ASTORIA – Council Member Costa Constantinides is calling on the Park Department to ramp up Parks Enforcement Patrol (PEP) around the Astoria Park running track this weekend to stem the spread of COVID-19. The Astoria lawmaker’s call on March 26 comes in light of continued crowding at the recently renovated track despite urgent pleas to social distance.

Constantinides additionally asked the New York City Department of Transportation to assess whether it can close off Shore Boulevard — the western border of Astoria Park — to allow for more space to keep pedestrians further apart. Any study would have to assess the needs of emergency vehicles, who might need the street as a throughway to Mt. Sinai Queens.

“We saw far too many clusters of people at the Astoria Park running track last weekend when we should be exercising a safe distance from one another,” said Council Member Costa Constantinides, District 22. “As we head into another weekend, we need Parks to ensure too many people aren’t using our exercise facilities at once. To that same effect, the DOT must assess whether it can close Shore Boulevard off to non-emergency vehicles to promote social distancing.”

Health officials have asked New Yorkers to stay home as much as possible. Anyone who must go outside is encouraged to keep a safe six feet away from others to contain the coronavirus spread. Both the City and State have asked anyone who ventures outside for exercise amid the COVID-19 pandemic to do so alone. Social media posts from last weekend, however, show clusters of people too close together at places including Astoria Park. Governor Cuomo recently raised the issue at a media briefing and again encouraged park-goers to avoid contact sports or crowds.

The City of New York recently announced the NYPD and PEP officers would increase enforcement on social distancing in public spaces. Constantinides argued today that Astoria Park’s running track should be a top priority in western Queens, to curb the spread.

Council Member Costa Constantinides represents the New York City Council’s 22nd District, which includes his native Astoria along with parts of Woodside, East Elmhurst, and Jackson Heights. He serves as the chair of the City Council’s Environmental Protection Committee and sits on three additional committees: Sanitation, Resiliency, and Technology.

For more information, visit council.nyc.gov/costa.