HPPC Board Statement on Waterfront Parks Security

The Hunters Point Parks Conservancy’s (HPPC) mission is to enhance and advocate for the green spaces and waterfront of Long Island City, Queens, and to ensure the parks remain an indispensable asset to the community. 

HPPC is a volunteer-led, community non-profit that supports the New York City and New York State Parks Departments through volunteer gardening, free community events, and small supplemental park maintenance projects. While we have a positive working relationship with the departments, neither HPPC as an organization, nor any of its individual members, have decision-making authority on matters of safety, security, rule enforcement, or park operations. 

HPPC appreciates all concerns that our community raises regarding issues of safety and security in our waterfront parks, and always passes them on to the proper authorities. However, if you would like to address your comments directly to the proper decision-making authority, we hope the following information will be helpful:

  • Always call 311 or log an incident via the 311 online portal (portal.311.nyc.gov). Every incident reported through 311 is logged and this data helps city agencies make decisions - the more data points, the more likely it is that something will be done.

  • If you are experiencing or witnessing an emergency, dial 911.

  • Please note that our waterfront park land in Hunters Point is actually 2 different parks and many neighborhood safety and security issues are handled by many different agencies:

    • The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (NYS Parks) manages Gantry Plaza State Park which is located between 50th Ave. and Anable Basin.

      • Park safety and enforcement issues are handled by New York State Parks Police.

    • The New York City Department of Parks and Recreation (NYC Parks) manages Hunter’s Point South Park which runs from 50th Ave. South to Newtown Creek.

      • Park safety and enforcement issues are handled by Parks Enforcement Patrol (PEP).

    • The local 108 Precinct of the New York City Police Department handles general security and criminal incidents in the neighborhood as well as any overnight security or criminal activity in the parks.

    • All overhead lighting and light poles as well and city streets and crosswalks are managed by the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT)

    • Food trucks are overseen by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOH)

  • If you would like to contact any of these agencies directly, you can use the following numbers:

    • NYS Parks (Gantry Plaza State Park) - (718) 786-6385

      • NYS Parks Police New York City Zone Headquarters - (212) 694-3620

    • NYC Parks (Hunter’s Point South Park) - (718) 626-8621

      • PEP - no separate phone number, have to contact through 311

    • 108 Precinct general line - (718) 784-5411

      • You can also directly contact the 108 Precinct’s Neighborhood Coordination Officer for sector A David Cortes at david.cortes2@nypd.org or (718) 784-5411

      • more contact numbers available here

    • DOT - (212) 839-2510

      • For information on active DOT cases (including speed hump and traffic signal studies) or to submit new cases, click here.

    • DOH - 311