Dear Council Member Eric Dinowitz and NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue,

I am writing to bring urgent attention to the unsafe and dangerous conditions at Fort Independence Park in the Bronx. The rubber play mats, which are meant to provide a safe surface for children, are now severely deteriorated, with sections bent inwards, cracked, and pulling apart. These hazardous conditions have caused several children, including my own daughter, to trip, fall, and injure themselves while simply trying to play. This is a situation that demands immediate attention, as it directly impacts the safety, well-being, and development of our children.

From a personal perspective, my daughter attends Rose Hill Pre-K Center, and it is deeply concerning that she and her classmates are unable to use the playground at Fort Independence Park due to these unsafe conditions. The school, along with concerned parents like myself, has made countless 311 requests to address this issue, yet we have received no response. Parents and caregivers in our community are increasingly reluctant to allow their children to play in the park due to these risks, and this is not only unjust but harmful to the very individuals the park was designed to serve. As our community leader, we hope you can be the advocate we need to solve this ongoing problem and restore Fort Independence Park to a safe and accessible environment.

It is possible that the NYC Parks Department is currently non-compliant with several critical safety regulations and standards governing playground safety, including federal, state, and local requirements. The current condition of Fort Independence Park’s playground may violate provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which mandates that public parks and playgrounds provide safe, accessible environments for all individuals, including those with disabilities. The damaged rubber mats not only create safety hazards for able-bodied children, but they also present significant accessibility challenges for children and adults who rely on wheelchairs, mobility devices, or have limited mobility. The ADA stipulates that public playgrounds must meet certain safety standards to ensure equitable use, and the deteriorating conditions at Fort Independence Park could potentially leave the NYC Parks Department in breach of these important requirements.

We, the concerned members of this community, respectfully demand that the City Council and NYC Parks Department prioritize the immediate repair or replacement of the rubber play mats at Fort Independence Park. A safe environment is not a luxury—it is a basic necessity that ensures our children can grow, learn, and thrive. We need a timeline for these repairs, and we look forward to hearing the steps that will be taken to address this urgent matter.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this critical issue.

Sincerely,

Joel Ramirez