City to install used needle kiosks inside Bronx parks

<p>They say the decision comes after new statistics show nearly 5,000 needles are found and collected weekly.</p>

News 12 Staff

May 22, 2018, 10:32 AM

Updated 2,353 days ago

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The New York City Parks Department says it plans to install 60 kiosks throughout different parks in the Bronx to collect used syringes.
They say the decision comes after new statistics show nearly 5,000 needles are found and collected weekly.
Officials say the purpose of the plan is for drug users to safely discard their needles in the locked boxes instead of leaving them on the ground or near playgrounds. They say it will also deploy trained staff to maintain and empty the needle bins.
"There's a lot of children over here, especially on this side because there's a school right here and they play there,” says resident Ahmad Trujillo. “There's a lot of substance abusers in this area."
Some of the parks where kiosks will be installed include St. Mary's Park, Crotona Park, Claremont Park and Echo Park.
The city also plans to increase outreach and education so people are informed on where they can go to get health and social services.
Officials say installation will begin at the end of May.