By Kasia Romanowska

Following a barely publicized bench removal project along Mosholu Parkway early this month, Community Board 7 is now demanding better communication involving future projects. The news comes as Parks admitted there was no plan to replace them.

As the Norwood News learned, several benches were cut in half throughout the lush freeway by the city Parks Department. The benches, ripped from the concrete sidewalk, stunned residents in the area, mainly after noticing wooden debris had been left behind. Some residents thought it was vandalism, having called the police to report it. Parks, which has oversight of the parkway, is “in the process of repairing damaged benches at this location,” according to a spokesperson. Even after a week of the removal, locals were still left clueless on the action undertaken in the park.

The incident, though benign, exposed the regular communication lapses between city agencies, mainly the community board and the Parks Department. The latest disruption led to confusion and chaos among the residents who expected to learn about construction projects ahead of time.

“We received many complaints from people and no word that the benches were going to be removed,” said Barbara Stronczer, chair of the Parks Committee with Community Board 7, which represents the area.

The panel brought up the incident during its Sept. 23 gathering, provoking many questions and comments.

“We did remove those benches that were damaged,” said Valerie Francis, the Parks Conservation Manager. Asked what actions Parks would undertake to replace the demolished benches, Francis answered that “as of now there was no discussion regarding the case.”

According to many residents, the benches were in good shape.

Although two of them were split in half, “there was no reason to take the other six. They weren’t broken, they didn’t have no damage at all,” according to Sheila Sanchez, a resident who’s remained vigilant over projects happening along Mosholu Parkway.

Another Mosholu Parkway resident remembered that some benches already had their wooden planks replaced, believing the “benches were all in a good condition.”

“I’m also hearing from the Parks that there’s no money and it has to go through the capital outlets. And you know how much it takes,” said Stronczer. “It’s very poorly done.”

Ongoing communication varies among the city agencies. Boards often serve as the “first line of defense” when it comes to learning about major projects happening in their communities. But the dialogue trend is at times scattered, with information distributed after the fact.

Bench Project Confusion

It was the case on Mosholu Parkway in mid-September, when residents noticed six benches that flanked the parkway were slashed in half.

A group of folks huddled around one bench just on a hilltop, with piles of concrete, wood and shavings left over. “Did they break it off purposely?” asked a man pushing a stroller.

“It looks well-organized, though. It must have been done by someone who does constructions,” guessed another neighbor.

“There was nothing wrong with the benches,” said Carmen Corrigan, a neighbor across the street from the lush lawn. “I hope they replace them.”

Corrigan witnessed crews with sledgehammers taking the benches and “tearing them apart.”

“They drove away after they destroyed two benches,” said Corrigan. “Out of five they left only two. And they said that’s what they’re going to do all over the parkway.”

The Parks Department has also marked several benches of the parkway with an orange line on the wooden slats and cement, an indication the bench needs some work.

It’s not the first time Mosholu Parkway endured a similar incident. Early this year, several residents complained to the Board after the city Parks Department chopped down Norwegian maples planted here nearly a century ago.

The latest incident conjured up memories of the now infamous “Mosholu Parkway Tree Massacre,” where Transportation Department crews took out nearly 70 trees in the bucolic thoroughfare, angering residents.

As for the benches, Francis of Parks told committee members that “Parks will get back with the follow up” over the agency’s future plans to replace the benches.