Runners and a local lawmaker raised concerns about darkness and visibility after a woman was critically injured on the Shore Parkway Greenway.
NEW YORK — The stabbing of a 28-year-old runner on a Brooklyn waterfront path is prompting new questions about lighting and visibility along a popular recreational route as police continue searching for her attacker.
The woman was critically injured Friday night while jogging on the Shore Parkway Greenway in Bath Beach, near Bay Parkway, Cropsey Avenue and Bay 17th Street. Police said the attack occurred shortly after 8 p.m. No arrest had been announced by Sunday, and authorities had not released a description of a suspect or established a motive.
Attention turned Saturday not only to the criminal investigation but also to conditions along the route. Runners and cyclists interviewed by local news outlets described parts of the path as particularly dark after sunset. News 12 reported that people who use the trail said there are few lights or cameras in some areas beyond traffic moving along the nearby Belt Parkway.
State Sen. Stephen T. Chan, a Republican whose district includes parts of southern Brooklyn and who retired as an NYPD sergeant, called for changes around the path. In comments carried by ABC7, Chan pointed to lighting, vegetation and barriers that can limit visibility from the adjacent roadway. He said the area needed more lighting.
The comments reflected concerns from people who use the greenway for exercise and recreation. One runner told ABC7 after the stabbing that the path no longer felt as safe. Another expressed hope that the injured woman would recover and that police would find the attacker. News 12 also spoke with runners who said they try to avoid using the trail alone.
The Shore Parkway Greenway follows part of Brooklyn’s southern waterfront and serves runners, cyclists and pedestrians. Its location gives users access to a long recreational corridor separated in places from surrounding streets. That separation, however, has become part of the discussion after an attack for which police had released few details about the person responsible.
Investigators spent Saturday searching the area for evidence. The NYPD used specialty teams, including drones, aviation, K9 and scuba personnel, according to reporting from ABC7. News 12 said detectives searched tall grass and waters near the route, and that part of the path was closed while officers worked.
The stabbing occurred just before the New York City Marathon, adding urgency to concerns among runners. Police sources told local outlets that the woman had been training for the marathon. New York Road Runners said she had previously taken part in its events, though the organization could not confirm whether she was entered in Sunday’s race.
Authorities have not said that lighting or other physical conditions along the path contributed to the attack, and no public evidence has established that environmental changes would have prevented it. The calls for improvements are emerging while detectives are still trying to determine who carried out the stabbing and why.
As of Sunday morning, no arrest had been announced. ABC7 continued to report the woman in critical condition, while police continued their investigation and officials faced renewed scrutiny over conditions along the waterfront path.
Author note: Last updated November 1, 2026.