Pelham Parkway overfl owing with trash
BY JASON COHEN
As $84 million was slashed
to the Parks Department in
2020, trash has been piling up
throughout the city. Among
the places that have been dirty
is Pelham Parkway.
Roxanne Delgado, founder
of the Friends of Pelham Parkway,
told the Bronx Times that
since June of last year that she
has been emptying out overfi
lled trash cans in the neighborhood.
The majority of the
excess refuse is located at Pelham
Parkway North between
White Plains Rd. and Williamsbridge
Road.
She feels that Parks is not
maintaining the area and the
issue will only worsen as the
weather gets warmer.
“Pelham Parkway is not
a park,” Delgado said. “NYC
Parks agency prioritized playgrounds,
beaches, parks. Parkway
and green streets are the
bottom of their priorities. Yet
Pelham Parkway is actively
used by many residents yet denied
the amenities needed as
more trash cans, no barbecuing
signs and regular maintenance.”
Delgado pointed out she is
a staunch supporter of New
Yorker for Parks’ Play Fair for
Parks, which she hopes would
help get adequate maintenance
funding. But, she feels this is
about more than money and
this area needs to be taken better
care of by the city.
A Parks Department spokesman
acknowledged this past
year has been challenging, but
noted that Parks staff empty
the trash cans at Pelham Parkway
25%OFF
BRONX TIMES R 6 EPORTER, APR. 9-15, 2021 BTR
at least once a day.
While that area is highly
populated, there has also been
increase in illegal dumping.
“We appreciate that the local
Friends of group has recognized
the uptick in illegally
dumped domestic and left-behind
trash, and that they join
the hundreds of other groups
across the city that support
our hard working staff who
tirelessly work to keep our
parks clean with park clean
ups and other volunteer activities
to help maintain so they
are beautiful for all to enjoy,”
the spokesman said.
The spokesman explained
that Parks expects a continued
increase in patrons and
waste this summer and are relaunching
its Anti-Litter campaign
this year echoing it’s
message again: “New Yorkers,
show your park some love. Put
trash in a bag or can—or take
it with you.”
All spring and summer,
New Yorkers will see more
than 150 bright orange trash
corrals installed in 93 parks
across the city, anti-litter ads
on bus shelters, in grocery
stores and at park entrances,
opportunities to volunteer to
beautify parks and more.
New this year, Parks has
launched a pilot program, the
Jr. Litter League, a friendly
park stewardship competition
for youth ages 10 plus. Teams
will engage in self guided park
clean ups from April 1 to June
1, with Parks providing a toolkit
with clean up guidance,
background info, and more.
The weight of trash collected
reported by each group will be
recorded and citywide winners
will be announced at the end of
competition.
Overfl owing trash in Pelham Parkway Photos courtesy of Roxanne Delgado
2173 White Plains Road OPEN
718-931-4335
Just South of Pelham Pkwy.
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