Assemblyman William Colton (D – Gravesend, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach, and Dyker Heights) alerts the community that the City Administration is trying to turn I.S. 228’s also known as David A. Boody schoolyard into a public park.

“At the Community Planning Board 11 meeting, concern was raised from the numerous community residents about the City Administration wanting to turn the schoolyard attached to I.S. 228 into a public park. Community Board 11 claims that there was no proposal present to them. There was no transparency with the local community. The local community was not surveyed. My understanding is that West 4^th and West 5^th Streets are narrow streets and if this plan is true it will be strongly opposed by many community residents. I believe that this project will create serious safety, health, and quality of life issues not only for the neighborhood but also for I.S. 228 which has been a shining star of quality education,” Colton stated.

“I was told that the City claims if the City will not proceed, they will lose 4.5 million dollars that were allocated for this project. A few months ago, Mayor stated that he is considering the elimination of 22,000 city jobs due to the budget deficit, yet he wants to waste 4.5 million dollars on the project that makes no sense and is unwanted by the community, especially when there is a public park few block away from the location. Instead of throwing money into unneeded projects, he should consider spending it on schools which is essential, or at least on improving health and safety in existing parks,” Colton added.