In what was billed as a pedestrian safety “workshop,” Representatives from the Department of Transportation met with members of the local community last week to discuss safety concerns regarding the entrances to Williamsbridge Oval Park in Norwood. While many ideas were discussed, the DOT did not agree to implement any of the simple solutions offered up by community members.

Despite repeated community demands for safer access to park entrances, the DOT made it clear that installing crosswalks or stop signs — two ideas proposed by members of the Friends of Williamsbridge Oval Park, a volunteer advocacy group, for at least the eastern entrance near Holt Place — is not as simple as it sounds.

The DOT says the eastern entrance does not meet the criteria required to receive federal warrants for crosswalks or stop signs. This is due to low numbers of accidents and traffic volume on the roads surrounding the park. Aside from that assertion, the DOT, represented at the meeting by Bronx DOT Commissioner Constance Moran, said they didn’t believe stop signs would remedy safety concerns as there is no guarantee that drivers, as well as pedestrians, will acknowledge them.

Community members in attendance, however, were openly frustrated with what local resident Elizabeth Wilson described as “odd rules preventing obvious solutions.”

The DOT said it plans to continue evaluating the speeding problems, especially during the coming spring and summer months when park usage will increase. Problems with insufficient lighting, particularly near the Holt Place entrance, are also to be addressed soon, the DOT said.

While crosswalks and stop signs may not be installed any time in the immediate future, the construction of sidewalks seems to be a more realistic possibility. Plans to rearrange street parking were mentioned, as a way of potentially building “faux sidewalks” around park entrances, although disputes with private property owners near Holt Place may prolong the process.

Turnout by members of the community was impressive, especially in light of the dramatically low temperatures. Bill Francis, chair of Community Board 7’s Parks Committee, was more than grateful to those in attendance.

“Any community feedback is good,” he said, echoing many statements made that evening regarding the invaluable role of the community in the process to make the Oval safer.