Jackson Heights Life

Hello All.
I have been living on 78th St for the past 27 years.
I am very concerned about this street being closed for many reasons.
SO there are no residential entrances on 78th st /.... so this doesnt really affect us... right?
well... i for one, think this affect us all living in this area.. making it UNSAFE at night!
im directly across the st and have noticed (throughout the years) robberies, perverts and people late at night in this area....  1-4am... this st being closed will only make this problem bigger. NYPD should constantly check this area out.  i believe this st being closed is unsafe for all residents, like myself. I have been a victim of countless encounters with perverts.... and this only gives them a place to lurke around.

78th Street being closed off to traffic for the Children's Play Street during the summer causes perverts and robberies???

Ok...

You could make that same statement about ANY of our streets late at night.  The fewer people around, the better it is for thieves, perverts, etc.  I still don't see the connection with closing the street to cars and more crime.  Other than your personal animus against 78th St. Playstreet, can you go a little further with logic of your statement ?

They could have lights on at night, but then you'd probably complain about it being too bright.

Maybe you would like living in a gated community?

I get what pj is saying. Being that there is no car traffic it is much more quiet on that street at night. There is the park on one side and the garden  school on the other. There are no houses in that immediate area. There are two businesses that are closed at night. One would think that without the worrying about  a car driving past one wouldn't think twice about committing a crime.  I personally would not walk up that block at night or even 79 st because of the schools on both sides. And Diva you should be lucky you've never encountered a pervert I have on many occasions (not only in JH) and it is not fun or anything to make light of. 

The park at night has always been an issue, going back to the 1980s where a good friend of mine was almost beaten to unconsciousness there when we were teens.

The park itself is not well lit.  I recall many 'couplings' taking place at night in secluded places at that park as I would pass through it in the 80s and 90s, even with the then-new construction circa 1992.

I do see the original posters thinking in that no parked cars makes the street side more desolate ...
... but one could argue just a easily that the OPENS up teh area more, as characters can't lurk on or between or behind parked cars, nor can people idle in parked cars, etc.

Frankly, the warmer weather brings out more people at night in the summer, so regardless of the street being closed, open, etc., there will be more troublemakers out proportionately in July and August period.  And teens in general, trouble makers or not, will be out more as there are no 'school nights.'

That all said, there would be nothing wrong with better lighting .... THROUGHOUT THE YEAR ... at night.