After a terrifying incident of a 13-year-old girl being sexually assaulted in Kissena Corridor Park on June 13, New York City Council member Sandra Ung recently convened a meeting with local community representatives and municipal agencies to discuss improving public safety in the park. They jointly wrote a letter to Mayor Eric Adams on July 12, requesting increased visibility in the secluded areas of the park and seeking the mayor’s support to expedite implementation.
During the meeting, community representatives and park authority officials discussed measures to enhance park safety, including the expedited expansion of the Eastern Queens Greenway project – a priority for Mayor Adams and Sandra Ung in budget allocation. This project aims to improve park lighting, increase police patrols, and other safety enhancements.
Sandra Ung stated that she is urging the city government to install “ARGUS Giant Eye surveillance cameras” around the park area. She has previously allocated funding to support the purchase of these cameras by the 109th Precinct of the NYPD in the last two budget cycles. After the sexual assault incident involving the 13-year-old girl, the police released images of the suspect – highlighting the significant role surveillance cameras play.
“While the addition of cameras in the park may not necessarily prevent this type of crime, they can lead to faster arrest actions and alleviate anxieties within the community about the possibility of repeat offenders,” said Sandra Ung.
In their letter to the mayor, City Council member Sandra Ung, Congresswoman Grace Meng, State Senator John Liu, State Assembly members Nily Rozi and Ron Kim, and other community representatives pointed out the presence of safety concerns in certain areas of Kissena Corridor Park. The park faces a high school with over 2,100 students across the street, and given the limited resources of the police department, it is not always feasible to have officers stationed there constantly. They recommended expediting the progress of improvement projects to attract more foot traffic and enhance visibility.
Specific measures proposed include:
1. Considering providing two “Gator” patrol vehicles for the 109th Precinct.
2. Continuously increasing police presence, particularly bilingual officers, to strengthen patrols within the park.
3. Requesting the permanent installation of 11 cameras by the Technical Assistance Response Unit (TARU) of the 109th Precinct in the Kissena Corridor Park Trail.
4. Prioritizing the installation of “ARGUS Giant Eye surveillance cameras”, funded by City Council member Sandra Ung with $211,000 allocated for the NYPD in the 2025 fiscal year.
5. Expediting the progress of the Eastern Queens Greenway extension project, including a section of Kissena Corridor Park, to transform the previously neglected area into a vibrant green space, improve park traffic, attract more visitors, and deter potential criminals.
6. Installing emergency call buttons or phones within the park. The thick foliage in this section of the park makes it difficult or impossible to see inside from the perimeter, thus increasing the risk.
The letter stated, “This appalling sexual assault incident underscores the urgency for action, as the criminal history of Kissena Corridor Park is well-documented. We do not want such tragedies to recur. It is now our responsibility to implement effective solutions.”