'Trash all over the place.' Neighbors concerned about overflowing garbage and drug activity in Echo Park
Trash and debris, including a busted dryer, scattered clothing, and bottles, covered the entrance of Richman (Echo) Park Sunday morning, drawing concern from neighbors walking through the area.
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Trash and debris, including a busted dryer, scattered clothing, and bottles, covered the entrance of Richman (Echo) Park Sunday morning, drawing concern from neighbors walking through the area.
Some families ignore the mess, while others are forced to maneuver around the pile.
"You can see they got garbage over there. There's an encampment down here. Trash all over the place," said one neighbor, Gladys.
News 12 crews also saw needles and orange caps hidden under a bench.
Another neighbor, Carla, frequently encounters drug activity while walking her dog in the park.
"We actually witnessed someone injecting themselves with what I think was drugs. And it was in broad daylight," she said.
In a statement, the New York City Departments of Parks told News 12 that cleanliness is a top priority.
"As always, we continue to urge New Yorkers to do their part in keeping our parks clean — please take out what you bring in and dispose of refuse in proper receptacles, and please refrain from illegally dumping trash in their parks,” the statement said.
A source said parks enforcement patrols Echo Park daily and monitors the activity inside.
Illegal dumping in New York City comes with a fine of $5,000 for the first offense and $10,000 for every case after that.
