Astoria Park's New Social Distancing Barricades Take A Hit

ASTORIA, QUEENS — A day after the city's parks department attempted to close the skate park in Astoria Park to promote social distancing amid the coronavirus pandemic, the barricades the agency used had already been knocked to the ground.

The Department of Parks and Recreation began citywide skate park closures Tuesday as part of a larger effort to reduce crowding after New Yorkers failed to follow social-distancing rule meant to limit the spread of the new coronavirus.

By Wednesday evening, the metal barricades and fencing used to close off the skate park in Astoria Park had been knocked over and the neighborhood's skaters had returned to the ramps.

Parks department crews repaired the fencing Thursday after Patch reached out to the agency for comment for this story, a spokesperson said.

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"These measures are being taken to protect everyone's health and safety, so removing barriers is not just disrespectful, it's dangerous," Meghan Lalor, a parks department spokesperson, said in an emailed statement to Patch.

"New Yorkers should all be practicing social distancing when they are outside as a matter of common sense, and we all need to make some sacrifices at this time for the greater good."

Visitors to Astoria Park have repeatedly flouted city guidelines calling for people to stay at least six feet away from others amid the coronavirus pandemic, prompting Gov. Andrew Cuomo to cite the park while announcing an increase in the maximum fine for a social-distancing violation.

City Council Member Costa Constantinides, who represents Astoria and has self-quarantined with a suspected case of the virus, previously called for the city's parks department to boost enforcement of social distancing rules around Astoria Park's recently renovated running track.

Constantinides also asked the city's Department of Transportation to prohibit traffic along Shore Boulevard — where Astoria Park meets the East River — and the Astoria Park Alliance is now calling for the city to lengthen the boulevard's overnight "no standing" rule to cut down on nighttime gatherings there.

"It's beyond frustrating to see people continue to party it up along Shore Boulevard, while our healthcare workers at Mt. Sinai Queens are inundated with coronavirus cases less than a mile away," Constatinides said Thursday.

"We have repeatedly asked people to social distance to contain the spread, called on the Parks Department to ramp up enforcement, and asked the DOT to close Shore Boulevard to vehicle traffic — all to no avail."