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Residents press parks on illegal barbecuing, trash and enforcement; parks cites staffing limits and seeks partners
Summary
Community members urged stronger action on weekend barbecuing and litter in Bronx Park East and along Pelham Parkway; parks said borough enforcement staffing is limited (about 23 PEP officers) and recommended collaboration with council members, Bronx River Alliance and volunteer groups; parks will invite Bronx River Alliance to the June meeting.
Residents of Bronx Park East and Community Board 11 members pressed NYC Parks on recurring illegal barbecuing, hot coals and large amounts of trash left on weekends. At the May 8 committee meeting, board members and neighbors described weekend scenes that leave Monday mornings littered with barbecue debris.
Matt Doran, regional manager for NYC Parks, said parks will "do the best we can" with enforcement but noted staffing limits for borough park enforcement: "Right now, we have 23. I think we're going into the season with 23, maybe 24, PEP officers for the entire borough for all shifts." He said parks is placing “signage all over the place” and noted that Pelham Parkway North zones 1 and 2 already have no‑barbecuing signs installed.
Residents questioned why officers do not always issue tickets when they encounter illegal grilling. Doran said he did not have an explanation for individual enforcement decisions but encouraged board members to work with their council members to request more PEP officers. Kaye, a resident who has worked with Bronx River Alliance, urged re‑scheduling enforcement patrols to peak use times; she said mounted officers who patrol at 6:30 a.m. or 9:30 a.m. might be more effective if shifted to afternoons and weekends when barbecuing occurs.
On trash and illegal dumping, parks staff warned of a tradeoff in adding public bins. Doran said placing more cans can lead to increased illegal dumping and explained that some composting and larger public trash receptacles are managed by the Department of Sanitation or community partners such as the Bronx River Alliance, not by parks. He said a limited number of "big belly" receptacles are being phased out in the Bronx.
Community groups described local efforts to reduce litter, including Partnership for Parks volunteer cleanups and an upcoming farmer's market that will offer composting beginning in June. The Bronx Park East Community Association said it secured a $100,000 grant from an unnamed source to fund re‑mulching and plantings and is coordinating with parks on tree guards and other neighborhood projects.
The committee agreed to invite the Bronx River Alliance to the June meeting to discuss composting and cleanups; parks staff supported the idea. The board also asked parks to share what targeted enforcement or staffing requests the council members could pursue.
