Prospect Park to Close Friday for Obama’s Arrival

Prospect Park will be closed Friday when President Barack Obama‘s helicopter lands there on his way to visit a Crown Heights high school.

From CBS NY:

The entire 550-acre park in Brooklyn will be closed from noon to 6 p.m. “due to security associated with the president’s visit,” the Prospect Park Alliance said on its website.

The president’s helicopter will reportedly be landing at the park.

“We apologize for any inconvenience,” Prospect Park Alliance said in a statement.

Some park goers Thursday morning weren’t too happy to hear about the closure.

“It interferes with other people’s lives,” one woman told 1010 WINS’ John Montone. “That’s not right.”

“I think it’s a bit of an overreaction,” Park Slope resident Robert Caccomo told CBS 2′s Tony Aiello. “If they would shut down the area where the helicopters would land and stay that seems fine, but why they need to shut the whole park down is beyond me.”

“I don’t think it’s right, but at the end of the day it’s for his protection, so you gotta do what you gotta do,” said Park Slope resident Susan Pierre.

But others didn’t seem to mind.

“For the president to come here, I think it’s great,” one man said.

“It’s for the president, so I’m not upset about that,” one woman said. “It’s for security reasons and I think we need to keep the president alive.”

“I think it’s worth it, I think it’s awesome, I think he’s worth it,” Park Slope resident Frances Lippette said.

“He’s the president, of course they should close the park,” said Park Slope resident Wanling Vann. “They can close it for a week as far as I’m concerned.”

Obama is scheduled to visit Pathways in Technology Early College High School, which is located two miles from the park  in Crown Heights. He praised the school in his State of the Union address for its innovative program.

Obama’s visit is expected to bring traffic tie-ups in Prospect Heights, Crown Heights and other nearby neighborhoods from about 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.