McCarren Park Pool plagued by violence since reopening
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By LIDIA CURANAJ, @LidiaFox5NY
MYFOXNY.COM -
Last week in Brooklyn, the McCarren Park Pool reopened to swimmers for the first time since 1984.
The pool in Greenpoint has been jammed packed since the reopening but a series of fights has people in the community wondering if the city has done enough to keep swimmers at the pool safe.
The Fourth of July means it's hot and it's a holiday, so you know you're going to have a crowd here today. The long lines tell the story.
To make sure everyone stays safe and under control there is now plenty of police here -- many of them riot police.
The McCarren Park Pool was supposed to be the crown jewel of Brooklyn -- but already two violent fights have broken out here.
Over the weekend, teens attacked a guard then on Monday, a man punched a police officer.
This is why riot police are now at the pool in full force as well as plenty of park police officers. They want to keep the huge crowds under control -- crowds that seem to be growing by the minute.
"There's going to be violence everywhere. This is a very nice pool and a nice way to keep cool," said one swimmer.
"All these people want to bring drama but now there's lot of cops now. It should just be peaceful and stuff," said another swimmer.
Many park goers have to wait in a very long line as temperatures rise and sometimes it can take more than an hour just to get inside.
McCarren Park Pool opened in the 1930s, closed down in the 1980s, and reopened less than a week ago thanks to a $50 million renovation.
Parks advocate, Geoffrey Croft says, "They had 28 years to get serious things like a security plan down and clearly has failed. Now the mayor has reacted which is a good thing," said Croft. "But a plan should have been in place last week to avoid the incidents we're having."
Fox 5 News was told the reason riot police are at the pool is because patrol officers simply don't have the special training riot police have to deal with the huge crowds.
One officer was punched in the face and another broke his wrist trying to keep the peace.
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