14 THE COURIER SUN • APRIL 25, 2013 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.couriersun.com PARK PATROLS CITY GREEN SPACES TO GET MORE STAFF BY MAGGIE HAYES [email protected] Juniper Valley Park is just one green space in the borough that will soon get more supervision. The City’s Parks Department is signifi cantly increasing its staff to include 81 new Parks Enforcement Patrol (PEP) offi cers who will protect park rules and assets in Queens and the rest of the city. The new hires will also include 207 city park workers, 96 maintenance and trade workers and 30 climbers and pruners to preserve trees, according to a Parks spokesperson. The plans received a warm welcome in the southwest community, where many say that their parks, especially Juniper Valley, need extra eyes. “It’s long overdue,” said Frank Kotnik, president of the 104th Precinct’s Glendale Civilian Observation Patrol (G-COP). Robert Holden, president of the Juniper Park Civic Association, said that Juniper Valley Park had “a tenth of the offi cers that they’ve needed” in the past. “Any investment in PEP offi cers is a good investment,” he said. “There’s vandalism in the park, people who don’t respect park regulations. The cops are spread so thinly at this point that they really can’t handle all of the park’s complaints.” The Parks spokesperson attributed the shortage of PEP offi cers to the fi scal crisis, As a result, the workforce has not kept pace with its growing infrastructure, the representative added. The Parks Department said 12 PEP offi - cers and six Urban Park Rangers currently patrol Queens parks, adding that its 2014 budget allows for the additional staffi ng that will be spread throughout the city. The specifi c number of offi cers coming to Queens this summer is not yet known. Holden said that however many offi cers are coming, the community “needs them working,” especially on off-hours such as nights and weekends. “In Juniper, there are 10 times as many people there on the weekends. If there are no offi cers, it’s almost a free-for-all,” he said. “We have picnics going on, and people driving through on illegal four wheelers.” “It has been diffi cult to get an offi cer there during the evening or on the weekends when the parks really need to be protected,” he added. When Holden heard complaints in the past, he used his own police connections to attempt to get an offi cer to the park. He hopes Juniper Valley Park will see an increase in patrol staff to help alleviate the problems. ‘Sign’ of the times Street signs unveiled at Ridgewood North Historic District BY MAGGIE HAYES [email protected] New street signs indicate that Ridgewood North is making history. The area, constructed at the turn of the 20th century, consists of nearly 100 apartment buildings commonly referred to as the Mathews Flats. At the time of their construction, the buildings were seen as a step forward from the overcrowded, unsanitary conditions associated with Manhattan tenement housing. The apartments are credited with transforming Ridgewood into a middleclass, urban neighborhood, according to Councilmember Elizabeth Crowley. “The Mathews Flats are an important part of the city’s history,” she said. “This historic district designation ensures that the architecture and historical signifi cance of these buildings will be preserved.” The signs were unveiled on Thursday, April 18 at a ceremony with Crowley, Councilmember Diana Reyna, New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) Chair Robert Tierney, New York Landmarks Preservation Foundation Chair Christina Davis and community residents. The foundation funded the initiative. “This is a very exciting day for the community to gather together and celebrate this historic district in their neighborhood,” said Davis. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE OFFICE OF COUNCILMEMBER ELIZABETH CROWLEY New street signs unveiled in the Ridgewood North Historic District are intended to protect and preserve the area for years to come. The district, bound by Forest Avenue, Fairview Avenue, Gates Avenue and Woodbine Street, is the third historic area in Ridgewood. It gained the designation from LPC in September 2009. It was approved by the City Council the following month. The LPC is also considering a proposal to make Central Ridgewood a historic district, The area is bound by Forest Avenue, Fresh Pond Road, Woodbine Street and 71st Avenue. The project would protect about 940 intact brick row houses built by German Americans in the early 1900s. 10% OFF Personalized Service - Reasonably Priced Come in and see our beautiful FOR ALL OUR FELLOW “SANDY” VICTIMS. line of Brand Name Carpeting and Hardwood Flooring -or- CALL TODAY FOR OUR SHOP-AT-HOME SERVICE OPEN for business at our new location! 101-10 97th Street • Ozone Park • 718-322-1100
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