Queens Gazette

NYPD Hero’s Memory Scarred By Park Conditions




Sean McDonald and his family moved from their native Ireland to a home on 36th Street in Astoria when he was a small child.

“My boys always wanted to be police officers,” Sean’s father, John McDonald, said in a 1995 interview. “They had the calling.”

Police Officer Sean McDonald was a rookie cop assigned to the Community Policing Program (CPOP) at the 44th Precinct in the Bronx in March 1994.

While walking a beat in a Bronx neighborhood on March 15, 1994, McDonald interrupted a robbery in progress at a local business and was shot dead by a brazen thief, who was later tried an convicted for the murder.

News of McDonald’s death resonated throughout the Astoria neighborhood where he attended Most Precious Blood School – and developed the character and easy smile that helped him land his “dream job” as a New York City cop.

McDonald left behind his wife, Janet, and two children, a 3-year-old son and an 18-month-old daughter, his police officer brother and his father, John, who remained at the family home in Astoria until he passed away several years ago.

In 1995, neighbors, friends and community activists dedicated a city playground to Sean MdDonald, located just off Broadway on 37th Street in Astoria – just a block from the home where he grew up.

Dubbed “Sean’s Place,” the playground features swings and slides for youngsters, space for basketball and other sports and a small garden dedicated to McDonald.

The playground is operated and maintained by the city Department of Parks (DOP). Parks employees are supposed to lock the gates at Sean’s Place each night at 9 p.m. to ensure the safety and quality of life of the surrounding community.

Neighbors started calling 311 earlier this year, when conditions at the playground became intolerable. The gate was never locked, area residents said. And the playground had become a haven for unsavory late night activities that include drinking, drug use and sexual activity, neighbors said. The activity left Sean’s Place littered with trash and other items, used and discarded by the unwelcome groups.

Members of the advocacy group, “Friends Of Sean’s Place” reached out to City Councilmember Peter Vallone for help to restore the park to its original peace and quiet.

Vallone said he reached out to Norman Chu, DOP District 1 manager, who has been working to restore the playground.

Vallone said Chu has been working with the community, setting up meetings to hear grievances and find solutions to conditions at the playground.

DOP workers have cleaned out trash and planted new greenery at Sean’s Place – and they are currently seeking a resident willing to volunteer to open and close the park on a regular basis, Vallone said.

Vallone, who recently brought the city to task on the lack of Parks Enforcement officers, has asked officials at the 114th Precinct to keep watch over the playground until DOP can commit personnel to enforcement.

“We are trying to work with the resources at hand to clean up and maintain a safe environment at the playground,” Vallone said. “We will continue to work with DOP supervisors and other personnel to restore Sean’s Place to its original condition.”

Area residents interested in applying to volunteer to open and close the playground should call Vallone’s office at 718-274-4500.

 



Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.