In her December 8, 2020 letter, Arlene Harrison connected a new perimeter-lighting project with the attack on her son that had prompted the founding of the Gramercy Park Block Association. Better lighting had a particular significance for the Block Association’s president and for the people walking the surrounding blocks.
The letter reported that 46 lights had been installed, operating from dusk until dawn. The Block Association managed the installation under the direct supervision of the Park Trustees. The stated purpose was to improve visibility around the Park while complementing its appearance.
This project was distinct from the earlier warning lights at the north and south gates. Those lights addressed the visibility of the gates to traffic; the 2020 installation concerned illumination around the perimeter.
The same letter reported the Block Association’s regular meetings with the precinct’s Neighborhood Coordination Officers.
November · The first lighting announcement
The November 19 announcement invited neighbors to look for the lights that evening and thanked Park project manager Kathleen Scupp. It described 44 lights; the December 8 follow-up reported 46.
The evening walk and the everyday work
Lighting is one part of a welcoming streetscape. Public-safety relationships, clean streets and neighbors who pay attention to their surroundings all contribute to the experience of coming home.
Sources
Adapted from the Block Association’s distributed “Keeping the Community Safe” newsletter, December 8, 2020.