The Bedford Mosholu Community Association (BMCA) received quite the financial bump from their local Assemblywoman.

Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernandez, whose 80th Assembly District partially covers Bedford Park, gave BMCA a $10,000 allocation. The group was one of three organizations–Pelham Parkway Neighborhood Association and the Allerton Homeowners Association–falling within Fernandez’s district to receive a separate grant in the same amount.  

“These organizations have brought service and attention to our neighborhood for collectively over 40 years,” said Fernandez. “They have given us different programs and events such as neighborhood beautification, civic engagement, and programs for our seniors,” added Fernandez. Barbara Stronczer, BMCA’s fifth and longest-serving president, was thrilled to receive the state funds, a rarity for the group. 

“The Bedford Mosholu Community Association has been in existence for over 40 years, we cover the Bedford Park area and some of Norwood, and meet once a month. I want to thank [Nathalia] Fernandez for this grant,” said Stronczer, flanked by other group representatives and Fernandez inside the Assemblywoman’s office on Aug. 20. 

BMCA was founded in 1975 as a group of volunteers committed to sustaining a quality standard of living for the Bedford Park community. Residents and volunteers who serve on an executive board gather the first Wednesday of every month (except during the summer) to assess the current state of the northwest Bronx neighborhood. Although the funding won’t be available until 2020, Stronczer and her team are already anticipating what can be done with the endowment. 

“We’re excited and we definitely will have to sit down as an executive committee to exercise a few options. We certainly hope to use it for neighborhood beautification. We have Mosholu Parkway running right through our area, we have plenty of trees that need tree guards and want to put some plantings around,” said Stronczer. “Right now we’re being hit in that area by over development, we’re losing many of our private homes to developers and we’re fighting that as an association,” added Stronczer. 

Fighting off major redevelopment projects, due to Webster Avenue rezoning will always remain an emphasis of BMCA as well as reshaping Mosholu Parkway. However, with some new allocated funds on the horizon, the year 2020 is promising for the civic association.

“Thank you again for all your dedicated service to your neighborhood and this community, I look forward to seeing what better projects, and just in general good things to come,” said Fernandez as she closed the presser.