Representatives of the Bronx Park East Community Association asked Community Board 11 on Dec. 18 to join residents at a Jan. 5 committee meeting where New York State Department of Transportation officials will present plans for an access road through Bronx Park.

"This project is turning rare forested natural growth parkland into a road that runs right next to a residential building," said Diana Finch, speaking for Bronx Park East Community Association residents. Finch said state DOT had paused preliminary brush clearing after news coverage and that residents want full transparency from DOT on scope, timeline and replanting plans.

Finch asked for in-person visuals, a project liaison on-site during construction, clear pedestrian-safety design where a new entrance cuts across a sidewalk near a school-bus pickup, and assurances that park access for residents will be maintained. She noted coordination with elected officials and precinct leadership has already prompted DOT to pause clearing and agree to a Jan. 5 presentation.

Board members confirmed the meeting will be a joint Transportation and Parks committee session and urged residents to attend. The board will refer technical questions — including tree-planting plans, exact entrance siting and staging areas — to the Jan. 5 session for DOT to address. No formal vote or board position was taken at the Dec. 18 full board meeting because the board lacked a quorum.

The community association also offered to organize walk-throughs and recommended that committee members view the site before the DOT presentation to better visualize the proposed alignment and impacts.