Three weeks before the unofficial start of summer, Barbara Stronczer wanted to get ahead of what’s expected to be a raucous season at Mosholu Parkway. As it’s been the case for years, she wants the “No Barbecuing in the Area” signs up before the parties begin.

“We expect it by Memorial Day,” said Stronczer, chair of the Parks Committee for Community Board 7 at a meeting on May 9 regarding the signs in neighborhood parks. “If you don’t have it by then, then it’s a big battle for us.”

Barbecuing is illegal in Devoe Park, Williamsbridge Oval Park, and Mosholu Parkway, yet year after year park guests set up illegal BBQ pits much to the angry protests of community leaders like Stronczer. The closest legal barbecue spots in Norwood is in Van Cortlandt Park. In areas that bar the recreational practice, red signs reading “No Barbecuing in this Area” are installed. On Mosholu Parkway South at the entrance near East 204th Street, residents can already see one installed there.

Joseph Magneri, the administrative Parks and Recreation manager for parks within CB7, offered a new plan for tackling the trend of unlawful barbecuing.

“A big problem is that [the signs] were being torn down,” Magneri said. “So I asked that they be put on bigger posts, and cemented into the grass.”

Magneri’s proposed ‘cemented’ signs, along with plans to install additional gates around Devoe Park, are just some of the contingencies local officials are taking to stave off illegal cookouts as the summer approaches.

‘Let People Barbecue’
But for some park patrons, the signs aren’t clear enough. To some, “No Barbecuing in this Area” could mean no barbecuing in one particular spot, not the entire park. For others, the signs are few and far between.

“I’ve never seen them,” said Eon Bethel, walking his dog along Mosholu Parkway. “Let people do what they wanna do. Let people barbecue out here. It’s plenty space out here for anybody to grill.” Bethel recalls his own experience of having his barbecue party broken up by police as it went on for several hours. “They just pulled up on us and said we gotta get our equipment, like the grill, everything, out,” he said.

Norwood News previously reported a host of issues that can result from illegal barbecues, like excessive litter and food waste which attract vermin, noise complaints, damaged grass or trees from the incorrect dumping of coal, or the potential for small fires.

As cookout season kicks offs, Park Enforcement Patrol (PEP) officers are once again tasked with ensuring summer barbecue rules don’t go up in smoke.

A Parks Department spokeswoman said that 40 PEP officers are expected to patrol the parks during Memorial Day and July 4th holidays.

But timesheet records obtained through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the Parks Department showed that 26 PEP officers patrolled Bronx parks last July 4th. This year, PEP will increase their numbers to 40 officers patrolling borough parks on Memorial Day and July 4th.

The Parks Department did not respond for comment on last year’s PEP numbers.

Park officers are specifically tasked with patrolling public parks, even quelling disputes that sometimes can lead to arrests.

Sharing Duties
PEP officers share patrol duties with the NYPD.

Over the years, the Police Department has relaxed enforcement against illegal barbecuers, preferring to educate park guests about rules, and directing them to legal BBQ sites. In most cases, officers have used discretion when observing illegal barbecuing.

In some cases, officers have broken up parties in rougher ways. Last summer, an NYPD officer poured a gallon of water over a flaming charcoal grill on a Harlem street corner. The officer was lambasted by grillers and guests, even having food and ice thrown at him. Notwithstanding the officer’s aggressive approach, it is illegal to have an open flame on any city sidewalk.

Throughout the summer, PEP officers will patrol hotspots like Devoe Park and Mosholu Parkway, and if needed, direct people to designated BBQ areas.

Sitting on a bench on the northern side of Mosholu Parkway, 17-year resident Jose Mulero says he’s not a fan of summer barbecues. “They’re there for five to six hours,” Mulero said, referring to people barbecuing on the parkway. “I don’t like it because of the smoke, the garbage, and the fire thrown on the trees.”

According to Elizabeth Quaranta, of the community group Friends of Mosholu Parkway, the red signs are not enough to detract determined barbecuers. “We are nowhere near prepared for the barbecue season,” Quaranta said. “The outreach for letting people know where the barbecue areas in the Bronx [are] has been none from Parks Department.”

Quaranta also believes that new visitors to the neighborhood aren’t aware of the current barbecue rules. She said, “With the increase of housing and new families already here, and the new ones coming in, the Friends group are afraid that when they see someone barbecue on the parkway, they will assume that it is allowed.”

Violators face a $50 fine if caught illegally barbecuing. A $250 fine will be given to people who disobey direct orders from police or PEP officers.

Editor’s Note: Parts of Van Cortlandt Park, Pelham Bay Park, Mill Pond Park, Ferry Point Park, and other Bronx parks allow for barbecuing. A full list can be found on Parks Department website: www.nycgovparks.org/facilities/barbecue.