Dear Jacqueline Langsam, Queens Parks Commissioner:

It's great that we’re FINALLY getting accessible ramps at Overlook park which have been a long time coming!  However, we MUST prioritize building an accessible ramp at Abingdon & Park Lane South over the two other entrances that are slated to get them first. Here’s a few reasons why:

1. These stairs are NOT JUST an entrance to the park. They are also a way for people who live on Park Lane South to cross the street!

• Many parents who live in Hampton Court travel north on Park Lane South to take their kids to school at PS99 and Sholom daycare. We need to cross at this intersection to get to the other side of the street. I personally struggled with this intersection for almost 3 years lugging my stroller up & down the stairs 2X a day with my toddler, and I see many other parents having to do this every day as well -- some even going so far to cross park lane south IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD through traffic to avoid these stairs! 
• There are older folks pushing walkers and grocery carts that need to cross here too, such as this man I saw pushing his cart up the grassy hill last week!

2. The 80th road location already has a ramp, yet it's being prioritized over the Abingdon Road location with no ramp.  Sure, the existing ramp is steep and we can use a better one at this location, but at least there is a ramp. There is NO RAMP OF ANY KIND on the east side of Overlook park either at the Abingdon / Park Lane south set of stairs, OR the northeast set of stairs on the corner of of Park Lane North/Beverly Road and Park Lane South.

3. There ALREADY is an accessible entrance at the north entrance of the park along the sidewalk adjacent to the Overlook parking lot driveway. Clearly one is needed on the EAST side which currently has nothing!

Please think of all the parents, expecting parents, grandparents, disabled, elderly and regular people struggling with those stairs everyday that would benefit from an easier way to get to school, to and from the park and other activities. We shouldn't have to go out of our way to the north side of the park just to cross the road!!