The following NY Times article profiles Rachel Carson, whose book Silent Spring, detailing the dangers of pesticides, came out 50 years ago this year.
Click on the link
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/28/business/rachel-carsons-lessons-50-years-after-silent-spring.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&_r=0
Saturday, October 27, 2012
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
A meadow in Pelham Bay Park article
The author is a reknown butterfly expert and brother of a birder ( I know ) who now lives in New Jersey.
http://petslady.com/articles/meadow_park_59214
********
********
http://petslady.com/articles/meadow_park_59214
********
********
Saturday, October 13, 2012
Ridgewood Reservoir latest news
http://www.qchron.com/editions/central/reservoir-revs-up-renovation-effort/article_cb67f06b-0727-5e00-98e5-44ed51ea0b98.html
Reservoir revs up renovation effort
By Michael Gannon, Queens Chronicle, 10/11/12
New features are looking good at Highland Park project in Ridgewood
City officials still are not commenting as to whether they will pursue the construction of athletic fields on the site of the old Ridgewood Reservoir. But upgrades visible from the street appear to be progressing nicely.
Phase 1 consists of new fencing, new staircases and the installation of ramps to allow handicapped accessibility to the newly repaved walking trail around the old basins. New fencing is being added and a brand-new wiring and electrical system is being installed to accommodate new lights atop classic-style lampposts
Phase 1 was scheduled to be completed this past spring, until work began and contractors discovered walls and paths that were structurally unstable.
But Gary Giordano, district manager for Community Board 5, was upbeat on Monday.
“It should be done sometime this coming spring, which is better than I was expecting,” he said.
Still at issue is whether or not the city will allow one of the three basins to be filled in for the construction of athletic fields.
Officials from the Department of Parks and Recreation did not respond to requests for comment this week.
But Giordano said members of Community Board 5 remain steadfastly opposed to any plan that does not turn the former reservoir into a nature preserve for passive recreation, academic and scientific uses.
“With all the bird species there, you certainly have a reason for that,” he said. “We’ve been opposed to any of those basins being developed for active recreation, and the thought of thousands and thousands of truckloads of fill having to be brought in to fill one of those basins. It would be damaging to the surrounding community.”
He said there are plenty of ballfields of all kinds both in Highland Park and surrounding areas in both Queens and Brooklyn that would only need to be refurbished to serve the needs of all athletes.
The reservoir was built in 1858, and served as a water supply for Brooklyn for 101 years until two of the basins were drained.
Basin 2 served as a backup water supply for Brooklyn from 1960 to 1989, and was decommissioned in 1990.
It was transferred to the custody of the Parks Department in 2004 with the intention of turning it into a public park.
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Highland Park-Ridgewood Reservoir Alliance" group.
To post to this group, send email to ridgewoodreservoir@googlegroups.com.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to ridgewoodreservoir+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/ridgewoodreservoir?hl=en.
Reservoir revs up renovation effort
By Michael Gannon, Queens Chronicle, 10/11/12
New features are looking good at Highland Park project in Ridgewood
City officials still are not commenting as to whether they will pursue the construction of athletic fields on the site of the old Ridgewood Reservoir. But upgrades visible from the street appear to be progressing nicely.
Phase 1 consists of new fencing, new staircases and the installation of ramps to allow handicapped accessibility to the newly repaved walking trail around the old basins. New fencing is being added and a brand-new wiring and electrical system is being installed to accommodate new lights atop classic-style lampposts
Phase 1 was scheduled to be completed this past spring, until work began and contractors discovered walls and paths that were structurally unstable.
But Gary Giordano, district manager for Community Board 5, was upbeat on Monday.
“It should be done sometime this coming spring, which is better than I was expecting,” he said.
Still at issue is whether or not the city will allow one of the three basins to be filled in for the construction of athletic fields.
Officials from the Department of Parks and Recreation did not respond to requests for comment this week.
But Giordano said members of Community Board 5 remain steadfastly opposed to any plan that does not turn the former reservoir into a nature preserve for passive recreation, academic and scientific uses.
“With all the bird species there, you certainly have a reason for that,” he said. “We’ve been opposed to any of those basins being developed for active recreation, and the thought of thousands and thousands of truckloads of fill having to be brought in to fill one of those basins. It would be damaging to the surrounding community.”
He said there are plenty of ballfields of all kinds both in Highland Park and surrounding areas in both Queens and Brooklyn that would only need to be refurbished to serve the needs of all athletes.
The reservoir was built in 1858, and served as a water supply for Brooklyn for 101 years until two of the basins were drained.
Basin 2 served as a backup water supply for Brooklyn from 1960 to 1989, and was decommissioned in 1990.
It was transferred to the custody of the Parks Department in 2004 with the intention of turning it into a public park.
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Highland Park-Ridgewood Reservoir Alliance" group.
To post to this group, send email to ridgewoodreservoir@googlegroups.com.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to ridgewoodreservoir+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/ridgewoodreservoir?hl=en.
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Park sellout proposal a new trend
This issue regards Flushing Meadows Park which may be sold off in parts for private developers. For more, see the link
http://awalkintheparknyc.blogspot.com/2012/10/flushing-meadows-corona-park-neglected.html
http://awalkintheparknyc.blogspot.com/2012/10/flushing-meadows-corona-park-neglected.html
Friday, September 28, 2012
Floyd Bennett Petition
From: Barbara Pearson
Subject: National park land being given over to industrial use
Date: September 28, 2012 1:54:19 PM EDT
To: info@brooklynbirdclub.org
Hello
I recently read an article by Peter Dorosh in your newsletter about the Rockaway pipeline. I am a gardener at Floyd Bennett Field and worked a bit with Peter this past year at Prospect Park. Peter's article was written before the Senate approved the legislation that will make this all possible so the situation is even more dire now. The link below is to sign the petition. The text on the White House petition website is an abbreviated version of the petition below. If you could promote this on your website and/or send an email to your members it would be most appreciated.
Thanks.
Barbara Pearson
PETITION LINK
http://wh.gov/BRZ1
WE PETITION THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION TO:
VETO H.R. 2606 and NOT Allow Congress to Give National Park Land Over to Industrial Uses
In February of this year, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 2606, the purpose of which is “to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to allow the construction and operation of natural gas pipeline facilities in the Gateway National Recreation Area". On September 22nd, as one of their last acts before Election Day, the Senate approved this bill and sent it back to the House with insignificant amendment that the House will surely vote to approve. That this bill was even being considered was virtually unknown by the users of the park and the constituents of those sponsoring the bill.
The National Park Service (NPS) giving over historic hangars at Floyd Bennett Field, NYC’s first municipal airport, to the Transcontinental Gas Pipeline Company for an industrial metering and regulating station is such an egregiously inappropriate use of national park land that this legislation was needed to specifically allow what would otherwise be prohibited by the law that created Gateway National Recreation Area and by NPS’s own management policies. NPS management policy deems a use inappropriate if any of the criteria below are met:
· causes an unacceptable impact
· is inconsistent with the park purposes or values
· creates an unsafe or unhealthful environment for visitors or employees
· results in significant conflict with other appropriate uses
· diminishes opportunities for current or future generations to enjoy park resources or values
The installation of an industrial metering and regulating station at Gateway meets all of those criteria; it is also as far removed from what NPS calls the most important type of use of a national park - “the enjoyment of unimpaired park resources and values by present and future generations” - as any use of the park could possibly be.
In addition, we feel the risk this legislation poses to ALL national parks being given over to inappropriate uses cannot be overstated when one considers that NPS is increasingly motivated to solve its maintenance backlog by entering into private “partnerships” as a source of financing. In fact, the “rehabilitation” of the hangars at Floyd Bennett Field at no cost to NPS is openly cited as a reason this inappropriate use will be implemented if H.R. 2606 becomes law.
Subject: National park land being given over to industrial use
Date: September 28, 2012 1:54:19 PM EDT
To: info@brooklynbirdclub.org
Hello
I recently read an article by Peter Dorosh in your newsletter about the Rockaway pipeline. I am a gardener at Floyd Bennett Field and worked a bit with Peter this past year at Prospect Park. Peter's article was written before the Senate approved the legislation that will make this all possible so the situation is even more dire now. The link below is to sign the petition. The text on the White House petition website is an abbreviated version of the petition below. If you could promote this on your website and/or send an email to your members it would be most appreciated.
Thanks.
Barbara Pearson
PETITION LINK
http://wh.gov/BRZ1
WE PETITION THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION TO:
VETO H.R. 2606 and NOT Allow Congress to Give National Park Land Over to Industrial Uses
In February of this year, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 2606, the purpose of which is “to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to allow the construction and operation of natural gas pipeline facilities in the Gateway National Recreation Area". On September 22nd, as one of their last acts before Election Day, the Senate approved this bill and sent it back to the House with insignificant amendment that the House will surely vote to approve. That this bill was even being considered was virtually unknown by the users of the park and the constituents of those sponsoring the bill.
The National Park Service (NPS) giving over historic hangars at Floyd Bennett Field, NYC’s first municipal airport, to the Transcontinental Gas Pipeline Company for an industrial metering and regulating station is such an egregiously inappropriate use of national park land that this legislation was needed to specifically allow what would otherwise be prohibited by the law that created Gateway National Recreation Area and by NPS’s own management policies. NPS management policy deems a use inappropriate if any of the criteria below are met:
· causes an unacceptable impact
· is inconsistent with the park purposes or values
· creates an unsafe or unhealthful environment for visitors or employees
· results in significant conflict with other appropriate uses
· diminishes opportunities for current or future generations to enjoy park resources or values
The installation of an industrial metering and regulating station at Gateway meets all of those criteria; it is also as far removed from what NPS calls the most important type of use of a national park - “the enjoyment of unimpaired park resources and values by present and future generations” - as any use of the park could possibly be.
In addition, we feel the risk this legislation poses to ALL national parks being given over to inappropriate uses cannot be overstated when one considers that NPS is increasingly motivated to solve its maintenance backlog by entering into private “partnerships” as a source of financing. In fact, the “rehabilitation” of the hangars at Floyd Bennett Field at no cost to NPS is openly cited as a reason this inappropriate use will be implemented if H.R. 2606 becomes law.
Monday, August 27, 2012
Latest on Ridgewood Reservoir
http://www.queenstribune.com/news/News_082312_SlowGoingForReservoirUpgrades.html
When city budgets crunch, less is best ?
When city budgets crunch, less is best ?
Sunday, June 24, 2012
The realities of available money and NYC parks
This article appeared in the NYPost News.
Among those parks --"Highland Park" actually includes bird and nature rich Ridgewood Reservoir which was slated to have a turf sport field in the low wetland basin, a fight that started with Brooklyn Bird Club approached by a local activist way back then..
See also http://ridgewoodreservoir.blogspot.com/
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/parks_wrecks_for_mike_WpcqrUsm4W8SOL1rZlucVO
Parks & wrecks for Mike
By MARY KAY LINGE, NY Post
Last Updated: 4:55 AM, June 24, 2012
Posted: 11:45 PM, June 23, 2012
Mayor Bloomberg’s legacy parks are coming — but they’re mired in hefty price tags and design problems.
The city has over-promised and under-delivered on $291 million in park projects that are being rushed to seal the mayor’s
place in history, critics say.
The eight regional parks were announced with great fanfare in April 2007 as part of Hizzoner’s ambitious PlaNYC program.
Five years later, the push to get them completed — or at least under way— before the end of the mayor’s term in 2013 has led
to downsized plans, engineering issues and delays.
“There was no planning, no realistic cost estimates. It was fantasy mixed with p.r.,” said Geoffrey Croft of NYC Parks
Advocates.
Troubles emerged soon after the mayor’s goals were passed to Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe and his strapped Parks
Department. Benepe announced his resignation last week.
Among the problems:
* Ocean Breeze Park in Staten Island saw work on a $69.7 million indoor track stopped over concerns the site’s concrete
pilings wouldn’t hold up in the marshy soil. Outdoor soccer and baseball fields were cut. The track lacks air conditioning,
making it unusable for big meets.
* At Highland Park, Queens, the administration abandoned its plan to build a 60-acre sports center when environmentalists
proved the site was an irreplaceable habitat. The revised project, a $19.3 million installation of paths, lights and fences, has
been delayed by construction woes.
* Calvert Vaux Park in Brooklyn was to get sports fields, kayak launches and playgrounds, but amenities were cut after the
discovery of contaminated soil. Much of the $20.1 million budget had to be spent on a cleanup.
* At Brooklyn’s McCarren Park Pool, set to reopen June 28 after a $50 million renovation and a year’s delay, a promised
rooftop cafe has not been built.
* $29.3 million was budgeted to update Rockaway Park in Queens, but the plan’s second phase, renovation of the Beach Ninth
Street portion, has still not been designed.
* Manhattan’s Fort Washington Park was promised a soccer and volleyball facility, renovations to baseball and soccer fields
and upgrades to its beach area, but the major sports and recreation elements of the $25.1 million plan were deferred.
* Contamination at Soundview Park in The Bronx caused delays in its $15.3 million renovation. The amphitheater and
performance lawn remain unscheduled.
* The city will spend $61.9 million to turn the High Bridge linking The Bronx and Manhattan into a passage for pedestrians and
bikes. The design phase, delayed from 2008, was just finished and work hasn’t begun.
In its rush to build, the city skipped crucial steps like site reviews, park activists say.
At Highland Park, for example, the environmental assessment began months too late. And the city seemed unaware the soil
under Calvert Vaux Park is a stew of Fort Lafayette munitions and dredge mud from the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge’s
construction.
“Mercury, munitions, petroleum, maybe even unexploded bombs from World War I— we don’t know what’s in that soil,” said Ida
Sanoff of the Natural Resources Protective Association.
Once the eight projects are finished, finding funds to maintain them will be an annual headache.
“Future maintenance is our biggest concern,” said Francisco Gonzalez of The Bronx’s Community Board 9. “When there are
budget cutbacks, the parks face the worst cuts.”
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Highland Park-Ridgewood Reservoir Alliance" group.
To post to this group, send email to ridgewoodreservoir@googlegroups.com.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to ridgewoodreservoir+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/ridgewoodreservoir?hl=en.
Among those parks --"Highland Park" actually includes bird and nature rich Ridgewood Reservoir which was slated to have a turf sport field in the low wetland basin, a fight that started with Brooklyn Bird Club approached by a local activist way back then..
See also http://ridgewoodreservoir.blogspot.com/
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/parks_wrecks_for_mike_WpcqrUsm4W8SOL1rZlucVO
Parks & wrecks for Mike
By MARY KAY LINGE, NY Post
Last Updated: 4:55 AM, June 24, 2012
Posted: 11:45 PM, June 23, 2012
Mayor Bloomberg’s legacy parks are coming — but they’re mired in hefty price tags and design problems.
The city has over-promised and under-delivered on $291 million in park projects that are being rushed to seal the mayor’s
place in history, critics say.
The eight regional parks were announced with great fanfare in April 2007 as part of Hizzoner’s ambitious PlaNYC program.
Five years later, the push to get them completed — or at least under way— before the end of the mayor’s term in 2013 has led
to downsized plans, engineering issues and delays.
“There was no planning, no realistic cost estimates. It was fantasy mixed with p.r.,” said Geoffrey Croft of NYC Parks
Advocates.
Troubles emerged soon after the mayor’s goals were passed to Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe and his strapped Parks
Department. Benepe announced his resignation last week.
Among the problems:
* Ocean Breeze Park in Staten Island saw work on a $69.7 million indoor track stopped over concerns the site’s concrete
pilings wouldn’t hold up in the marshy soil. Outdoor soccer and baseball fields were cut. The track lacks air conditioning,
making it unusable for big meets.
* At Highland Park, Queens, the administration abandoned its plan to build a 60-acre sports center when environmentalists
proved the site was an irreplaceable habitat. The revised project, a $19.3 million installation of paths, lights and fences, has
been delayed by construction woes.
* Calvert Vaux Park in Brooklyn was to get sports fields, kayak launches and playgrounds, but amenities were cut after the
discovery of contaminated soil. Much of the $20.1 million budget had to be spent on a cleanup.
* At Brooklyn’s McCarren Park Pool, set to reopen June 28 after a $50 million renovation and a year’s delay, a promised
rooftop cafe has not been built.
* $29.3 million was budgeted to update Rockaway Park in Queens, but the plan’s second phase, renovation of the Beach Ninth
Street portion, has still not been designed.
* Manhattan’s Fort Washington Park was promised a soccer and volleyball facility, renovations to baseball and soccer fields
and upgrades to its beach area, but the major sports and recreation elements of the $25.1 million plan were deferred.
* Contamination at Soundview Park in The Bronx caused delays in its $15.3 million renovation. The amphitheater and
performance lawn remain unscheduled.
* The city will spend $61.9 million to turn the High Bridge linking The Bronx and Manhattan into a passage for pedestrians and
bikes. The design phase, delayed from 2008, was just finished and work hasn’t begun.
In its rush to build, the city skipped crucial steps like site reviews, park activists say.
At Highland Park, for example, the environmental assessment began months too late. And the city seemed unaware the soil
under Calvert Vaux Park is a stew of Fort Lafayette munitions and dredge mud from the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge’s
construction.
“Mercury, munitions, petroleum, maybe even unexploded bombs from World War I— we don’t know what’s in that soil,” said Ida
Sanoff of the Natural Resources Protective Association.
Once the eight projects are finished, finding funds to maintain them will be an annual headache.
“Future maintenance is our biggest concern,” said Francisco Gonzalez of The Bronx’s Community Board 9. “When there are
budget cutbacks, the parks face the worst cuts.”
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Highland Park-Ridgewood Reservoir Alliance" group.
To post to this group, send email to ridgewoodreservoir@googlegroups.com.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to ridgewoodreservoir+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/ridgewoodreservoir?hl=en.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)