After the horrifying incident of a 13-year-old girl being sexually assaulted in Kissena Corridor Park on June 13, Councilwoman Sandra Ung recently convened a meeting with local representatives and city agencies in Flushing to discuss improving public safety in the park. They jointly wrote a letter to Mayor Eric Adams on July 12, urging increased visibility in the secluded areas of the park and seeking the mayor’s support for expediting implementation.
During the meeting, representatives and park officials discussed measures to enhance park safety, including the expedited expansion of the Eastern Queens Greenway project—a priority for Mayor Adams and Sandra Ung in budget allocation. The improvements discussed also encompass enhancing park lighting, increasing police patrols, and other security measures.
Councilwoman Ung stated that she is urging the city government to install the “ARGUS Giant Eye Surveillance Cameras” by the New York City Police Department in the surrounding areas of the park—a measure she had funded to support the 109th precinct in purchasing these cameras in past budget cycles. Following the sexual assault case involving the 13-year-old girl, the release of the suspect’s image by the police underscored the significant role played by surveillance cameras.
“While adding cameras in the park may not necessarily prevent this type of crime, they can lead to faster arrest actions and alleviate the community’s anxiety about possible repeat offenders,” said Councilwoman Ung.
In a letter addressed to the Mayor, Councilwoman Sandra Ung, Congresswoman Grace Meng, State Senator John Liu, Assembly members Nily Rozi and Ron Kim, and other representatives pointed out the existing safety concerns in certain areas of Kissena Corridor Park. Opposite the park lies a high school with over 2,100 students. Due to limited police resources, it is not feasible to always have officers stationed there. Hence, they recommended expediting the progress of improvement projects to attract more foot traffic and enhance the park’s visibility.
The specific measures proposed include:
1. Considering providing the 109th precinct with two “Gator” patrol vehicles for off-road patrolling.
2. Continuing to allocate additional police personnel, specifically bilingual officers, to reinforce patrols within the park.
3. The Technical Assistance Response Unit (TARU) of the 109th precinct has already installed 11 cameras along the Kissena Corridor Park Trail where the incident occurred. The hope is for these cameras to be permanently installed within the park.
4. Advocating for the priority installation of the “ARGUS Giant Eye Surveillance Cameras” funded by Councilwoman Sandra Ung. She plans to allocate $211,000 in the 2025 fiscal year for the New York City Police Department to purchase more ARGUS cameras.
5. Accelerating the progress of the Eastern Queens Greenway expansion project, including a section of Kissena Corridor Park. The Greenway aims to transform previously overlooked areas into vibrant green spaces, improve park traffic, attract more visitors, and deter potential criminals.
6. Installing emergency call buttons or phones within the park. The dense foliage in this section of the park makes it difficult or impossible to see inside from the periphery, increasing its inherent dangers.
The letter emphasized, “This heinous sexual assault incident highlights the urgency for action, and the park’s history of crime is well-documented. We do not want such tragedies to recur. It is our responsibility to implement effective solutions now.”