The following is an extended version of the story published in our latest print edition.

Bronx Community Board 7 (CB7) Parks committee spent much of their September meeting discussing the district’s needs from a parks, recreation and cultural affairs perspective, in preparation for the City’s budget discussions next year. Since many of CB7’s capital and expense requests previously submitted last year to various city agencies have been pending for several years, some residents voiced their concern and frustration at the delays in actioning those requests.

 

During the meeting, held in the Williamsbridge Oval Recreation Center in Norwood on Wednesday, Sept. 11, Barbara Stronczer, CB7 parks’ committee chair, said the cost of maintaining the parks was high. “The condition of our parks is not the greatest,” she said. “So at this point, we were asked to go through what was asked for last year and to see if we want to keep it, change it, or whatever, and to take a look at some of the answers we got back from [NYC] Parks [department].”

 

One of last year’s requests related to eliminating the basketball courts at Devoe Park in Fordham Manor and resurfacing the area. Parks committee member Tobie Buford said the resurfacing had been done and so that item was removed from the list. Another item related to flooding of grass areas in Devoe Park, and the park benches needing repair. Stronczer said City officials responded, saying funds were insufficient to cover this, and suggested approaching either the borough president or the local city council person (Pierina Sanchez, C.D. 14) to address it. Norwood News reached out to both the borough president’s office and Sanchez’s office for comment and will share any feedback we receive.

 

Stronczer added, “Now, I have found in the past with the expense budget when we may need manpower, or equipment or arts, we usually get something, but as far as the capital outlay, renovation of projects, or wherever, we must go to the council person. So, I mean, that’s the only way you seem to get it in the past is to go and say, ‘We really need this’.”

 

Another request related to the renovation of both Devoe Park playgrounds, and the installation of running tracks around one of the larger parks. Stronczer said the answer from the City was that more information was needed about potential park locations for such a running track. She said CB7 were also encouraged by the City to bring the two requests to the attention of local elected officials. Stronczer concluded the board would need to identify which park needed the running track, adding that the Oval has one and Mosholu Parkway has a path. Buford mentioned that Devoe also has a natural path.

Another request was to replace the bocce courts at the Williamsbridge Oval park in Norwood which she said don’t appear to be used so that the area could be used for another activity, possibly pickleball. “I know they have a couple of courts already that they set up here for pickleball, so let me see, study, and then we’ll leave it in,” she said.

 

Better lighting was also requested along the new pedestrian crossing on Mosholu Parkway between Van Cortlandt Avenue and Bainbridge Avenue. Stronczer said the answer from the City was that NYC Parks would discuss the request with NYC Department of Transportation (DOT), which is responsible for lighting and parks as well as on the streets.

 

Portable lighting was also requested for night games at the Williamsbridge Oval and Stronczer said the response was that there was no money and to ask the local council person.

To help curb crime, security cameras were requested for St. James Park and Devoe Park in Fordham Manor, Aqueduct Park in University Heights, in the Williamsbridge Oval in Norwood, and at Mosholu Playground in Bedford Park, located next to P.S. 8. Stronczer said NYC Parks supports improved lighting but does not maintain or operate any type of security cameras, and that this would have to be handled by the police department.

 

Stronczer added, “I can remember asking previous council people here about putting the cameras in this park and all and the councilman, himself, said, not the current one [Dinowitz], he felt it was an interference for people to have a camera when you’re going in and out of the park, and a question of privacy and the lack of, so he would not support that.”

 

Norwood resident, AJ Ramos, asked if this was before the latest robbery pattern. Stronczer said indeed things had changed since then. “It may be that Eric Dinowitz might support it,” she said.

 

Norwood News reached out to Councilman Eric Dinowitz (C.D.11). We previously had asked for a copy of the councilman’s recent budget presentation. We were informed that the presentation was not being shared but we received the following statement from the counciilmember.

 

“I’m proud to have secured $10 million in funding for Williamsbridge Oval, which is an important part of our community. While the scope of project renovations has not been finalized yet, all safety items, including lighting, will be addressed within the area that is determined to be part of the scope. In addition to this, we fund football, tennis, and cheerleading programs at the Oval, helping to keep these activities accessible to local families.”

 

The statement continued, “We also work with community partners like MPC to bring our first annual Movie Night series to the Oval. While some of the parks mentioned [in CB7’s requests] like St. James, Devoe, and Aqueduct Walk, are outside of my district, I remain committed to securing improvements for the parks that serve the people of District 11 and for a city budget that invests in our NYC parks.”

 

Another request was for the renovation of Mohsolu Parkway and its stone pillars etc., which Stronczer said had been a longtime request. The answer received from the City was that a further study by the agency was needed.

Stronczer said the good news was that a request for new business equipment at St James Park Recreation Center was funded and is in the design phase. It was confirmed that the center had reopened over the summer, having been closed for renovations. Other requests related to the elevator installation at Mosholu Parkway subway station, serving the 4 train.

 

The MTA had said in November 2023 the Mosholu Parkway elevator installation would be part of a bundle of ADA upgrades, but that no specific timeline would be available until the contractor finalized their schedule. As reported, construction barriers placed on one side of Jerome Avenue underneath the subway station, to allow for preparatory work, were later opened up to allow sidewalk access on that same side of the avenue, and a sign was placed on the barrier indicating the elevator installation was due to be completed by Q3 2025.

 

When contacted around March 2024 for an update on the timeline, an agency official said, “Two elevators are being installed at the station, one to each platform. Work has been underway at these areas for several months, [which] remain active work sites. The barricades on both sides are planned to be removed by the end of 2024, when the elevators will be commissioned and placed in service.”

 

In June, there were fears that the last-minute delay with the implementation of congestion pricing would impact upon needed funding for this and other ADA projects. Congressman Ritche Torres (NY-15) said at the time the MTA admitted that the delay had “serious implications” for the MTA’s Capitol Program and that “it cannot award contracts” without a “committed, identified funding source. Norwood News contacted the MTA for a further update on the matter and on Sept. 24, an MTA spokesperson said, “The accessibility work at the Mosholu Pkwy Station is underway and will not be affected by the pause in congestion pricing.”

Helene Hartman-Kutnowsky referenced a loveseat on the northwest side Mosholu Parkway by East 206th Street and Van Cortlandt Avenue in Bedford Park that was awaiting pick-up for a long time. Elizabeth Quaranta, Bedford Park resident and Friends of Mosholu Parkland executive director, said it had been reported and was awaiting pick-up. Buford mentioned that often such seats were used as meeting places for drug exchanges.

 

Ramos asked for a response on three open issues he had raised during some previous Parks’ meetings relating to conservation of Mosholu Parkland, the use of a QR code at the Welcome Garden in Bedford Park, and the request to fly a Pride flag somewhere in Bronx Community District 7 during Pride month. His points were noted for follow-up. Norwood News has also reached out to various parties for comment.

 

During the meeting, Stronczer also said that NYC Parks & Recreation were looking for bids for the operation of concessions for the sale of food from mobile food units at various NYC Parks locations, including in Bronx Community Disrict 7 (Bronx CD7). “If you know of anybody interested, we have any information,” she said. “They have until Oct. 21.”

 

In terms of other parks-related agenda items, Stronczer said NYC Parks district manager, Joe Magneri was unable to attend the meeting but had provided her with various updates, including that for the fall, he had 27 staff members to cover all 11 parks in Bronx CD7. Regarding the required repairs to Harris Field in Bedford Park, Magneri reportedly told her the field is often used for soccer and the artificial turf on the field is not in good shape. He reportedly told Stronczer a pre-construction meeting was held, and NYC Parks is currently awaiting a repair contract to be signed to proceed with the next steps. “I don’t know what the schools are doing, whether they’re able to play at all on the surface.” she said.

Regarding the Webster House welcome garden on Webster Avenue and Mosholu Parkway in Bedford Park, Stronczer said she needed to follow up to check the status as CB7 were informed in June it was due to be opened but added that she doesn’t see much activity there.

 

“One day, I passed and there were a few Park workers having lunch, but as far as seeing people in the morning come and get equipment and move on, I don’t see any of that, and the sidewalk in front of it is rarely swept so that’s something I want to follow up on,” she said, in part. “I understand they’re short regarding help and they’re using the mobile work crew, but in the same vein, they spent a lot of money to fix the boiler in there.” Stronczer concluded, “So really, if you are in favor of having something done in the parks, you really have to follow up on it with them.”

 

Regarding the renovation of Frisch Field in Norwood, Stronczer said Magneri said an [assessment?] contract is in place, but NYC Parks were recently informed of some engineering-related work identified which is impacting upon the project scope and timeline. Norwood News was informed by NYC Parks & Recreation in March of this year that the project to reconstruct Frisch Field was still in the design phase, and the department was working in coordination with NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to ensure the design met all necessary guidelines. At that stage, they anticipated that the design phase would be concluded in June.

 

Parks officials said the project scope will reconstruct the natural turf baseball field at Frisch Field, including grading, drainage, benches, fencing, dugouts, sidewalks, pathways, drinking fountains and bottle fillers. In addition to the field renovation, the design for the project will include new adult fitness equipment and a new tee-ball area. More information on this project can be found here.

 

Back at the CB7 meeting, reading a statement from Magneri, Stronczer said, “We are diligently coordinating with DEP and engineers to complete the design work by October 31.” Stronczer added, “By the time it goes out to bids and whatever, it usually takes four or five years to get a Capital A project done, so it’s not too encouraging with the budget right now, that’s for sure.”

 

In terms of the budget, Bedford Park resident and former CB7 member Anthony Rivieccio said he understood that NYC Parks didn’t always have money to do everything residents wished, like patrolling the area regularly and not picking up the garbage regularly. “But that also means that it’s [littering] going to be continued, in my opinion, by many new residents that have moved in over the course of the last five to ten years that have no awareness of rules and regulations when it comes to our parks, right?”

Rivieccio proposed educating newer residents on park rules to address the situation, possibly by handing out fliers in conjunction with “Friends of” groups. Stronczer said she agreed that education was needed and added that those who come to the CB7 Parks meetings were not the culprits. Hartman-Kutnowsky proposed reaching people where they were e.g. on Instagram and added that the Sanitation department refuse to empty public trash cans filled with household garbage. Stronczer said the committee would review Rivieccio’s proposal.

 

Norwood News mentioned that the Parks department confirmed that broken lights in the Oval would be repaired, following safety complaints received from a resident. Buford raised concerns over trash collected elsewhere, including air conditioners, tyres, car parts, televisions, and small refridgerators allegedly being dumped in Devoe Park. Norwood News followed up with the Parks department on this point.

 

We were informed that Devoe Park is a location where NYC Parks routinely encounters illegal dumping issues, with household, commercial, and construction debris. According to the Parks department, Parks officials are experiencing a high level of illegal dumping at the park and are working to remove the debris as soon as possible. They said such activity impacting on the park system was unfortunate and they urged New Yorkers to refrain from illegally dumping trash in the parks.

 

They shared information on proposed new Parks rules that would increase the fine for illegal dumping. These rules would:

• increase the penalty for illegal dumping from $1,000 to $5,000 first offense and add a $10,000 fine for each subsequent violation within a 12-month period;

• establish a rule prohibiting the abandonment of animals mirroring the state law to streamline enforcement; and

• establish a rule prohibiting the collection of bivalves (oysters, clams, mussels, and scallops), unless approved for scientific study by the Commissioner’s Office. Bivalve collection is already prohibited by the State Department of Environmental Conservation, but this rule change would streamline enforcement.

 

They also provided the following data regarding illegal dumping cases in The Bronx reported by month in 2024:

Illegal Dumping Data – Total Cases Reported By Month
Time Period – January – June 2024
Month	Cases Reported
January	101
February	89
March	91
April	76
May	73
June	61
Total	491

 

Assistant Commissioner for Urban Park Service Asha Harris, said of the illegal dumping problem, “NYC Parks believes that cleanliness and safety go hand in hand, and these new proposed rules focused on maintaining a safe public greenspace for all New Yorkers would provide the necessary tools to combat illegal dumping on our parkland.”

 

She added, “Illegal dumping creates unsightly and unsanitary conditions which NYC Parks works hard to discourage through public education and enforcement. These rules seek to deter would-be offenders, while underscoring the culture of respect and stewardship which make our Parks safe and keep New Yorkers connected to one another.”

 

New Yorkers interested in speaking at the public hearing on this topic on Wednesday, Oct. 9, at the Chelsea Recreation Center, can do so for three minutes by calling (212) 360-1327 and signing up via the on-site Chelsea Recreation Center, Hearing Room sign-up sheet.

 

Comments can be submitted to NYC Parks beginning Thursday, Sept. 6, and must be submitted by Wednesday, Oct. 9 via http://rules.cityofnewyork.us, by email to rules@parks.nyc.gov, by fax to Christine Cocheteux, Assistant Counsel at (212) 360-1373, or by mail as follows:

 

Attn. Christine Cocheteux, Assistant Counsel

The New York City Department of Parks & Recreation

The Arsenal, Central Park

Room 312

830 Fifth Avenue

New York, NY 10065

 

Quaranta later wrote a letter to the editor of the Norwood News, expressing her disappointment with the responses received from City agencies to the various CB7 requests submitted to date. Her letter can be read online here.