I was just wondering if our Oval Park is equipped with a defibrillator, which can give an electric shock to restart a person’s heart, and if the park has personnel who would know how to use one if it already exists.  A 22-year-old Bronx man collapsed while playing basketball at a Bronx recreation center and they did not have the equipment mentioned and failed to call 911 immediately for help. The young man died.  According to the article in the Daily News on June 17, all city buildings and parks are supposed to be equipped with the defibrillator. I know there was a recent meeting at the Oval Park regarding a dog run, but can we get serious and worry about some more important issues regarding our park, like all the work that was previously promised and not done. For example, the gate partially surrounding the new track n field has not been removed because the contractors forgot to finish the perimeter and the octagon blocks surrounding that area are coming apart and there is no finished boarder like around the rest of the track n field.  We still have no handicapped access to the restrooms, not even a banister to help the elderly or handicapped get up the stairs, let alone a ramp. The list goes on and on, and people are worried about a dog run.  Come on, let’s get serious.

Annette Melendez

Ed. note: We asked the Parks Department to reply to Ms. Melendez’s questions. Following is Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe’s response. (Norwood News will also continue to report on construction in parks throughout Community District 7.)

Parks is committed to Williamsbridge Oval Park and thanks to $13 million in Croton Filtration Plant mitigation funding, we are renovating the park and recreation center to enhance the park and increase accessibility for all users.

In Phase 1 of the project, we renovated the existing ballfield and installed a new Mondo track with a grass border.  The track and field, including the grass border, is fully complete, and opened to the public last fall.  The facility is highly popular with the community as is evidenced by the many kids and adults who use it now that the warm weather has arrived.

The approximately 100 feet of fencing is a temporary measure to guard park users from a difference in grade between the track and field area and the adjacent walkway of hexagonal pavers.  This grade difference is the natural result of the fact that this massive renovation project is being completed in three phases.  The fence does not prevent access to any part of the park and once the grade difference is addressed in Phase 2 of the project, the fence will come down.

Phases 2 and 3 of the park are expected to begin this fall.  In Phase 2, the two playgrounds will be upgraded with new play equipment, decorative pavements, benches, game and picnic tables, new lighting, swings, and a new spray shower plaza.  In addition, we will renovate the existing basketball courts.  In Phase 3, we will renovate the recreation center building.  As part of this project, we will raise the grade of the plaza leading to the bathrooms and building to make both ADA accessible.  Finally, we will install a banister along the stairs on both sides of the building that lead to the upper promenade.

Adrian Benepe

The writer is commissioner of the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation.