Community Board 11's Parks and Recreation Committee received updates Oct. 9 on several local park projects, including the near-completion of Eastchester Playground, the department's submission of two projects to the Greater Morris Park DRI grant program and resident questions about construction impacts and restroom funding at Zimmerman Playground.

The matters discussed matter to neighborhood residents because the projects change local play space access and parking and involve capital grants that the department says could supply millions for park reconstruction. Catherine Baron, Parks Department staff, told the committee the Eastchester contract is finishing sooner than expected and that the department has filed two applications to the Greater Morris Park DRI grant program for Ben Abrams and Matthew Moliner playground projects.

"Although this contract wasn't supposed to be finished until next year, we should be wrapping up with the construction within the next few weeks, and possibly looking to post a ribbon cutting sometime in December," Catherine Baron said. Baron said each proposed project has an estimated total cost of $10,000,000; the department requested $4,000,000 from the DRI for Ben Abrams and $5,000,000 for Matthew Moliner. She said the department is obtaining letters of support and that, so far, Community Board 7 and Council Member Felice have submitted letters for Ben Abrams.

Residents attending the meeting pressed department staff on construction impacts. Diana (last name not provided), a neighborhood resident, asked whether curb areas blocked for construction must remain closed overnight and on weekends. "Do these areas have to be blocked off 24/7?" she asked, citing large trucks removing concrete. Baron said the department would need to check with the contractor and that trucks have been arriving early to remove debris; she could not confirm the weekend schedule without contacting the contractor.

Committee member Debbie Kowalik noted that the meeting lacked a quorum and that no motions or votes were held. "We don't have enough people present to do any motions, so we gotta skip that," Kowalik said; the committee reviewed minutes but could not approve them because of the absent quorum.

Committee members and residents also discussed Zimmerman Playground, which recently broke ground. Parks staff said the playground reconstruction typically carries a construction timeline of about a year. The park station house (public restroom building) received funding only in the current fiscal year, staff said; design is expected to take roughly a year and procurement another year, meaning restroom construction will occur after design and contracting steps. Baron summarized the timing: the playground reconstruction is on a roughly one-year construction schedule, and the restroom project must complete design and procurement before construction can begin.

Kaye (last name not provided), another resident, asked for any update on Pelham Parkway. Baron said there were no new updates: Pelham Parkway remains in the design phase and is pending external permitting.

The committee also heard practical questions about signage and whether construction notices direct residents to alternate parks; Baron said the department posts construction signs that explain the project and timeline but does not typically post lists of nearby alternate playgrounds. Residents raised long-standing concern about restroom access during and after construction; Baron confirmed that temporary facilities might be used while the permanent station house work proceeds.

No formal committee actions were taken at the Oct. 9 meeting because of the lack of quorum. Staff asked committee members to share and resend emails about grant-support requests so the department can collect letters of support for the DRI submissions.

The committee adjourned at about 7:42 p.m.; Parks staff said they will follow up with residents and the contractor on specific schedule questions and continue to pursue DRI letters of support.