Committee advances memorial tree for Dakota Sylvia and bench for Deborah G. Rower; asks parks staff for installation timeline

The Special Committee on Memorials and Dedications of New Bedford City on May 13 received applications to place a memorial tree for Dakota Sylvia at Hazelwood Park and a memorial bench for Deborah G. Rower at Barton Park, and voted to refer both requests to the full City Council and the Park Board for approval.

The committee heard from Sade, an administrative assistant with the Department of Parks and Recreation, who said park staff did not foresee a problem with the requested locations and that Parks and Recreation will coordinate site details as needed. "As far as location goes, we don't foresee a problem where they're requesting," Sade said.

Family members and supporters spoke in favor of the dedications. Richard Rohwer identified himself for the record and described Deborah G. Rower's civic work: "she was deeply engaged in the civic, political, and spiritual life of New Bedford and Bristol of New Bedford and Bristol County for more than 2 decades," he said, and asked the committee to grant the family's request for a memorial bench.

Committee members pressed Parks and Recreation staff for a consolidated list of approved memorials that have not yet been installed and for projected installation timelines. Sade said installations typically take "several months," that scheduling can be delayed by Park Board meeting cancellations and construction at specific sites, and that department staff would provide the committee chair with a list of approved but uninstalled memorials and estimated timelines.

A committee member noted one approved request had not been installed nearly 18 months after approval and asked that the department prioritize clearing the backlog so families are not left waiting.

Motions and next steps: the committee voted on voice votes to receive and place the communications on file and to refer the two memorial requests to the full City Council and then to the Park Board for final action. The items will return to the full City Council and Park Board for formal approval and scheduling of installation.

The committee also noted several related agenda items were tabled earlier in the meeting and will be considered at a later date.

The committee adjourned at 7:23 p.m.; the memorial items will be scheduled by the City Council and Park Board according to their calendars and Parks and Recreation's timeline.