Triple parking outside P.S. 232 in Lindenwood where residents and elected officials also fear impending tragedy. Forum Newsgroup photos by Luis Gronda
School days are a traffic nightmare outside P.S. 63 in South Ozone Park according to the principal, crossing guards and parents. And that is a sentiment expressed by many other schools who say that the combination of overcrowding on the streets, lack of signage and enforcement and the general disregard of people picking up their children presents clear and present danger to anyone walking on the street at drop off or dismissal time.
In nearby in Lindenwood, local State Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder is lobbying for a full traffic review of the streets surrounding P.S. 232 in Lindenwood to combat some of the very same issues. Goldfeder has appealed to the Department of Transportation because of his concerns over the lack of traffic signals and speeding vehicles and is supported in his quest by the Lindenwood Alliance “The current situation is unacceptable and is putting our families and students at risk,” said Goldfeder.
And over at P.S. 63, for about 45 minutes almost every morning and afternoon, Sutter Avenue and 91st Street turns into a mess of double and triple parked cars, where children dangerously dart through vehicles. Homeowners said they are trapped on their street. And a few days ago, a car nearly hit one crossing guard.
“We have a huge problem here. It’s a very dangerous situation in the morning and afternoon,” Principal Marino-Coleman said. “It’s a safety issue.”
School crossing guards said that on any given morning cars pack 91st Street with parents dropping off their children. They complained that parents let their kids out in the middle of the street, as passing cars often speed and swerve around the parked cars.
“It’s just a matter of time before one of these kids gets hit,” said one crossing guard who wished to remain anonymous.
The crossing guard also said that her job is almost impossible without the help of any stop signs, speed bumps or traffic lights at her intersection. “I don’t have anything out here. It’s all up to me.”
Principal Marino-Coleman said that she requested a traffic light from the DOT, but that DOT denied it after conducting a test study of the area. Officials concluded that there were not enough incidents to warrant a traffic light, Marino-Coleman said.
“If they would come in the morning and see what was going on, they may reconsider their decision.”
Homeowners on 91st Street are also fed up with the noisy motorists — many of whom honk their horns and block the
One of the school crossing guards assigned to P.S. 63 claims she was almost hit by a car during dismissal just a few days ago. She fears a pedestrian fatality at the school is inevitable and is one of many of a concerned school community continually frustrated by inaction. Forum Newsgroup photo by Ryan Lavis.
driveways.
Pren Persaud, who has lived on 91st Street since 2002, said that he can’t get off his block during dismissal.
“I’m trapped on my own street for a good half hour every day,” he said on Tuesday afternoon as a swarm of cars descended in front of his home. He pointed out that one car was blocking the driveway of his neighbor.
“It’s very frustrating when you can’t get out of your own driveway,” Persaud said. “It’s a double parking nightmare on this block.”
Another resident, who was sitting on his bike at the time, said he doesn’t bother taking his car places during dismissal. “I have to avoid taking my own car out. A kid is guaranteed to get hurt here one day,” he said before he pedaled away.
As Nalinee Angrisani was walking home with her 8-year-old daughter from P.S. 63 she also said that it’s only a matter of time before a child gets hurt.
“I walk with her every day because I don’t trust her to walk over here. It’s just too dangerous,” she said.
The crossing guards said that some drivers also speed in the area, almost hitting one of them last week.
“This woman just stepped on the gas, and I really thought she was going to run me over,” one guard said.
But a cat in the road a few days later wasn’t so lucky, as a parent driving by, hit it, didn’t notice and continued to drive.
The crossing guard rescued the cat and brought it home, and is now said to be in good condition.
“That could have been a kid,” she said.
Assemblyman Goldfeder cautions that the fight for safe streets surrounding schools has gone on for far too long. “We shouldn’t have to wait for a tragic incident to get results. Every action must be taken to keep our children safe as they walk to and from school.”
By Ryan Lavis and Patricia Adams
