Park Slope's Flag Bench Can Stay After City Said Move It

PARK SLOPE, NY — The city ordered a Park Slope veteran's club to remove their American flag painted bench, but later admitted it was an error and told the group it could stay.

American Legion Sixth Memorial Post 1833 was given a notice from the city's Department of Transportation to remove a bench built around a tree outside the 389 Fifth Ave. clubhouse last week after the agency claimed it encroached on the sidewalk, the New York Post first reported.

The agency later found the bench didn't go past the tree pit onto the sidewalk and rescinded the mistaken violation to let the patriotic seat stay, a spokeswoman for the DOT said.

"They admitted that they made a mistake," said Salvatore Oliva, 50, the sergeant-at-arms who helped build the bench. "It feels rejuvenating."

The issue started after the city got an anonymous 311 complaint about an illegal bench which prompted the DOT to issue the American Legion a Notice of Violation to take it down.

Oliva said the group built the bench several months ago so passersby had a place to sit while walking around the neighborhood and painting the flag on it was a no-brainer.

"It's the American Legion," said Oliva. "It only makes sense."

Last week, the American Legion took to social media to plea for help keeping the bench and the city eventually fessed up to their mistake.

Despite the anonymous complaint to tear down the patriotic bench, Oliva harbors no bad feelings and invited them to come by the clubhouse.

“They can sit on it,” he said.

Additional reporting by Kathleen Culliton.

Image: Kathleen Culliton/Patch