Plimpton Park revitalized by Community Parks Initiative
Keeping Older New Yorkers
Safe on Sidewalks
With an increasing number of
people on New York City sidewalks
and streets, all New Yorkers must
keep in mind the importance of
pedestrian safety for frail or slowpaced
older adults.
Older New Yorkers walk more
than older adults in any other city in
the United States, despite crowded
streets. For someone with balance or
mobility issues, an accidental bump
from a rushing passerby could cause
a life-threatening fall.
Falls are the leading cause of
fatal and nonfatal injuries among
older Americans. What’s more,
experiencing a fall as an older adult
is both physically and emotionally
painful. To avoid this, older
pedestrians are cautious. They walk
in the crosswalk and use crossing
signals, but if struck by a vehicle, they
are more likely to be injured.
The Department of Transportation’s
(DOT) Safe Streets program is an
initiative focused on the safety of
older pedestrians. In 2018, older
adults ages 65 and older accounted
for 13% of the City’s total population,
but 50% of pedestrian traffic fatalities.
Accidents from motor vehicles are
the largest concern. As we work to
reduce these traffic fatalities, we must
not forget the importance of cyclists
observing the rules of the road to
keep vulnerable pedestrians safe.
Nearly eight hundred thousand
New Yorkers ride a bicycle regularly,
and this number is increasing. Bikes
are a healthy and environmentally
friendly solution to the city’s
crowded transportation system, but
without safety considerations and
enforcements, they can be dangerous.
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, D 26 ECEMBER 20-26, 2019 BTR
Not yielding to a pedestrian
might save a few seconds on a bike
commute, but it could also cause a
severe injury. Cyclists must utilize
the City’s designated bike paths or
lanes and leave the sidewalks open
to pedestrians. New York City has
1,240 lane miles of bike routes. In the
last five years, the City has expanded
on-street bike lanes by more than
330 miles, with 66.1 miles installed
in 2018.
The City is doing its part to keep
pedestrians safe. Alongside DOT,
the New York Police Department
(NYPD) makes sure cyclists abide
by the rules of the road. This year,
the NYPD has issued 37,916 moving
violations to cyclists, compared to
34,257 in 2018, an 11% increase.
I am confident that there is
enough room for cyclists and
pedestrians alike. As we strive to
be a truly age-inclusive City that
accommodates dwellers of all ages
and with disabilities, I encourage
all New Yorkers to look out for their
neighbors on the sidewalk.
Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez
is Commissioner of the New York
City Department for the Aging.
Prior to joining the de Blasio
administration, she served in
executive leadership roles with
AARP, EmblemHealth and
other organizations. She also
served as New York’s first Latina
Secretary of State.
BY KYLE VUILLE
On Friday, December 13,
the grand opening of the renovated
park along Plimpton
Avenue was held with NYC
Parks Commissioner Mitchell
J Silver.
Other offi cials in attendance
were Community
Board 4 district manager
Paul A. Philps and Councilwoman
Vanessa Gibson.
Students and staff from the
Bronx-Manhattan Seventh
Day Adventist School were
also present.
Mayor de Blasio through
his ‘Community Park Initiative’
made the $4.43 million
reconstruction of the park
possible.
“Plimpton Playground,
a space that has seen minimal
improvements over the
past 20 years, has been completely
re-envisioned and revitalized,
with wonderful
upgrades made to the entire
park.” Commissioner Silver
said in the press release.
Philps is a big fan of the
renovations and the work
CPI does for communities
like his.
“The renovations are
amazing, new playground
The ribbon cutting event for the opening of the newly renovated Plimpton Park on December 13. The park’s
renovations were funded by Mayor de Blasio’s Community Parks Initiative. NYC Parks/Malcolm Pinckney
equipment, work out equipment
for adults and nice
benches and seating areas for
the older crowd,” Philps said.
“It has both very well done
active and passive spaces.”
Philps mentioned the
park is located conveniently
across the street from two senior
buildings and a school
so the park can always be enjoyed
by people of all ages.
He added the park is very
accessible, within walking
distance, for everyone in the
Highbridge neighborhood.
The park not only has
completely new features
such as the playground, the
fi tness area, the benches, the
game tables, but also multiple
sustainability features.
Parks worked with the
NYC Department of Environmental
Protection on giving
the park more ‘green’ infrastructure
such as a rain
garden, permeable surfaces
and a storm water capture
system.
“The newly revamped
Plimpton Playground utilizes
an innovative green
infrastructure system that
will manage nearly 300,000
gallons of storm water every
year to help improve the
health of the nearby Harlem
River,” DEP Commissioner
Vincent Sapienza said in the
press release.
The park also was outfi tted
with new lights for added
safety during the darker
hours of the day and evening.
“Thanks to Mayor Bill de
Blasio’s Community Parks
Initiative and a $4.43 million
investment in this park, the
west Bronx now has a beautiful
brand new playground for
all to enjoy,” Commissioner
Silver said in the release.