From the Desk of former FIPNA President:
I read the numerous comments on this issue concerning improvements for Jerome Park. As you know, Tina Argenti and I fought long and hard for many years to get improvements in Fort Independence Park (aka Pigeon Park] and around the reservoir. Everyone should just step back and take a breath.
For years, we fought with the DEP to stop trying to destroy our community. The DEP has one thought in mind and that is to do what is best for the DEP and forget about the community. That has been their mantra for years…..you’ve been there. You fought many of the fights with us…did we not have large rallies in every neighborhood, hands around the reservoir, letter writing, phone calling, testifying?
If the Parks Department is willing to provide the community with a jogging path around the reservoir and has the money — go for it. Our ultimate goal was to get that pathway around the reservoir fixed and maintained so that the community can utilize it. The DEP never did one thing they were supposed to do or ever did many of the things they were mandated to do.
If there is a choice on who does the project and who will follow thru…go with Parks — they always did what was best for the community. If it was put to a vote by former FIPNA Board members, they would favor the Parks Dept. hands down.. Why do you need 2 dog runs? People jog, kids ride bikes, people rollerblade: you need a viable usable maintained pathway and if parks will do it….and they have the money..I say go for it. Get it in writing and stop all the talking already…..this is what we wanted for years…..
~Alice McDonnell
I have been following this story with interest as I live right across the street from the resevoir. I agree with Alice that the dep doesn’t care about us at all they just care about getting their job done and will try to do it whatever it takes.
As far as the pathway we should get started on it sooner than later as who knows where the money will be in the future with all the problems we are having now. If they can build it now outside the fence then get it done! If anyone really thinks they are going to build it inside and take down then security fence they are either out of their mind or extremely gullible, everything changed after 9/11 and most of these plans that show the path inside the fence are no longer feasible.
By the way, who is supposed to take care of the sidewalks around the resevoir? The sidewalk going up Sedgwick from the park to Bronx Science has not been shoveled or salted.
Dear Sedgwick resident, Thank you for your response. Good catch on the shoveling or salting of the sidewalk. That would be the DEP (are you surprised?). Next time, be sure to send the complaint to Community Board 8 or 311. You can email the complaint to CB8 at: bxcb08@optonline.net
DEAR SEDGWICK RESIDENT..YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT, THE DEP CARES ONLY ABOUT THE DEP…THE SIDEWALK AROUND THE RESERVOIR IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE DEP….YOU CAN SEE HOW WELL THEY TAKE CARE OF THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES…THEY NEVER DID WHAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO DO IN REGARDS TO MAINTENANCE OF THEIR PROPERTY,UNLESS WE AS A COMMUNITY ORGANIZED A RALLY OR A DEMONSTRATION AND INVITED THE MEDIA..IT WAS ONLY BECAUSE WE AS A COMMUNITY FOUGHT LONG AND HARD TO GET THAT SECOND FENCE PUT UP AROUND THE RESERVOIR..THEY FOUGHT US EVERY STEP OF THE WAY…DEP WILL NOT DO WHAT THEY SAY AND CANNOT BE TRUSTED TO DO ANYTHING THAT IS NOT IN THEIR OWN BEST INTERESTS…I FIRMLY BELIEVE THE OLD ADAGE”A BIRD IN THE HAND IS WORTH TWO IN THE BUSH”’THE PARKS DEPARTMENT HAS ALWAYS WORKED WELL WITH THE COMMUNITY, SOMETIMES AFTER A LITTLE EXTRA PRODDING FROM US,BUT THE JOB GOT DONE!!! YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT WHAT’S BEST FOR THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE AND EXPEND YOUR ENERGY NOT ON INFIGHTING, BUT RATHER ON GETTING THE JOB AT HAND DONE..BEFORE THE FUNDING DISAPPEARS AND YOU ARE LEFT WITH NOTHING…