With heavy hearts, we acknowledge the several incidents of gun violence in the vicinity of the Elijah J. Stroud Playground and nearby schools over the past weeks. On March 15th, 2019 a shooting on Prospect Pl. and Grand Ave. forced a shelter-in-place at PS316, PS705, and MS353. Later that day, while children played, gunshots were fired into the Elijah J. Stroud Playground.

While thankfully no one was hurt in either shooting, these incidents jeopardized community safety, resulted in lockdown and/or shelter-in situations at our schools, and have traumatized children and parents alike.

While many things will be needed to secure the newly renovated Elijah J. Stroud Playground, keep further violence off our streets, and bring support to the young people unfortunately caught up in illegal activity (including increased accountability from the NYPD’s 77th Precinct, Department of Education, Department of Parks and Recreation, and our elected officials); our immediate concern is for the safety of our children.

We, the undersigned, demand that our elected and appointed officials work with the NYPD and Department of Education to secure the ongoing presence of a uniformed patrol at the Elijah J. Stroud Playground throughout the school day and after school from from 6AM - 10PM. The extension of the presence of the NYPD into the evening is critical to assure that children throughout the area may continue to use the playground without fear or the threat of violence.

We call upon Majority Leader Councilmember Laurie A. Cumbo, State Assemblymember Walter J. Mosley, State Senator Zellnor Myrie, and Community Board 8 to demand of the NYPD’s 77th Precinct, Department of Education, and Department of Parks and Recreation to work together to protect our children and craft a plan to assure that the recent events will not be repeated in our cherished community.

PTO - PS9
PTO - PS705
Board of Directors - Montessori Day School of Brooklyn