CHINATOWN — As the city kicks off the years-long renovation process for Kimlau Square, community members are pushing for a safer, more peaceful neighborhood oasis.
Dozens of neighbors showed up at the Parks Department’s first feedback-gathering session on Tuesday to rally for improvements to the park that would ward off skaters, who have used the slanted planters and benches for their tricks, and cyclists who locals say tear through the square without consideration for elderly residents.
“The park should always and forever be a place of peace,” said Jan Lee of the Civic Center Residents Coalition, which has long advocated for greater safety measures in the square.
Councilwoman Margaret Chin and Mayor de Blasio have together allocated $900,000 to spruce up the park situated within Chatham Square, which is bordered by Oliver Street, Worth Street, and East Broadway.
Locals have for years been begging the city to skater-proof the square, leading the Parks Department to make a handful of lauded safety improvements — the department in 2011 put in new benches to dissuade skaters from using the sloped planters as ramps, and installed “No Skateboarding” signs to drive the message home. But more must be done to completely rid the park of the wheeled nuisances, said Lee.
“We hope this park will be completely inhospitable to skating and cycling,” he said.
Lee and other residents requested the city replace the enticingly sloped planters with low-rise beds that would be impossible to use as a makeshift ramp, as well as place bench arm rests closer together to discourage both skating and sleeping in the park.
Tuesday’s visioning session marked the beginning of a months-long process of gathering community feedback on how to best revise the park. Parks Department reps said they will consider the community's requests as architects draw up a new design for the square.
The entire reconstruction process will take over two years.
Chin said her office received a call several years ago from a resident whose elderly husband died shortly after being knocked over by a skateboarder.
Though the councilwoman declined to share personal details of the deceased or surviving family members, she said she hopes the improvements to the park will discourage future incidents.
“In his memory, we want to make sure it is a nice, safe place for the community,” she said.
