AMSTERDAM — Work began this week on the installation of security cameras in Shuttleworth and Veterans parks, around the same time it was announced that $55,000 in state funding had been secured to pay for the project.
Over the winter, the city authorized the purchase and installation of cameras at the parks and a mechanics building for $53,235 by Shepherd Communication and Security. The fee was to be paid either through state funding or the city’s unexpended federal coronavirus relief aid.
State Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara, D-Rotterdam, announced this week his office has secured $55,000 for the project that will enhance public safety in city parks.
“Safeguarding our public spaces is an investment in the long-term well-being of our community. I am confident that investing in the security of our parks aligns with our shared commitment to creating a safe and vibrant community. I look forward to the positive impact it will have on the city of Amsterdam,” Santabarbara said in a prepared statement.
Officials have been developing plans to install cameras at the city’s two largest and most heavily trafficked parks since a pair of isolated incidents occurred involving firearms in Veterans Park last summer. Riverlink Park and the Mohawk Valley Gateway Overlook Pedestrian Bridge already have cameras.
“I’m happy to see that this investment is coming to make our parks safer. It's just one piece of it and we’ll continue to keep these parks safe and clean and just a nice place for residents to spend their time,” Deputy Mayor and 1st Ward Alderwoman Kelly Quist-Demars said.
Rob Spagnola, director of the city’s Tourism, Marketing and Recreation Department, said police and the city engineer previously worked with contractors to map out coverage areas for the planned network of cameras.
Installation began on Wednesday, but it will likely be some time before the system is up and running. Electrical work must be performed to support the cameras and internet access must be extended to the equipment as part of the project.
“It’s an extensive amount of work,” Spagnola said. Work will proceed throughout the spring.
Although Shuttleworth and Veterans parks draw large crowds during warmer months, Spagnola said issues are rare. Still, he appreciates the state support to boost park safety.
“There are instances where these cameras will definitely help prevent those small few from acting up and hold them accountable,” Spagnola said.
The previously authorized fee to Shepherd includes the full cost of installation, equipment and the first year of advanced software with artificial intelligence capabilities. Officials must decide in the future whether to maintain the optional software at a cost of $8,000 per year.
The AI capabilities will make camera footage searchable by keywords or images fed into the system by police. Officials previously said access to those functions will be locked and limited to police supervisors, administrators and detectives.
Use of the search function will require authorization from superiors to aid specific investigations. A log of software usage will be maintained and reviewed regularly.
It is expected that all officers will be able to passively view the camera feeds.
With the project moving forward, officials are hopeful the camera system will ward off potential incidents before they occur, assist with park monitoring and aid investigations when issues arise.
“They are important for deterring a lot of behavior and I think they can be a helpful tool to law enforcement, certainly wanting to keep aware of privacy laws and people’s rights,” Quist-Demars said. “Vandalism and kind of big destruction tends to be tempered when there are cameras or the possibility of finding them.”
