Hi All- Local here. I have been wanting to post for a few days now, was waiting for my account to be activated. I couldn't remember my login credentials back from when I use to post on the Hailey Dunn board!
I just wanted to give a little information for non locals to better understand the area. I am about 3 miles from the location of which Karina was found. My brother's in-laws live on the other side of the Belt Parkway (considered Lindenwood) on 78th St, and right behind their house are the marshes. So I am familiar with the area. I have also biked from the Gateway Center (mall, off Erskin St exit on Belt Pkwy) to Howard Beach (Crossbay Blvd area). There are many entrances (technically not man made entrances, but someone could definitely climb in to the marshes) from the bike path that runs parallel to the Belt Parkway. Someone can easily come from the Gateway Center Mall and cross the overpass and onto the bike path. The Bike path lets out onto 78th Street. Gateway Center Mall is located in a not so well area (East New York), there are many men shelters in that area as well. There have been times when I have been at my brother's in-laws for a party and leave late at night and go to my car (which I park right in front of the gated marshes) and it is pitch black back there. I have come across strange men walking back there (but just passed them off as homeless men, which I am pretty sure they were) If I had to pick up my nephew I would double park in the front of the house, instead of parking by the marshes for safety.
I am currently posting this on a computer, and will follow up with maps I have screenshotted of the area and noted the bike paths etc along Spring Creek Park. Now I have seen many comment on the word "park", this technically is not a park like you and I would consider a park to be. As you know the weeds are very high and there are just paths cut out. This isn't a true "park". I believe it should be created into a park now to honor Karina, where it would be safe for everyone to go, women to joj, and kids to play.
One other thing I have observed, I never thought it was accessible by boat, because no one ever talks about taking a boat ride over to Spring Creek Park. However, if you google map "Gateway Center" and zoom over to Spring Creek you will see a small white boat around the area where Karina's body was found. Google Map pictures were most likely taken years ago, however this is something to think of. Why was there a random white boat on the shore? This boat is not viewable if you search "Spring Creek Park" because the words are actually over the boat, so you would have to zoom into the area of Spring Creek to see the boat. I will post a follow up post from my phone with the photos.
Sorry for such a long all over the place (probably typos) post. I have been wanting to post for a few days but waiting on account activation now has made my thoughts all over the place!! Being a local I find myself looking at EVERY person I pass by, for cuts, scrapes, bruises, bites. Which I hope everyone in the area and outer areas are doing as well. I work in Manhattan and even look at every passerby here as well!
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