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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Roxanne Delgado, Founder of Friends of Pelham Parkway on Parks Department Issues
2:47:33
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3 min
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Roxanne Delgado, founder of Friends of Pelham Parkway, testifies about various issues related to the Parks Department, focusing on problems in the Pelham Parkway Greenway in The Bronx. She highlights concerns about funding, trash management, barbecuing rules, tree maintenance, and retaliation for complaints.
- Calls for Mayor Adams to fulfill his promise of 1% funding for the Parks Department
- Criticizes the removal of trash cans and lack of enforcement regarding barbecuing in the Greenway
- Expresses concern about inadequate tree maintenance and the planting of ornamental trees that don't benefit urban wildlife or address emissions
Roxanne Delgado
2:47:33
Afternoon, chair.
2:47:34
Thank you for identifying all the needs and problems within the Parks Department.
2:47:37
I really think you have a full understanding of what's needed.
2:47:40
So I won't repeat what you have said.
2:47:43
But I'm the friends of Parkway founded over seven years ago to address needs for Pelham Parkway Greenway in The Bronx.
2:47:49
And mining out group is not funded nor do we work very closely with Parks Department for many issues why.
2:47:54
One thing I would say is that for democracy's sake, I recall over three years ago, mayor Adams made a promise to fund the DPR agency one percent.
2:48:04
That was one of the fact why I voted for him despite my concern, and I think this is his last opportunity to keep his word and leave a legacy that he's a person of his word.
2:48:13
This undermines democracy when we have peep candidates making promises that they have no intention of keeping.
2:48:18
So if the if mayor is listening, I hope he understands if he's a man of his word or a person of his word.
2:48:25
Secondly, regarding trash cans upon Parkway, the number of trash cans they remove from Parkway is is is is unbelievable.
2:48:33
And, unfortunately, we have spent seven years educating and and encouraging our community to use trash bins, and now they undermine our efforts by removing most of the trash bins.
2:48:43
And now that it's the weather's been nicer, unfortunately, where where trash cans, there is now trash accumulating there.
2:48:52
Secondly, barbecuing.
2:48:53
The Greenway does not permit barbecuing.
2:48:55
Unfortunately, due to lack of enforcement, barbecue happens, but so park says, you are Greenway, so we don't have to provide you with parks enforcement, but yet at the same time, you allow me barbecuing.
2:49:06
So it's a double edged sword where we're not getting the maintenance and enforcement that we need because we're a Greenway, but yet despite that fact, things are the park the Greenway is being used as a full scale park.
2:49:17
So as parks, make up your mind.
2:49:19
Allow barbecue and provide us with the maintenance or and enforcement or enforce the current rules where you don't need the maintenance where you will have a full scale park because when people barbecue and they stay there all day drinking, eating, unfortunately, there is people defecating in the parkway.
2:49:38
To make this sure, I really would like to make one big, big point.
2:49:42
Sorry.
2:49:43
Since I I came up sorry.
2:49:44
I'll have a chair.
2:49:46
Just I mean, I wanted to mention something very important.
2:49:50
The trees.
2:49:52
You're right.
2:49:53
They sent I did do my request.
2:49:55
They said it takes over a year to prune it, but what they did was they removed the branch maintenance, and now there's a big hole in the tree.
2:50:00
So instead of pruning the tree, they just pulled the branch out, and there's a big gap of hole.
2:50:05
And the lack of care if you look at their website, the lack of care for the trees probably c minus, and we're a very marginalized, high temperature community where we need our trees aging trees are being neglected, so they're intentionally removed, and no new trees are being planted.
2:50:19
If they are planted, it's ornamental, doesn't provide anything for urban wildlife, doesn't provide anything for us or for all the car emissions throughout the Greenway.
2:50:26
And I do complain, you could Google Friends Upon Park where we do get retaliation from parks agency, where we actually have to lose our fiscal sponsor and lose our funding because we made complaints about parks.
2:50:35
Thank you so much for your time.
2:50:36
Thank you.
2:50:38
Thank you.
Shekar Krishnan
2:50:37
Thank you for your testimony.