Local park sees an improvement

To the editor:

The criminal incidents at Fort Independence Playground that you reported on in your June 21 issue are disturbing ("Residents say deteriorating park is dangerous," front page). We hope the Parks and Police departments step up their patrols of the area to deter such violence.

As you reported, the park is often the victim of vandalism, but we felt the article painted an overly negative view of the park. It could, like most neighborhood parks, use additional maintenance and resources.

That said, your readers should also know that Fort Independence Playground is a beautiful park that is heavily used, cleaned daily by a dedicated crew, and a place where we feel safe bringing our child.

It has a popular playground, tables that host innumerable family gatherings and parties over the summer, rest rooms, basketball courts, a dog run and a grassy knoll one neighbor calls her "Mount Olympus."

Because the park is usually teeming with people on a summer day, the Fort Independence Park Neighborhood Association decided it was the ideal location to organize a Make Music New York Concert last Thursday. Despite a rain delay, a new local band, the Shameless Manipulators, played before a stalwart crowd of about 40, and it was the first time anyone could remember live music in the park.

We hope it's the first of many concerts there.

We'd also like to take this opportunity to thank several people who made this concert possible - Eileen Connolly of the Parks Department, who helped us get the permit, Detective Luis Rodriguez of the 50th Precinct, and many neighbors who provided their support in a variety of ways.

Van Cortlandt Village/Kingsbridge Heights is a great community. Fort Independence Playground is one of our liveliest village greens.

We hope to advocate for improvements, but we also want to recognize that it is already a wonderful place to play and relax. Anyone who wants to get involved can contact us at Fortindy@gmail.com.

Margaret Groarke

This is part of the July 5, 2007 online edition of The Riverdale Press.

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