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Residents urge building-by-building fire-safety outreach, propose neighborhood garden expansion
Summary
During the Community Board 11 meeting, residents described an existing Morris Park community garden and urged the board to pursue building-level fire-prevention training with FDNY and outreach partners; staff suggested following up after the holidays.
Community Board 11 members and residents used the meeting to raise two neighborhood priorities: expanding or connecting to a small existing community garden in the Morris Park area and pursuing building-level fire-safety outreach for homeowners and tenants.
A resident, identified in the transcript as Kaye, said she has tried to connect with the Morris Park community garden near the Amtrak line and suggested reaching out to that BID’s coordinator (she named the coordinator imprecisely as "Carmela or Carmelina") to learn more. "It's a small space, but it's a start," Kaye said, urging the board to explore nearby locations and to involve seniors and children in gardening programs.
Kaye also emphasized fire prevention after recent neighborhood fires that left families homeless. She proposed door-to-door or building-by-building trainings led by FDNY, elected officials, or housing outreach groups so tenants and homeowners learn practical protections. "Maybe there's other locations that might be... we could get our senior citizens... and our children... to get them involved," she said.
Stacy Ann and other members noted FDNY has conducted trainings in the past and suggested inviting the department to a future meeting. Participants also referenced community partners such as the Red Cross, which some attendees said previously provided and installed smoke and carbon monoxide alarms for free.
Speakers in the meeting also referenced an energy-assistance program mentioned in the transcript as "EAT" and cited a benefit window of October 1 to May 31; attendees urged reporting when eligible households do not receive those benefits. The board agreed to follow up after the holiday period to coordinate outreach and to invite FDNY for a discussion on possible trainings.
