police custody at Jamaica Hospital.

The terrifying incident occurred around 7:30 p.m. at South Conduit Avenue and Brookville Boulevard in Rosedale Queens.   


Thursday, July 27, 2017

Anti-Gay & Swastikas Messages Found In Queens Park


Park employees found biased graffiti in Forest Park on Tuesday including messages of violence towards gay people. (Click on images to enlarge)

Queens

By Geoffrey Croft

Police are investigating a possible bias crime after Parks Department employees discovered numerous anti-gay statements and swastikas spray painted on rocks and trees in a Queens park NYC Park Advocates learned.

The disturbing graffiti was found in Forrest Park of the orange trail between Lark Lane South and the closed road by 112 street, near the Montauk rail line.

Several violent messages towards gays were found including, “ I Kill GAY PPL,“ and “KILL GAY ppl.”

Numerious hate filled messages towards gay people were found scrawled on trees and rocks.




































Swastikas were also found scrawled on several trees.

The disturbing images were scrawled in several colors and were reported on Tuesday afternoon at 4 p.m. in the park which is within the confines of the 102nd Pct.

The vandalism is also being investigated by authorities as a case of criminal mischief.

The area is littered with used condom wrappers.

Earlier this month a man reported being assaulted by a man spewing hate filled anti-gay statements in a playground in upper Manhattan.

“I hope all faggots die” and “I don’t want faggots in this park,” the assailant allegedly said before punching the victim twice in the face and fleeing.


Numerous hate filled messages towards gay people were found scrawled on trees and rocks.
Swastikas were found scrawled on several trees.




Read More: 

DNAinfo - July 27, 2017 -  By Ewa Kern-Jedrychowska

Queens Chronicle - July 27, 2017 -  By Robert Pozarycki

A Walk In The Park - July 17, 2017 -  By Geoffrey Croft





Monday, July 24, 2017

Queens Park Rape Suspect Charged

"...our city parks should be a safe haven for people at any time of the day or night. But earlier this week it is alleged that a human predator lurked in the darkness and, in separate attacks, ambushed two lone women.”  - Queens District Attorney Richard Brown

Queens

By Geoffrey Croft


The knife-wielding Flushing man who preyed on two women and sexually assaulted them in a Queens park is charged with rape and predatory sexual assault, authorities said Saturday according to the Daily News.

Charles Tobin, 29 was charged Saturday after he allegedly hunted down the victims in Kissena Park during separate late-night attacks earlier this week.   Tobin was arraigned and held without bail, he could spend the rest of his life locked up if convicted of the charges.  

On Tuesday approached a 32-year woman from behind at knife point in Kissena Park Corridor park. He demanded money and robbed her of $ 50 dollars then forced her into a wooded area where he instructed her to put a condom on him, perform a sex act on him  before raping her while holding the knife according to authorities.  

Tobin struck again the next night, allegedly pouncing on a 17-year-old asain girl who had just finished jogging in the park.  The jogger told the attacker she had no money on her. 

“Then you will have to do something for me,” Tobin said before forcing her to perform a sex act on him while he held the knife to her neck, authorities said. 

He placed the knife to her neck and forced her into a wooded area. He instructed her to put a condom on him and forced her to perform a sex act on him.

Tobin had “distinctive, spike-like objects hanging from his ears,” according to the criminal complaint.  

Police arrested Tobin in a playground in the same park where the crimes occurred. Police said they saw him drinking from a water fountain and he matched a description of the attacker.  

Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said “our city parks should be a safe haven for people at any time of the day or night. But earlier this week it is alleged that a human predator lurked in the darkness and, in separate attacks, ambushed two lone women.”  

Tobin’s lawyer could not be reached for comment. 

Read More: 

New York Daily News - July 22, 2017 - By Andrew Keshner 

A Walk In The Park - July 21, 2017 






Friday, July 21, 2017

Suspect Wanted In Knife-Point Sexual Assaults Apprehended In Queens Playground

Queens

By Geoffrey Croft

Police have apprehended a 30-year-old suspect wanted in connection with two sexual assaults in two straight days  in a Queens park, including a knife point rape according to the police. 
  
While canvassing Kissena Park on Thursday police spotted a man they said matched the description inside a playground in the same park where he hunted his victims.

Police took Charles Tobin into custody. 

On Tuesday in Kissena Park Corridor, at 11:00pm a black male approached a 32-year woman from behind at knife point and robbed her of $ 50 dollars.  He then forced her into a wooded area where he instructs her to put a condom on him before raping her.  

On Wednesday, the next night at 11:30 p.m, a 17-year-old female Asian was walking in the park after going for a jog when she was approached by a male black with a knife. He placed the knife to her neck according to police and forced her into a wooded area where the attacker demands oral sex. He instructs her to put a condom on him, she complies and went about the sex act. 

After the sexual assault he fled the park.

Police found a condom wrapper at the scene which is being tested for DNA.     

The incident occurred in the park near 56 Avenue and Main Street within the confines of the 109th Precinct.    

The suspect arrested was described as a male black, approximately 30-years-old, 5’7” and last seen wearing a red tank-top.

Charges are pending Friday as of this afternoon.

For years the public has complained about the lack of dedicated park police. These pleas have been ignored. 

Thursday, July 20, 2017

Queens City Council Candidate Moya Calls For Seizing Parkland In FMCP - Doesn't Know Why


City Council candidate Francisco Moya is calling for the seizing parkland in Flushing Meadows-Corona he says to create affordable housing and community jobs at Willets Point but is unable to say what the connection is between the park and his plan. In June New York’s highest court rejected a proposal to build a mega-mall on the same site in Flushing Meadows Park. The court ruled that State Alienation approval was necessary in order to commercially build on the public parkland, something Moya promises to help achieve. Moya is holding a press conference today.  (Photos: Geoffrey Croft/NYC Park Advocates)

Queens

By Geoffrey Croft

A candidate running for a City Council seat is calling on the Mayor to support his plan to size 30 acres of Flushing Meadows - Corona Park, public land the State’s highest court just ruled in favor of protecting.   

New York State Assemblyman Francisco Moya (D - Corona) running for Julissa Ferreras’s City Council seat is pushing to alienate the parkland and says he will fight hard to do it if elected.

 “Moya has pledged to work with colleagues in the legislature to secure the required parkland alienation provisions if his proposal moves forward,” a campaign press release stated.

In June the State’s highest court rejected the $1 billion Bloomberg-era giveaway of 47.5 acres of public parkland in Flushing Meadow’s Corona Park - to one of the country’s most politically connected developers, along with NY Mets owners -  to build the city’s largest mall.

Assemblyman Moya says alienating the park is part of his plan to create “Historic Levels of Affordable Housing and Community Jobs at Willets Point.”

However when asked how the parkland and his affordable housing plan for Willets Point were related the campaign was unable to provide any details.

The Moya campaign was asked what the plan was for the parkland if they were successful in securing  “the required parkland alienation provisions.”

The press release or the campaign offered no information or details on how the parkland is related to Willets Point or to his affordable housing proposal which is obviously the key to the proposal.    

“Moya’s proposal comes shortly after a decision last month by the New York State Court of Appeals striking down the Willets West phase of the proposed redevelopment, “ the press release stated.

"The plan, which would have brought a shopping center and movie theater to the 30-acre site immediately west of Citi Field, was intended to be the first phase in the two-part redevelopment of the Willets Point Site. However, the Court of Appeals struck the plan down on the grounds that the land, which is technically parkland pertaining to the adjacent Flushing-Meadows Park, would first require state lawmakers' approval. Moya has pledged to work with colleagues in the legislature to secure the required parkland alienation provisions if his proposal moves forward,” the release read.

The statement contained several bits of misleading information.

The parkland was not part of the 2008 Willets Point development plan and was not intended to be the first phase in the two-part redevelopment of the Willets Point Site.   The Queens Development Group - a joint venture between The Related Companies and Sterling Equities had desperately tried to link the two projects. 

The parkland is not “technically parkland” it is parkland and it is not “adjacent Flushing-Meadows Park,” it is in Flushing-Meadows Park.    

Queens City Council candidate Francisco Moya wants to help seize parkland in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park but is unable to say what for.


The Moya campaign also states his proposal was developed with community groups and stakeholders. 

“Assemblyman Moya ​has met with local residents and community groups to develop this proposal for the future of Willets Point,” the campaign said in a statement last week to A Walk In the Park. “

“These are the stakeholders that will be most affected by any development at the site, and addressing their needs for open space, truly affordable housing and employment opportunities are the Assemblyman’s top priority,” a campaign spokesperson wrote.   

The campaign was unable to provide details when asked what community groups and stakeholders were involved in helping to develop this proposal but pointed to a town hall meeting ten years ago in Jackson Heights by the Pratt Center for Community Development.  The 2007 meeting it should be noted did not mention taking public parkland. 

Which community groups and stakeholders are supporting this plan may at least partially be answered today when the Moya campaign holds a rally at 2:30pm.

According to the release today’s press conference participants include Make The Road, a city-funded non-profit with close ties to this administration including Jullissa Ferreras and Speaker Melissa Mark Viverito, and the Jackson Heights Green Alliance,  Queens Fairness Coalition, groups that supportive of the initial plan.

Make The Road supported taking the parkland and helped the local council member. After Julissa Ferreras successfully orchrestated  the deal culminating in the City Council vote in Ocotober 2013 she publicly thanked the groups that helped make it possible - Make The Road,  The Queens Fairness Coalition, and New Yorkers For Parks.

Moya has the support of the Queens County Democrats. His campaign was asked it they were supporting the development of Flushing Meadows Park to their knowledge.  The campaign declined to answer.

The campaign was also asked if anyone associated with his campaign has met with the former proposed developer, Related Companies, or Sterling Equities or with REBNY and any unions regarding this proposal?

The campaign said no it hadn't.

Not surprising plaintiffs were not happy.

“It’s very disappointing to see candidate Moya willing to squander the community’s hard-won court victory, which protects Flushing Meadows Corona Park land,” plaintiff Irene Prestigiacomo said in a statement.
    
"Moya’s willets Point plan includes his support for alienating the parkland which the recent court victory protects.  Moya needs a reality check, to understand that the community opposes developing parkland and just concluded a long court case to preserve the same land that Moya is eager to give to developers. Moya's willingness to sacrifice public parkland shows his apparent support of and allegiance to developers and the elitist owners of the Mets, above the constituents he wants to vote for him! He wants the community’s vote while unashamedly letting us know he has no respect for the hard-won court victory,” she said.

“The Queens Civic Congress opposes any more alienation of this much needed park land,  said  its president Kevin J. Forrestal. "Park land is essential part of the infrastructure supporting it’s surrounding communities. Keep park land as parks,” he stated. 

 “Another Clown has joined the circus,”  opined plaintiff Alfredo Centola.  

“When will these leeches learn that the public is their boss and the public has spoken repeatedly.”


Note: The author was a plaintiff in the lawsuit.  


Read More:

A Walk In The Park - Juen 6, 2017 -  By Geoffrey Croft

NY 1 - June 6, 2017 - By Gene Apodaca 

CBS - June 7, 2017 - By Carolyn Gusoff

New York Times - June 6, 2017 - By Sarah Maslin Nir 

New York Daily News - June 6, 2017-  By Glenn Blain 

Queens.com - June 6, 2017 -  By Suzanne Monteverdi  

New York Law Journal - June 6, 2017 - By Mark Hamblett  


A Walk In The Park - October 10, 2013 - By Geoffrey Croft

Monday, July 17, 2017

Police Investigating Hate Crime Assault In Manhattan Playground

Manhattan

By Geoffrey Croft

A man was attacked by a man yelling anti-gay statements in an upper Manhattan playground,  NYC Park Advocates has learned.

The 29-year-old victim told police he was inside Jacob Schiff Playground when he was approached by a man who yelled, "I hope all faggots die" and "I don't want faggots in this park." 

The man then punched the victim twice in the face and fled.

The victim refused medical attention at the scene for swelling and bruising under the right eye.

The assault is being investigated by the NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force as a possible bias crime.

The incident occured inside the playground at Broadway and West 138th Street on July  9th,  at 2:30 a.m.  

Friday, July 14, 2017

UES Residents Angry Over Secret Parkland Takeover For East River Esplanade Fix


Construction fencing had already been erected around a popular hill in Carl Schurz Park when the community began to find out about the city’s plans.  A move which as angered Yorkville residents.  This is not the first time the Parks Deparment has moved ahead with a  plan in CB 8 without the communty knowing about it.  (Photos: NYC Park Adovcates) Click on images to enlarge.

Manhattan 

By Geoffrey Croft

There will be no sledding this winter along with any other public uses for the better part of a year residents were told last night.

Dozens of community residents poured into a normally sleepy July CB 8 Parks Committee meeting to express their anger and frustration over a city plan to build a temporary road in the middle of a popular hill in Carl Schurz Park, a few feet way from Gracie Mansion. 

A plan they knew nothing about. 

A rumor had circulated that the city was planning to use the beloved hill - popular with picnickers, sunbathers, readers, and sledders in the winter - as a staging area for the city’s long delayed reconstruction of a nearby section of the East River Esplanade. In May a fifty foot section collapsed into the East River behind the Mayor’s house after decades of deferred maintenance.

The rumor was at least partially true.   Last night Parks Department representatives confirmed that it is planning to build a temporary road, made of gravel and recycled asphalt in the middle of the lush green hill in order to accommodate construction vehicles.  The city denied it was going to level it but said two trees would be removed. 

The city expects the work to begin by the end of summer and be completed by May 2018.   After the work is finished the hill would be restored.  

Like a page out of Robert Caro's The Power Broker, the community found out about the plan not from the City but instead from a construction worker at the site. 


The city will begin fixing sections of the East River Esplanade after a fifty foot section collapsed into the East River behind Grace Mansion in May. 


Once word leaked out fliers were plastered throughout the community warning of the impending plan.

“That’s a crazy way to find out the information,”  said neighborhood resident Helaine Eisenberg. “If the people who are making the decision are not directly communicating with the community its affecting, that’s a problem," she said.  

Compounding the problem is that Community Board 8 ranks dead last in the provision of parks and open space city-wide.

“Even if we temporarily lose park space that's terrible for this community because we have very little and that’s disturbing,”  she said.      

One of the main sticking points was why the community was only finding out about the plan now after construction crews had already begun erecting fences around the popular grassy knoll.  

During the meeting the Park Department was asked several times why the community was only finding out about the plan now.

Eleven-year-old Ethan Ladder,  son of CB 8 Board member Craig Ladder, stepped up to the mic and asked why the public had not been notified.  


After word had leaked out organizers plastered the community with fliers warning of the impending plan The city is planning to use a beloved feature of Carl Schurz Park as a staging area for construction vechiles located at East End Avenue and E. 89th street. 


Manhattan Parks Commissioner Bill Castro responded later by saying that both the Community Board and the office of City Council Member Ben Kallos had been notified of the plan several weeks earlier.

Castro did his best to avoid admitting that the city had not informed the community of its plan to use the park as a staging area. He said there was a press conference at the time of the collape in May inferring that his issue was covered then.  

“The elected officials were notified about this, yes they were and there was a press conference also about the - there was coverage when the wall collapsed and we informed both council member Kallos the other elected officials about this at the time the  community board as well.”

There was no press conferance and there was no coverage.  At the time of the collapse a single individual from the Parks Department spoke to individual media at the site and addressed questions.  The use of the park as a staging area was never brought up. This also directly contradicts what his colleague said had just stated moments earlier about how the plan had recently changed a few weeks earlier which caused the new plan to be rushed.

The veracity of Mr. Castro’s claims were challenged. 

He was informed that earlier in the day Council Member’s office told this author that they had not heard of the city’s plan and that at this point it was only a rumor they heard from community members.

When pressed on whether or not the Council member knew a few weeks earlier Castro backed off the claim made moments earlier.  

“I can’t say whether he knew that or not,” Castro replied. “He may have,” he said adding that he hadn’t said he had.  

After the meeting several CB board members and as well other people who called Council Member Kallos’s office told the same story, that it was just a rumor and it had not been officially confirmed by the city until last night.    

This is not the first time the Parks Department has moved ahead with a plan in Community Board 8 without the community knowing about it and Bill Castro was in the middle.     

In April 2012 the Parks Department was blasted over its handling the controversial tennis concession in the Queensboro Oval Park softball field under the 59th Street Bridge at York Avenue. 

Questions were raised, once again, why the community was only founding out at least four months after the city  had made a secret deal that allowed the concessionaire additional time to operate. The lack of transparency then was particularly inflammatory considering the last time the issue of the extending the tennis concession surfaced in 2010 was when the agency’s revenue division struck a behind closed door deal that allowed the private tennis club on public park to go from seasonal to year-round. 

The Community Board vote came five months after the concessionaire had already signed a contract with Parks. Opponents of the plan charge they had not been properly notified of the proposal.

At Thursday's meeting several questions were also raised regarding why the work site was being accessed through the park instead of from barges on the water which is how major seawall esplanade repair work is normally performed.

Park representatives claimed that was not possible due to logistics.


Sledding is out for at least this winter because the city is using the hill as a staging area to begin fixing long over due sections of the East River Esplanade after a fifty foot section collapsed into the East River behind Grace Mansion in May.   (Photo by: Helaine Eisenberg)   


“I’m a Hill-Hugger,” one young attendee carefully wrote on a home made sign.

One by one community members stepped up to the mic and voiced their concerns.

Residents made it very clear that they were still reeling from Mayor De Blasio’s decision to support the building of a massive Marine Transfer station on 91st St accross the street from the park.  Critics have long pointed out that this is the only one being built in the city in the middle of a park, as well in the middle of a dense residential community. That facility is expected to begin operation in 2018. 

The hill is located in northern part of the park on East End Avenue between  90/91st Street,  few feet away from the Mayor’s official residence. 

During the cold months the west facing side of the hill transforms into a winter wonder land with children of all ages hurriedly making thier way down the snow covered grass.  

The view from the top looking east offers panoramic views of the East River and the Tri-Borough bridge, inspiring both day and night.  During the growing season a small community garden provides  a needed respite from the tens of thousands of cars daily that traverse on the FDR Drive located directly under the hill.

“My husband and I for all the years we’ve lived here have used that particular hill as a place to picnic and read on the weekends,” Helaine Eisenberg, who has lived around the corner from the park for 30 years said afterwards. 

“We used to joke that that was our summer house. We’ve found that to be an extremely peaceful, beautiful place to sit because you can see the river from the top of the hill,  and the gardens that volunteers have put together are so lovely. We see it as a peaceful beautiful place that we want to preserve.”






What A mess.





















Construction fencing was erected this week around the popular hill located on the north end of Carl Schurz Park. 

(Photos: NYC Park Adovcates) Click on images to enlarge.







Read More:

East River Seawall Collapses Near Gracie Mansion After Deferred Maintenance
A Walk In The Park - May  9, 2017 - By Geoffrey Croft

Sunday, July 9, 2017

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.