By Brittney Williams and David Cruz 

Sunny weather, an extended weekend and no school seem to give the green light for barbecues, but it’s against the law in some areas. And the 52nd Precinct is warning everyone.

Along Mosholu Parkway, the green prairie revered by the community, red signs have been posted throughout the area reading “No Barbecuing in This Area.” But it’s not enough to stop Bronxites from setting up grills and cooking their meals in the park.

For this reason, two community groups, Northwest Bronx Democrats and Friends of Mosholu Parkland have kept tabs on any illegal barbecuing. For the past two years, the groups have created “block watcher” programs to fan out to the park Saturdays and Sundays to inform lawbreakers of the rules and regulations. In most cases, illegal activity is reported to authorities.

During the Memorial Day weekend, families spread out along Mosholu’s greenspace. But not too far behind were officers from the 52nd Precinct. Summonses were not handed out this time, but warnings were, according to 52nd Precinct Inspector Nilda Hofmann. After having her officers order families to pack up, Hofmann instituted a policy where officers would conduct sweeps at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. to issue summonses to violators over the summer.

But the issue is not only confined to Mosholu Parkway. At Williamsbridge Oval Park, Betty Diana Arce, a neighbor living near Mosholu Parkway, snapped photos of charcoal remains scattered near a tree, garbage bins overflowing with trash, and empty bottles.

The matter has concerned longtime neighbors in the area who’ve struggled to ensure picnicking is off the table. At a recent Bedford-Mosholu Community Association meeting, president Barbara Sronczer pressed officers to enforce the no-barbecuing law along Mosholu Parkway.

Lt. Paul Zangrilli, special operations with the 52nd Precinct, mentioned that Hofmann, who’s dealing with the barbecue issue for the first time in the Five-Two, was briefed on the issue. “We sat down with a couple folks from [the New York City Parks Department] taking them around,” said Zangrilli. “We’re already on top of it.”

Patrols have increased and the big red signs have been installed at park areas well before Memorial Day, unlike last year, when they were put up around July 4.

Sheila Sanchez, vice president of Friends of Mosholu Parkland and a member of the Northwest Bronx Democrats, was at the meeting, offering to help officers report violators by identifying key barbecue spots along the parkway. More signs are being put up so parkgoers realize that open pit fires and barbecues are forbidden.

Hofmann has been very supportive of the community’s efforts, according to Sanchez. Hofmann has made it clear that she is ready to put in work to stop the littering and keep the parks preserved.

If anyone is seen starting a barbecue or refusing to acknowledge the signs, it is advised to call 311. This past Memorial Day, the 52nd Precinct received a few calls reporting people barbecuing illegally. “Every time the police were notified, they came immediately,” said Sanchez, who was walking around the park Monday afternoon.

Police notified the families that although there were no consequences this time around, if they are caught breaking the law again, there would be a $250 fine. “Having a barbecue on any greenway is forbidden. Mosholu Parkway is not just a park,” said Sanchez.

Anthony Rivieccio, the founder of Northwest Bronx Democrats, describes his continuing effort to protect the community as “an educational campaign to let them know that it is illegal. There is no option here, it is against the law.” He argued that although it is illegal to barbecue along the parkway, the groups are meeting with Community Board 7 to find areas that could allow barbecuing and may even create areas for designated barbecuing.

admin

Welcome to the Norwood News, a bi-weekly community newspaper that primarily serves the northwest Bronx communities of Norwood, Bedford Park, Fordham and University Heights. Through our Breaking Bronx blog, we focus on news and information for those neighborhoods, but aim to cover as much Bronx-related news as possible. Founded in 1988 by Mosholu Preservation Corporation, a not-for-profit affiliate of Montefiore Medical Center, the Norwood News began as a monthly and grew to a bi-weekly in 1994. In September 2003 the paper expanded to cover University Heights and now covers all the neighborhoods of Community District 7. The Norwood News exists to foster communication among citizens and organizations and to be a tool for neighborhood development efforts. The Norwood News runs the Bronx Youth Journalism Heard, a journalism training program for Bronx high school students. As you navigate this website, please let us know if you discover any glitches or if you have any suggestions. We’d love to hear from you. You can send e-mails to norwoodnews@norwoodnews.org or call us anytime (718) 324-4998.