Community Board 11 backs letter seeking Palm Parkway bicycle and pedestrian upgrades

Community Board 11’s Transportation Committee reviewed a draft letter to the New York City Department of Transportation urging repairs and safety upgrades to the pedestrian and cycling path that runs between Southern Boulevard and Boston Road (referred to in discussion as Palm Parkway/Form Road). The letter, read aloud by a committee member, described the path as lacking required ADA curb cuts, having degraded surfacing, missing formal sidewalk connections, and presenting dangerous crossings of high-speed roadways.

Public commenters and board members emphasized the corridor’s role as an important connection to the New York Botanical Garden and the Bronx Zoo and asked that the letter explicitly request curb cuts, improved crossings, lighting, and that copies be sent to any state agencies that have jurisdiction over sections of the route. Kevin, a resident who identified himself at the gallery, advised that portions of the corridor are state-owned and asked the committee to copy New York State DOT as well as NYC DOT. Committee members asked staff to confirm the precise street names and jurisdictional boundaries (Palm Parkway vs. Form Road) before finalizing the letter.

The committee agreed to draft a refined letter that names the correct segments, requests ADA-compliant curb cuts and improved crossings, asks for lighting and resurfacing where needed, and requests DOT crash and usage data; a vote on the letter was deferred pending those clarifications.