HARLEM — Benches removed by the Parks Department to curb a homeless encampment at A. Philip Randolph Square will be back in the fall, thanks to the Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer.
The department's Manhattan Borough Commissioner William Castro announced Thursday the decision to return the benches after Brewer sent a letter expressing her disapproval of the move.
Brewer wasn't the only one put off by the removal of the benches. Local seniors who use the park every day were upset as well, said Omar Mitchell.
“They took our benches away so now we bring our own,” Mitchell, 68, a retired electrician, said. “How can they do that? I don’t understand it.”
The seniors used to leave their chairs chained to the park’s fence and trees but the city broke their locks and got rid of their chairs. Now they bring them in the morning and take them away at night, he added.
While it helped with the security problem, the seniors were negatively effected by the move, Brewer said.
“Bench removal may reduce illegal loitering in the park, but it also significantly reduces the park's accessibility and practicality for neighborhood residents, and particularly for seniors and the disabled,” Brewer wrote in a letter addressed to Parks Commissioner Mitchell Silver.
The letter proposed installing benches with arm rests in the center to prevent homeless people from using them as beds.
Castro responded to the letter Thursday.
“We were happy to receive the Borough President’s letter, and we agree that seating would be a welcome feature,” Castro said in a statement. “This fall, NYC Parks will reinstall some benches, and we are actively exploring additional seating and programming options.”
They will look into installing movable benches that can be locked up at night. The park may also host attractions like weekend jazz concerts, family programing, and food vendors.
