Garbage Cans to be Installed outside Lou Lodati Park, Following Complaints about Trash Problem

Corner of Skillman Avenue and 43rd Street

June 24, 2016 By Michael Florio

The Parks Department will be adding three garbage cans outside Lou Lodati Park on a permanent basis following a volley of complaints about a trash problem.

The garbage cans are expected to be added today (Friday) and the plan is for them to be located adjacent to the park in the vicinity of Skillman Ave and 43^rd Street, the Parks Department announced this morning.

Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer requested the cans about three weeks, following complaints about an influx of trash, according to his office.

“When constituents told me there was a problem with litter in the park, we sprang into action,” Van Bramer said in a statement. “I’m extremely pleased that the Parks Department responded to our requests to install additional trash cans.”

The farmers market held outside the park on Saturday mornings has been the source of much of the trash, according to Steve Callahan, who lives across the street from the park.

The apartment building where Callahan lives had been placing a trash can across the street from the park on the south west corner of 43^rd Street and Skillman Avenue.

The trash can was originally placed there to help dog owners dispose of their pooch’s messes, Callahan said. However, with the added trash from the farmer’s market and general park goers, it was becoming too much for the building’s super to maintain.

Callahan said that he had reached out to the Parks Department and the Department of Sanitation in recent weeks, but was told trash cans could not be added.

Callahan said the Parks Dept. said it didn’t handle trash issues outside the park and the Department of Sanitation claimed it only handles commercial districts.

Van Bramer said that he wants constituents to reach out to his office in such situations.

“I encourage residents to call my office and alert my staff of unsanitary conditions,” he said. “I will continue to work hard every day to keep our streets and parks clean.”