Memorial Day Weekend Message from Chief Harper
Posted on: May 22, 2020 - 1:50pm
May 22, 2020
Dear Village Residents:
Warmer days are now upon us and the Memorial Day holiday weekend fast approaches. In order to help provide continued safety to my officers and the public due to the continued State of Emergency and the ongoing Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19), I wish to outline the following steps which have already been taken, and those which will be taken this weekend:
It has become apparent that we have already started to experience a larger increase in the use of Croton Landing, as well as many other Village trails and walkways. I am further anticipating the use of our Croton River to start much earlier this year.
With this in mind, I will be increasing the amount of our patrols this holiday weekend and supplementing the force with additional Park Rangers. Weather and tidal flow permitting, I will also be deploying our Police Boat on the Croton River to assist in maintaining public order in that area.
With the increase in the number of people looking to get outside and enjoy the weather, a new situation has developed that we have not experienced in the past. Croton Gorge Park has become a popular attraction and is experiencing overwhelming crowds. The parking lot has filled to capacity and people are using Route 129 and any side streets available to park. This has now extended into our Village and is causing a traffic and safety hazard, as people are parking anywhere they can and walking along Route 129 to Croton Gorge Park. In so doing, they are exposing themselves to possibly being hit by cars traveling along Route 129. It has become a nusisnce and, frankly, unfair to some of our residents as they are parking on, and turning around on, residents’ lawns and property. In addition, garbage is being left behind.
In order to improve and help make the situation safer, and to deter people from parking and walking along Route 129 in our Village, we have had to create temporary No Parking Zones in that area. This past weekend, it became obvious that Dailey Drive and Niles Road needed to be included and officers had to shut these areas down for safety. For this upcoming weekend, these temporary provisions will be expanded to prohibit parking on Jacoby Street, on Batten Road north to Eklof Court, Quaker Bridge Road and Route 129 west of Dailey Drive to Batten Road.
I have also been working with the Village Manager and the Superintendant of Public Works to resolve parking issues in Black Rock Park and Silver Lake Park. Included in this are proactive steps to deter parking along certain areas of Treusdale Drive, Nordica Drive, and Cedar Lane during weekends in order to help curtail what occurred last summer.
Furthermore, it is important that everyone maintain social distance of six feet and wear a face covering when out in public. This is for your own health and safety, as well as your fellow citizens.
If you see something wrong occurring, please contact us on our direct phone line at 914-271-5177. If it is an emergency situation, please call 911. Keep in mind that if you are calling from a cell phone, your 911 call will first be answered by another agency depending on which cell tower picks up your call. That agency will then determine your location and jurisdiction, transferring your call to the Croton Police Desk.
I wish you all good health.
Sincerely,
Russel H. Harper
Chief of Police