City Comptroller Calls On Parks Dept. To Make Playgrounds Safer

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- New York City's playgrounds are getting more dangerous for kids, according to New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer.

Stringer issued a report Sunday showing a rise in playground injuries as well as a 53 percent increase in personal injury claims against the Department of Parks and Recreation in the last decade.

The comptroller said those claims cost tax payers $20 million. He's calling on the city to do more to make playgrounds safer.

"I expect the parks department to do everything it can to ensure the safety of playgrounds," Stringer said. "It's not an option, it's a responsibility."

The parks department issued a statement, saying ensuring the safety of kids is its number one priority and it continues to look for ways to improve safe design, CBS2 reported.