By KIMBERLY JACOBS

In March, the Friends of the Williamsbridge Oval (FOTWO) named a new president of the organization: Sheila Sanchez.

As a resident of Norwood for 15 years, Sanchez is very involved in the community in several aspects and appreciates the beauty Williamsbridge Oval Park adds to the area. Accepting the new position allows Sanchez to continue making the park a place for residents, families, and children to enjoy and relax. ”This is a place where [residents] can come and enjoy with their family and kids as a restful place, listen to the trees, and just calm down for a couple of minutes in all the madness of living in the city,” she said.

As a member of FOTWO for a few years, Sanchez is aware of the group’s priorities. One of them is ensuring projects such as an impending skateboard park and other initiatives to improve visitors’ experience sees completion. “We want to keep going with the projects we have already like the skate park,” she said. “The money has been allocated already and that is something that we’re going to keep talking about to see it happen.”

Along with the skate park, which was funded by Councilman Andrew Cohen last year, she also wants to see new trees planted since so many are showing signs of decay.

FOTWO’s former president, Elisabeth von Uhl, agrees that these projects do need to continue moving forward and is confident Sanchez can get the job done. “I really hope they get new trees planted in the Oval,” said von Uhl, whose tenure saw the re-opening of the long awaited Oval Recreation Center. “For the last couple of years now I’ve been trying to get new trees. The Oval has a specific tree planting plan.”

Sanchez agrees, noting, “There’s a huge need of more trees.”

Sanchez understands being the president of FOTWO is a lot of responsibility, but she’s excited about taking on the position due to her love for Williamsbridge Oval.

“This is a great park and one of the focal points of the community and it’s a beautiful park, so it deserves to be treated with respect,” she said. “I saw and admire the work of Elisabeth and I need to honor the work that she did by doing as good of a job as she did.”

As the group continues with major events such as the yearly Easter Egg Hunt and Halloween Festival along with endless cleanups and gardening events, volunteers like Sanchez will be on hand. She also wants to make sure the New York City Parks and Recreation Department, the agency that oversees the park, does its job.

To join FOTWO in its efforts to sustain the park, you can find out more information on its Facebook page: Friends of the Williamsbridge Oval.