Robert Pandolfo

Beverley Square West NA

214 Stratford Road
Brooklyn, NY 11218
 214 Stratford Road

Brooklyn, NY 11218

June 24, 2010

Dear Councilman Eugene:

We write on behalf of Beverley Square West Neighborhood Association (BSWNA),

a group that represents homeowners who share our Brooklyn neighborhood with the
elementary school, PS 139-K. The school is located at 330 Rugby Road, with
schoolyards on Cortelyou Road and Argyle Road.

Earlier this academic year, PS 139 was awarded a grant of $200,000 in public
funds, facilitated by Out2Play. The purpose of these funds was to refurbish its main
school yard, located on Argyle Road. The renovation plan involves repainting the yard
surface in a configuration encouraging student involvement in several sports—including
baseball, soccer and basketball. The new design also includes the addition of several
pieces of permanent equipment: a new jungle gym, a ball drop for pre-school aged
children, several chess tables and two 8-foot (elementary sized) basketball backboards
at opposite sides of the yard.

BSWNA has been a long-time supporter of PS 139 and we see the renovation of
the schoolyard as a positive improvement. Currently, the school yard is used by a
broad population that includes schoolchildren during the regularly scheduled school
day, children enrolled in after school programs, and the broader community’s children
and families after school hours. The schoolyard fulfills an important community need by
providing recreational play space for many community residents who have few options
for outdoor space. With this in mind, BSWNA is fully in support of a renovated
schoolyard that will provide a safe and fun space for local children to play.

This said, BSWNA also shares many safety and public nuisance concerns. For
many long-term BSWNA residents, the Argyle Road schoolyard has had a long history
Councilman Mathieu Eugene
123 Linden Blvd.
Brooklyn, NY 11226
as a place where disruptive activity takes place. In the 80’s and 90’s drug use and
sexual behavior occurred there openly. When BSWNA pressed local politicians by
letter petitions in 1997 and 1998, school custodians started to lock the gates and the
problems were alleviated to a large extent. Unfortunately, the schoolyard still presents
many nuisances and public safety concerns for the school and broader community.

Based on years of neighborhood experience, it is the concern of BSWNA that

with the renovation of the school yard (including, but not limited to the addition of
permanent basketball hoops) that the yard will become a destination for other teens and
young men in the hours after the school yard is closed in the evening and that this
situation will once again worsen. We worry that this will create a severe noise problem
into the night and possible safety issues. Furthermore, the fact that the Argyle
schoolyard fence is easily climbed, gates are frequently left open after hours to allow for
school activities and facility repairs, and the school keeps the yard well lit all night, will
simply make the area an uncontrollable attraction and a constant safety problem.

A BSWNA committee has met twice with Principal McDonald, PS 139 staff and
parents to urge them to withdraw the portion of the plan that included permanent
basketball hoops on Argyle Road. During these meetings, the committee expressed
the opinion that installation of permanent basketball hoops was a poor idea for the
quality of life for those who live in the immediate vicinity of the schoolyard and would
create a safety problem for those who use it. During these meetings, Ms. McDonald
has listened sympathetically to the voice of the community. At the strong insistence of
her staff, students and school families, she has come to the conclusion that permanent
hoops are in the best interest of the school constituencies for whom she serves.

It is the shared opinion that any construction plan that occurs without additional
safety guards will have a detrimental impact on the quality of life for the many families
that live adjacent to the Argyle Road school yard. To this end, should the renovation
continue with the addition of basketball hoops, the BSWNA strongly advocates
for the additional support of our public officials through (1) additional funding for
a taller fence around the school yard and (2) additional police coverage of the
school yard. It should be noted that the fence around the Argyle Road schoolyard is
only 8 feet high and is climbed with ease by boys and young men. All other schoolyards
with basketball hoops observed by us around the City have fencing that is at least 15
feet high. It should also be noted that the current grant does not include funding for a
new fence, as the current fence is deemed to be in good working order. The BSWNA
committee will be meeting with Principal McDonald to work out a school yard opening
schedule.

With proper safety precautions—BSWNA believes that the new school yard will
provide a wonderful space for PS 139 children to enjoy, a fun public space for all our
community’s children and a safer and more livable neighborhood for those property
owners who reside on Argyle Road. We hope that we can count on your support.
Sincerely,

Robert Pandolfo and Jack Rubman, Co-Presidents

(718) 462-8492 (718) 469-6633