NEW YORK (AP) - New York City is testing park benches with built-in charging stations for mobile devices.

Five of the benches are being installed at parks in the Bronx and upper Manhattan.

The Daily News (https://nydn.us/1VgusE2 ) says the benches can also help keep track of how many people are visiting the parks.

The Parks Department will spend about $24,000 on the solar-powered benches. They’ve been used in several other cities, including Boston and Los Angeles.

The two-year pilot program is part of a city initiative called Parks Without Borders . It aims to make underused areas more accessible and welcoming.

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