Gerritsen Beach is not going to take this sitting down! Why? Because all of the benches are gone!
20 benches, that’s right twenty! have either been uprooted or have gone missing from the tot-lot at Seba Avenue park. 15 Have been uprooted from the brick/cement base and 5 have gone complety missing. GBCares president John Douglas, who spoke with parks, recently said “kids were rocking the benches back and forth which ultimately loosened the bolts from the bricks”.
To be perfectly fair, most of the the other tot-lot playground equipment has also been destroyed or defaced.
Parks is aware of the issue and they are going to take the benches away until they could find a better way to secure them.
Seba Avenue Park is no stranger to vandlism and problems. The park has been set on fire, all of the trees have been snapped, garbage thrown around and there may be a bit of a pot problem at seba avenue park
Great. When will parks dept lock this park up at night? This is an absolute disgrace & it is OUR kids doing this. SHAME on them. Lock it up at night or close it up completely.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
13 
2
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
Poorly-rated. Like or Dislike:
2 
11
It’s not a joke. The park needs a NEW high fence around it, just like ALL the other small parks in the city. Keeep it locked at dusk & open it in the morning. This won’t stop all the vandelism but it greatly reduce it. It works for the other parks. People should stop being negative & come up with real solutions. I think Lew can come up with $85,000 for a new fence with enough left over for some cameras!.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
12 
2
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
Poorly-rated. Like or Dislike:
3 
12
@Ooga Booga, So is this what we fought for $1,400,000. and all we got was this crappy park with telescopes to high for the “toddlers” to reach, a paved area with some lines, 3 swings, a turn thing, a slide, and a skate park which only attracts teenagers that trash the joint. We were better off with the glass and mountains of dirt. Go to Linden Boulevard and New Jersey avenue there is a great park there with 15 foot fences and ball park lights. Go to Livonia avenue and I think Saratoga avenue there is another tall fence and ball park lights that are on all night. And what is funny is their taxes on property are cheaper than ours!!!
Like or Dislike:
1 
2
“there is a great park there with 15 foot fences and ball park lights”
This says it all. SECURE & WELL LIT. The fences will not disappear overnight, as someone suggested. The park just has to be secured, keep the teens & lowlife young adults out after hours. This park was built like it was meant to fail. No security, no lights, no fence, no locks, benches bolted into pavers! let’s get together & solve the problems & stop pointing fingers!
Like or Dislike:
4 
1
Hey Frank did you notice when you saw the park on Linden Bld with the lights on, there's NO damage or graffitti in the park and I bet no one using the park at any time has a problem calling the Police or Parks when some a* holes are there
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
Poorly-rated. Like or Dislike:
3 
14
Just like the 70″s…Told them this would happen but nobody listens.
Hot debate. What do you think?
10 
6
in your pants
Hot debate. What do you think?
8 
5
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
Poorly-rated. Like or Dislike:
1 
8
Why not lock up the kids? Don’t blame the parks dept.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
22 
9
And yet the city will continue with their plans to expand this park; what a joke!!!
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
12 
5
I think it’s a darned shame that Gerrittsen Beach builds playgrounds for the children and then bigger kids come in and damage it. Where are the parents of these kids that are doing the damage? Why aren’t they watching their kids? Years ago, when I lived there, if someone saw a kid doing something bad he/she called the kids parents. When that kid got home he got “wooped” real good. Now-a-days the parents are trying to be their kids “Buddies”, which does not work. They have to be PARENTS and lay the law down to the kids. And then follow through with punishment.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
21 
3
@Artie, I agree parents here must start taking responsibility for their children! However the city has to stop screwing us when we request things.. We have no power!!! We asked for a traffic light they gave us lines and split the avenue. We asked for a park and they screwed us there to. The other park is over 10 years ols and has deteriortated due to wear and tear..look the rubber mats have shrunk leaving 2 inch gaps some even raised up. What are we gonna do!!!!?????
Like or Dislike:
3 
1
@Frank, Show up at the meetings EVERY TIME they have them, and quit ur whining.
Like or Dislike:
2 
1
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
Poorly-rated. Like or Dislike:
6 
13
The parks there are FENCED IN & CLOSED DURING OFF HOURS!!! The park needs to be secured at night, it’s that simple.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
16 
3
Why don’t they have the marines patrol the park? or why don’t the parents in the beach do their job?
Hot debate. What do you think?
5 
7
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
Poorly-rated. Like or Dislike:
9 
13
@Mike Bloomberg, Are you kidding me? Have you ever worked or spent time in those neighborhoods? You don’t know what your talking about. They CONSTANTLY vandalize their parks and everything else, but it gets fixed up again right away or else it’s “Boo Hoo look how bad our park is! ” “Why isn’t our park nice like the white neighborhoods?” And the city and private donors jump in to fix it so it can be destroyed again. Why is this the behavior many of our kids emulate? That’s another question…….
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
10 
2
@, Most of their parks have very tall fences and ball park lighting as so to deter the vandalism and drug dealing. Those parks are beautiful.. so we should start being like them…NO But what do we do!!!!
Like or Dislike:
1 
1
@Mike Bloomberg, They’re too busy with drive/walk by shootings to destroy their parks, plus you might hit a drug dealer and who wants that?
Hot debate. What do you think?
4 
2
@Mike Bloomberg, The parks are fine because they are too busy shooting each other and innocent women and children, just like the woman in Bedstuy who had the nerve to be sitting outside her house and got shot in the head for it. Say what you want about the white trash but at least we’re not running around shooting each other like a pack of animals.
I am so over the white trash comments, if it was any other neighborhood it would be racist, there are a lot of hard working white people who are middle class and pretty much supporting the economy with our tax dollars. Some of the kids here are out of control brats but there are a lot of good kids too. Enough with the generalities.
Hot debate. What do you think?
6 
2
@Gerritsen Girl, Double green checks for that! Every neighborhood, regardless of its ethnic makeup has some kids who are trouble. Even in wealthy neighborhoods, there are drugs and antics, sometimes alot more than in middle class ones like ours. Many of the kids who are trouble young grow up just fine. Some of the ones I grew up with here wound up being cops and firemen, etc.
Hot debate. What do you think?
3 
3
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
Poorly-rated. Like or Dislike:
2 
8
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
Poorly-rated. Like or Dislike:
0 
5
@Frank, Want some wine with that whine Frank?
Like or Dislike:
0 
2
Has anyone considered the possibility that some of our scrap hunters may have sold the metal, etc. Wait until we have a comfort station!
Hot debate. What do you think?
4 
6
@Iron Mike, Yeah put cameras up and lets see who is doing it
Hot debate. What do you think?
5 
1
Cant wait till they build Lew Fiddlers comfort station, at least then the kids can take a break when they get tired from trashing the park.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
13 
3
I hope it’s an $85,000 compfort station. Maybe thats what Lew is doing with his ill gotten gains. Gold plated faucets, hot towels, maybe even an attendant who will offer me cologne. I can’t wait!
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
7 
0
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
Poorly-rated. Like or Dislike:
8 
18
your nuts
Like or Dislike:
2 
3
He’s right
Hot debate. What do you think?
3 
3
@Anonymous, What’s wrong?? You couldn’t afford a house in GB so you decide to rant about whats wrong with the neighborhood to make you feel a little better about yourself? Your pathetic. Get off GB.net if you don’t have anything productive to say. It is a shame the the parks are vandalized however, you are assuming the destruction in GB is done by teens that live here but if you ever payed any attention the Avenue is flooded with teens coming in from other areas to visit the skate park. In addition, the people that want the parks aren’t the ones doing the destruction. We have every right to want a nice park and have one too!!!
Hot debate. What do you think?
6 
3
@Anonymous, For your information, people are not breaking down the door of any real estate office looking to move into GB. My house is for sale for a reasonable price that has been lowered again and again, for almost two years. The outsiders think GB is a dump, that’s why the only people who buy are relatives. Get off your high horse and stop blaming “teens coming in from other areas” you sound like a fool. You are the pathetic one in your little aluminum sided shack.
Hot debate. What do you think?
7 
8
@anonymous, For your information, people aren’t breaking down the door of any real estate office in any neighborhood right now, we’re in a recession. Sounds like your just frustrated trying to sell your little aluminum sided shack. There must be something wrong with it. Owe more than it’s worth now? Don’t feel bad, alot of people in all kinds of neighborhoods are in the same boat. Try not to be so bitter.
Hot debate. What do you think?
3 
3
@, I don’t feel bad, except for know it alls like you. There is nothing wrong with my house its this crappy dumpy white trash neighborhood thats thinks their crap don’t stink.
And I own this house outright. I refuse to live in this dump so I rent to people like you.
Like or Dislike:
1 
4
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
Poorly-rated. Like or Dislike:
5 
10
ok..so, lets not blame the kiddies for taking the benches…so where are they?
Like or Dislike:
1 
4
@, We were up there on Thanksgiving morning walking he dog (yes we pick up!) and there were 2 guys from the parks dept. up there at the kiddie park. There was one bench in a tree behind the park and the 2 guys were looking for another. As we made our way back alittle between the ball field and the kiddie park, I saw one hidden in the weeds and we told them. They were saying, “you know these benches are heavy, and anchored to the ground” and we were joking with them about beer muscles. They managed to get the one out of the tree and as we were leaving they were calling their supervisor. This is beach kids, the ones who come from outside the neighborhood to use the skate park leave at night. Everyone needs to face up to that. But it’s access too. What other park has no fence around it? No lighting? Why for all the taxes we pay do we always get this half assed shit?
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
6 
1
@, Gee its nice to see beach peeps cleaning up after their dogs just like the rest of the neighborhoods.
Like or Dislike:
0 
2
@Artie, It’s a shame that young children cannot play in the parks without their parents having to worry about vandals. I was in the park with my son a few months ago and there were a group of teens who lifted a loose bench and put it on the merry-go-round. My son, who loves the merry-go-round couldn’t enjoy himself b/c of this. In addition, the swings were wrapped around the bar so he couldn’t swing; it is sad. We were there for less than 5 minutes. I think it was poor planning to place a skate park next to a toddler park…maybe it should have been a thought to put the skate park in a less desolate area so more people could monitor the behavior of the teens. It’s just sad.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
9 
4
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
Poorly-rated. Like or Dislike:
0 
7
I agree poor planning – why put a skate park next to a toddler park? You need to pull more adults near the skate park. they should have put in a dog run. People would be there all different times in the day. At least someone (adult) would be around.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
10 
2
That is a great idea, but, its a shame nobody asked what we thought.
Like or Dislike:
3 
2
@, You can’t agree on anything.
Like or Dislike:
0 
1
And if a dog run was put in you would be bitching about that to, does not matter what they change/do everyones still gunnna bitch about it, Just be happy with what we have.
Like or Dislike:
2 
1
@, Your an ass atleats other people are trying to come up with solutions. We all need to help out
Like or Dislike:
2 
2
@Frank, Now you’re calling people names, yep you are from GB.
Like or Dislike:
0 
2
@anonymous, If you are not from GB then why even put your input here how does this effect you. Just leave us alone, we need comments from the people that live and work here!! I do not understand people that come here just to bash the beach, you dont have to come to this site nor do you have to read our gripes unless you have something productive to say!!!
Like or Dislike:
1 
3
@Frank, Who said I’m not from the beach?
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Let the Police get their fat asses out of their cars and walk up there.a few tickets and/or arrests will stop them from hangin there,,,If that does’nt work,Talk to the owner of Amici’s,Maybe they can open another one down in this area,,,It seems to be working up that end,,,sure the bikes are noisy..But the area is clean and safe and trouble free…Maybe these kids need a good old fashion ass whooping….teach them some RESPECT..which they are not learning at home….
Hot debate. What do you think?
5 
1
I am a parent of 2 Young Kids in Gb and it really is a shame that when the warm weather comes around this park will not be around or in the condition it should be that they will be able to enjoy it. In my opinion there is no easy soultion. it is obvious that the parents of these kids just dont care or they would know what and where their children are.
With that being said I think we need to pressure the 61 to get a daily patrol of our area. I never see the cops checking the parks. This is oen of the services we pay ever increasing property tax for and we should get it.
I also agree with a lot of the comments about a lot of good kids in this area. It is sad that the bad ones can leave such a bad taste to alot of new GB residents and I think it is time that we make them take a hike.
We need more nite patrols fromt he 61 period.
Hot debate. What do you think?
5 
1
@, The 61 Precinct is not seen patroling Seba Park because it is not under their jurisdiction. Anything east of the middle of Gerritsen Avenue is under the jurisdiction of the 63 Precinct. That is why, there are times the 61 and 63 share the problem of the weeds. But, technically, it is the 63.
Like or Dislike:
2 
1
@Theresa Scavo,
I don’t believe that is correct – my understanding from community leaders in GB is that they changed it from the middle of the avenue to up to the guard rail is 61st – beyone (parkland) is 63 but they don’t know it. The 63rd have maps and it does NOT include GB parkland on them. I heard when the containers by the field were broken into they waited 5 hours for the 63rd when they arrived they still didn’t know it was their area. The COPS need to get the lines straight.
Like or Dislike:
1 
1
@duke 1971, I am skeptical about that not sure they would change their geographical local just to satisfy us and besides that it is federal property governed by the parks department. Can anyone confirm this?
Like or Dislike:
0 
1
@, Ha Ha, so quick to tell the 61 cops when and where to patrol and you don’t even know that isn’t the precinct…ha ha ha…
Like or Dislike:
0 
3
we don’t need more nite patrols we need to boot these kids in their a.. its pretty sad when they destroy anything in their own neighborhood. There are alot of good kids in the neighborhood.
Like or Dislike:
4 
0
@, We nee some retired guys who have some time to sit up there and watch this then take photos so we can identify these people. Besides all the night patrols do is give us tickets!!!!!! That is how they show their presence at the meetings they say they were here, see how many tickets they wrote!!!
Like or Dislike:
1 
2
@Frank, Well what are you doing illegal that you are getting ticketed for? Parking? No Inspection sticker? No registration sticker? What? People who park legally and have their cars up to par don’t worry about getting tickets. I never got a ticket on night patrols or day.
Like or Dislike:
1 
1
@anonymous, It happens to everyone and this has nothing to do with this topic. Seriously do you think it is ok that to show police presence that the cops drive the wrong way down the block just to issue summons will solve the problems on the avenue. Or better yet prevent burglarys while their only interest is to write tickets, they are not looking at peoples houses.. Come On be serious
Like or Dislike:
0 
1
@Frank, Summons for what?????? Parking legally?
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
When is the Parks Dept. going to remove that car behind the Park that has been there since the summer. Calls have been made. Where is the Parks Mgr. now?
Like or Dislike:
1 
2
@, probably comming up with some great plans for some other neighborhood
Like or Dislike:
0 
2
@, Even worse where is Lew Fiddler? He posted on this website no less than 4 to 5 times per day in the days before he was re-elected, since he has had no comment on ANYTHING, it seemed he was claiming this park as his champion effort back in early Novemeber. Maybe he can use that appx $80,000 of tax payer money he still has to fix the benches.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
9 
0
That’s $85,000, not 80,000. I hope he sill has the 85g, Lew might have spent it on his vacation from GBnet. He is apparently still away somewhere else. My guess is he is Tiger Woods wing man.
Like or Dislike:
4 
0
I stand corrected, the 61 has jurisdiction to the guardrail. Beyond that is the responsibility of the 63 Precinct.
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
@Theresa Scavo, The point is WE the parents need to patrol our kids on the midnite, period.
Like or Dislike:
4 
1
@Theresa Scavo, The map says it is the middle of the ave.
http://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/html/precinct_maps/precinct_maps.shtml
Like or Dislike:
0 
3
@Jim D, It goes to the guardrail
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
This is a total wast of time. The precinct maps need to be update and fit GB in one or the other. It is totally ridiculous that we are on the line between 2 precinct and it will just fall between the cracks.
Either give the 61 jurisdiction over the parks or lock them up and dusk.
1/2 of these kids that are doing the vandalism or loitering dont listen to their parents. what makes you think they give a crap what you say or do.
We need them ticketed and if not booked to get their attention.
It is time for someone who gets paid for this to step up and help us out for what you get paid for. Lew….the 61st or 63. either way we dont care.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
7 
1
@, YOU HAD THE KIDS, YOU TAKE CARE OF THEM. My kids LISTEN to me because I raised them properly. I don’t need any precinct, 61 or 63 babysitting them.
Hot debate. What do you think?
2 
4
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
Poorly-rated. Like or Dislike:
0 
5
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
Poorly-rated. Like or Dislike:
1 
6
@anonymous, This argument is just a cop-out, we hear it all the time. NO one is going to say “Thats my Boy! ripping up the benches!” Obviously some ones kid is doing it, the problem here isnt who’s kid is it? Its how do we stop them. It is unrealistic to think you are going to re-educate a neglectful or oblivious parent, that is not the citiy’s or the people of Gerritsen Beach’s job. Their job, in this instance, is to stop crime. Period.
Like or Dislike:
2 
3
@Bill, Yep, once again not taking responsibility for our kids.
Like or Dislike:
2 
3
@anonymous, Whether or not some parent takes responsibilty for their kid is not the problem. It in itself may be a problem, as global warming may be a problem, the new healthcare initiative may be a problem, but none of these directly contribute to the benches being ripped up in the park. The problem is how to we stop it? If you, anonymous, intend to go door to door and preach to parents how to raise their kids and look after them, God Bless you, and I doubt you will ring more than 2 door bells. The problem is what are we going to do about the park? Maybe you are missing something, may be Im missing something?
Like or Dislike:
2 
3
@Bill, I’ll cast the first vote and say that you are missing something.
Hot debate. What do you think?
2 
5
@Bill, Bill, are you kidding? Reality check aisle 2.
Like or Dislike:
0 
3
@anonymous, I get it, we cand re-educate kids parents, trying to do so would be a waste of time. We CAN stop the vandalism through fences, lights, community patrols, less complaining and finger pointing and more action.
Like or Dislike:
3 
1
@Friend of Bill, Well then why don’t YOU start with the bus shelters?
Like or Dislike:
0 
1
@anonymous, This is dragging on soooo long, were we talking about benches or bus shelters? The kids got bored with the benches and moved to the bus shelters? How come they never attack their parents? That would solve alot.
Like or Dislike:
0 
1
@Bill, Bill, if you know who is doing it why don’t you just say? It would make things so much easier.
Like or Dislike:
0 
1
Answer: Neighborhood Watch Patrol. Someone start it, and I will be one of the first to join.
Like or Dislike:
2 
1
That’s a great idea, so won’t YOU please start it?
Like or Dislike:
2 
2
Because I don’t want to. I am lazy, and since I don’t have teenagers and am therefore 100% guilt free of this problem I don’t want to work that hard on it. nana nana na na boo boo
Like or Dislike:
2 
3
Better yet, I should call Curtis Silwa and have him bring a butt load of Guardian Angels to sit around in the park all night long.
Like or Dislike:
2 
1
Today’s New York Post ran an article in the NYPD Daily Blotter on page 28 regarding a swastika scrawled on a park bench in Seba Park with marker. Apparently it was discovered last Tuesday morning.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
@neighbor, more on this soon!
[...] of the removed Seba Avenue Park benches that were being removed off their bases have been secured. A couple of weeks ago a contractor came in and secured the [...]
Like or Dislike:
0 
0