Disturbing behavior by homeless individuals disrupts girls' soccer practice at Hudson River Park
A group of unhoused people, including a man in a penis-shaped mask, repeatedly harassed young girls practicing soccer at the Gansevoort Peninsula field.
In the Hudson River Park’s Gansevoort Peninsula, a loosely organized group of homeless individuals has become a regular presence around the soccer field used by the Gotham Girls Football Club. Witnesses described a man wearing a mask shaped like a penis, covered in numerous piercings, who shouted profanities and exposed a tattooed torso while standing less than 20 feet from children as young as five. Another participant, dubbed “Fire Bug,” allegedly set fire to park benches during practice.
Parents such as Jason Fernández and a coach, Saad Afif, said park workers briefly escort the men away, but they return within minutes, and the Department of Homeless Services has not designated the area a hotspot. The disturbance has also affected nearby food vendors, who report threats and intimidation from the same individuals.
Why it matters
The incident highlights safety concerns for families using public parks in a city struggling with homelessness and inadequate enforcement.
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