Bee Spraying At Sol Bloom Playground Has Upper West Side Parents Buzzing

NEW YORK(CBSNewYork) -- Park-goers were concerned on Friday when police in masks sprayed an unknown substance on bushes bordering the Sol Bloom playground on 92nd Street.

Witnesses claim cops decked out in protective gear entered the park on Saturday morning, told park-goers to leave, and began spraying the substance that left behind dozens of dead bees. A portion of the park was then roped off with yellow tape.

"I don't understand why they had to do this with the kids in the park. It's not a good idea man. I don't like it," Angel said, "Especially not with the children running around. That's a safety hazard for everybody. I don't want to get sick from the pesticides they're spraying over there."

Some parents wondered why the bees could not be relocated in a humane manner.

"Certain toxins like that, maybe there's something more organic they could use. I'm pretty sure there's a way to remove the bees instead of killing them all. There are bee farms, people use those," Hector said.

The NYPD did have a bee expert that they would call in for such situations, 1010 WINS' Gary Baumgarten reported, but he retired last week.

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