Neighbors near Crotona Park North: Construction causing parking woes

Community members who live near Crotona Park North say construction at the park has left them with few available parking spots - and they haven't seen any work happening for months.

They tell News 12 that with the construction of the Roberto Clemente ballpark came temporary "No Standing Anytime" signs along Crotona Park North that have taken away about 20 spots.

As a compromise, they are hoping an alternative sign can be put in place where parking is permitted overnight and on weekends.

Alex Thrower says parking is so tough that people park at the curb in front of his home.

"They block my driveway at night and when I'm trying to get out in the morning, I usually have to wait,” says Thrower. “I don't like towing nobody because I understand the situation where if you tow somebody, they gotta pay for the towing and everything else."

In a statement, a spokesperson for the New York City Parks Department said, "While we strive to complete every project on time, in the course of construction we encountered unanticipated infrastructure problems with the site's retaining wall... This discovery triggered a redesign for the wall, which has delayed the completion of this project. We are now back on track and expect the project to be completed in September 2020."

A spokesperson for the Department of Transportation said that the DOT inspected the location and determined that there is a valid permit at the site. The spokesperson said the DOT will continue to monitor the location.

Sources tell News 12 that the Parks Department is working with the DOT to mitigate the parking restrictions at the site.