Committee refers two memorial requests and presses Parks Department on installation backlog

The Special Committee on Memorials and Dedications of New Bedford City voted May 13 to refer two memorial applications — a memorial tree for Dakota Sylvia at Hazelwood Park and a bench for Deborah G. Rower at Baldwinwood Park — to the full City Council and the Park Board for final approval and scheduling.

The decisions followed remarks from a Parks and Recreation administrative assistant who said the department “doesn’t foresee a problem where they’re requesting,” and a family member who described the honoree’s civic work and requested timely installation. Committee members pressed Parks staff for a consolidated list and timelines for memorials that have been approved but not yet installed.

Sade, administrative assistant, Department of Parks and Recreation, told the committee the department would work with families and that “we don’t foresee a problem where they’re requesting.” The committee requested that Parks staff provide the chair a consolidated list of memorials approved by the Park Board and the committee that remain uninstalled and include expected timelines for each.

Richard Rohwer, who identified himself as living in White Plains and spoke on behalf of the family of Deborah G. Rower, described Rower’s civic and legal work and asked that the memorial be installed. “She was deeply engaged in the civic, political, and spiritual life of New Bedford and Bristol County for more than 2 decades,” Rohwer said.

Council members noted multiple memorial requests have been approved but remain uninstalled. One councilor said a request had been approved “almost 18 months now and has not been installed,” and the committee asked Parks staff to email a timeline and status list to the chair for distribution to council members.

Formal action on item 1 (Dakota Sylvia memorial tree at Hazelwood Park) was moved and seconded and approved by voice vote; the committee ordered the communication received, placed on file, referred to the full City Council for approval and forwarded to the Park Board. Formal action on item 2 (Deborah G. Rower memorial bench at Baldwinwood Park) was similarly received, placed on file and referred to the full City Council. The motions were approved by voice votes; no roll-call tallies were recorded in the transcript.

Committee members said installation timing depends on Park Board schedules, department staffing and site work; Parks staff said installations typically take several months but that cancellations or missed meetings can cause further delay. The committee asked Parks staff to provide a consolidated timeline for all approved but uninstalled memorials and to advise the chair when each can be installed.