Piles of trash line Mosholu parkway, a large open road in the North West Bronx. It’s surrounded by trees and grass. The area looks inviting but neighbors say some visitors are making themselves way too comfortable here.

“Number one this is not a backyard it’s a highway. But more importantly, there are many places in the Bronx to do these types of activities,” said Anthony Rivieccio, Norwood Resident.

Anthony Rivieccio has been living in Norwood for nearly four decades but says in recent years, a growing number of people have been hosting Mosholu parkway for barbecue picnics and parties along Mosholu even though these activities are prohibited here by the city.

“On July 4th on either side of the highway we had 50-60 parties,” said Rivieccio.

He says Smoke filled there as families celebrated the holiday by firing up their grills, then dumping the hot coals charring the grass and forgot to take their trash with them. Bronx Parks Commissioner Iris Rodriguez-Rosa says it’s also a problem at Pelham Parkway and other green spaces across the borough that is not designated as parks. She says whenever a parkway is illegally used for recreation, it can be it harmful to people and the environment.

“If you have a ball that goes out to the parkway, someone will chase after it. A car will swerve to try to avoid the ball,” Iris Rodriguez-Rosa said of the Bronx Parks Department.

“We want people to barbecue safely that’s why we have designated areas to barbecue because we make sure those locations have the proper bins to dispose of the coals,” she added.

The City’s Parks Department has about two dozen officers deployed in each Borough tasked with making sure that barbecuing only happens in designated areas.

Some Bronx residents say the barbecuing has even overpowered some parks and are calling for one central location for cooking outdoors.

“Barbecuing should be designated only in Orchard Beach which is a great idea. They have the area space for it and they have the parking at O.B.” said Egidio Sementilli, of the P.B. Community Improvement Association.

Anyone caught barbecuing in a non-designated area faces a $50 fine. If the person refuses to comply with an officer’s request to stop barbequing, the person can be fined $250.

Parks officials say illegal barbecuing can be reported by calling 311 or the parks department, but warn against confronting any individual breaking the rules.

“Don’t have all of the ammunition that it takes to diffuse someone that thinks that they’re in the right they don’t know the sensitivity of some areas. Let our guys handle it,” McCants said.