More Media Coverage On Parade Grounds Tickets & Reminder About Tonight’s 70th Precinct Meeting

After we reported on a neighbor being ticketed for walking home through the Parade Grounds last week (which resulted in an NYPD deputy commissioner saying he would look into the matter), CBS New York followed up on our story with a piece that aired last night.

And while we would’ve liked some credit from CBS for first reporting the story, the video continues to shed light on an issue – tickets being doled out to individuals walking and biking through the Parade Grounds at night – that numerous neighbors have said is increasingly becoming a problem in the neighborhood. Though the Parade Grounds does apparently close at sunset, making it illegal for residents to be in there when night comes, there is very little visible signage pointing this out – and numerous people have routinely walked and biked that path at nighttime for years without being ticketed.

In addition to the problem with signage, neighbors pointed out that Prospect Park is open until 1am – thus, without signage, it makes sense that walkers and bikers would believe that Prospect Park’s Parade Grounds would close at the same time.

A number of residents said that police stressed they were issuing them tickets for their own safety, that they want to keep people out of the Parade Grounds following shootings and other criminal activity. Neighbors said, however, that it would seem fair for police to give them a warning instead of immediately ticket them.

We’re expecting the 70th Precinct to address this issue at their meeting tonight. If you have concerns regarding this, or other issues, the precinct meeting will begin at 7:30pm at 175 Lawrence Avenue. All members of the public are welcome to attend.