Description
Now that the New Haven Public School System is not using Strong School (corner of Grand and Clinton) Avenues, as swing space there is no one monitoring the use and abuse of the park and parking lot behind the school. Most users are children under parental supervision but there is an increasing number of users without children hanging out at the park, drinking, destroying the rubberized ground cover around the playscape by pulling it out and throwing it out on the street (and on to my property). Neighbors have reported drug use and prostitution.
The neighborhood needs an expeditious determination as to what the NHPS system is planning to do with this property. We need to be told the plan and the time table.
In the meanwhile it would help if there were standing orders to have police driving by ask anyone on the property, not accompanying children under 12 to please move.
13 Comments
Lee (Guest)
Still no cooperation from the New Haven Public Schools System to improve the night time situation in the Strong School playground.
School system administrators should be as ashamed of themselves. Tax paying residents with no children in the school system seem to be more committed to eliminating criminal behavior on school grounds than administrators at the Central Office of the New Haven Department of Public Schools. While residents would of course benefit from increased safety for area residents, you would think that the Office of the Superintendent of Schools would at least make changes to the night lighting of the park out mutual interest.
In LA, increased lighting has decreased violence in school yards. While every situation is different, the basic lesson is applicable here. Here is a link to the article: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/12/us/12park.html.
If you would like to see the picnic table area of the Strong School playground lit at night, please click on “I want this fixed too”. Our school system administrators, who are paid by us, need to realize that neighborhood residents can be partners in the reduction of crime and destruction of school property.
Lee
DEZ (Guest)
The Heenans (Guest)
Barbara (Guest)
Kathy (Guest)
Lee (Guest)
Lee (Guest)
This issue has been resolved there is now a night lamp that lights up the entire playground area. As a result when I saw what looked like suspicious activity I was able to go out to and view the two men in the park from a safe distance. This resulted in their moving on with out words or incident.
Thanks to all the folks in the community who supported those of us who live near the Strong School. Thanks also to See Click Fix, great tool. Finally, thanks to Lou Casanova and the other city employees who helped on this matter.
In this process I learned that many of the lights on poles, on school property do not belong to the school system. They are part of the "Light the Night" program. The City pays a a monthly bill to UI for these lamps whether the light is functioning. So if you see a light that is not on report it! Your tax dollar will go that much further.
Hope Metcalf (Guest)
Lee (Guest)
Friends & neighbors
Please ask the city to replace and protect the light that shines on the picnic table in the Strong School play ground.
A few days ago, a light was installed and successfully kept a few negative element out of the Strong School playground. When I came home tonight, the light was no longer functioning and there was a group of 8-10 young people in the park. I called the police to report the suspicious activity. More than 1 hour after my call, the police have still not arrived.
DEZ (Guest)
Hope (Guest)
This is ridiculous! In addition to the light--we need to get the playground added to regular patrols. Perkins and Clinton remain off the police radar because we have comparably lower crime rates, but it's terrible that this has gone on so long.
We just need lights and a little attention!
Lee (Guest)
Closed Lee Cruz (Guest)