April with Friends of Brook Park

Hello from Friends of Brook Park!

Spring is here, and we've got all kinds of great stuff
going on here in the South Bronx and beyond!
Since you heard from us last, more
and more amazing things have been going on and there's
still plenty of room to grow. Stay current through our blog:

http://www.friendsofbrookpark.org/blog/

In fact, one of our
biggest projects this season will be working to break ground and remove the asphalt section of our Brook Park. The Green Team teens are back and many more schools are interested in our efforts, thanks to Teacher Orientation sessions. We have revamped our compost bin so bring some of your food scraps next time you visit! Also, in April, we will recommence our public paddling programs, so you on the river!

In order to continue this progress, though, we need
the continued support of our friends and supporters. One
of the best ways that you can do this is to become a
member of the Friends of Brook Park Green Circle, by contributing
$25/month! It's pretty inexpensive, goes a long way
towards creating a space for community and creativity,
and we make sure every penny goes a long way. This year we are working with interns form the New School and Hunter College for Social Work too.

For more info on becoming a member of the Green Circle or making a
one-time donation:
http://www.friendsofbrookpark.org/donations

Here's some of the other things that you would be
contributing to:
-Environmental education for hundreds of youth
-Community gardening
-Labyrinth walks
-Special events including cherry blossoms, Earth Day and more
-Waterfront access advocacy
-Canoe and Kayak intro paddles and Eco-tours
_Environmental Justice advocacy for Randall's Island, stopping artificial turf and more
-Indigenous Cultural activities

Thank you for your support,


Selected April Events. This is a PARTIAL listing. Volunteers welcome!

http://www.friendsofbrookpark.org/calendar/


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Wednesday April 2 12:30 -3:30
Green Team Environmental Mentoring Program

The community action experience will also allow students to become socially engaged and to understand the role of environmental awareness towards improving our quality of life.


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Wednesday April 2 1-4
Teacher Orientation
Learn how to use Brook Park as an outdoor class resource!


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Saturday April 5th
Tipi raising. Learn how to put up a tipi.

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Monday April 7 4:30
Bronx Helpers middle school program in the garden


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Tuesday April 8 4:30
Bronx Helpers high school program in the garden

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Wednesday April 9 12:30 -3:30
Green Team Environmental Mentoring Program

The community action experience will also allow students to become socially engaged and to understand the role of environmental awareness towards improving our quality of life.
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Thursday April 10 @ 12 PM Randall's Island Lawsuit Hearing
NYS Supreme Court, 111 Centre Street, Room 1227

The public is invited to attend a hearing on April 10 on a motion to enjoin further destruction of Randall’s Island, based on the irreparable harm to the environment that is occurring, and the judge’s prior decision that the leasing of the sports field project should be required to go through ULURP, which requires a more thorough environment review. Local plaintiffs are also arguing that since the agreement to grant a sub-concession to the private schools was voided until the project went through ULURP, the agreement to grant a concession to the Randall's Island Sports Foundation (which is supervising the work on the fields) should also be voided until this occurs. Please attend this important and substantive hearing on issues that affect your community.
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Friday April 11 Students from PS 30
2:30

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Wednesday April 16 12:30 -3:30
Green Team Environmental Mentoring Program

The community action experience will also allow students to become socially engaged and to understand the role of environmental awareness towards improving our quality of life.
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April 19th

First Official Group Canoe/Kayak Paddle of the Season!

To support Urban Divers event on the Harlem River...

After launching form the South Bronx on the Harlem River we will join environmental educators and community eco-stewards and THE HARLEM RIVER ECOLOGY CENTER for a fun-filled day of environmental stewardships and recreation along the HARLEM RIVER. Activities include clean-up and sprucing up of NYC Bridge Park's HARLEM RIVER NATURE TRAIL, located just north of the Historic High Bridge and the southern end of Roberto Clemente State Park. Learn why and how everything we dump on streets and parks ends up in our ocean. We will then paddle back and return. Space limited.

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Tuesday April 22, Earth Day
6 am wear Green
Manhattan location fun event to raise awareness about the destructive practices of Mountain Top Removal and the fallacy of "clean" coal.

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Tuesday April 22, Earth Day
Afternoon Programming in the garden....
If you are a performer interested in sharing with the youth of our community, contact us.

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Wednesday April 30 12:30 -3:30
Green Team Environmental Mentoring Program

The community action experience will also allow students to become socially engaged and to understand the role of environmental awareness towards improving our quality of life.
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Video: Walking the Rainbow Labyrinth, Green Team

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YanAbnOV8sI

About This Video
The Green Team teen mentoring internship with Community School for Social Justice Walking the Rainbow Labyrinth in Brook Park, South Bronx. (less)
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Autumn Garden Dance in Brook Park, the South Bronx by Sabine Heubusch

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVonU1P5Ep8

About This Video
Autumn Garden Dance in Brook Park, the South Bronx by Sabine Heubusch, with numerous local school children.
Sabine Heubusch can be contacted through
www.spinelight.com. Music by Akrobatic


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Thanks!

Historic Brook Records!

As part of our ongoing efforts to remove the asphalt, and daylight the underground brook, our engineering consultants have researched and prepared these fascinating documents! See where the brook runs! Click on the images for a larger version.

TREE PLANTINGS FOR ASTHMA ALLEY

TREE PLANTINGS FOR ASTHMA ALLEY
by Jeni Asaba

http://www.bxtimes.com/BW_News3.htm


What's known as “Asthma Alley” will receive some relief this spring as one local group brings back the green to the Mott Haven community.

With a tentative April starting date, Friends of Brook Park, a coalition of residents, educators and local merchants, dedicated to revitalizing and managing various Earth conscious projects in the south Bronx, will plant 60 to 70 trees along 138 th Street and adjacent roads.

The project is made possible by a $100,000 “Greening the Bronx ” grant the group received from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.

“This funding supports a study on the influence of shade on reducing the Heat Island Effect,” FOBP advocate Carol Zakaluk said. “We expect cooler streets and lower energy bills in the summer, along with the many other amenities trees bring.”

Zakaluk added the program is essential to help alleviate the poor air quality hovering over one of the United State 's most asthmatic regions.

“We need these trees to help offset the pollution of passing truck traffic,” she urged. But the added advantages don't stop there. “Businesses near the tees will benefit from increased property values, cooler thoroughfares, and the borough will enjoy a more beautiful gateway to the Bronx ,” she added.

The grant is part of NYSERDA's Greening the Bronx Quick Start program, which allocated $1 million to expedite the commencement of tree planting throughout the borough.

Upon receipt of the grant, Zakaluk immediately took to the streets, contacting close to 200 local merchants for permission to plant on their property. To her surprise, the response was less than expected.

With only 15-25 percent of merchants replying to her initial offer, Zakaluk said she expects, and hopes for, a quick turn around when they see the work in progress. “Once the trees start going in the ground everyone is going to come up and say they want a tree,” she said.

While it may take time for adults to adjust to the neighborhood changes, local youngsters are already signing their adoption papers.

Children from the Freedom Center after school program will not only be caring for some of the trees, but teachers will also focus on studying the benefits trees bring to urban areas.

Zakaluk said she hopes others follow in the students' footsteps, and fill the need for assistance with routine tree maintenance. “We definitely need to find out who in the community is willing to step up and take care of the trees,” she said.

The group also encourages other educational institutions to take advantage of the project and incorporate its progressions into their curriculum.

Zakaluk said in addition to planting trees in the community, the group wants to inspire residents to work together toward other neighborhood improvement projects.

“It's kind of planting a seed in more ways than planting a tree,” she said.

To design the tree layout, FOBP worked closely with landscape architect Charles Cross and City College of New York's professor Lee Weintraub, along with students in his Urban Design class.

FOBP is currently negotiating the project with Dimitri's Garden Center , at 2413 3 rd Avenue . As the tree project manager, Cross will work with the tree contractor to identify which of 38 possible species will be planted along the 138 th street planting zone. Zakaluk said the group hopes to begin planting this April.

Anyone interested in the Mott Haven tree project, contact Carol Zakaluk at (718) 292-8217. To learn more about other FOBP projects, visit friendsofbrookpark.org.

City Year Volunteer Day

Thanks to all who joined us, over 100 volunteers!
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We need you!

Join us with almost 10 volunteers to engage in a variety of important Spring tasks!

The event is all day, joins us for as long or as brief as you can!

Rsvp please that you can be a project leader with us.

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City Uprising Service Day
Monday, March 17th, 2008
Brook Park, Bronx, NY

Service includes:
-Beautify the perimeter of Brook Park- including mural and labyrinth painting
-Assist Friends of Brook Park with any/all ongoing projects
-Prep beds for planting; help with composting tasks

Schedule of the day:

10:00 AM Volunteers arrive/register
10:10 AM Brief Opener
10:15 AM Service Begins
12:30 PM Lunch
1:00 PM Service continues
3:45 PM Wrap-up/Cleanup
4:00 PM End of day

Directions to Brook Park:
141st Street and Brook Avenue

Take the 6 train to Brook Avenue in the Bronx. Walk north along Brook Avenue to 141st Street. The park will be on your right.

City Year unites young people of all backgrounds for a year of full-time service, giving them the skills and opportunities to change the world.
As tutors, mentors, and role models, these idealistic leaders make a difference in the lives of children, and transform schools and neighborhoods in 17 U.S. locations and Johannesburg, South Africa.

City Year Serve-a-thon originated as an idea to expose communities to the idealism and culture of City Year, as well as fundraise for corps members so they can continue their work in schools and communities for an entire year. During Serve-a-thon, City Year corps members, community officials, volunteers, students and business leaders unite to beautify green spaces, transform schools, paint murals and provide much needed support to community organization

Groups Urge a Moratorium on City Use of Artificial Turf

Print the attached letter and send it to the Mayor about this important issue!

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Several environmental and civic groups are calling for a moratorium on the use of artificial turf in new sports fields in the city, and question the seriousness with which the Bloomberg administration is investigating the turf’s potential hazards.

In a letter to the city’s parks and health commissioners, dated Thursday, the groups say the installation of such fields should be suspended pending the results of a review of health risks being conducted by the health department.

“The city has a responsibility to protect children, and a vested interest in protecting the environment,” the letter states. “Yet even as evidence suggested that artificial turf may pose health risks and the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene initiated its review, the Parks Department continued to make plans to install dozens more artificial-turf fields. The Parks Department has shown little interest in studying artificial turf’s effects on health and the environment.”

The letter adds, “This brings into question the agencies’ commitment to conducting a thorough health and safety review of artificial turf.”

The call for a moratorium is part of a growing concern among parents, public health officials and environmentalists about synthetic-turf fields. Thousands of the fields have been installed nationwide in recent years, including 77 in the city during the past decade. Twenty-three more are planned.

from:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/29/nyregion/29turf.html

2008 Green Team Starts Again

Alicia--
Today I learned about how contributing to the world around you can benefit your community. Also, that it is very difficult to chop wood. Sitting down near the camp fire was fun, but next time we should roast marshmallows. Overall today was a good day. I'm going to enjoy this internship.

Jordan Jasmine--
Today our internship project at Brook Park was very interesting. I got to chop wood with friends. I walked the path of hope. I also sat down around the camp fre and helped build the fire. I had an interesting time and made friends with Emily and Harry. I also raked leaves.

Elijah--
Today we learned how to start a fire with sticks. Also we raked some hay out of the flower beds to leave dirt at the surface then cut some wood and walked through the circle.

Rolando--
Today in internship I did some work picking up compost. I had fun chopping wood and we went in a maze to find a way to the middle.

Nandini--
Today was a very cold windy day to be out in Brook Park. It was interesting and cool. We took all the hay out of the banks. We built a fire. We walked the labyrinth. It felt good to release some stress.