Friends of Brook Park: World Beneath the Pavement

Support Friends of Brook Park!

2009-12-22T11:32:00.003-05:00

Show your Support for Friends of Brook Park

Dear Friend,

Friends of Brook Park needs your help.

As 2009 comes to a wintry end, we reflect on what a great year it has been here. While we are proud to bring you our environmental programs, we need your support to keep us going. Whether you've known us for 2 months or our ten years, now is a great time to help us out with a generous end-of-year donation.

Your contribution is fully tax-deductible and will go directly to offering nature education activities, making New York a greener, healthier place to live.

Donate now and up to $2,500 will be matched! Think about who does more with few resources. Click here to give on-line now.

In the words of a seventh grader:

By doing what you do, you and your team are saving the community and a lot of animals. The tomatoes and the spicy peppers were very good. Also the scented plants smelled really good. It was very interesting because I never thought that plants that don’t have flowers have a nice smell, like the leaves that I ate which was peppermint plant. I also liked the little fire you made for us and all the people that were going in the park. I had so much fun moving the heavy logs around and fixing them so the garden could look prettier. The garden made me feel really relaxed.

Your support has helped us:

* Continue to expand a model of urban farming, with hundreds of youth involved in organic gardening with local and city-wide schools and groups like ASPIRA

* Expand our growing area and move forward on the brook restoration project with Gaia Institute

* Advance a new park on the Harlem River, convening meetings with a Parks Commissioner and two City Council Members

* Restore the shoreline by designing and planting hundreds of native species with NYC Council on the Environment, Sustainable South Bronx and Waste Management

* Jumpstart the Harlem River Working Group, over fifty stakeholders invested in the long-term enhancement of this vital waterway

* Spearheaded challenges to rezoning and inappropriate infrastructures that would block waterfront access and navigation

* Hosting many arts and indigenous cultural gatherings uniting a diverse array of people with groups like Vamos La Pena and United Confederation of Taino People

* Engaging in city and state-wide, regional, national and international efforts about Climate Change

And more!

We know this is a busy time of year, but please take a moment to give right now, knowing that you've done your part to support an organization you care about and a cause you believe in.

Click here to support Friends of Brook Park today.

As the year ends, we at FoBP want to thank those of you who have helped us this year with contributions of much-needed funding, volunteer time, and personal support.

You sustain us.

To more!

Harry J. Bubbins
Executive Director

P.S. Friends of Brook Park is a 501(c)(3) organization - your donation is deductible to the fullest extent allowable by law. Please remember to make your contribution by December 31 for a 2009 tax deduction.

P.P.S. Even if you don't feel like you can give a lot, being part of the behind-the-scenes support system helps us more than you'd imagine. One more person can make a big difference. Please contact me if you can volunteer. Gardeners, proposal researchers and writers, designers, educators and artists, and people with other skills are always needed. You can also pass on this appeal to your networks with a personal note.

P.P.P. S. Keep reviewing our updated blog at: www.friendsofbrookpark.org/blog

Please give at the bottom of this page here: http://www.friendsofbrookpark.org/donations

Or Donate by Mail:

Friends of Brook Park
PO Box 801
The South Bronx, NY 10454

You can also help by by sharing this appeal with your network of friends and family, on Facebook too. If you have used the garden or the rivers, or just appreciate what we do, please email this letter out with a personal note to your friends and colleagues and families.

Some companies have a matching grant fund, please inquire about that at your place of work.

Thanks again for all you do.

Friends of Brook Park

Lowline in NY Times

2009-12-17T15:02:00.005-05:00

Thanks to the work of Wally Nash (see article here) and other local Mott Haven residents, the so-called Bronx Swamp has been addressed, for now.

The issue has been featured in a series of local article, including in today's NY Times.

We have been working for sometime on this abandoned rail spur as a fantastic greenway bike and pedestrian resource. We have been seeking monies from our local elected officials to spark this effort and welcome any and all to collaborate on this issue!

Visionary Cesar Yoc, while engaged in studies at Hunter College with Professor Tom Angiotti, developed a strong vision for this spur called the "Pocahantas Greenway". See selection here.

Click for the NY Times article today here.

Though the NY Times claims no one knows who owns it, our research shows that theNew York Central Lines, LLC (NYC) and CSX Transportation, Inc. (CSXT) are responsible. In 2003 they filed a notice of
exemption pursuant to the National Transportation Board’s regulations of exemption for abandonment and discontinuance of service, respectively, of the "Lowline" of railroad between Melrose and the southernmost edge of the tunnel at Southern Boulevard in Bronx County,
New York, a distance of approximately 1.5 miles.

NYC sought authority to abandon the line. CSXT seeks authority to discontinue service on the line. A map depicting the rail line in relationship to the area served are posted with this blog. The exemption became effective, the railroad worked to to salvage track, ties and other railroad appurtenances, and to dispose of the right-of-way.
This is where community groups come in to create a rails to trails project! Let's do it!

Bread and Puppet Theater

2009-12-02T10:45:00.002-05:00

We are going with a crew from the community to see this great show, once again. An annual trip.

For the 38th year, Peter Schumann's Bread and Puppet Theater will return to Theater for the New City December 3-13 with two new works, one for adults and one for Families of all ages.

The adults' show will be "Tear Open the Door of Heaven." A pink and blue puppet show about Heaven and its effects on the Underneath, presented by the practitioners of the brand-new paper maché religion. The play features over life size puppets representing God, his daughter and stepdaughter, a US president and his war-waging office, mountaintop removal protesters, money printing artists and stargazers of the North East Kingdom of Vermont. The six acts of the play are supplemented by six dance interventions performed by the Lubberland National Dance Company, whose members are mostly local volunteers.

The Family show is "Dirt Cheap Money Circus." It features the billionaire bonus celebration dance, the logic of the US Healthcare System, the history of humanity and the removal of a mountaintop, interspersed with appearances by Karl Marx, who confronts the 2009 economic situation with his existential thoughts about money and our relationship to it. As always, there is a live band.

Both shows will be performed by the Bread & Puppet Company and a large number of local volunteers, who will also be part of The Brass Band. The theater will be decorated with the unique Bread and Puppet collection of powerful black-line posters, banners, masks, curtains, programs and set-props. Once again, all pieces will be created by Schumann with input from the company. Both plays will be accompanied by a brass band, singing and miscellaneous gongs and horns. Schumann will sculpt and paint all of the major masks and puppets.

Bread and Puppet Theater is an internationally recognized company that champions a visually rich, street-theater brand of performance art that filled with music, dance and slapstick. Its shows are political and spectacular, with huge puppets made of paper maché and cardboard; a brass band for accompaniment, and anti-elitist dance. Most are morality plays--about how people act toward each other--whose prototype is "Everyman." There are puppets of all kinds and sizes, masks, sculptural costumes, paintings, buildings and landscapes that seemingly breathe with Schumann's distinctive visual style of dance, expressionism, dark humor and low-culture simplicity.

South Bronx Food & Film Expo!

2009-11-15T11:30:00.001-05:00

South Bronx Food & Film Expo!
DECEMBER 5th, 12 noon
This event is Free!!! Food/clothing donations encouraged

Quick Links

Dear Friends:

Please join us at THE POINT CDC (and Friends of Brook Park and more!) on December 5th for the South Bronx Food & Film Expo (12-5pm). If you are interested in growing your own food, or having better access to healthy food, or getting involved with changing current food policies, this is the event for you! Our expo features groups that can help you do all this and more. Or if you simply want to come sample free local healthy foods, maybe learn a thing or two, and watch a few great films, you are welcome as well!

We have included a flier in this email so you can help the spread the word about this event. Everyone is invited! If you plan on bringing a large group please just let us know, otherwise no RSVP is required.

Here are the details...

SOUTH BRONX FOOD & FILM EXPO
sponsored proudly by Urban Farming

FOOD:
Locally-sourced vegan meals will be prepared on site by Bascom Catering. Free lunch!

FILM:
We will be screening two feature films:
What's on Your Plate? @ 12:15
FRESH! @ 3pm

We will also be showing a few short films made in the Bronx @ 1:30, such as an extended version of this urban farming video

There will be a Q&A discussion at the end of the screenings.

EXPO:
Our interactive expo features groups from the South Bronx and beyond that grow and supply healthy local food, and fight for change in food policy.

Why does local food matter?
What government decisions effect what YOU eat?
Find answers. Meet people. Get involved!

DETAILS:
This event is FREE!
Food/clothing donations are encouraged
$10 suggested contribution

This is a child-friendly event.
Childcare will be provided.

For more information, contact:
Adam, actionatthepoint@yahoo.com

South Bronx Food & Film Expo!
and donation drive

DATE: Saturday December 5th
TIME: 12 noon
LOCATION: @ THE POINT CDC
MORE: FREE FOOD!

Sincerely,

THE POINT CDC

Petition to Ban toxic gas drilling across NYS

2009-10-28T11:05:00.004-04:00

Join FoBP and add your organization as well as your individualness.

Today an online petition was launched calling for a ban on natural gas drilling across NYS. To sign it, go to:
Not just a petition, we need you to act too!

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/NY-Statewide-Ban-On-Natural-Gas-Drilling

...

The following 50 groups have issued statements in support of a state-wide ban, and/or in support the Sierra Club resolution:

Atlantic Chapter of Sierra Club
Action Otsego
Advocates for Springfield
Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr.
Bronx Community Board 1
Bronx Community Board 2
Bronx Community Board 5
Bronx Community Board 7
Bronx Community Board 8
Bronx Community Board 9
Bronx Greens
Brooklyn Community Board 3
Brooklyn Community Board 10
Catskill Citizens for Safe Energy (CCSE)
CDOG (Chenango Delaware Otsego Gas Drilling Opposition Group)
Concerned Citizens of Otego
Damascus Citizens for Sustainability
Delaware County Herbal Network Group
Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society
Energy Justice Network
Environmental Working Group of Central New York
Franklin Local Ltd.
FWCanDo (Fort Worth Citizens Against Neighborhood Drilling Ordinance)
Friends of Brook Park
Friends of the Upper Delaware River
Green Party of New York State
Hands Across the Border
Haudenosaunee (Iroquois Confederation)
Manhattan Community Board 2
Manhattan Community Board 3
Manhattan Community Board 4
Manhattan Community Board 6
Manhattan Community Board 9
Manhattan Community Board 10
Manhattan Community Board 11
More Gardens!
National Alliance for Drilling Reform (NA4DR)
Neighbors of the Onondaga Nation (NOON)
New York Climate Action Group (NYCAG)
NYH2O
Protectors of Pine Oak Woods, Inc.
Queens Community Board 4
Queens Community Board 5
Schoharie Valley Watch, Inc
Shaleshock Citizens Action Alliance
Staten Island Community Board 2
Staten Island Community Board 3
Sustainable Otsego
SWiM (Safe Water Movement)
Tioga Peace and Justice

..

On Saturday, October 17, 2009, the Executive Committee of the Atlantic Chapter of the Sierra Club met in Syracuse and passed a resolution proposed by the SC Gas Drilling Task Force. The resolutions calls on the NYS legislature to enact a ban on unconventional gas drilling in NYS.

„WHEREAS extensive environmental and health damages would be caused by horizontal drilling and high pressure hydrofracturing gas extraction techniques due to the contamination of water, soil and air by the toxic chemicals used in drilling and fracturing, and the naturally occurring toxic chemicals brought to the surface from deep in the ground,

„WHEREAS these environmental and human and animal health damages will have damaging economic consequences on residential property values, and on the state‚s tourism, agriculture, forestry, winery, real estate development and educational businesses,

„WHEREAS the infrastructure costs of building and repairing roads, water treatment facilities, and other public services would far exceed any economic benefit to local communities, and

„WHEREAS it is yet to be proven that the green house effects of the production and use of natural gas produced by horizontal drilling and hydrofracturing are any less than those of the production and use of coal when the life cycle emissions of natural gas production and the higher impact of methane as a green house gas are taken into account.

„Be It Resolved that the Atlantic Chapter of the Sierra Club calls on the New York State Legislature to enact a ban on permitting gas wells that use horizontal drilling and hydro-fracturing to release gas from tight sand and shale formations such as the Marcellus.‰

---

Meeting at Harlem River

2009-10-14T17:20:00.000-04:00

Our many years of advocacy for real waterfront access for our South Bronx communities on the Harlem River received a big boost today. With a site visit arranged by our local Council Members Viverito an Arroyo, NYC Parks Department, NYC City Planning and the Federal National Park Service gathered with local constituents to map out the final plan of action to achieve official park status! Stay tuned and stay involved.

Protecting Water Quality

2009-10-01T13:08:00.001-04:00

FoBP has been busy around the region lately, advancing the issues of clean water and access to our waterways in a number of important forums. We attended two invitation only events with profound implications for our water quality.

We represented Bronx Council on Environmental Quality at the Pace University Law School NYS Water Policy Conference where we able to question Kit Kennedy of the NYS Attorney General's Office about the need to ban gas drilling in the State, and the navigability of the Bronx Kill.
On September 30th we testified at the NYS Senate Standing Committee on Environmental Conservation Chaired by Senator Antoine M. Thompson with local Senator Bill Perkins in attendance. We made several recommendations to ease the regulatory process for mollusk and wetlands habitat restoration, the need for budget increases to the NYSDEC EJ grants program and for greater equity in the NYSEPF allocation. Mostly, we pressed for a total ban on the dangerous gas drilling that is proposed in New York State. Learn more here:

http://www.shaleshock.org/

Mural from 20 Years ago

2009-09-23T20:00:00.004-04:00

href="http://www.friendsofbrookpark.org/blog/uploaded_images/ing060-719727.jpg">
Old, old school. Pre-park, pre-fence even!!! The images go back in time... to 1989!

Harlem River Paddle

2009-09-09T20:15:00.007-04:00

Greetings Friends, Members of Harlem River Workgroup,

We are planning a GET ON THE WATER! Harlem River awareness day for Sept 19th in conjunction with the and we are inviting all Harlem River Workgroup members to participate and help share information, educate about the Harlem River. The program thus far is being coordinated by Ludger ( UDEC/HREC) , Harry ( FOB), and Chauncy ( Highbridge Coalition and Rep of Harlem River Greenway Project)

AS TIME IS UPON US... PLEASE FEEL FREE TO JUMP RIGHT IN!... PLEASE ACT QUICKLY ON THE FOLLOWING... The project can be as grand or small as we wanted to be...What is most important is exercising this Collab and get folks on the Harlem River... connect the community to this natural resource.

here is the draft flyer for the HARLEM RIVER ECOCRUISE EVENT

The idea as discussed previously was to provide the community and folks from Harlem River Workgroup to come together to the waterfront and GET ON THE HARLEM RIVER.

We thought the best day to this would be in conjunction with the 400th Anniversary Celebrations taking place through the month of the SEPT , which is also in conjunction with Hudson River Ramble

The day would be basically be comprised of guided ecocruise on our Giant canoe and small canoe trips on the Harlem River-
They may also be a ceremonial launch of a Lenape Dug Out Canoe. We can offer tabling, and Refreshments.

PARTNERS CAN HELP PRINT AND DISTRIBUTE SOME OF THE FINAL APPROVED FLYERS, POST EVENT ON THEIR WEBSITE, EMAIL BLAST, TURN SOME FOLKS ON THE HARLEM RIVER WATERFRONT, GET FOLKS ON THE WATER, BRING SOME REFRESHMENTS.

NO ONE NEEDS TO GO BROKE AND LABOR TO HARD ON THIS ENDEAVOR.... JUST DO WHAT YOU CAN... OUR BOAT WILL ACCOMMODATE 21 PADDLERS AT TIME. WE LOOK FORWARD TO THREE BOAT TRIPS ACCOMMODATING 60 to 100 PEOPLE ON THAT DAY.

PARTNERS CAN ALSO HELP MUSTER PRESENTATION MATERIALS ABOUT THE HARLEM RIVER GREENWAY, HARLEM RIVER BOA ETC to HELP EDUCATE THE PUBLIC... WE CAN HELP CREATE A COOL MOBILE EXHIBITS IF THE MATERIALS ARE PROVIDED IN TIME.

PLEASE RESPOND ASAP,

I THANK FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION and ENTHUSIASM, PLEASE REVIEW AND COMMENT.... LIKE I SAID THUS FAR ONLY FOB, UDECHREC ARE FULLY COMMITTED... WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOU GUYS JUMPING RIGHT IN.

TIME IS A FACTOR...WE NEED TO ACT FAST.

Please Encourage Active Civic Engagement

Ludger K. Balan
Executive, Environmental Program Director

Awakening the Dreamer, on the Bronx River

2009-09-06T14:38:00.000-04:00

We hosted them at Brook park this summer, a good resource to experience and/or invite to your community.
Harry

Please post....

WHO: You and all others yearning for a better world!
WHAT: A workshop with the Pachamama Alliance
WHEN: Sunday September 13th 5-7pm
WHERE: The Waterpod in Concrete Plant Park (Edgwater Road and Westchester Ave)

The Crisis of Small Thinking: What Will It Take To Create a New World?
This workshop with the Pachamama Alliance connects the dots between environmental sustainability, social justice and personal fulfillment, and zooms out to ask, How did we get here? While seeing at all of these crises as symptoms of a larger issue of small thinking, we discuss the new, emerging story of what is possible for the future, grounding hope in our ability to act powerfully and authentically on behalf of our world.
Please plan to attend from start to finish!

For more info: Contact:
A i r : 315 278 7184
and
S e a : thesetangledvines.blogspot.com

Festival Of Immigrants

2009-08-24T14:01:00.000-04:00

La Pena del Bronx and FoBP presents Festival Of Immigrants! This Saturday, Aug. 22nd, 3pm to 8pm....free food and music and culture!!! visit us in the Bronx....Lah Tere and G1 of Rebel Diaz will be performing, our friends from Waco Division will be performing, as well as much much more!!!! Legalization for Victor Toro!!!! He will be there too!!!

Council Member Melissa Mark Viverito on stage with Nieves of La Pena too, speaking out for immigration reform and the freedom of Victor Toro. Garifuna music from Honduras was also featured.

Brook Park in NY Times!

2009-08-12T18:44:00.000-04:00

Congrats to the ASPIRA gardeners and Ray Figueroa!

In the Bronx, Less Asphalt, More Vegetables

In the Bronx, Less Asphalt, More Vegetables
By David Gonzalez

A symphony of dull thuds and sharp clanks heralded — what else? — the planting season at Brook Park in the Bronx. Teenagers took turns swinging sledgehammers and pickaxes as they tore up the remains of an ancient basketball court inside the Mott Haven park, where they have already planted eight large boxes now bursting with tomatoes, peppers, greens and other natural goodies.

“This used to be a parking lot,” said Raymond Figueroa, a program coordinator with Aspira, the youth group sponsoring the urban planting. “We’re opening up the asphalt so we can plant some more.”

And before you could ask, he launched into a list of the stuff they had already planted earlier this year.

“We got tomatoes,” he said. “We got eggplants. We got peppers. We got collard greens. We already did one harvest, which we donated to a food pantry that feeds 500 people.”

Brook Park, at Brook Avenue and East 141 Street, is a real city park run by some civic-minded folks, like Harry Bubbins. The plan had once been to rip up the asphalt to expose the brook that many believe still courses below the soil. But until the money can be found for that project, the plot will be used as a garden. Other parts of the park are thick and green with natural shade.

Mr. Figueroa said this was not some crunchy green exercise. When they haven’t been planting, watering or harvesting, they have been asked by Columbia University to help survey a wide swath of the South Bronx for other empty lots that can be used for vegetable gardens.

“Then we’re going to get into negotiations with the city so we can replicate this garden,” he said. “This is the diabetes capital of New York. One of the reasons is, the corner store doesn’t offer fresh fruits and vegetables.”

Rahkeem Williams, 14, was hauling chunks of broken asphalt to a slowly growing pile by the fence. He lives in the neighborhood and knows how hard it can be to eat properly.

“Healthy food? Around here?” he said. “It’s not that easy. It’s easy to get fast food. You go to McDonald’s, and they got their dollar menu. You go to the supermarket, and they want $3 for two cucumbers.”

The slow smashing of asphalt continued. A delegation of young people ventured off to a local church to see if it would take a donated harvest of collard greens. A young man waved a garden hose, shooting a glistening stream over the garden. Starr Giscombe went back to fill up her wheelbarrow with asphalt.

“It’s hard work,” she said. “It’s a lot of manual labor. It’s not just sitting in your office and working on a computer. It’s taking action.”

Full article where you can comment at:
CLICK HERE FOR NYTIMES ARTICLE:

NY Times Highlights restored urban waterways

2009-07-27T19:38:00.002-04:00

As we are working to restore the brook of Brook Park and Brook Avenue, the NY Times has taken notice of this global movement.

A River Runs Under It

SEOUL, South Korea — For half a century, a dark tunnel of crumbling concrete encased more than three miles of a placid stream bisecting this bustling city.

Andrew C. Revkin
Image by Jean Chung for The New York Times

After its opening in 2005, hundreds of thousands of people have visited the new stream with friends and family.

The waterway had been a centerpiece of Seoul since a king of the Choson Dynasty selected the new capital 600 years ago, enticed by the graceful meandering of the stream and its 23 tributaries. But in the industrial era after the Korean War, the stream, by then a rank open sewer, was entombed by pavement and forgotten beneath a lacework of elevated expressways as the city’s population swelled toward 10 million.

Today, after a $384 million recovery project, the stream, called Cheonggyecheon, is liberated from its dank sheath and burbles between reedy banks. Picnickers cool their bare feet in its filtered water, and carp swim in its tranquil pools. ...

Read more and comment below

Comment here

Featuring our Brook in the news

2009-07-22T11:42:00.002-04:00

Rewiring the City

by NICK JURAVICH with photographs by BLAINE DAVIS

Stepping off the 6 train at Brook Avenue, I emerge into the heart of the South Bronx. To the south, the nine towers of the Mill Brook Houses rise 16 stories above the Deegan and Bruckner Expressways, a quintessential Robert Moses landscape, while to the north, Brook Avenue stretches away through a masonry canyon of five-story apartment blocks with grocery stores, salons, and fast food joints at street level.

The neighborhood is one of the most densely populated areas in the United States, and its reputation precedes it; this is what people are alluding to when they talk about the “inner city.” There’s nary a natural feature in sight.

Three blocks north, I’m standing at the edge of a muddy depression in what remains of an asphalt play lot while Aaron Petersohn conjures up a wholly different scene: a babbling brook alive with fish, frogs, and salamanders, shaded by native trees whose branches ring with birdsong. It is not a sweet reminiscence, though we are standing where a stream once ran, but a vision for the future. Mr. Petersohn is the project director for the Brook Restoration Project at Brook Park, an ambitious plan to “daylight” a portion of a long-buried waterway and create a verdant wetland in the heart of the South Bronx.

Click here for the full article, and many pics!

FoBP Harlem River Advocacy in the news...

2009-07-17T10:36:00.001-04:00

City Council approves Lower Concourse rezoning

by DANIEL BEEKMAN
"When Department of City Planning Commissioner Amanda Burden looks at the Lower Concourse, she pictures a Harlem River promenade. She pictures skyscraping condos, corner stores, lofts and a waterfront park. Burden pictures a rusty neighborhood remade for residential and commercial development.

When Friends of Brook Park director Harry Bubbins looks at the Lower Concourse, he pictures..." something different.

Read the rest if the article at:
Click here for the full article.

Double Your Gift To FoBP!

2009-07-08T09:14:00.002-04:00

Thanks to a couple of our generous supporters, your donation will be doubled up until July 22nd!. This matching grant opportunity is a great time for you to consider giving towards our efforts. Give in early July and your $10 will be $20. Your $500 will be $1000. Our kind anonymous donors will match up to $5000, so help us get there as soon as possible. With your contribution today, we will start off summer strong! See the link at the end of this newsletter to give today.

So give today!
Click here to donate online.

And be a part of all this! Your gift is doubled up until July 22nd! Please make a monetary contribution of $10, $50, $100 or more. If you have participated in any of our programs and activities and found our work important or inspiring, please give, and share this with your circles and on facebook. Your $25 gift will be $50. Your $100 will be $200. Your $1000 will be $2000. So give today!
You can invest in our efforts right here.

EJ Issues: Waxman cap and trade passes

2009-06-26T22:49:00.003-04:00

Friends,

In light of the recent news that in the House the Waxman cap and trade bill passed, I thought to bring our attention again to the California Environmental Justice Movement's statement opposing carbon trading and to the Climate Justice Now! statement from South Africa in 2004 calling for solidarity against so-called carbon trading in all its forms.

There is still time to impact this issue at the Senate level. Do review again these historic documents below and contact your Senator.

In addition, note the 3rd and last letter to the editor at:
http://commongroundmag.com/2009/03/letters0903.html
with recommended reading.

FoBP
*******

http://www.ejmatters.org/declaration.html

The California Environmental Justice Movement’s Declaration on Use of Carbon Trading Schemes to Address Climate Change

1. Whereas, the climate system of the planet and the energy choices we make are inextricably linked to a looming ecological and social catastrophe; and

2. Whereas, the United States and all other countries of the world face a moment of great promise and great peril regarding our energy production and use, including: 1) our overdependence on fossil fuels such as oil, natural gas, and coal; 2) the production and use of bio-fuels with dubious sustainability attributes; and 3) the resurgence of domestic and international nuclear power development; and

3. Whereas, Asian, Black, Latino, and Native American communities in the United States, as well as indigenous and poor people around the world, disproportionately bear the negative economic, environmental, and health impacts of the fossil fuel economy at every stage of its life cycle including its exploration, extraction, production, refining, distribution, consumption, and disposal of its waste; and

4. Whereas, global climate change caused by burning fossil fuels, resulting in the release of carbon dioxide, other green house gases, and associated co-pollutants into our oceans, air, soil, and vegetation jeopardizes the planet’s ability to maintain a livable climate and causes grave health problems in poor communities, communities of color, and indigenous communities around the world; and

5. Whereas, the international scientific community predicts that climate change will cause great human suffering, the brunt of which will be borne by the world’s poor, developing nations, disenfranchised indigenous communities, the infirm, and peoples of color that have been historically discriminated against at global, national, and local levels; and

6. Whereas, the best available science indicates that the planet is warming more rapidly than we understood when the Kyoto Accord was ratified and that reductions in greenhouse gases must be undertaken more quickly and with greater urgency than previously recognized; and

7. Whereas, many of the nations that ratified the Kyoto Accord are failing to meet the treaty’s requirements for greenhouse gas emission reductions; and

8. Whereas, the policy cornerstone of the Kyoto approach is a market-based system to allow nations to establish emissions “rights” and trading of “rights” to emit carbon, known as cap & trade under the European Union Emission Trading Scheme (EU- ETS); and

9. Whereas, the EU-ETS created transferable “rights” to dispose of carbon into the air, oceans, soil, and vegetation far in excess of the capacity of these systems to absorb it; and

10. Whereas, economic globalization steers international commodity markets to manufacture and privatize the “right” to dispose of green house gases and their co-pollutants into the air, oceans, soil, vegetation and human bodies and is in direct conflict with the true human rights of people and respect for our planet; and

11. Whereas, Phase 1 of the EU-ETS has been documented as giving billions of dollars worth of these “rights,” free of charge, to the biggest corporate emitters of greenhouse gases who are responsible for causing the global warming crisis and thereby created one of the largest transfers of wealth from low- and middle-income people to private corporations in the modern industrial era; and

12. Whereas, carbon trading under Phase 1 of the EU-ETS benefited fossil-fuel intensive corporations and stands in the way of the transition to clean renewable energy technologies and energy efficiency strategies that are critically necessary to substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and

13. Whereas, the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) under the Kyoto Accord, as well as voluntary private sector trading schemes, encourages industrialized countries and their corporations to finance or create carbon dumps in the Developing World as lucrative alternatives to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Developed Countries; and

14. Whereas, the EU-ETS and the CDM sanctions the continued exploration, extraction, refining, and burning of fossil fuels and finances projects such as private industrial tree plantations and large hydro-electric facilities that appropriate land and water resources jeopardizing the livelihoods of local communities in the Developing World as carbon dumps for industries in the Developed World; and

15. Whereas, the EU-ETS and CDM fail to address and further deepens entrenched social inequalities, irresponsible development trends, inadequate hazard reduction policies, and are silent on confronting disaster vulnerability of populations worldwide; and

16. Whereas, carbon trading is undemocratic because it allows entrenched polluters, market designers, and commodity traders to determine whether and where to reduce greenhouse gases and co-pollutant emissions without allowing impacted communities or governments to participate in those decisions; and

17. Whereas, the political power of the major global polluters has resulted in carbon trading schemes that include inadequate reporting systems, are impossible for the public and regulatory agencies to monitor, allow gaming of the system by market participants, and lack meaningful penalties for failure to comply; and

18. Whereas, greenhouse gases will be substantially reduced only through a transition to greater energy efficiency and sustainable energy technologies that do not rely on fossil fuels; and

19. Whereas, capturing energy from the wind, sun, ocean, and heat stored within the Earth’s crust builds the health and self-reliance of people and our communities, protects the planet, creates jobs, and expands the global economy; and

20. Whereas, global energy transformation is the politically unifying and inclusive principle that affirms the rights of all people--including the poor, women, rural and indigenous communities--to have access to affordable and sustainable energy and the enhanced quality of life that such access affords; and

21. Whereas, the EU-ETS, including the CDM, is often portrayed as a necessary first step toward establishing an effective international climate change plan and has been presented as a model for California’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions;

The California Environmental Justice Movement DECLARES that the EU-ETS, including the CDM, is a step in the wrong direction; and

The California Environmental Justice Movement FURTHER DECLARES that we will fight at every turn all efforts to establish a system of carbon trading and offset use in California; and

The California Environmental Justice Movement FURTHER DECLARES that our demands for real changes in the way we make and use energy will not be silenced by promises of money or token adjustments to the fundamentally flawed trading and offsets approach; so

BE IT THEREFORE, RESOLVED, that the California Environmental Justice Movement stands with communities around the world in opposition to carbon trading and offset use and the continued over reliance on fossil fuels; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the California Environmental Justice Movement will support conservation, regulatory, and other measures to address greenhouse gases only if they directly and significantly reduce emissions, require the shift away from use of fossil fuels and nuclear power, and do not cause or exacerbate the pollution burden of poor communities of color in the United States and developing nations around the world; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the California Environmental Justice Movement will oppose efforts by our state government to create a carbon trading and offset program, because such a program will not reduce greenhouse gas emissions at the pace called for by the international scientific community, it will not result in a shift to clean sustainable energy sources, it will support and enrich the state's worst polluters, it will fail to address the existing and future inequitable burden of pollution, it will deprive communities of the ability to protect and enhance their communities, and because if our state joins regional or international trading schemes it will further create incentives for carbon offset programs that harm communities in California, the region, the country, and developing nations around the world.

THEREFORE, We, the undersigned organizations and individuals, affirm our solidarity with the California Environmental Justice Movement, poor, and indigenous people around the world.

http://www.carbontradewatch.org/durban/durbandec.html

Climate Justice Now!
The Durban Declaration on Carbon Trading

As representatives of people’s movements and independent organisations, we reject the claim that carbon trading will halt the climate crisis. This crisis has been caused more than anything else by the mining of fossil fuels and the release of their carbon to the oceans, air, soil and living things. This excessive burning of fossil fuels is now jeopardising Earth’s ability to maintain a liveable climate.

Governments, export credit agencies, corporations and international financial institutions continue to support and finance fossil fuel exploration, extraction and other activities that worsen global warming, such as forest degradation and destruction on a massive scale, while dedicating only token sums to renewable energy. It is particularly disturbing that the World Bank has recently defied the recommendation of its own Extractive Industries Review which calls for the phasing out of World Bank financing for coal, oil and gas extraction.

We denounce the further delays in ending fossil fuel extraction that are being caused by corporate, government and United Nations’ attempts to construct a “carbon market”, including a market trading in “carbon sinks”.

History has seen attempts to commodify land, food, labour, forests, water, genes and ideas. Carbon trading follows in the footsteps of this history and turns the earth’s carbon-cycling capacity into property to be bought or sold in a global market. Through this process of creating a new commodity – carbon - the Earth’s ability and capacity to support a climate conducive to life and human societies is now passing into the same corporate hands that are destroying the climate.

People around the world need to be made aware of this commodification and privatization and actively intervene to ensure the protection of the Earth’s climate.

Carbon trading will not contribute to achieving this protection of the Earth’s climate. It is a false solution which entrenches and magnifies social inequalities in many ways:

• The carbon market creates transferable rights to dump carbon in the air, oceans, soil and vegetation far in excess of the capacity of these systems to hold it. Billions of dollars worth of these rights are to be awarded free of charge to the biggest corporate emitters of greenhouse gases in the electric power, iron and steel, cement, pulp and paper, and other sectors in industrialised nations who have caused the climate crisis and already exploit these systems the most. Costs of future reductions in fossil fuel use are likely to fall disproportionately on the public sector, communities, indigenous peoples and individual taxpayers.

• The Kyoto Protocol’s Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), as well as many private sector trading schemes, encourage industrialised countries and their corporations to finance or create cheap carbon dumps such as large-scale tree plantations in the South as a lucrative alternative to reducing emissions in the North. Other CDM projects, such as hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC) -reduction schemes, focus on end-of pipe technologies and thus do nothing to reduce the impact of fossil fuel industries’ impacts on local communities. In addition, these projects dwarf the tiny volume of renewable energy projects which constitute the CDM’s sustainable development window-dressing.

• Impacts from fossil-fuel industries and other greenhouse-gas producing industries such as displacement, pollution, or climate change, are already disproportionately felt by small island states, coastal peoples, indigenous peoples, local communities, fisherfolk, women, youth, poor people, elderly and marginalized communities. CDM projects intensify these impacts in several ways. First, they sanction continued exploration for, and extraction, refining and burning of fossil fuels. Second, by providing finance for private sector projects such as industrial tree plantations, they appropriate land, water and air already supporting the lives and livelihoods of local communities for new carbon dumps for Northern industries.

• The refusal to phase out the use of coal, oil and gas, which is further entrenched by carbon trading, is also causing more and more military conflicts around the world, magnifying social and environmental injustice. This in turn diverts vast resources to military budgets which could otherwise be utilized to support economies based on renewable energies and energy efficiency.

In addition to these injustices, the internal weaknesses and contradictions of carbon trading are in fact likely to make global warming worse rather than “mitigate” it. CDM projects, for instance, cannot be verified to be “neutralizing” any given quantity of fossil fuel extraction and burning. Their claim to be able to do so is increasingly dangerous because it creates the illusion that consumption and production patterns, particularly in the North, can be maintained without harming the climate.

In addition, because of the verification problem, as well as a lack of credible regulation, no one in the CDM market is likely to be sure what they are buying. Without a viable commodity to trade, the CDM market and similar private sector trading schemes are a total waste of time when the world has a critical climate crisis to address.

In an absurd contradiction the World Bank facilitates these false, market-based approaches to climate change through its Prototype Carbon Fund, the BioCarbon Fund and the Community Development Carbon Fund at the same time it is promoting, on a far greater scale, the continued exploration for, and extraction and burning of fossil fuels – many of which are to ensure increased emissions of the North.

In conclusion, ‘giving carbon a price’ will not prove to be any more effective, democratic, or conducive to human welfare, than giving genes, forests, biodiversity or clean rivers a price.

We reaffirm that drastic reductions in emissions from fossil fuel use are a pre-requisite if we are to avert the climate crisis. We affirm our responsibility to coming generations to seek real solutions that are viable and truly sustainable and that do not sacrifice marginalized communities.

We therefore commit ourselves to help build a global grassroots movement for climate justice, mobilize communities around the world and pledge our solidarity with people opposing carbon trading on the ground.

Signed 10 October 2004
Glenmore Centre, Durban, South Africa

***
Essential Reading: Carbon Trading
A Critical Conversation on Climate Change, Privatisation and Power
by Larry Lohmann available at:
http://www.thecornerhouse.org.uk/summary.shtml?x=544225

Tree Museum Features FoBP

2009-06-22T18:30:00.004-04:00

Friends of Brook Park's Harry Bubbins was invited to participate in the Tree Museum.

100 trees give voice to 100 perspectives featured in the Grand Concourse's TREE MUSEUM. Irish artist Katie Holten created this public art project to celebrate the communities and ecosystems along this 100 year-old boulevard. Visitors will be able to listen in on local trivia and the intimate lives of trees offered by current and former residents: from beekeepers to rappers, historians to gardeners, school kids to scientists.

Visitors will be able to start their visit to the TREE MUSEUM at any point along the Grand Concourse. Look for the sidewalk markers identifying trees with stories.

Once the TREE MUSEUM opens on June 21, 2009, visitors will be able to call 718-408-2501 to access the audio guide, or download a podcast of the audio guide here.

FoBP Director Harry Bubbins narrates tree #13, an American Elm.
"I thought it important to have included indigenous perspectives in this project. Gentrification and displacement are a centuries long narrative." Bronx born an raised Harry Bubbins said of his participation in this effort. He was assigned the American Elm at Franz Siegal park. Franz Siegal was a revolutionary who fled Germany after working to overthrow the government there. "My research revealed an Iroquois prophecy with great relevance for today as they predicted the "Dutch Elm disease" now killing most of these trees in this region. It underscores the need for restoration and alternative models of social organizing."

To hear Harry's narrative, call 718-408-2501 #13.

To learn more visit: http://www.treemuseum.org/what.html.
SPEAKERS ON THE AUDIO GUIDE INCLUDE:
Omowale Adewale, Jessica Arcate, Barbara Barnes, Adrian Bejan, TJ Bess, Cheryl Blaylock, Sergio Bessa, China Blue, BombaYo, Lurry Boyd, Bronx Writing Academy Students, Harry Bubbins, Valerie Capers, Sabrina Cardenales, Majora Carter, William Casari, Shephard Chapman, Genesis Concepcion, Charles Day, Peter Derrick, FeSS, Patricia Foody, Omar Freilla, Mark Hill, Clarisel Gonzalez, Sam Goodman, Jennifer Greenfeld, Damian Griffin, Fritz Haeg, Helen Ho, Joyce Hogi, Sid Horenstein, Walter Houston, DJ Jazzy Jay, Mitchell Joachim, James Kane, Michael Kugler, Amilcar Laboy, Klaus Lackner, Juanita Lanzo, Carlos Lazarte, Adrian LeBlanc, Daniel Libeskind, Bill Logan, Uli Lorimer, Lindsey Lusher Shute, Amanda Matles, E.J. McAdams, Kim McLeveighn, Toshiko Mori, Griffith Morris, Francis Morrone, Thomas Navin, Jose Ortiz, Nora Peña, Glenn Phillips, Andrea Polli, Jonathan Pywell, Roger Repohl, Josue Rodriguez, Maria Rodriguez, Eric Sanderson, Kate Shackford, Laurie Spiegel, TATS CRU, Lloyd Ultan, Karen Washington, Dart Westphal, Bernie Williams, Eleanore Wurtzel

Harlem River Rezoning proposal City Council Hearing

2009-06-15T13:59:00.001-04:00

Your voice counts.

South Bronx

Lower Concourse Rezoning proposal

City Council Hearing

Tuesday, June 23, 9:30 AM

High-rises and higher rents on the Harlem River?
Manufacturing jobs lost to lofts?

Or a public park at Park Avenue for the existing communities?

Zoning & Franchises COMMITTEE
Tuesday, June 23, 9:30 AM
Committee Room - City Hall

Be there, the public can testify. Tell them we want the Park Avenue site on the Harlem River to be made into a public park with resources now! No more studies and reports.

Email us for more information. Pass this on. Encourage our elected officials to be there.

***
Background:

http://www.friendsofbrookpark.org/blog/labels/harlem%20river.html

http://www.motthavenherald.com/2009/04/20/city-plans-a-new-neighborhood-in-mott-haven/

http://www.friendsofbrookpark.org/blog/uploaded_images/lowerconcoursedailynewsarticleapril09-778829.jpg

http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/html/lower_concourse/index.shtml

Harlem River/Bronx Kill Clean-Up

2009-06-09T08:05:00.001-04:00

Join us in NYC, or organize one in your community nation-wide.

Bronx Kill report from Urban Divers

2009-06-01T09:13:00.002-04:00

Another Teacher Testimonial!

2009-06-01T07:57:00.001-04:00

Earth Day at Brook Park

Having reserved the date 8 months in advance to be sure of a special Earth Day celebration, one might think my expectations could have been let down. However our day at Brook Park far exceeded my expectations and our group of about 80 3-5 grade students was easily accommodated. We began with a tour of the Park which included opportunities for the students to taste fresh mint and garlic straight from the ground (perhaps the order should have been reversed). Following the tour, they were grouped at various stations--carrying wood, planting bushes, and digging up the asphalt. My class spent most of our time performing the latter task and, while it is a bit scary as a teacher to watch your students use sledge hammers, the kids had an AMAZING time. Our final task following clean up was to walk the labyrinth, which provided students the chance to center themselves and basically meditate. While the first walk though the labyrinth was a bit talkative it was pretty amazing to see that by the second time these students who never experience a moment of silence in their lives were able for at least 10 minutes or so to truly calm down and focus on their inner selves. Throughout all of these activities and excitement Harry Bubbins continuously brought the students attention back to the mission of Brook Park and the importance of green spaces in our city. Our Earth Day celebration was a highlight of the year, however I highly recommend bringing your classes to explore Brook Park any day of the year.

Rachel Petev, 4th grade teacher at P.S. 241: The Family Academy

Bronx Kill Obstruction to Navigation Map

2009-05-15T12:08:00.002-04:00

View Obstruction to Navigation Bronx Kill in a larger map
For USACOE and other agencies easy review.

Robin's Nest in Brook Park

2009-05-04T15:57:00.005-04:00

To hear 3 Robin Songs CLICK HERE

Robin Nesting Habits
The song of the male is to advertise his territory or to attract a mate. You'll hear them the most just before the young hatch.

The nest is made of grasses, a middle layer of mud, then lined with fine grasses. The nest is usually placed in the crotch of a tree or shrub 5-20 feet above ground.

The availability of mud at nesting time may entice these birds to nest nearby. They will also make use of wool, string and hair, even plastic twine as you see in this picture.

American Robins can produce three successful broods in one year. On average, though, only 40 percent of nests successfully produce young.

Only 25 percent of those fledged young survive to November. From that point on, about half of the birds alive in any year will make it to the next.

Despite the fact that they can live to be 14 years old, the entire population turns over on average every six years. The female lays 3-7 light blue eggs that are incubated for 12-14 days and the young leave the nest in about 14-16 days.

2 - 3 broods raised each season.
Feeding Habits
Robins eat different types of food depending on the time of
baby robins being fed
day. They eat earthworms early in the day and more fruit later in the day.

Because they forage largely on lawns, they are vulnerable to pesticide poisoning and can be an important indicator of chemical pollution. Artificial turf fields limit bird habitat significantly
American Robin Habitat
This is a bird of woodland edges and opening. Prefering open ground on which it can forage for insects. Try placing fruit on tray feeders or planting fruiting shrubs to attract more of them to your backyard garden.

After the breeding season, Robins flock together and go to large communal roosts at night. This habit continues from fall through winter.

Newton Pippin Apple Tree & Earth Week

2009-05-03T11:53:00.003-04:00

We had a great week in the garden with over 100 student participants on different days.

We planted four fruit trees, among many other fun and educational activities.

Thanks to Erik Baard and Green Apple Cleaners, we also received a Newton Pippin apple tree to plant. Never heard of it? Read the NY Times article below...

Should the Big Apple’s Official Apple Be Green?
By Jennifer 8. Lee
Newtown Pippin apples.Thomas Jefferson Foundation Some believe that the green, lopsided Newtown Pippin apple, which originated in Queens and went on to be popular during the Colonial period, should be the official apple of New York City.

The apple of the Big Apple is almost nearly always portrayed as red (despite City Hall’s recent environmental aspirations).

But what if it were actually green?

A coalition of local environmental groups are pushing for a lopsided, mottled green apple to be the “official apple of New York.”... see more at: NYTIMES ARTICLE HERE

Earth Week With Calhoun School

2009-04-26T11:50:00.002-04:00

In celebration of Earth Week this year, on May 21st, 2009, my 4th grade science students traveled to Brook Park in the South Bronx to participate in an amazing series of all-day community service activities. It was an extraordinarily memorable trip for all of us. Many remarked that it was “the best trip of the year.” Upon our departure, children rushed over to me to tell me how much they loved Brook Park and how badly they wanted to return.

As residents of the upper west side, the majority of my students had never been to the South Bronx before. In preparation for the trip, they learned that not all neighborhoods in New York City are privileged with access to green spaces with clean air to breathe as one experiences in Central Park. Through the Friends of Brook Park web site, they saw pictures of the transformation of the once junk/drug infested city lot into the splendor that is now Brook Park. The students were fascinated by the idea of ordinary citizens organizing to improve their own environment with a community garden.

Upon our approach to Brook Avenue and 141st, we were delighted to see the garden with our own eyes – to watch the sidewalks and pavement fall away into an incredibly beautiful, green oasis, filling an entire city block. The tension of the man-made urban streets seemed to melt away like a dream as we entered the garden gates and found ourselves immersed in a world of open sky and living green space. The children were captivated from the very moment we arrived and a palpable calm came over our group, consisting of about 50 children and 8 adults!

Harry Bubbins and the other garden educators greeted us. We learned about the reason for Brook Park’s name – the mysterious ancient brook which runs underneath the ground and the garden’s quest to uncover it. Through our walking tour of the garden, we learned about garden plants (which we were invited to taste), Christmas tree mulching, the value of compost, Willow Trees, labyrinths and the troubled history of the South Bronx which made the need for the garden so important. Throughout this experience, the children were also making their own discoveries: a group of boys found crystal formations in rocks; another group was enamored with two wandering kittens.

After the tour, our work began. We shoveled and spread mulch over the ground, sifted compost, dug holes to plant apple trees, broke up asphalt and worked collectively to pass heavy rocks from one area to another. I have never seen such young children work so hard with such intense enthusiasm and determination as they did on that day. The level of focus and group-collaboration they displayed was awe-inspiring and even more remarkable for its sheer effortlessness. No convincing or persuasion from adults was necessary! I saw groups of children work cooperatively to plant apple trees and to hammer heavy wedges into the asphalt, then carry the pieces away to a wheelbarrow. I saw nine-year-olds put all their strength into the breaking up of asphalt with sledgehammers.

As some children wrote later, “We were so responsible, like top-notch workers.” Another child wrote, “We knew we might never do this again.” It was clear to me that the children’s motivation stemmed from the fact that they genuinely cared about what they were doing, knew it was important and that they enjoyed it. They were entrusted with something real and were able to see the tangible results of their work.

We concluded our visit with a collective, silent walk through the labyrinth and a chance to reflect as a group on the experience. The labyrinth walk was a fitting ending to our journey, bringing us all back together through one shared experience.

The children’s enthusiasm for Brook Park has lived on at the Calhoun School both through numerous heartfelt letters of thanks and through public advocacy letters to government officials. Like them, I too am a believer in Brook Park and I want to see the flowing brook come alive once again and for more and more children to come to the garden to have the wonderful experience of a lifetime that we had. On that note, I ask you to please contribute whatever you can to this remarkable garden which brings such incredible joy to all who are lucky enough to encounter it.

Sincerely,

Amy Landau
Lower School Science Teacher
The Calhoun School

SURVEY TO IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW PROCESS

2009-04-15T12:02:00.000-04:00

SURVEY TO IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW PROCESS

On-line Questionnaire Solicits Public Comments

Effort to Identify Obstacles and Propose Solutions that Improve City Procedures Related to Environmental Review Process, as Promised in State of the City

Environmental reviews are critical to the City's decision-making process in approving, rejecting or shaping development projects, and they reveal and propose ways to mitigate the environmental impacts of proposed development. The environmental review process solicits and requires the input of experts and the public to ensure a full and comprehensive vetting of a proposed project's impact. This survey could help the City to improve and expedite environmental review by identifying inefficiencies and proposing ways to improve the process - without compromising environmental protection standards or impeding public input. The survey solicits feedback on how projects should be prioritized and how agency resources should be allocated, as well as how the City might improve inter-agency coordination, the completion of timely and efficient analysis, and communication among City agencies, applicants and the public. The survey does not address changes to legislative policy, legal standards, analytical methodologies, or other planning processes, such as the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure. It is part of the City's ongoing commitment to make government work more efficiently to facilitate responsible development, while at the same time improving, and ultimately strengthening, environmental protections.

Through the on-line questionnaire, the City is seeking input from stakeholders including applicants, developers, community members, civic groups, consulting firms, agencies, community boards and elected officials. Individuals with experience in the City's environmental review process are especially urged to participate.

To access the questionnaire, CLICK HERE. The questionnaire will be available on the website until May 22, 2009

Harlem River Access Daily News Article

2009-04-07T12:52:00.002-04:00

Momentum is building. Thanks to your support. Contact us to get involved even more!

City Planning Harlem River Testimony

2009-04-03T12:53:00.005-04:00

See our testimony from the April 1st hearing of the City Planning Commission. We have been advocating for access to the Harlem River for many years, and the rezoning proposal for the Lower Concourse is an ideal opportunity! Send a note to your Council Member about this today.
Click on the images to the right to see our testimony.

And:
City Planning Commission
22 Read Street
New York, NY 10007 April 10, 2009

Re: Lower Concourse Re Zoning Proposal - Inclusion of Park Ave Waterfront Site.

Dear Commissioners,

We strongly support expanding the Lower Concourse Re Zoning proposed zoning foot print approx. 150 feet South/West to include the Park Avenue waterfront site, located btw. Exterior Street & the Harlem River.

For more than half a century residents living in the Bronx have been prevented from accessing much of their waterfront. The Lower Concourse Re Zoning Proposal provides a unique opportunity to address some of these inequities. For decades people from the community have been using a small sliver of land between Exterior street & the Harlem River just north of the Third Avenue Bridge in the South Bronx for a variety of both passive and active recreation uses. However, the proposed map currently stops mere feet from the site and is not currently included in the rezoning proposal. This is an obvious and natural site for a community park, with true waterfront access.

Extending the foot print approx. 150 feet would provide desperately needed access to the water front. The site provides wonderful panoramic views of the Harlem River and would be an ideal opportunity to create safe, legal access to the area. Possible uses include such activities as a launch area for human powered water craft, picnicking and other park and open space uses. It should be noted that the public has been using the area for these activities for years. However, the property currently creates a barrier for access because people using the site risk arrest. Including the site would also help achieve one of the major stated goals of the rezoning, which is to “Provide new waterfront open space to an under-served community.”

Using the word underserved is an understatement is this community. Currently there is not a single legal access point along the waterfront for more than 2 miles south of the site and more than a mile North. The community has been advocating for its use as a park space for over ten years. This site is even featured on the cover of the NYC Department of City Planning’s Bronx Harlem River Waterfront Bicycle and Pedestrian Study, August 2006.
Expanding the footprint would also work to support the longer-term efforts which has been advocated by many to create a continuous promenade along the Harlem River and connect the proposed parks to the north with the existing Port Morris community to the south.

Its inclusion would have a measurable impact not only on the surrounding community but on visitors alike who are being encouraged to explore the city by having increased access to bike lines and greenways from projects undertaken by various city, state and federally funded initiatives. I have personally seen a markedly increased interest in the Park Ave site from bike riders who are venturing out to this section of the city. This positive use will only increase if the public were encouraged to use the site.

Including the Park Ave site for proposed parkland and waterfront access would be a small but important step to help rectify historical inequities. It should also be pointed out that the CSX railway along the Western border of the Bronx prevents any park space that is blocked by the raised rail in the Harlem River. This prevents the public from being able to truly access the "waterfront." The rails also create barriers for water recreational opportunities.
The nearest waterfront site being proposed - btw. 145/147th street - suffers from this rail barrier as well. The proposed park space there is contingent on highway and building development and is somewhat speculative and most likely would not occur for a decade or longer if at all. While we support this proposed site including the Park Ave site would have an immediate impact.
The Lower Concourse rezoning proposal public review is currently going through environmental review and the ULURP process. We strongly encourage the City Council to hold a public hearing on this issue. I do not believe many people in the community are aware of the plan. Many people I've spoken to in the area do not know anything about it.
While we are encouraged that the Harlem River and this area are getting much needed attention, we feel it is very important to highlight one area that needs to be included before you approve the final version. Creating real waterfront access is vital for a community that has been prevented from having access to it for the better part of a century.

We strongly support expanding the proposed zoning footprint South/West to include the Park Avenue waterfront location and respectfully request the City Planning Commission include it in the Lower Concourse Re Zoning Proposal plan. Not doing so would be a wasted opportunity.

Sincerely,
Geoffrey Croft- president
NYC Park Advocates

NYC Park Advocates Inc. is a non-profit, non-partisan watchdog group dedicated to improving public parks, restoring public funding, increasing public recreation programs, expanding open space and accessibility, and achieving the equitable distribution of these vital services in New York City for all. We are the only non-profit park advocacy group dedicated to all City, State and Federal parkland in New York City. For more information please visit us at http://nycparkadvocates.org

April in Brook Park

2009-04-01T12:47:00.000-04:00

White House Lawn Organic Garden

2009-03-20T11:31:00.001-04:00

Friends,

It is likely that you heard about the organic garden to be created on the
White House lawn.

See this exciting news at:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/20/dining/20garden.html?hp

This is a great step, one that you are already aware of. Fresh produce and
a more mindful diet and relationship with the land is healthy on every
level.

This is a movement. We have been gardening for years, with participation
from local volunteers and supporters like you.

Brook Park has helped launch the South Bronx CSA and gave birth to a
Farmer's Market in the community.

Spring is here and it will be time to plant and host more events and
activities and we need your support now more than ever.

More schools and students will be seeking our services. And we are at in
between phase. Whether it is $25 or $2500, we need your support today.

Please give here: http://www.friendsofbrookpark.org/donations

Already, the demand for our services, in the garden with classes, or to push
forward to create a park on the Harlem River, has stretched us thin. But we
continue to be effective, with your support.

As more people join our movement we want to be able to continue to provide
nature opportunities that benefit our community and the entire City, and the
world.

Please give here: http://www.friendsofbrookpark.org/donations

Or by Mail:

Friends of Brook Park
PO Box 801
The South Bronx, NY 10454

You can help by giving and by sharing this appeal with your networks of
people. If you have used the garden or the river, or just appreciate what we
do, please send this letter out to your friends and colleagues and families.

Some companies have a matching grant fund, please inquire about that at your
place of work.

Thanks again for your vital support. And come see the cherry blossoms in
April!

Harry Bubbins
Friends of Brook Park

Achieving Waterfront Parks & Access in the Short-term

2009-03-10T14:16:00.014-04:00

Achieving Waterfront Parks & Access in the Short-term
Bronx Borough President¹s Public Hearing
Lower Concourse ReZoning Proposal

Testimony March 10, 2009
Good morning. My name is Harry J. Bubbins, Director of Friends of Brook Park
(FoBP), the South, South Bronx based environmental, arts and sustainable
development organization. FoBP is committed to ensuring that our Mott
Haven, Melrose and Port Morris communities enjoy easy access to our
waterfront and full enjoyment of the current and proposed public
amenities, including public sports fields, natural areas, shore line
greenway, waterfront and river access and more.

This testimony pertains to the Lower Concourse Rezoning Public Review
process now underway.
Through the South Bronx Initiative, a Mayoral effort to identify community
priorities and create a coordinated economic development strategy for the
South Bronx, the Lower Concourse rezoning proposal Public Review will
continue through the environmental review and ULURP process.
The City Planning Commission, as environmental lead agency, issued a Notice
of Completion for a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the
proposal, on January 30, 2009.
The proposal began formal public review on February 2, 2009 with the
Department of City Planning¹s certification of the Uniform Land Use Review
Procedure (ULURP) application (C 090303 ZMX) and referral of the related
zoning text amendment (N 090302 ZRX).
While we are encouraged that the Harlem River and this area are getting much
needed attention, we must highlight in particular one aspect that needs to
be included before you should support this.
One, real waterfront access.
The proposed inclusion of a vision for parkland and waterfront access is a
small step to rectify historical inequities. But, with the location of the
CSX railway along the Western border of the Bronx, any park space that is
blocked by the raised rail in the Harlem River is not really "waterfront"
space in the truest sense of the word, which would be inclusive of on-water
recreational opportunities. The proposed space below 149th Street suffers
from this rail barrier. In addition, the proposed park space there is
contingent on highway development and building development, which would
likely not occur until some indeterminate time in the unknown future.
RECOMMENDATION:
The proposed zoning footprint should be expanded south to include the Park
Avenue location that the community has been advocating for use as a park
space for over ten years. As it stands the proposed map stops mere feet
from including this obvious and natural site for a community park,
waterfront with water access. This site is featured on the cover of the NYC
Department of City Planning¹s Bronx Harlem River Waterfront Bicycle and
Pedestrian Study, 2006.
This existing green-space is ready to use as a park already and would serve
the Lower Grand Concourse area and beyond, without delaying a much needed
resources until the distant future. This is an ideal opportunity to map
this location as parkland for the existing community and for residents and
businesses to come. With this minor modification that in no way detracts
from any of the proposed ReZoning goals or plans we can achieve immediate
waterfront park and access with minimal if any Capital costs.
With this slight extension of the proposed map by a mere 100 feet to the
South along the Harlem River we will successfully achieve one of the major
stated goals of the ReZoning, which is to ³Provide new waterfront open space
to an underserved community.²
This waterfront open space at the end of Park Avenue would work to support
the effort to create a continuous promenade along the Harlem River and
connect the proposed parks to the north with the existing Port Morris
community to the south.
Thank you for your time and attention. We look forward to your response and
to support your advocacy to leverage the Public Review process to gain
substantial benefits for our community.
http://www.friendsofbrookpark.org
646.641.5788

Harlem River Conference

2009-02-22T15:16:00.007-05:00

The Bronx Council for Environmental Quality (BCEQ) is sponsoring the 8th Annual Water Conference on Wednesday, March 18, 2009 from 3 to 7 p.m. at Manhattan College, Leo Engineering Building at 3825 Corlear Avenue, just north of 238th Street in the Bronx.

This year’s conference will focus on Strengthening Watershed Stakeholders to form a Harlem River Working Group to work toward re-storing the Harlem River, re-connecting the waterfront with the public, and to re-creating a healthy water edge. Breakout groups will organize around: Greenway and Access and On-Water Activities, Education and Ecology, and Outreach and Advocacy.

This is the BCEQ 38th Annual Meeting complimented with the 8th Annual Water Conference. The program will include Presentations, Breakout Sessions, Displays, Refreshments, and Networking. The public is invited to attend this free event. Co-sponsors include: Bronx Borough President's Office, Manhattan College, and others TBA. Corporate sponsor: Con Ed

RSVP: harlemriver@bceq.org
or Contact us at FoBP to volunteer at our table!

The historic photo of the Harlem River is made right where the Riverpark Towers are today where the Urban Divers Eco Center is located. Walter F. Matystik, Asst. Provost at Manhattan College dug it up. Raeford Dwyer is the incredible graphic artist and Friend of Brook Park who worked with the archived image from the Library of Congress to give it a contemporary embrace of diversity and inclusive flavor. See his work at: Raeford's website!

FoBP hosts MillionTreesNYC

2009-01-28T14:23:00.004-05:00

MillionTreesNYC, one of the 127 PlaNYC initiatives, is a citywide, public-private program with an ambitious goal: to plant and care for one million new trees across the City's five boroughs over the next decade. By planting one million trees, New York City can increase its urban forest—our most valuable environmental asset made up of street trees, park trees, and trees on public, private and commercial land—by an astounding 20%, while achieving the many quality-of-life benefits that come with planting trees.

The City of New York will plant 60% of trees in parks and other public spaces. The other 40% will come from private organizations, homeowners, and community organizations. Friends of Brook park is a vital part of this effort.

Today we partnered with the MillionTreesNYC Apprenticeship program, which connects City youth to the numerous “green collar” jobs that are being planned nation-wide. Jobs related to tree planting and care are currently in high demand as a result of MillionTreesNYC, and the Apprenticeship Program aims to provide the skills that youth need to capitalize on well-paying career opportunities. The target population for the program, disconnected youth aged 18-24, has been identified by the Center for Economic Opportunity (CEO) as particularly in need of marketable employment skills. The program will include NYCHA residents within the target population for training in jobs that involve the planting, pruning and stewardship of the trees. The MillionTreesNYC Apprenticeship will be administered by the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, in conjunction with other City agencies and nonprofit and community partners.

As a local community partner, Friends of Brook park fills a vital need in the overall initiative. Yet, we do not have the millions of dollars in resources that larger, worthy, groups and projects are allocated. Please make a contribution to Friends of Brook Park today so that we can ensure the long term success of tree planting projects.

(Photos by Gustavo Vilchis)

Testimony: Randalls Island Greenway and Bronx Kill

2009-01-26T13:46:00.000-05:00

Randalls Island Greenway and Proposed Consolidated Edison Utility Crossings
over the Bronx Kill
What: Landmarks, Public Siting & Maritime Uses Committee, NYC Council
Where: City Hall
When: Monday 11 am January 26, 2009

Randall's Island Connector Project of the South Bronx Greenway
Opportunity for relocating utilities and restoring the navigability of the
Bronx Kill

For over a decade FoBP has led bike and walking tours and canoe and kayak
excursions at the locations under consideration and is committed to ensuring
that our Mott Haven, Melrose and Port Morris communities enjoy water access
and amenities.

The Randall¹s Island Connector Project of the South Bronx Greenway is an
important priority. We commend and appreciate the grassroots leadership of
Hunt¹s Point, especially The Point, with Sustainable South Bronx and others,
in working to ensure that this effort has been funded and moved towards
accomplishment. It is important that this pathway not be a dead end,
therefore we encourage all stakeholders to take a keen interest in making
sure that the 103rd Street Bridge to East Harlem is opened as soon as
possible.

The South Bronx Greenway master plan emerged from the Hunts Point Vision
Plan. Divided into three phases the master plan calls for the
implementation of a widespread series of projects even beyond the Hunts
Point residential and commercial area. To date, nearly $30 million is
secured for greenway related projects. Given this significant investment,
it is vital that we get the actual implementation right.

As most people involved in this project are aware, the natural route of the
vital greenway encounters existing Consolidated Edison utility
infrastructure. Friends of Brook Park legal counsel indicates that this
utility crossing is in violation of existing regulations pertaining to the
navigability of waterways and needs to be relocated. A

It is imperative that in addressing one environmental and open space in
justice, we do not thereby legitimize and perpetuate another one. We cannot
allow the Randall¹s Island Connector Project to be jeopardized by the lack
of cooperation from Consolidated Edison. They are proposing concurrent to
the Randalls Island Connector Project a large scale expansion of existing
utility infrastructure, thus providing the ideal opportunity to address at
one time all of the design and regulatory challenges facing the successful
outcome of the greenway.

That the existing cables obstruct the navigability of the Bronx Kill is not
disputed by any parties. It is clear that at some point, either regulatory
or judicial remedies will be leveraged to restore the navigation of this
waterway. At that point the costs and infringement on the then completed
greenway will be far more costly.

It is possible, because federal monies have been involved in this effort
that there might be a parallel resource for utility relocation. In fact,
Consolidated Edison¹s consultant on this matter, Parsons Brinckerhoff, is a
recipient of the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) 2007 Excellence in
Utility Relocation and Accommodation Awards having partnered with utility
companies to relocate or adjust their facilities. As a result, the utility
facilities were relocated within 6 months of the project notification,
reducing the project's overall cost and construction time. Their expertise
should be accessed.

In any case, it is well settled that ³utility companies, which have been
granted the Œprivilege¹ of laying their utilities and mains in the public
must relocate them at their own expense Œwhenever the public health, safety
or convenience requires the change to be made¹. Besides the issues of
navigation, even issues of aesthetics have been recognized by the court as
compelling the relocation of utility lines. Our elected officials must
demand that the relevant agencies work with Consolidated Edison in this
matter to preclude the need for litigation and compensatory mitigation that
could cause unncessary delays and higher costs.

This project is jeopardized and the fears of delays emerge only if
Consolidated Edison does not fulfill it¹s obligations. Given the appropriate
information and interest, we are confident that they will do the right
thing. They have a lot of investment in the area. Besides the recently
completed multi-acre substation in the South Bronx, they are beginning
construction of another power station on the north side of Randall¹s Island,
which will inevitably alienate park land from public use, so they will
surely want to offer the most mitigation possible.

The New York City Economic Development Corporation has the opportunity in
collaboration with the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation,
Randalls Island Sports Foundation, New York State Department of
Environmental Conservation, New York State Department of State, and the US
Army Corps of Engineers to compel Consolidated Edison to relocate the
utility crossings rather than rather than capitulate to them. We hope that
the City of New York will not have to rely on judicial remedies as it has in
the past and that Consolidated Edison will expeditiously comply with their
clear duties.

Some of the relevant guidelines and authorities are as follows:

City:
New York City Waterfront Revitalization Program
Reduce potential navigation hazards by minimizing obstruction in coastal
watersŠ

State:
Waterfront Revitalization of Coastal Areas and Inland Waterways
Assure public access to public trust lands and navigable waters.

Federal:
The US Army Corps of Engineers has historically managed navigation on
internal waterways in the United States, and the corps¹ civil works projects
have historically included removing obstacles from navigable waters.

Judicial:
The Supreme Court, Appellate Division, held that a utility which had to move
its lines could be required to place lines underground at its own expense

Greenways and Water Trails are natural compliments to each other, with
recreational and economic benefits that benefit the entire region. We are
confident that our elected officials will spearhead a creative collaboration
led by NYCEDC to ameliorate significant impacts and address longstanding
inequities with this unique opportunity.

#### #### ####

Your Support is Needed for Friends of Brook Park

2008-12-29T19:41:00.001-05:00

Dear Friends:

As 2008 draws to a close, I want to take this opportunity to highlight a few of Friends of Brook Park’s most recent successes.

This year we have served hundreds of youth in our garden oasis, introducing them to organic gardening and Nature, in the middle of the South, South Bronx.

On the water, advocating for access to the rivers, and clean waterways, we were honored to outfit internationally renowned Puerto Rican environmental justice activist Tito Kayak to ply the Harlem and East Rivers and the Bronx Kill.

I'm proud of what we've achieved. But none of it would have been possible without the support we get from you.

One of our volunteers, Robert, writes:

“I've helped put up tipis with students at nearby public schools, showed them how to chop wood safely, seen a young girl, 4 years old, who moved from West Africa to the South Bronx with her family, keenly examine the many ladybugs on her hand being released as natural pest control against aphids. That young girl, and the many other children and adults who have had the pleasure of digging in the soil to harvest radishes and carrots, or clipped fresh mint from around the base of the willow tree, or walked the labyrinth of peace and contemplation, have enriched me and my life as much as the garden has enriched theirs.”

Your commitment is especially important in these tough economic times. Like other organizations, we are tightening our belts. But because so many people depend on us to continue to provide real green peaceful resources, we have the responsibility to continue-and, in some places, intensify-our work.

We cannot do that without your support. So please, during this holiday season of peace and hope, send a year-end, tax-deductible donation to Friends of Brook Park. You can do so by simply clicking here: http://www.friendsofbrookpark.org/donations

If you prefer to send in your vital contribution, mail to:

Friends of Brook Park
PO Box 801
Bronx, NY 10454

Please donate today: http://www.friendsofbrookpark.org/donations

Sincerely,
Harry J. Bubbins
Executive Director

MULCHFEST: Chip In! Mulch Your Murdered Tree! Help NYC Grow!

2008-12-27T19:49:00.000-05:00

MULCHFEST
Chip In! Mulch Your Murdered Tree! Help NYC Grow!
10am – 2pm
January 10 & 11th

Bring your holiday tree to a designated city park to be recycled into mulch that will nourish plantings across the city! Remember to remove all lights and ornaments before bringing the tree to a Mulchfest site. You are encouraged to bring bags to take advantage of the free mulch provided at sites marked with an asterisk (*) below.

Chipping Sites*

Brook Park* Brook Avenue at 141st Street

"Shut Off the Lights for the Holidays" Essay Contest

2008-12-12T19:44:00.002-05:00

"Shut Off the Lights for the Holidays" Essay Contest

BRIEF ASSIGNMENT:

Write an essay 300 words or less describing why cutting down a tree and keeping the lights on all the time are not environmentally sound, and offer creative alternatives.

$100 for the top prize winner!

Please pass this around far and wide coast to coast!!!

$100 for the top prize winner!

**********
More background:

The era of change is upon us. Al Gore's film has won awards, real
climate experts like James Hansen and Charles Komanoff are presenting
the truth about climate change to Congress, offering policies that may
help the world avert ecological catastrophe. Today almost everyone is
familiar with the issue of "Climate Change".

Nevertheless our planet continues to be endangered because our
continued reliance on fossil fuels has trumped the
transformation to a new Green Economy so urgently needed. A Green
Economy beckons but do we listen? Is Western Civilization ready for an
economy based on renewable fuel sources and greater collective sharing.

The price of continuing to let Mountains be cut in West Virginia and
rainforests cleared in the Amazon is beyond calculation. Yet,
conspicuous consumption abounds, often most pronounced on popular holidays.

To spur the needed change in consciousness, and decision-making,
Friends of Brook Park, a leading environmental organization based in the South, South Bronx of New York City, USA, is sponsoring an essay contest.

Did we tell you there is a $100 for the top prize winner!

With 2nd and 3rd place receiving prizes as well.
(contact us if you want to donate or offer prizes or $ for the participants!)

1 For 8th to 12th grades.

In 300 words or less address this subject:

Write a convincing essay arguing that holiday lights used as ornaments
for trees and windows in December are wasteful and contribute to pollution and catastrophic climate change; And propose festive alternatives that are fun, easy and could, if promoted properly, replace the existing wasteful celebrations.

BRIEF ASSIGNMENT:

Write an essay 300 words or less describing why cutting down a tree and keeping the lights on all the time are not environmentally sound, and offer creative alternatives.

The first 100 entrants will be considered. All essay writers will be
Listed on our popular blog, "World Beneath the Pavement", named after a line
From the song "Willie Says" by Dana Lyons.

The judge's panel will consist of:

Anthony Jordan, CEO of Saint Benedict the Moor Neigborhood Center
Marina Ortiz, Founder of East Harlem Preservation
Steve Ritz, Award Winning Environmental Educator
Derrik Jensen, acclaimed author of A Language Older Than Words and The
Culture of Make Believe, among many others.
Sara Katz, Community Horticulturist, Bronx Green-Up
Roberto Mukaro Borrero, President, United Confederation of Taino People
Harry J. Bubbins, Director, Friends of Brook Park

To enter, Email entries to:

informationATfriendsofbrookparkDOTorg

Subject line: Essay Contest

Name
Address
Phone
Age
Grade level
School
(or if home school please indicate)
Teacher/s that shared this with you:
(if any)
How you heard about the "Shut Off the Lights for the Holidays" Essay
Contest

Garlic Planting!

2008-11-17T12:36:00.015-05:00

Growing Garlic in The Bronx

Garlic Planting Workshop with Friends of Brook Park and NY Botanical Garden

http://www.friendsofbrookpark.org

Join El Girasol Community Garden’s Vincent Russo in learning the basics of planting garlic. Help prepare the planting bed and plant garlic cloves for next summer’s harvest. Bronx Green-Up community gardeners who participate will receive a head of garlic per garden.
Saturday, November 22 · 2–3:30 p.m. · Brook Park · Brook Park Avenue and East 141st Street

1. Late October - Early December: Planting
➢Choose a well drained garden bed, amended with compost.
➢Separate each garlic bulb in to individual cloves.
➢Plant each clove pointed side up, covered by approximately one inch of soil, 4-6 inches apart.
➢Mulch well.

2. Early June: Cut Scapes
➢Remove scapes (flower stalks) as they begin to curl

3. Early - Mid July: Harvest
➢When half of the garlic leaves have turned brown, pull a plant to check for maturity.
➢Bulbs are ready for harvest when they have reached full size, but before the outer skin begins to loosen and the cloves begin to separate.

4. Mid July - August: Curing
➢Allow garlic to dry in a cool, dark place with good air circulation.
➢When garlic is fully dry, the leaves may be removed, and the garlic is ready to use!

Harlem River Foliage Paddle

2008-11-11T11:05:00.004-05:00

Why do the tides always run at ridiculous hours of the morning? Where’s the intelligent design in that? Couldn’t G-d have created a world where tides would only run after 10:00? Such are the musings of a sleep deprived brain.
It was 4:00 am and I had to leave by 6:00 to meet some Friends of Brook Park at 7:00 for a Fall foliage paddle down (and/or up) the Harlem River.

I pulled up in front of the gate at the corner of 141 St & Brook Ave at 6:40 (sometimes the traffic goblins sleep late). 10 minutes later some fellow paddlers began to show up.

We ended up with 7 paddlers: 3 canoes; and me in my kayak. We car topped one of the canoes next to my yak and loaded the other two on carts to be walked to the launch.

One of the canoes was an old Grumman aluminum, like the ones I paddled before the last ice age when I was younger. I know these boats are indestructible but I was told that this one had actually survived being thrown off a roof before being donated. It proudly displayed its battle scars, it was kinda canoe shaped in both directions (upright and on its side).

We launched around 8:30; there was still a chill in the air but the weather was sunny despite the overcast weather predictions. Once we got on the water I forgave G-d for his mis-timed tides.

The current was moving nicely; we spotted several hawks. The bird watchers in the group probably knew what kind they were; to me they were just magnificent.

Our first stop was the Sharp Boathouse and Swindlers Cove. I’ve always enjoyed docking there but had never really explored the grounds surrounding the boathouse. We went on a tour. The gardens and landscaping are terrific.

When we got back to the boathouse to launch I decided to light up a cigar, and enjoy the sheer opulence of my surroundings while paddling. I started entering my yak as I’ve done a dozen times from the boathouse dock: The traffic demons may have slept in but the ever playful river gods hadn’t. I ended up demonstrating a wet exit without ever having fully entered my boat. I survived, with a very bruised ego. My cigar, however, was less fortunate.

I need to apologize to the rest of my group for making it so hard for them to paddle while holding their sides hysterically.

Our next stop was Inwood Park. There was just enough of a ribbon of water between the mud to allow us to tie up to the dock. 20 minutes later as the tide receded the boats were on the mud. Really not a bad thing since we had expected to remain there till the tide came back in anyway. We jumped the locked gate on the pier and proceeded to a large bark wig wam that had been erected in the park. At that point a friendly parks dept employee asked to see our launch permit. Our guide painstakingly explained to him that as the park had been built with public funds he saw no reason to have one. The friendly parks dept employee immediately saw the merit of the argument and went on his way. (Now I’ll tell you about the tooth fairy.) Anyway we promised to leave as soon as our boats had water under them.

If you have never visited Inwood Park, you owe it to yourself to go. This is not the Big Apple that you usually envision. Winding paths through the woods that go on forever. I kept having to remind myself that I was still in NYC and not the Appalachians.

The water finally came back in and much to the joy of the friendly parks dept employee we made ready to depart. I waited till I was securely IN my boat before lighting my cigar.

Next stop our friends at Urban Divers. What a terrific exhibit. I learned more about horseshoe crabs than I had ever imagined.

Did you know that 4’ sturgeons still migrate up the Hudson? They are endangered so I sure hope the life sized stuffed one that they had on display was made of plaster.

Back on the water, for an easy paddle home. Take out was around 3:00.

by Ron

Halloween With Council Member Viverito

2008-10-31T18:24:00.000-04:00

Hundreds of local youth and adults visited our safe, natural haven of Brook Park after-school on Halloween. With pumpkins provided by the NYC Department of Parks and recreation and a DJ funded through the Office of Council Member Melissa Mark Viverito, our community had a great family celebration. With healthy fruit alternatives to sugar candy, apple bobbing and marshmallow roasting under the changing leaves, it was a holiday to remember!

Bronx Community Garden Bike Tour

2008-10-24T08:21:00.001-04:00

Dear Friends:

*Never fear, the Bronx Community Garden Bike Tour is BACK for its second
annual appearance!

Please pass on this e-mail to your lists - the date is THIS SUNDAY!!!
**
SUNDAY OCTOBER 26, 2008
*COFFEE & PASTRIES 10:00 a.m.
*RIDE STARTS 10:30 a.m.
PADRE PLAZA COMMUNITY GARDEN
E. 139th STREET & ST. ANN'S AVENUE*

We will meet at *Padre Plaza Garden at 10:00 a.m**.* for something to get us
warmed up, and will begin the ride at 10:30 a.m.

The garden is located at:
*East 139th Street** between Brook & St. Ann's (corner of St. Ann's)
See Oasis map of NYC community gardens:
http://www.oasisnyc.net

or check Council on the Environment's website:
http://www.cenyc.org

*Padre Plaza can be reached via the *#6 train to Brook Avenue /138th Street,
* the second stop in the Bronx via Manhattan.
*Check the MTA website the night before the ride.* Subway route changes
happen often due to construction!
*www.mta.info* - or -
*http://www.mta.info/nyct/service/subsrvnweekend.htm*

We're finalizing the route... if you have must-visit gardens in mind, let us
know no later than Wednesday. We're looking for special things to do or
see, such as chicken coops, bee hives, cool compost centers, water
collection systems, special structures -- or just plain wonderful people and
fabulous gardens! And if we can't visit this year, there's always next
year!

Attached is a *Registration/Waiver* form.
*Please complete the form* and e-mail it back to
jlawrence64@yahoo.com = or = fax it to (718) 387-5059.
Do it in advance - it will save us all time!

*We still need volunteers!
Route marshals & ride contacts, set-up, clean-up, etc.
If you can help out, please contact me!
*
*Thanks, and we look forward to seeing you on Sunday October 26!*

*-Julie
on behalf of the Bronx Garden Bike Tour Steering Committee
*
*jlawrence64@yahoo.com
(917) 865-0941 - mobile
(718) 387-5059 - fax*

Brook Park hosts Tribes of Humanity gathering

2008-10-22T10:31:00.000-04:00

Tribes of Humanity was a phenomenal success.. We glimpsed into the potential of our unity and beauty of our extended Community.. the reality is,
It is all about you, about us, the village, the Tribe, the Collective, the People indeed we have arrived. Our voices were heard, our drums were touched, we peered into one another’s Souls, we healed, we made music, we talked and connected, we grew, we evolved. We practiced ancient traditions & Native Ways ashe ashe as our Ancestors say ashe… ashe we came together that day in a sacred yet festive way…

The drums sounded reflecting the rhythms of the Earth
The smoke signals arose
Children’s laughter
Chopped wood
The Grandfather stones
Our bundles of Prayer
A sacred haven in the South Bronx called Brook Park
We stood in council
We honored the 4 winds and our Ancestors
African Aboriginal locks and Native Indigenous feathers mingled as one
There was honor and wisdom

A bond was made, an unspoken pact was drawn within ourselves, an innerstanding of our connection as children of the Earth that we are all Brothers and Sisters, Indeed this was the beginning of something special..

That day we entered Mother Earth’s womb and were reborn we’ve arrived the birth of a Tribe
Tribe of Humanity

This is when it gets interesting, that was the beginning stay tuned

"Green" exhibition at Haven Arts

2008-10-15T14:32:00.000-04:00

"Green" exhibition at Haven Arts

Haven Arts
50 Bruckner Blvd., Bronx, NY 10454

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact Carol Zakaluk at 718-292-8217 for information

“Green”
Curated by Carol Zakaluk

October 17 - October 25, 2008
Opening Reception: Friday, October 17, 5 - 9pm
Authors’ Talk: Wednesday, October 21, 5 - 8pm
Gallery Hours: Daily, noon - 6pm

Haven Arts is pleased to announce “Green,” a two-part exhibition. In Gallery I, we will showcase recent projects of organizations and individuals who strive to make both New York City and the nation a greener and more self-sustaining place. In Gallery II, we will present the work of dedicated eco-artists, and artists who use recycled materials and pigments made from earth.

Exhibiting in Gallery I, the organizations engaged in greening their communities are: Alliance For Climate Protection (posters and television ads from their national campaign), Friends of Brook Park (Mott Haven Tree Project, community garden work, and more), South Bronx CSA Program (growers and consumers providing mutual support), South Bronx Food Coop (providing affordable, nutritious, organic food), and The Bronx TNR Group (Trap, Neuter, and Return of feral cats as humane solution to too many strays). Also on display are sustainable design proposals for a new Willis Avenue, Bronx corridor, and an air-filtration system for the Major Deegan Expressway by five students from the Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation. Architect Juan Carlos Taino contributes green design proposals for the Melrose neighborhood in the Bronx.

Eco-art and earth-friendly art fills Gallery II. Environmental art as seen in this exhibition interprets nature, informs us about nature’s processes, and stridently calls attention to environmental problems we face. It re-envisions our relationship to nature, proposing new ways for us to co-exist with our environment. Some attempts to reclaim or remediate damaged environments, restoring ecosystems in artistic ways. One piece, created by an artist from South India, reverentially pays homage to the Earth as mother goddess. Included is work in sculpture, photography, painting, collage, and fiber art by participating artists Bob Braine, Jacob Bluestone, Harry J. Bubbins, Gian Pietro Carriozza, Janet Culbertson, Nickolas Lascot, MArishka, Walter Mason, Catherine Blackwell-Pena, Sarah Phillips, and Ustya Tarnawsky.

Highlights from “Green” in Gallery II include--

Catherine Blackwell-Pena’s participatory sculpture, where the viewer steps atop a 24” cement square to view a photo of a man on a hillside, standing on a similar square. The piece invites the viewer to heighten their environmental awareness as they assume a new vantage point both physically and mentally in a re-examination of the clash of culture and nature.

Walter Mason contributes elegantly beautiful, transient “land art” (captured with four photographs) for which he meticulously placed 238 dewdrops on Autumn leaves, and balanced over 80 pebbles on sticks, on sand, and on concrete.

Bob Braine offers eight prints, images taken of North Brother Island, just off the Bronx, depicting nature’s reclamation of the abandoned Riverside Hospital, the contagious disease sanitarium and later, psychiatric hospital. Braine additionally sent up a weather balloon with attached camera to capture the resurgence of nature through the derelict structures using infrared film.

Harry J. Bubbins offers photographs of his decade plus work in the South South Bronx in gardens and on the waters. With a sculptural installation featuring asphalt that was removed from an abandoned lot, to create more space for greenery.

Nickolas Lascot’s 13’ crocodile sculpture is a beast to be reckoned with, made from recycled newspaper, cardboard, home-made glue, various construction materials, and paint.

Authors’ Talk

On Wednesday, October 21st from 5 to 8pm, two nationally acclaimed environmentally-minded authors will speak about their work. Lori Bongiorno (author of "Green, Greener, Greenest: A Practical Guide to Making Eco-Smart Choices a Part of Your Life") and Eugene Linden (author of eight books, including "The Winds of Change: Climate, Weather, and the Destruction of Civilizations" and "The Future is in Plain Sight: Nine Clues to the Coming Instability"). After speaking, Ms. Bongiorno and Mr. Linden will answer questions from the audience. Contact carol@havenarts.org for additional flyer about the talk, or to rsvp for a large group of attendees.

Directions to Haven Arts: 6 train to 3rd Ave./138th St. Exit the station at the “Alexander Ave” staircase. Walk South on Alexander Ave.,four short blocks to Bruckner Blvd. Turn left and walk East on Bruckner Blvd., less than 1/2 block to gallery.

Tito Kayak paddles the South Bronx with FoBP!

2008-10-14T10:23:00.005-04:00

Friends of Brook Park was honored to outfit and guide the world renowned
environmental activist Tito Kayak of the Vieques movement, and other
efforts, on an exclusive tour of the waterways of the South, South Bronx.
The trip went south on the Harlem River, through the Bronx Kill, and into
the East River with a shoreline tour of North Brother Island. With a 4 foot
striped bass, swans, hawks, environmental devastation of Randall's Island
and more! Strong language. And freestyle rap at the end by Tito himself!
With BronxNet Director Michael aboard.

See the con ed electric feeder lines that block the Bronx Kill and prohibit
easy navigation between the East and Harlem Rivers.

Join our efforts to free the Bronx Kill, create official water access in the
South, South Bronx and preserve Randall's Island!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVyvHr69ek4

**See Tito Kayak's escape from police via kayak after a week long vigil on a
crane to halt development of luxury hotels in Puerto Rico that would have
ended public access to paddled and surfed beaches at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzoP-cKQaCI

Artificial Turf: DANGER!

2008-10-06T14:02:00.003-04:00

October 3, 2008

Honorable members of the City Council, Scott Stringer, Borough President of Manhattan and Board Member of Randall's
Island Sports Foundation (RISF) and Aimee Boden, the Executive Director of the RISF:

I appreciate your attendance or that of your representatives at the City Council Parks and Recreation Committee meeting on
Monday, September 22nd, 2008 entitled Oversight of the Randall's Island Sports Foundation and the NYC Parks
Department.

Dr. Crain - a psychologist, who has studied the impacts of lead ingestion by children on their development - provided
testimony that requires your immediate attention as he addressed the real dangers of exposure to lead in synthetic turf fields
in our city. It is therefore worthy of recapping to you.

In his public statements to you on the record (attached for your reference), Dr. Crain announced that the toxicity of
synthetic turf being used by both the Parks Department of Parks and Recreation and the RISF is significant having reached
dangerous levels of lead in both the polyethelene 'blades' and the pellets forming the base or cushion of the turf. A
peer-reviewed study to be published in the Journal of Exposure Science in November (also attached) provides more details
of these findings.

As Dr. Crain noted, esteemed heath scientists such as Philip J. Landrigan, Bruce Lanphear, and R.L. Canfield say there may
be no safe level of lead exposure. Even low levels can damage the child's developing nervous system. Dr. Crain called for
a moratorium on new installations until much more research has been conducted.

Public officials responsible for approving, monitoring or halting the use of synthetic turf also have the responsibility to take
actions to warn the public about this danger and should ensure at the very least that children under the age of 6 years are
kept from the fields until more is known.

Please take note that notice to you of such serious findings require immediate action for both legal and moral reasons and
that your positions as public officials do not insulate you from reckless actions you take in response to this new peer-
reviewed scientific data.

Would you please let me know what steps you are taking to inform the relevant city engineers and commissioners of this
matter and what steps they in turn are taking to remove this environmental threat to the health of those exposed to synthetic
turf?

Thank you for your good work.

Robert Jereski
Co-founder
New York Climate Action Group

On the Water with Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance

2008-09-28T12:23:00.003-04:00

"Hey, where you going with those boats?" from the driver of a moving van and "You need water for those things," from a man standing on the corner. These are the things you here when you wheel canoes on trailers through the South Bronx. That is exactly what a few friends of Brook Park did last Friday, along with Roland Lewis and Jennifer Stark-Hernandez from the Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance, an organization whose mission is to make New York waterways more accessible.

Our day on the river introduced Roland and Jennifer to the challenge of accessing the waterfront from the South Bronx (navigating canoes-on-wheels through traffic!) and the reward that is a beautiful and refreshing paddle through the Harlem River, Bronx Kill and East River. The midpoint of our trip was a picnic on Randall's island with view of North and South Brother Islands as well as the old docks and piers that give a snapshot of a time when the South Bronx waterfront was accessible and active.

Wheeling our canoes back to the park after our sunny afternoon on the water, we answered those questions- "We're taking these boats to the Harlem River. We''ve got water right here."

by Emily Sandusky

FoBP in NY Times article for Randall's Island Connector

2008-09-06T18:35:00.012-04:00

On the Water, a Tight Fit and Nervous Boaters

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/07/nyregion/thecity/07kaya.html?ref=thecity

Photo by: Rob Buchanan/newyorkharborbeaches.org

“It’s tricky to time it, to get under the conduits,” Rob Buchanan said of navigating the Bronx Kill.

By KATHERINE BINDLEY
Published: September 6, 2008
THERE are times when the narrow strait known as the Bronx Kill, which separates Randalls Island from the southern tip of the Bronx, looks neglected. At low tide one recent Saturday, for example, a T-shirt and a surge protector lay on the bottom, along with the remnants of a car that had turned the exact color of the rocks it had settled on.

But for canoers, kayakers and other boaters, who know to come when the tide is just right, the Bronx Kill is home to blue crabs and schools of fish, and serves as a precious passageway connecting the East and Harlem Rivers.

“It’s a natural day trip — float through, have a picnic and come back,” said Rob Buchanan, the president of the Village Community Boathouse in Manhattan.

But navigating the kill can be tricky. Directly over the water are two concrete beams, built by Con Edison in the 1960s, that contain cables that carry power to Randalls Island. Sometimes a boater has about a foot of clearance under the beams, but at other times it’s down to inches. “It’s tricky to time it, to get under the conduits,” Mr. Buchanan said.

Now, in light of significant changes planned for the area, boaters’ concerns have turned to this tight fit.

The first challenge was a plan to build a pedestrian bridge over the kill as part of the South Bronx Greenway project. When local officials and boating representatives heard the idea, they lobbied the city’s Economic Development Corporation to ensure that the bridge would be high enough for boat traffic. After seeing preliminary renderings of the bridge, the concerned parties were satisfied.

But now there is a second construction plan for the Bronx Kill. Con Edison wants to build more electrical conduits to Randalls Island to supply more power to a water treatment plant there.

The boaters say that if Con Ed proceeds with this project, it might as well raise the relatively low height of the current conduits. “If they’re going to do a big investment here, let’s do it all,” said Harry Bubbins, the director of Friends of Brook Park, a community environmental group that frequently runs boats through the kill. Noting that the undersides of the Con Ed beams show signs of decay, he added, “There’s a sense they’re just going to throw these things in.”

Chris Olert, a Con Ed spokesman, said that the utility hopes to finish the project by next summer. “We’re working with the city E.D.C., and I’m sure we and they together will address concerns,” he added. “There has to be sound engineering and the project has got to be affordable. Occasionally, people request things that just aren’t affordable for all of our customers.”

Meanwhile, Mr. Bubbins plans to continue to take people through the strait.

“We’re taking more people out to the site, introducing people to the project and raising awareness about it,” he said. “It’s very different when you’re on the water.”

Welcome Forward to School!

2008-09-02T10:02:00.004-04:00

From the youth at New Settlement's Bronx Helpers:

Welcome to Brook Park
When you first walk in you see flower beds
But not the kind where you lay your head

When you wish that you was in bed
And you know that you was never fed

When you go to Brook Park
You don't come to play
You come to work all day.

And my name is Trene
Here is what I have to say
Everything is green
That is all I see

All the bees in the trees
The dirt on our shirts
And the rocks in our socks

That's what happens in Brook Park!

Posted by:
Jennifer Classon, MSW
Bronx Helpers Program Director
New Settlement Apartments
1512 Townsend Avenue
Bronx, NY 10452
T: 718-716-8000 x. 116
F: 718-294-4085
j.classon@newsettlement.org

http://www.youtube.com/BronxHelpers

"Working for the Community to Better Our Lives!"

FoBP & Freedom Center Visit Urban Divers

2008-08-27T08:57:00.000-04:00

Garlic Fest!

2008-08-15T08:40:00.003-04:00

Garlicfest and Party, Brook Park

Come and get a free large organic South Bronx grown bulb of garlic to keep the
vampires away and the pizza delicious! With.... Our very own O.G. (Original
Gardener) DJ Danny on the wheels of steel. Last time out, on Mother's Day,
he had everyone dancing! Gardening, food and fun.

Your participation is wanted! Tables available for you to share your
service/information/project/performance. Bring food for all to share. Let us know how you can help!
To volunteer contact Vincent: varnce AT hotmail DOT com

Double your Donation!

2008-07-26T08:34:00.000-04:00

As you may know, a generous anonymous donor has offered to match dollar for dollar every contribution we garner until the end of July, now the first week of August, up to $5,000.

So, let's do it!

That means your $10 will be $20.
$100 will be $200.
$1000 will really be a $2000 contribution!

We know that this Challenge Grant will energize our generous environmentalists,

volunteers and supporters like you... to give today! Thanks to those of you who have already!

*** You can give online at the bottom of page:

http://www.friendsofbrookpark.org/donations

*** Or send a check or money order to:

Friends of Brook Park
PO Box 801 Bronx, NY 10454

We are open everyday in the summer, and there is lots to enjoy, from picking a fresh bowl of salad, to watching the graceful catbirds play, to chopping wood and getting ready for Autumn and Winter.

Mark your calendars for Garlic Fest on August 23rd where we give away over 600 heads of garlic grown in the South, South Bronx with DJ Danny and September 20 for a huge volunteer day you wont want to miss!

Please share this with your friends and contacts with a note, and give what you can to DOUBLE YOUR CONTRIBUTION!

Double your contribution today.

You can give online with credit card or paypal at the bottom of page:

http://www.friendsofbrookpark.org/donations

Or mail to:
Friends of Brook Park
PO Box 801
The Bronx, NY 10454

We need your support. Thank you again for all you do.

Harry J. Bubbins
Executive Director

Harlem River Canoe Trip Report

2008-07-17T10:26:00.006-04:00

“Go over to the right! Go over to the right! The Circle Line is coming!” Harry shouted.

Looking over our shoulders, we saw a giant tour ship chugging up the center of the Harlem River and adjusted our paddle strokes to edge close to the Bronx shoreline. We then pointed the noses of our canoes to ride into the large swells radiating out from the boat that had already rushed past us.

As the waters gradually subsided, our small fleet of four canoes resumed its bobbing journey up the river. Harry Bubbins, the Director of Friends of Brook Park, had invited myself and several other members of The Indypendent newspaper to get out of the office and enjoy a day on the water. What a great way to escape from the hustle and bustle of the big city.

Since the Harlem River (like the East River) isn’t really a river but a tidal estuary, we rode the current upstream in the morning and back downstream in the afternoon. In between, we parked our canoes just below the Roberto Clemente State Park and joined people from the neighborhood who were celebrating a giant picnic complete with teepees, games, environmental exhibits from urbandivers.org, fresh-pressed apple cider and an abundance of free food.

On the return trip back to the South Bronx, where Friends of Brook Park is based, we rowed into a strong headwind and watched numerous speedboats zipping by. We were moving at a crawl but speed isn’t everything. Being on the water on a warm summer day propelling yourself forward with nothing more than a three-foot long paddle is its own reward, a reminder that just beneath the frenetic rush of our 21st century lives an older, elemental way of being beckons.

This was the second time I’ve gone out on the water with Friends of Brook Park and I would recommend the experience to anybody looking to partake of one of New York’s most beautiful and overlooked treasures: its rivers.

John Tarleton is a writer and editor for The Indypendent (www.indypendent.org).
Photo by Renee Feltz of the Indypendent (www.indypendent.org) (Landing near the Urban Divers Eco Center.)

Racoon in Brook Park

2008-07-02T17:57:00.001-04:00

Not all were captured.

Survey for The Harlem River Task Force*

2008-07-02T10:01:00.001-04:00

Yes bikes yes on-water access yes kayaks and canoes...

Survey for The Harlem River Task Force*

The Harlem River Park Task Force is a coalition comprised of local,
citywide, and regional organizations working together with elected officials
to improve the quality of life in the Harlem & East Harlem communities. As
part of this mission, the task force is conducting a survey to better
understand the barriers to access of Harlem River Park for Harlem
residents. Five minutes of your time to fill out this survey will help the
task force in its efforts to provide better access to and encourage usage of
this waterfront park.

Click below to take the survey:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=aMf6ttbwI8PABr8m87xdjw_3d_3d

Liberty and Ellis Islands: Public Comment

2008-06-23T09:57:00.000-04:00

Dear Friends,

As many of you know, the USCG, National Parks Department and Homeland
Security are planning to expand the security zone around Liberty and Ellis
Islands. Among other things, the new zone will eliminate crossing between
the islands, push boaters closer to the channel, into rougher water
and higher density motor vehicle traffic.

About 6 weeks ago a number of paddlers had the opportunity to express their
concerns face to face with LCDR Mike McBrady, who heads up the Waterway
Management Division of USCG Sector New York. He followed up the exchange
with an email which stated that if the human powered community proposed a "
'kayaker corridor' between/behind the islands [to] improve safety while not
being detrimental to security (i.e. kayaks are small and slow and not the
vector of choice for terrorists trying to injure land based tourists or sink
vessels) that would definitely be considered as an option by the USCG and
USPS."

Many members of our community have already written letters and filed them
with Homeland Security, including Rob Buchanan for Village Community
Boathouse, Tim Gamble for Red Hook Boaters, Ilene Levenson for the Sebago
Canoe Club. There may be many more -- those are just the ones I am aware
of.

The Guild has also written a letter, and working with Rob & Tim, we have
drafted 3 proposals for the consideration of the USCG and National Parks.
(We submitted three because the Coast Guard encouraged us to submit more
than one proposed solution to the concerns we've raised). Please go to our
website to read the letter and review the proposed solutions to the problems
the new zone would cause.

http://www.hrpg.net/liberty-and-ellis-island-secur/

If you support maintaining a human powered boat corridor around and between
Liberty and Ellis Islands, please register, via the form provide, and we
will add your name, or organization, to the list of "signatories" to our
letter. This link will take you directly to the registration page.

http://www.hrpg.net/sol-supporters/

The public comment period for this proposed expansion ends July 7th, but due
to the holiday, we will be filing the final letter & charts with Homeland
Security on Wednesday, July 3rd, this week.

Many Thanks,
Bill Bergeron
President
HRPG

Friends of Brook Park film on YOU TUBE

2008-06-16T10:23:00.002-04:00

Hi Friends,

The Friends of Brook Park film produced in collaboration with the NYU students of Professor Mark Read is now posted on YouTube!!!

Check it out at

http://youtube.com/watch?v=OlZDwl9Sy1M

Make comments, send to friends, write checks.

Please share and distribute it, as it is our intention to use this as a vehicle for education, AND fundraising!

Online giving at:

http://friendsofbrookpark.org/donations

Thanks for all you do!

Hydrology Study Prepared for Underground Brook!

2008-06-09T13:37:00.005-04:00

We are making progress, thanks to you.

With the leadership and dedication of Aaron Petersohn, B.Arch. of Ira N. Pierce, P.E.,P.C.
Engineers+Architects+Planners+Environmental Scientists
we now have the estimate for the hydrology study at Brook Park.
which will help us identify the location and flow of the underground brook.

The Capital Project we are working on with the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation will feature the "daylighting" of this natural water feature, with enhancements from the recovered water from adjacent roofs.

Please contact:
Council Member Melissa Mark Viverito
105 E. 116th Street
New York, NY 10029
Phone
212-828-9800

Send a postcard or letter with thanks for her support and encouraging her efforts to have the Parks Department fund the hydrology study prepared by our environmental engineering consultants in a speedy manner. The Parks Department has already funded a previous soil study, but the outlined work plan we have prepared is what is needed to move this initiative forward.

Thanks!

Volunteer Thanks!

2008-05-30T11:13:00.003-04:00

Today is a special thanks day!

For our biannual It's Your Park Day, we want to thank the following people for dedicating their time and energy:

Frances, Ed, Rebecca, Elizabeth, Carlos, Jazmin, Danny, Dawn, Beno, Jude, Joel, John, Angel, Chawa, Salvador, Jon, Rafael, Jen, Tommy, Shaquelle, Juan, Terrence, Destiny, Cynthia, Marcus, Carla, Amber, Tomas and more!

And we are grateful for our interns
Emily Sandusky from The New School who has been working on our compost bins and sharing time with our weekly Green Team teen mentoring program with the Community School for Social Justice.

And
Tatiana Piletich from the Hunter College School for Social Work for conducting outreach in the local schools to promote our environmental education programming and increasing the participation of local youth in our efforts.

And finally, the Video Activism class of Professor Mark Read,
Chelsea, Megan, Shaina, Andy, and Christine for their efforts to create a short promotional video of our efforts to share in the community and for fundraising efforts.

And thank YOU for all you do.

FoBP Joins Efforts to Ensure Safe Environmental Testing

2008-05-20T08:15:00.001-04:00

Dear Friends,

Attached is a letter sent to Council President Christine Quinn signed by over 62 organizations opposing Int. 650-A.

Members of the coalition continue to believe that that despite the large number of drafts that the bill has had to go through to remove blatantly obvious flaws and objectionable provisions, the proposed bill continues to demonstrate the administration's failure to produce a carefully crafted bill which narrowly achieves its legislative intent.
Despite the changes made by the New York Police Department (NYPD), the proposed legislation is still fundamentally flawed. In our estimation, despite NYPD's stated intention, the bill would leave the city less safe, not more.

The most recent revision proposed seems intended to resolve the objection that the bill grants undue authority to seize detectors. It does not. While we have proposed language amending the proposed legislation which would improve the bill on this issue, we emphasize that it would not eliminate opposition to the intrusion and control over environmental monitoring and the negative public health implications.

Calls are needed now to members of the CityCouncil to urge that Int. 650-A be defeated. Please call your City Council representative and urge Int 650 be defeated.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.

125 Cedar Street Residents * 9/11 Environmental Action * Actor’s Equity Assn * Asian American Legal Defense Fund * American Littoral Society, NE Chapter * American Lung Assn of the City of NY * Asthma Free School Zones (Real World Foundation) * Battery Park City Community Emergency Response Team * CHEJ * Chinese Progressive Association * CEC * CWA, District 1 & Local 1180 * Concerned Stuyvesant Community * DC 37, AFSCME * EDF * Environmental Toxicology Laboratory * Friends of Brook Park * Healthy Schools Network * IATSE, Local 1 * Institute for Health and the Environment, University at Albany * League of Conservation Voters * Long Island Soundkeeper * Lower East Side Ecology Center * Manhattan Community Board #1, 3M, 6 * Maui Peace Action * NRDC * Natural Resources Protective Assn. * National Lawyers Guild, Environmental Justice Committee * NYC Group of the Sierra Club * NYC Central Labor Council * NYCLU * NYCOSH * NY Environmental Law & Justice Project * NY Lawyers for the Public Interest * NY/NJ Baykeeper, Inc. * NYPIRG * NY Soil and Water Conservation District * NY State Laborers International Union * NY State Public Employees Federation * Organization of Staff Analysts * PSC of CUNY, NYSUT, AFT * PHANYC * Riverkeeper, Inc. * RWDSU/UFCW * South Bridge Parents and Youth Assn. * Staten Island Taxpayers Assn., Inc. * StuyHealth * Sustainable South Bronx * The Environmental Health Clinic * The Gaia Institute * TWU, Local 100 * Tribeca Community Emergency Response Team * United Auto Workers, Region 9A * United Church of Christ * United Support & Memorial for Workplace Fatalities * Wellness in Schools * WEACT * Working Families Party * World Trade Center Community Labor Coalition * World Trade Center Environmental Organization * World Trade Center Residents Coalition

Volunteer Day Saturday May 17th

2008-05-13T13:49:00.002-04:00

Volunteer Day
Saturday May 17th, 10-2PM
Brook Park

10am- 2 pm

Volunteer Day

Dig your hands in the Earth, celebrate Spring!
We invite you to join us in giving active and loving care to our Brook
Park. We welcome both skilled and unskilled alike to join our team in making
improvements to our physical
environment. Depending on needs at the
time and the uniqueness of the group, we will tackle a variety of tasks
and/or a joint project.

Spread woodchips
Create beds permaculture style
Plant bushes
Plant a fruit tree!!!
Attend to the tipi, poles, ropes, pegs, etc.
Chop wood
Clear the tool-shed

More!

Please join us for a day
of service through focused and joyful work.
This event is in partnership with the NYC parks Department as part of It's
My Park! Day in May and October bring
thousands of volunteers to approximately 150 sites in all five boroughs.
Projects and events are organized by local
community groups, corporate partners, or Parks and City Parks Foundation
staff.

Film Premiere for Friends of Brook Park

2008-05-05T00:35:00.003-04:00

Friends of Brook Park, and future friends,

YOU ARE INVITED!

This is a great opportunity to check in on our efforts and to bring
potential contributors to see an informative and fun short film of our
important work in the South Bronx.

WHAT: Film premiere of Friends of Brook Park

The end-of-semester screening of videos to come out of Professor
Read's Gallatin Community Learning Initiative course, "Shifting
Focus."

WHERE: The historic 6th Street Community Center, located at 638 E.
6th St. in the Lower East Side.

WHEN: May 8th, at 7:30pm.

This semester the Shifting Focus class collaborated with three
community activist organizations to produce some amazing short videos
highlighting and promoting the work of:

Friends of Brook Park
The Youth Leadership Council,
The Restaurant Opportunity Center

Please
Come out,and bring friends. The event is very open to the public, and
refreshments will be served. FREE!

Randall’s Island Connector (RIC) project

2008-04-30T12:40:00.006-04:00

April 30, 2008

Mayor Michael Bloomberg
City Hall
New York, NY 10007

Seth W. Pinsky, President
NYC Economic Development Corporation
110 William Street
New York, NY 10038

Hello,

We are writing to encourage the swift implementation of the entire South Bronx Greenway and to draw your attention to a particular concern regarding the Randall’s Island Connector (RIC) project.

We understand that the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) is seeking a Consultant to create schematic designs, design development and construction documents for the Randall’s Island Connector (RIC) project to build an at-grade bicycle/pedestrian pathway extending south of 132nd Street in the Bronx (underneath an existing Amtrak trestle) across the Bronx Kill into Randall’s Island. We know this is part of the larger South Bronx Greenway Master Plan with funding provided through Federal Highway Administration Funds.

We appreciate that Randall’s Island is an enormous park resource for all New Yorkers, and that this initiative to increase bike, pedestrian and skater access will do much to allay concerns in adjacent neighborhoods for the equitable use of passive and active recreational space.

However, the unique design feature that MUST be included in any finally approved design schematic is one that will allow on-water continuity along the Bronx Kill between the East and Harlem Rivers under the proposed connector. In order to permit the safe passage of human-powered craft, including kayaks, canoes and rowing vessels, the connector over the waterway will need to provide at least six vertical feet of clearance at maximum high tide as well as a horizontal span of at least 20 feet between any supporting structures. A navigable passage through the Bronx Kill is essential for the development of safe recreational boating in New York harbor and ongoing paddling and rowing programs, as well as the NYC Parks Water Trail, could be jeopardized without taking this into account.

We look forward to working with you to ensure that a satisfactory design is the outcome of a process sensitive to the diverse array of stakeholders eager to participate in the success of this initiative. Please respond in writing at your earliest convenience to the list below.

Sincerely, Complete List on Page 2

Randall’s Island Connector (RIC) project Letter Page 2.

Signatories:

Ludger K. Balan
Executive Director, The Urban Divers Estaury Conservancy
641 Henry Street
Brooklyn, NY 11231

Harry J. Bubbins
Director, Friends of Brook Park
PO Box 801
The Bronx, NY 10454

Rob Buchanan
Assistant Professor, Eugene Lang College
65 West 11th Street, Room 068
New York, NY 10011

Tim Gamble
Red Hook Boaters, Volunteer Coordinator
P.O. Box 24403, Brooklyn, NY 11202-4403

Mark Handy
Secretary, Inwood Canoe Club
P.O. Box 562
New York, NY 10034

Jeremy Hooper
Downtown Boathouse Inc.
West Village Station Box 20214
NY NY 10014

ADDED:

Erik Baard
Founder and Chair
LIC Community Boathouse
4120 29th Street 4A
LIC, NY 11101

Joel Kupferman, Esq.
Director, NYC Environmental Law & Justice Project
351 Broadway, #400
New York, NY 10013-3902

Caroline Samponaro
Transportation Alternatives
127 W. 26th St., Suite 1000
New York, NY 10001-6808

Geoffrey Croft - president
NYC Park Advocates
222 East 93rd Street
New York, NY 10128 - Suite 40H

Marina Ortiz, Founder and President
East Harlem Preservation
1622 Madison Avenue #5A
New York, NY 10029

Bronx Kill Navigational Survey, with Professor Rob Buchanan of The New School

2008-04-16T09:27:00.003-04:00

On April 12, I biked up to Randall’s Island to take a look at the Bronx Kill, the short, narrow strait that connects the Harlem and the East Rivers. I’d heard conflicting reports about how easily small boats could negotiate it, and in particular about one extremely low bridge at the east end, under the railroad trestle. I was curious: a navigable Bronx Kill could be a great thing for human-powered boaters--a shortcut around Hell Gate, and a cool, protected inside passage from one side of the Bronx to the other.

When I got to the island, about 12:30, the tide seemed to be dead low (for reference purposes, low water at the Battery that morning was 8:46 am). At the eastern end, in fact, it was almost completely dry, with just a trickle of water running out under the aforementioned bridge--which, as it turned out, was not exactly a bridge but a twin set of arching concrete beams. Beneath the beams (which apparently carry electrical lines) there was the usual assortment of slimy rocks and old tires, and about five feet of headroom.

In short, at low water, the Bronx Kill seems to be more or less unboatable. But what about high tide?

Read the rest of this account, with stunning photos, and Professor Buchanan's harbor and river adventures at: Bronx Kill Adventure

April with Friends of Brook Park

2008-03-31T14:11:00.003-04:00

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/

*****************************
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.

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

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

*****************************

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

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

*****************************

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.
*****************************

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.
*********************

Friday April 11 Students from PS 30
2:30

*********************

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.
*****************************

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.

*****************************
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)
*************************************

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

*************************************

Thanks!

Historic Brook Records!

2008-03-27T14:16:00.001-04:00

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

2008-03-27T11:16:00.004-04:00

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

2008-03-21T11:21:00.003-04:00

Thanks to all who joined us, over 100 volunteers!
****************************
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.

***********************************

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

2008-03-05T10:55:00.004-05:00

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

_____
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

2008-03-02T11:59:00.006-05:00

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.

Rally for Randall's Island

2008-02-15T11:06:00.007-05:00

WALK IN THE PARK COMMUNITY MARCH/RALLY TO & AT RANDALL’S ISLAND
Sunday, February 24th - 1:00 PM
Meet at the Entrance to the Triborough Bridge Southeast Corner of 2nd Avenue @ 125th Street

VOICE YOUR CONCERNS AND DEMAND THAT THE CITY & PARKS DEPARTMENT:

• Provide Increased Access to Ball Fields for Local Schools and Organizations
• Abolish the Private School Franchise Contract & Develop a More Open and Fair Permitting Process
• Go thru Land Review (ULURP) Process & Prepare Environmental Impact Statement
• Improve Safety and Public Transportation & Stop the Implementation of Artificial Turf
• End Private Parties That Prohibit Access to Public Park Land
Open the 103rd Street Bridge Now!
Implement the South Bronx Greenway Now!
New Leadership at RISF Now!

PARTICIPANTS: Council Member Melissa Mark-Viverito • East Harlem Preservation • Class Size Matters • NYC Park Advocates • New York Environmental Law & Justice Project • Friends of Brook Park * Urban Divers* •East Harlem Little League • Harlem R.B.I. • Community Association of East Harlem Triangle Inc. Call (212) 828-9800 to Register Your School, Church or Community Organization.

14th Annual Bronx Parks Speak Up

2008-01-30T10:59:00.000-05:00

14th Annual Bronx Parks Speak Up

Saturday, February 23, 2008
1:00 - 5:00 PM.
Registration, Music by Spuyten Duyvil and Lunch at 12:30 PM

Lehman College Faculty Dining Room, Music Building
250 Bedford Park Blvd West
between Jerome Ave & Goulden Ave

Take the Bx10 or Bx26 bus, D or 4 train to Bedford Park Blvd

For more info please email bxspeakup@hotmail.com
If you would like to table please send an email to
bxspeakuptabling@hotmail.com by 2/19/08

Presentations:
Yankee Stadium Replacement Parks
Storm Water Infrastructure
Rocking the Boat
New Yorkers for Parks

Workshops:
Getting Involved with Environmental Issues in Your Neighborhood
Earth Boxes & Youth
Taking Care of Street Trees

Panel Discussion (2:15 to 3:50 p.m.)

The Turf Debate: Artificial Grass vs. Natural Grass in Parks and Open Spaces
Geoffrey Croft, President, NYC Parks Advocates
Charles McKinney, Chief of Design, Capital Projects, Parks and Recreation
William Crain, Professor of Psychology, The City College of New York
Paul Mankiewicz, Executive Director, The Gaia Institute
Moderator is Yvonne Campbell-Cole, pro-Bronx advocate and BCEQ volunteer.

Water and Air Quality Testing Threatened

2008-01-21T17:20:00.001-05:00

Mayor Bloomberg and the City Council are rushing to push through
a bill, 2007 Intro 650, which would require police department -
issued permits for anyone or organization to possess
environmental monitoring equipment or to conduct environmental
investigations with instrumentation to measure air or water
pollutants, radiation, or biological contamination. If such
police department permit is not issued, the perpetrator has
committed a misdemeanor. There are all kinds of impediments in
the bill to persons other than City officials owning or using
environmental monitoring equipment. This quashes scientific and
educational investigations, making the government the sole
authority in assessing the health of our air and water.

This is a serious move on the part of the NYC Council to hinder
environnmental assessments, even by environmental engineers who
serve our patients by identifiying toxic exposures. Please
distribute this widely.

Here are excerpts of the language of the bill:
It shall be unlawful for any person to possess or deploy a
biological, chemical or radiological detector in the city of New
York unless such person holds a valid permit therefor, provided
that the commissioner in his or her discretion may exclude by
rule any class or type of biological, chemical or radiological
detector that shall not require such permit because requiring a
permit therefor would not further the purposes of this chapter.

While the proliferation of these capabilities may represent a
positive development in furthering public safety, such
instruments should be deployed and operated only with the
knowledge of the Police Department and other appropriate City
agencies. Moreover, the City has an interest in the reliability
and effectiveness of these instruments so that their deployment
will not cause excessive false alarms and unwarranted anxiety
that a large-scale public emergency is occurring. Therefore, the
Council finds that, to further the public safety, the possession
and deployment of biological, chemical and radiological detectors
should be regulated by the issuance of permits and the
promulgation of standards for such detectors and their use, and
that alarms triggered by such detectors should be immediately
reported according to prescribed procedures.

Here's the very short, very damaging bill:

http://webdocs.nyccouncil.info/textfiles/Int%200650-2007.htm?CFID\
=1037835&CFTOKEN=99377284

I understand that there may be another hearing within the next
few days and that the Mayor and City Council Speaker want to push
this through this coming week. For the time being, the New York
Committee on Occupational Safety and Health (NYCOSH) is serving
as the point organization for those organizations and scientists
who are against this bill. Their contact information is: Dave
Newman, (212) 227-6440, dave@nycosh.org. Their testimony is at:
http://www.nycosh.org/pdf/NYC_council_Joint_Testimony1_08_08.pdf
>

We don't have much time. Please forward this widely and
especially to national, professional organizations if you have
contacts there.

Please send comments or suggestions on Int 650 to Massiel Garcia
in the Mayor’s Office of City Legislative Affairs,
MGarcia@cityhall.nyc.gov, and please copy Alix Pustilnik, Deputy
Director, City Council Government Operations Division, at
Legpusti@council.nyc.gov.

Maggie Clarke, Ph.D.
www.MaggieClarkeEnvironmental.com
Environmental
Scientist, Educator
mclarke@hunter.cuny.edu

Water and Air Quality Testing Threatened

2008-01-21T17:20:00.000-05:00

MulchFest 2008 Video! Only 3 Minutes.

2008-01-18T12:20:00.000-05:00

A special 3 minute video about our Mulchfest 2008, saving discraded x-mas and solstice trees from an ignoble demise.
Chip in! Mulch your tree! Help NYC grow. With interviews, rare never before seen footage of trees being chipped, the neighbors who brought their trees for a proper transformation, and freestyling to "Slick Rick" by 98.7 KISS DJ squad.

MulchFest 2008! and Volunteer Days

2008-01-01T11:23:00.000-05:00

Saturday and Sunday

January 5th and 6th
10am to 2PM

Volunteer Days

Recover olde x-mas/solstice trees, celebrate winter!
MulchFest 2008: Chip In! Mulch Your Tree! Help NYC Grow.

Saturday, Jan 05, 2008
10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Citywide

MulchFest provides New Yorkers an opportunity to bring their Christmas trees to designated sites where they are ground into wood chips. The chips can then be placed in tree pits and gardens.

Parks & Recreation encourages New Yorkers to help the environment and their community by participating in this event. MulchFest takes place on January 5 & 6, 2008 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Participants are encouraged to bring bags to take advantage of the free mulch provided.

Please note:
* All lights, ornaments, and decorations must be removed from the trees prior to drop-off.
* Participants will be able to take wood chips and/or mulch home from designated chipping sites. Mulch will not be available at sites marked as "Drop-off Only."
See here for other sites: http://nycgovparks.org/services/mulchfest/mulchfest.html

Once again we host the city-wide MulchFest with the NYC Department of Parks
and Recreation. Bring your tree, or help us get some. Bring a bag to take
home woodchip mulch for your garden or fire-escape.

We invite you to join us in giving active and loving care to our Brook
Park. We welcome both skilled and unskilled alike to join our team in
making improvements to our physical environment. Depending on needs at the
time and the uniqueness of the group, we will tackle a variety of tasks
and/or a joint project. Please join us for a fun period of service through
focused and joyful work.

Please let us know if you are intending to participate and
sign
up through our website via the Volunteer section

http://www.friendsofbrookpark.org/volunteer

if you haven't done so already in the past.
____________
On the 6th, which is three kings day, some of us may go to an
anti-gentrification march in el barrio...so bring your bike!
______
Great Youtube video with Friends of Brook Park!
Leave a comment there!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qPQIWnNqew&eurl
________
Jan 12th Water Conference at American Museum of Natural History, table with
us for an hour or two!

Environment Story

2007-12-11T12:29:00.001-05:00

Check out the new 2 minute television clip featuring our efforts to create the only waterfront park in Port Morris and Mott Haven neighborhoods of the South Bronx, and connected to our larger efforts to expand on the East River and up the Harlem River. With interviews of Harry Bubbins, Carol Zakaluk, and also highlights the work of our friends at Urban Divers, with their tipi set up!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qPQIWnNqew

Leave a youtube comment!

We remember Sandra Hernandez

2007-12-03T14:16:00.000-05:00

Sandra Hernandez was instrumental in helping to launch Brook Park. As a respected elder in the community she supported our efforts from the beginning and involved the youth from Freedom Communuty Center in our joint activities and events over the years. We look to dedicating a tree, painting a mural or naming a street or engaging in some action to remember her. Harry

From the prestigious Union Square Awards description...

SANDRA HERNANDEZ
founder & director, FREEDOM COMMUNITY CENTER

Sandra Hernandez is the founder and director of the Freedom Community Center (Freedom), which was created to improve the quality of life for residents in a four-block area of Mott Haven. It is staffed by volunteers who live in the neighborhood and dedicate their efforts to community service programs that increase availability of quality housing, enhance delivery of social services and build community capacity. Specifically, Freedom offers support to families as they relocate from homeless shelters, temporary housing or substandard housing by providing case management, information, leadership training and referrals. Freedom works with the elderly, substance abusers and the physically disabled to provide referrals for mental and health care, job training and placement assistance.

A walk down 139th Street reflects concrete evidence of Freedom's organizing work. At a 10-story building on the block, Ms. Hernandez helped organize a tenants' association that convinced the Department of Housing and Urban Development to make improvements. Several neatly fenced empty lots on the street are products of a march on the City Sanitation Department. Freedom plans to continue addressing issues raised by residents at open meetings. The goal is to make institutions accountable to the community and people that they are funded to serve.

455E 140th Street, Basement
Bronx, NY 10454
phone: 718-402-2236
fax: 718-402-2236

I leave you with some words From our sister Esperanza Martell...

Sandra was a powerful sister who dedicated her life to her family and community. She is the first of our Circle Sister's to pass,becoming our loving ancestor. She will be missed by all those that worked with her and were touch by her love. When Sandra came to the first Circles and experience its power of transformation. She made sure she broth us to her block. She is the reason CASA ATABEX ACHE is were it is physically. She is the reason the young women's program was created. She served on the CASA broad, learned every thing she could and with our support created the Freedom Community Center to supplement our work. Many of our young women begun with Sandra and at the age of12 came to CASA. We worked with parents jointly. She wanted to make sure our youth did not sarcoma to the street culture as she had. Her work to free her spirit from all the ills of capitalism was powerful. Sandra we learned so much from you. She was against the war being waged in her community and across the world. She went with us to Cuba, supported us taking community youth to Viegues,PR and was with us at peace demonstrations and many women rights conferences all over the country. She was generous, carriages, sister worrier and friend.
Beloved Sandra we will never forget you. To your family we send our love. We will continue to stand with the women and children of Mott Haven of the world. We Love You and Thank You for Being You. Con Mucho Amor.
Esperanza Martell

Funeral Information

St. Peters Church

427E 140th Street Between Willis and Brook Ave

Bronx, NY

Tuesday December 4th 3-9 pm (Viewing)

Wednesday December 5th 10am (Funeral)

Subject: Sandra Hernandez Passed away...

December 2, 2007

Dear Community Members:

It is with great sadness that I inform you that Sandra Perez, aka Sandra Hernandez, founder of Freedom Community Center, longtime community organizer and activist died on Friday, November 30, 2007,after a long battle with cancer.

Viewing will be held at St. Peter's Church on Tuesday, December 4th from 3 PM to 9 PM. Funeral Services will be held at St. Peter's Church on Wednesday, December 5 th at 10 AM.

St. Peter's Church
427 East 140th Street
(Btw Brook & Willis Avenues)
Bronx, NY 10454

Sincerely,
Joe Perez

Teen Testimonial

2007-12-03T11:21:00.000-05:00

Alexandria Fields Bronx Helpers December 2007

A few weeks ago, we, the Bronx Helpers went to Brook Park. The first activity we did was discussing the type of plants that were in the garden. The host, Harry Bubbins, had us taste some of the plant leaves that we were viewing. There were spearmint, licorice, tomatoes, radishes, and peppermint. I tasted all of them but I didn’t like any of them but the tomatoes. Even the tomatoes tasted kind of tart, though. I wouldn’t even have tasted half of the plants there but the other Bronx Helpers seemed to like it so I gave them a try.
After tasting the plant leaves, we moved onto harvesting some of the vegetables. It was freezing so I wanted to be working as hard as possible to get warm. I raked the plants and broke the soil and then when I was done I switched to shoveling. It was hard work but it was keeping me warm so I kind of enjoyed it. The other Bronx Helpers started placing hay on top of the soil when we were all finished harvesting. We had harvested potatoes, radishes, tomatoes, and some other vegetables. Jennifer and the other facilitators made a hot stew out of the harvest while we finished our jobs.
When I finished helping the Bronx Helpers place the hay on top of the soil, I took a break. I went to go sit by the campfire. I had never sat around a bonfire before. While I was sitting there, Harry asked some of the others and I that were finished to help the boys stack the wood they had just chopped. When I was finished with that, he asked me to return the shovels and rakes neatly to the tool shed.
When I had finished returning all of the tools, Jennifer said that we were going to walk through the labyrinth. I looked around I didn’t see anything but wood, the garden and some trees. Then they led us over to this concrete lot across the garden and then I saw it. It was a maze that had been colorfully painted onto the pavement. I thought it was kind of weird that we were actually going to walk through it, especially because it was such a narrow path. Jennifer had then asked Stephanie, one of the Bronx Helpers to lead us through and as we started going, it became sort of fun. Then it got confusing at a point and I couldn’t wait until we got out.
As soon as we did, the stew was ready and we all took pieces of vegetables out of it to eat. It was delicious. I especially like the potatoes. Also it really warmed me up. Harry then told me that since he saw that I was working the hardest, when it came time to eat toasted marshmallows, I could have the first one. We went over to a pile of twigs and he showed me which one to pick off to use to toast the marshmallows. After I chose one, we walked over to the fire and he showed us how to toast them. I never had toasted marshmallows before. They were so good. I had to be careful not to burn it though, which was difficult.
After that was done, we said good-bye to everyone there and when we walked back, I parted with the group at the train station to go home. Brook Park was a really good experience. I had done things that I never did before, such as harvesting plants and eating toasted marshmallows. Even though it was so cold, I enjoyed it and look forward to doing it again sometime.

Garden Dance Performance: by Sabine Heubusch

2007-11-27T11:47:00.000-05:00

December 12, 2007
Time: Afternoon,

What: Garden Dance Performance: by Sabine Heubusch

Please let us know if you will bring your students to enjoy:

- Brief Seasonal Hand’s on Tour of Garden
- Special GARDEN DANCE performance
- Quick Dance/Movement Workshop Exploration

The dancer brings the audience to different places in the garden. The audience has the freedom to place themselves around the performer. The slow pace of the dance provides space for the audience to take in the complexity and details of the garden. Participants connect to Nature’s richness - to its smells, colors, shapes, sounds, and its peacefulness.

RSVP!!!!!!
Depending on the response we will have one or two performances in the afternoon of the 12th.

Please email with your name, school, grade, cell phone and number of students by November 30th.
Heavy rain, and or super frigid weather cancels. Snow is fine!

About the performer:
Dancer Sabine Heubusch received her BA in Music and Movement from the University for Music and Performing Arts in Vienna. After winning a dance scholarship from the Austrian Ministry of Arts and Education, she moved to New York. Sabine has performed in various New York City venues, including Dixon Place, Soho Joyce, Pentacle, and Limelight.
In 2001, she began to focus on site-specific outdoor performances, and in 2005, she founded RASA Dance. Currently she is performing her new piece in Brooklyn Bridge Park. A certified teacher of Alexander Technique, Yoga, and Pilates Mat, Sabine teaches adults, children, and children with special needs in New York and throughout Europe. See: http://www.spinelight.com for more information.

FoBP in El Diario newspaper: Indigenous perspective on what Thanksgiving means

2007-11-25T13:39:00.000-05:00

Luto indígena en Acción de Gracias
LOCALES - 11/23/2007
Judith Torrea (Click on the picture for larger image)

http://www.eldiariony.com/noticias/detail.aspx?section=17&desc=Locales&id=1760582

(you can leave a comment at the link)

NUEVA YORK — Sin un pavo ni nada que recuerde que ayer la mayoría de los estadounidenses celebraron Acción de Gracias, Roberto Borrero honró a los indígenas que fueron masacrados cuando los colonizadores británicos llegaron a este país.

Es la otra cara de la historia —la que nunca se cuenta en los libros de texto de las escuelas escritos con la visión de los ganadores— la que conmemoró Roberto Barrero, nacido en El Barrio, de origen Taíno (los indígenas de Puerto Rico y del Caribe), la que poco a poco seduce a más personas.

“Si no celebramos las persecuciones de Adolf Hitler, ¿por qué debemos de celebrar la matanza de nuestros pueblos nativoamericanos? ¿Es que somos menos que los otros? Este día es un día de duelo y reflexión donde se muestra la injusticia global hacia las comunidades indígenas”, explicó Roberto Borrero, miembro de United Confederation of Taíno People (confederación unida del pueblo taíno).

Ayer, en casa de Borrero y su esposa Joselyn, y sus pequeños Nakota (“alguien a que le gusta hacer amigos”, en lengua Dakota) y Mainaku (“jardín sagrado” en Taíno) se abrió un espacio para el recuerdo en torno a una ceremonia. Para ellos, es el Día del Duelo Indígena. “Los mismos parámetros que se utilizan ahora para construir un muro en la frontera con México, en lugar de hacerlo con la de Canadá, se remontan al origen de cómo se percibe a los pueblos indígenas”, explicó Borrero.

Para mostrar la historia de la voz arrebatada, organizaciones como Harlem River Ecology Center descubren las tradiciones de los pueblos nativoamericanos, los que primero habitaron estas tierras. Una jornada de artesanía, con danzas indígenas, la construcción de un Tipi (cabaña) o la degustación de comida tradicional –como la celebrada el sábado- permite a las familias valorar al pueblo indígena.

“Es importante conocer la riqueza de las comunidades indígenas en este país, como la de todos los pueblos. Yo también soy inmigrante”, manifestó Ludger K. Balan, fundador de Harlem River Ecology Center. En las escuelas de la ciudad de Nueva York, la mayoría de los niños aprenden una versión de la historia y para ellos, el Día de Acción de Gracias es la celebración de una cena iniciada por los colonos de Plymouth (Massachussets) en 1621, donde los colonos británicos dieron gracias a los nativos de la zona, los wampanoags, por haberles enseñado lo que necesitaban para sobrevivir en esta nueva tierra.

“La perspectiva indígena es una que las escuelas pueden decidir presentar a sus estudiantes. Enseñar el contexto histórico y cultural de celebraciones americanas está contemplado dentro de los lineamientos de la enseñanza de estudios sociales, pero queda a discreción de las escuelas decidir que programa específico utilizar”, dijo Maibe González Fuentes, portavoz del Departamento de Educación de la ciudad de Nueva York.

Rodeado de un oasis de encuentro con la naturaleza, en el sur de El Bronx, llamado Brook Park, Roberto Borrero divisa el futuro mirando hacia las entrañas del pasado.

“Debemos seguir trabajando para que las escuelas enseñen la historia de los pueblos indígenas. La opresión actual es reflejo del desconocimiento del pasado”, apuntó Borrero.

FoBP Holiday Annual Appeal

2007-11-23T06:30:00.000-05:00

November 2007

Dear Friend of Brook Park:

Once again the Holidays beckon and as usual FoBP is asking you to remember us with your year-end gift. In our advocacy and programming we have achieved many goals as well as being recognized for our excellence – citywide.

Some of the highlights include:

Our leadership, deft strategy and tireless persistence led to an exemplary victory -- the preservation of 26 acres of public parkland on Randall's Island, by defeating the Giuliani-era "waterpark" that many said was a "done deal".

We have served hundreds of youth with our unique environmental educational programming, on land and the waters, hosted indigenous cultural activities that draw world-renowned facilitators and guests and sponsored special events, like the recent Halloween safe haven with Council Member Melissa Mark Viverito and the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation.

FoBP is recognized as a leader in grass-roots visioning and planning, with our Director receiving a Certificate of Recognition through the Yolanda Garcia Community Planner Award of the prestigious Municipal Art Society.

There’s much, much more to write about but you can go to our website and blog for the latest updates, http://www.friendsofbrookpark.org/blog or you can join us for one of our events to see what everyone is talking about.

Your contribution now will ensure the continuation of the initiatives mentioned above and many other FoBP activities that contribute to the quality of life of so many in The South, South Bronx and the entire New York City region. And, if your employer provides matching gifts for its employee contributions, inquire in your office as to how they can add to your support for FoBP. You can donate directly hre:

Friends of Brook Park
PO Box 801
The South, South Bronx, NY 10454

With continuing best wishes during this Holiday Season.

Sincerely,

Harry J. Bubbins
Director

P.S. Please share this with your friends and family with a note of your experiences with us.

If you have further ideas about hw we can generate more resources for our efforts, and want to get involved, contact me today!

646.206.5288

All Things Parks and Environmental

2007-11-13T10:17:00.000-05:00

If you are in NYC, please attend....

You can ask/tell the Bronx parks Commissioner as a Friend of Brook Park!

*Move forward with the community design for Brook Park, with the underground
brook, labyrinth, fruit trees and outdoor classroom

*Move forward the south bronx waterfront park on the Harlem River

(Thank Helen Foster for helping to stop the randall's island waterpark)

__________________________________________________________
You are invited to an evening of. All Things Parks and Environmental

Weds, Nov. 14th 6 - 9 PM

Vladeck Hall of historic Amalgamated Housing Cooperative

74 Van Cortlandt Park South, Hillman Avenue Entrance

Appetizers, Finger Food, and Refreshments will be served

Three prominent Bronx Environmentalists as our Guest Speakers :

a.. Bronx Parks Commissioner Hector M. Aponte
a.. Council Member Helen D. Foster, 16 CD (Parks Chair)
a.. Assemblyman Jeffrey M. Dinowitz, 81 AD
Co-sponsored with the Friends of Van Cortlandt Park
For more information, directions or to RSVP, please e-mail:
Karen.Argenti@bceq.org or Christina@vancortlandt.org or call (718)
601-1460

Halloween party success!

2007-11-07T19:23:00.000-05:00

We hosted over 300 people for our Halloween party in partnership with Council Member Melissa Mark Viverito. The garden was decked out with hay bails and over 50 pumpkins for the youth to carve and decorate, thanks to the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation. There was apple bobbing with apples purchased form our CSA project, face painting, games and music. Thanks also to Freedom Community Resource Center, and Pueblo En Marcha and all of our volunteers.

Paddle with CSX and Waste Management

2007-10-30T19:06:00.000-04:00

What a wonderful day it was to take out with our canoe fleet representatives from neighboring CSX and Waste Management companies. We wanted to show them even more the exciting Harlem River Park site we have been working on to create public access. We discussed safety and ecological issues and how we can work together to achieving greater access to the waterfront for our commmunities. With the current we paddled south and through the Bronx Kill between the South Bronx and Randall's Island. Te leaves were coming in Autumn splendor and we shared a splendid lunch in the neighborhood afterwards.

"Standing Silent Nation"

2007-10-24T19:00:00.000-04:00

"Standing Silent Nation" The film details the Lakota struggle to provide income for the poorest county in the nation through the production of industrial hemp only to have the federal government destroy the crops and arrest community members.This compelling documentary chronicles the story of this Native American family’s struggle and their assertion of sovereignty retained by the Lakota in the Ft. Laramie Treaties with the United States of both 1851 and 1868.
For more information on this event at : Bluestockings Bookstore
http://indigenousvoices.wordpress.com/

Kent Lebsock
917-751-4239 or iamkent@verizon.net
Kent Lebsock
Program Administrator
Owe Aku - Bring Back the Way
International Human Rights and Justice Program
Indigenous Voices : http://indigenousvoices.wordpress.com/

http://indigenousvoices.wordpress.com/
http://bringbacktheway.com/default.htm
http://www.firstvoicesindigenousradio.org/
http://www.bluestockings.com/events.html
http://www.pbs.org/pov/pov2007/standing/

Standing Silent Nation Help Our Generations To Be Free : by Debra White Plume

As the White Plume extended family, we engaged in an act that some call heroic, some ridicule as a thin veil for the legalization of majiuana, while others do not know what response to register. In a conversation about this action we are taking, there probably will be controversy. After all, we chose to step out of a box of conditioned thought . Some people hail this action as assertion of sovereignty retained by the Lakota in the Ft. Laramie Treaties with the United States of both 1851 and 1868. We believe this is core to our action, we are asserting our legal, sovereign right to live according to the laws of our people. In addition to this assertion, we believe there is a way out of the poverty and oppression weighing heavily on the Oglala Lakota, known as the “Oglala Sioux Tribe”, who have had the distinction of living in the poorest county in America for the past twenty-some years... cont'd on weblinks above.

Halloween Party!

2007-10-23T12:36:00.001-04:00

Halloween madness

Brook Park

4PM - 6PMWednesday Oct. 31

( Brook Avenue, E. 140-141st Street, Bronx, NY)

Thanks to: NYC Council Member Melissa Mark Viverito, NYC Department of Parks & Recreation, Friends of Brook Park, Freedom Community Resource Center, and Pueblo En Marcha.

Face Painting
Pumpkin Carving
Storytelling
Best Costume Contest
Games and More . . .

Halloween Fiesta de

Brook Park

4PM - 6PM

talla de calabazas

juegos y más . . .miercoles 31 de Octubre
( Avenida Brook, entre las calles
140 y 141, del este Bronx, NY)

pintura de cara
cuentos de miedo
competencia del mejor difraz
Gracias a: Concejal Melissa Mark Viverito, Departamento Parques y Recreo, Amigos de Brook Park, Freedom Community Resource Center, y Pueblo En Marcha.

VOLUNTEER!

Mule in Garden & Autumn Invitation

2007-09-30T09:41:00.000-04:00

Happy Autumn!

We at Friends of Brook Park want to invite you to join us at Brook Park between 140th and 141st Street and Brook Avenue entering through 141st Street. Thanks to our expanding community we are making great, green things happen in our neighborhood. As you know, more gardens and parks and trees improve our health and quality of life. Where else nearby can we experience such peaceful Nature?

The summer is over, and with the new school year, we have a great series of activities for students, youth and even adults. Did you get to see the mule in the park yesterweek? Or the presentation by Ed Wiley, form West Virginia, about the dangers of coal Mountain Top Removal?

Parents are welcomed to get involved to have a safe, creative space for imagination, and for teachers to bring the youth out. Some of you have hosted parties and celebrations already. Our only rules? Clean up before and after, no drugs and no alcohol. Of course.

We are providing educational experience with our “No Child Left Inside” program, growing food on 140th for the Farmer’s Market on 138th Street across from St’ Luke’s, offering volunteer and training opportunities in landscaping, and getting ready to tear up the asphalt on 141st to expand the greenspace.

In addition, we have been progressing on our waterfront projects, with support for a Harlem River Park in the South Bronx growing. Some of you have gone canoeing with us and fishing, right here in our neighborhood. We are working to reduce the pollution in the area and to protect our interests in Randall’s Island.

Please join us in Brook Park. Here is a sample of our upcoming events:

Ø September 22, Autumn Equinox Volunteer Day 10 Am – 1PM and throughout the day.
Also celebrating El Grito de Lares, commemorated as the birth of the Puerto Rican nation, when Puerto Ricans rose up against Spanish colonial rule in a revolt.

Ø October 13th and October 20th from 12-2PM join Wave Hill and the NYC Department of Parks and
Recreation as we plant fall bulbs that will blossom into beautiful flowers in Spring! Groups and classes welcomed!

And towards the Day of the Dead we will be hosting a celebration of Mexican culture, and highlighting the people of the Mexican State of Oaxaca.

As you can see, we have lots going on. And with your involvement, we can do even more. Get involved, join us at an event, or volunteer. We have a bulletin board on the corner of 141st and Brook, and we can be reached at (646) 206-5288. All of this information, and plenty more, you can see and share at:
www.friendsofbrookpark.org. There you can read more, see pics and even some YouTube videos!

Make sure to check our Calendar periodically. And volunteer and Intern opportunities abound! Even from home, you can help us with online communications.

You are Friends of Brook Park, so come and visit your garden. Try to commit to two hours in the garden a week. After school, 3-5 PM on weekdays will be helpful, and anytime on the weekends.

Please consider a monetary contribution today:

Friends of Brook Park
PO Box 801
The Bronx, NY 10454

Sincerely,

Harry J. Bubbins, for Friends of Brook Park

______

¡Feliz Otoño!

Nosotros en Amigos del Brook Park queremos invitarle unirnos en Brook Park (Avenida de Brook entra las calles 140 y 141). Gracias a nuestra comunidad expansiva nosotros hacemos gran y las cosas verdes suceder en nuestro vecindario. Como usted sabe, más jardines y los parques y los árboles mejoran nuestra salud y la calidad de nuestra vida. ¿Dónde más cerca de podemos experimentamos tal naturaleza pacífica?

El verano ha terminado, y con el nuevo año escolar, nosotros tenemos una gran serie de actividades para estudiantes, la juventud e adultos. Los padres están bienvenido a adeudarnos hacer un espacio seguro y creador para la imaginación, y para maestros poder traer sus estudiantes. Algunos de ustedes nos han hecho partidos y celebraciones ya. ¿Nuestras únicas reglas? Limpie antes y después, ningunas drogas y ningún alcohol. Por supuesto.

Proporcionamos una experiencia educativa con nuestro "Ningún Niño Dejado Adentro" el programa, creciendo alimento en la calle 140 para el Mercado de Granjero en la Calle 138 enfrente de St. Lukes, ofreciendo instrucción sobre voluntar e ajardinar, y estamos preparando a despedazar el asfalto en la calle 141 para ensanchar el greenspace.

Además, estamos progresando con nuestros proyectos en las orillas de la agua, con apoyo para un Parque del Río de Harlem en el Sur del Bronx. Algunos de ustedes han hecho piragüismo con nosotros y siguen pescando, aquí mismo en nuestro vecindario. Trabajamos para reducir la contaminación en el área y para proteger nuestros intereses en la Isla de Randalls (Randalls Island).

Únenos por favor en Parque de Brook. Aquí está una muestra de nuestros acontecimientos próximos:

Septiembre 22, Día de Voluntario de Equinoccio de otoño 10 AM – 1 PM, y a través del día. También celebramos El Grito de Lares, conmemorado el nacimiento de la nación puertorriqueña, cuando lost puertorriqueños subieron contra la regla colonial española en una rebelión.

¡13 de octubre y 20 de octubre de 12-2 PM unen Onda la Colina y el Departamento de NYC de Parques y Recreación como nosotros plantamos bombillas de caída que florecerán en flores hermosas en la Primavera!

Y hacia el Día del Muerto estaremos recibiendo una celebración de la cultura mexicana, y de destacar a las personas del Estado mexicano de Oaxaca.

Como usted puede ver, tenemos muchos eventos en el calendario. Y con su participación, podemos hacer aún más. Métase, únanos en un acontecimiento, o voluntar. Tenemos un cartel en el rincón de la calle 141 y la Avenida Brook, y puedes llamarnos al (646) 206-5288, en español (646) 641-5788. Toda esta información, y la abundancia más, usted puede ver y compartir en: www.friendsofbrookpark.org. ¡Allí usted puede leer más, ver fotos e algunos videos de YouTube!

¡Usted son los Amigos del Parque de Brook, así que vengan y visitan su jardín!

Cordialmente,

Harry J. Bubbins, Friends of Brook Park

No Child Left Inside!: Teacher Orientation

2007-09-13T08:19:00.000-04:00

➢ Thursday September 20th Anytime after 3PM
Come anytime for a quick intro and to get the key!
Introduction to Teachers and Educators:
Learn about how the garden can serve as an outdoor environmental classroom and enhance all subject areas, from science to art to social studies and more.

Brook Park, 141st and 140th Streets & Brook Avenue

No Child Left Inside!

Info: 646 206 5288
See also: www.friendsofbrookpark.org
Bring an upbeat or stressed colleague! Get on our email list for special opportunities!

Together, we can heal (NDD)
Nature Deficit Disorder!

5 Boro Ramble Success!

2007-09-09T16:38:00.000-04:00

Account by Rob Buchanan:

"We launched at 8 or so from east river crew’s davit at 96th street and took about half an hour to get up to the little grassy patch near the willis avenue bridge that’s the best waterfront park in the city. because it isn’t a park and there are no railings and the plants that grow are just whatever’s growing there. as we arrived harry bubbins dove off a bollard and surfaced talking about all the fish he’d seen. the old rotting dock was a perfect mooring for the whitehall. arcadua in the bronx--all that’s missing is a scrap-lumber picnic table.'...

To read more of his peronal adventure and see pics from what he calls "...the best waterfront park in the city." See

Rob Buchanan's personal account, with pics!

Could be the best becuse of it's exciting location and the variety of uses we can accomodate. For this event we had diving, swimming, a gid tie up and kayaks launch and land!

More than 60 paddlers in about 40 boats participated in various stages of yesterday's Ramble, including the 17 kayaks who transited the upper bay on the home stretch.
Friends of Brook Park welcomed the beginning of the paddel from Swindler's Cove and participated with three paddlers! Thanks to the Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance and UrbanDivers safety boats and LIC BoatHouse!

FIVE BOROUGH HARBOR RAMBLE

2007-09-01T16:37:00.000-04:00

FIVE BOROUGH HARBOR RAMBLE

September 8th

We’re excited to be closing in on the first Five Borough Harbor Ramble on September 8, inaugurating what will be an annual paddling and rowing tour of New York City! Our goal is to support the NYC Parks and Recreation’s coming NYC Water Trail (http://www.waterwire.net/News/fullstory.cfm?ContID=1988).

The paddle will be in the Bronx from 830 am to 9am, best viewed and filmed from the end of Park Avenue in the Bronx on the Harlem River where Friends of Brook Park is working to create an official waterfront resource.

"We bike the greenways of Manhattan, and paddle to the waterfront parks of Brooklyn and Queens, because we can't here. This Trail will promote equity in shoreline access to communities such as the Mott Haven and Port Morris that currently enjoy no official waterfront resources." said Harry J. Bubbins, Director of Friends of Brook Park.

The NYC Water Trail will be a rapidly growing network of launching and landing points in the NYC metro area, including places not inside the city Parks system.

The New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance, the LIC Community Boathouse (an affiliate of the Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club) Friends of Brook park, and many others are sponsoring this adventure and bold statement of public water access and stewardship of the harbor.

FLOAT PLAN (times are approximate and padded – we will work within favorable tidal currents but allow for some flexibility according to the group’s needs):

730 AM: LAUNCH from the Peter Jay Sharp Boathouse of the New York Restoration Project ( http://www.nyrp.org ). (Manhattan/East Harlem, Swindlers Cove, Harlem River)

9 AM: VISIT the Friends of Brook Park ( http://www.friendsofbrookpark.org ) launch (Bronx/Mott Haven, near Third Ave Bridge, Harlem River)

10 AM: VISIT the walk-up paddle program location of the LIC Community Boathouse, a NYC Parks sliver of beach administered by Socrates Sculpture Park ( http://www.socratessculpturepark.org ) (Queens/Astoria, Hallets Cove/Socrates Sculpture Park, East River)

NOON: VISIT the Red Hook Boaters ( http://www.redhookboaters.org/ ) and PortSide NY ( http://www.portsidenewyork.org/ ) at Valentino Park (Brooklyn/Red Hook, Valentino Park, Buttermilk Channel).

OPEN WATER CROSSING OF UPPER BAY OF NEW YORK HARBOR.

3PM: LAND at the end of Bard Avenue, to visit the North Shore Waterfront Conservancy of Staten Island ( http://www.northshorewaterfrontconservancy.org/ ) and the Snug Harbor Cultural Center ( http://www.snug-harbor.org/ ). (Staten Island/Port Richmond and New Brighton, Blueways and Snug Harbor Cultural Center, Kill Van Kull).

The earliest part of the trip, in the Harlem River, will entail some paddling against a light current, which is especially feasible when hugging to the shoreline. We’ll pass Hell Gate as the ebb begins strengthening. The course will take us close alongside Randall and Wards Islands and then to Mill Rock. Fr! om there it’s a hard paddle for Hallets Cove. Please be mindful that a rather significant eddy forms at Hallets Point on the ebb, so we don’t want to hug that shoreline too closely. The southward current of the East River along the Queens and Brooklyn waterfronts will whisk us to Red Hook in no time. We’ll need to avoid security zones around bridge support and power plants. Still, we’ll have plenty of chances for photos and greeting people at Dumbo Cove.

At Red Hook we’ll take an hour of rest. That will give people a chance to enjoy the PortSide celebration of the neighborhood, and to rest for the challenge of the open water crossing from Brooklyn to the Kill Van Kull. We’ll need to have a tight group: our calculations will be critical because current will be ferrying us south as we cross, larger vessels (international container ships, tankers, fuel barges, ferries, etc.) will need to know where we are as a coherent unit, not a scattered field. Fortunately, we’ll be crossing around Low Water, so traffic will be less congested.

Our sixth video on YouTube is:

2007-08-24T15:32:00.000-04:00

Our sixth video on YouTube is:

Randall's Island, NYC: A Video Snapshot

New York City is surrounded by islands, and Randall's Island is one the most intriguing. This short documentary style film is one New York City is surrounded by islands, and Randall's Island is one the most intriguing. This short documentary style film is one part landscape meditation, one part informational video and one part Brechtian didactic cinema. With breathgiving scenes of nature in a heavily urbanized area, a few interviews and music by Antibalas, Joanne Shenandoah, Kuatli Vazquez, Aretha Franklin, Carioca and Bob Marley, the film explores issues of privatization of public space. Particularly meant to draw attention to the scheme to develop a private beach club and suburban themed "waterpark" on existing public ballfields and protected wetlands this is a hard-hitting and visually rewarding film for everyone interested in beauty, art and protecting the green spaces in our own neighborhoods that together make up our planet.
Altogether the film, posted in two parts, is under 15 minutes.
Category Travel & Places

Click Link:

See the movie here!

Trashtastic Interview with Harry Bubbins

2007-08-22T20:03:00.000-04:00

Trashtastic Thursday with Harry J. Bubbins

Trashtastic Tuesday comes early this week (or late, depending on your world view). Note that the everydaytrash post flow may trickle down next week. I’ll be in Budapest. Stay tuned for stories of Euro and post-Communist trash. In the meantime…
_______

everydaytrash: So, I heard the city is now using trains to transport trash OUT of the Bronx, what about the trash coming IN?

Harry J. Bubbins: The Bronx, and specifically the South South Bronx, the Port Morris and Mott Haven neighborhoods handle almost all the garbage. Besides the borough waste, we handle trash from Manhattan and Queens as well. This is because the Mayor’s Solid Waste Management Plan, approved by the NYC Council has been stalled by three Upper West Side State legislators who refuse to handle Manhattan’s waste in Manhattan. The direct outcome of their recalcitrance is an increase of diesel truck traffic in the most at-risk for asthma communities and a dream deferred for a significant step towards environmental justice.

everydaytrash: What are the Harlem River Rail Yards?

Bubbins: The Harlem River Rail yards refer to the 96 acres site at the southern most tip of the Bronx that is owned by the people of New York through the NYS Department of Transportation...

Read the entire interview at:
everydaytrash.wordpress.com

Bronx Helpers Write to Us

2007-08-16T13:11:00.000-04:00

New Settlement¹s Bronx Helper Program Writes...

By Kayla M.
New Settlement¹s Bronx Helper
August 2007

When I went to Brook Park it was fun because I got to help out the
garden and at the same time I got to climb a tree and swing from the vines and
I also got to eat and try new things. My group, J.A.K. had the job of digging holes and pulling vines. Altogether it was a fun and new experience. I
got to be on T.V. That was the icing on the cake and a good end to the day.

By Akilah M.
New Settlement¹s Bronx Helper
August 2007

In Brook Park we learned about different plants and saw some that we
never heard of before. We even got to taste some of them, like
Peppermint, Spearmint and Basil. They all were very strong. Then we swung
on a vine and a tree but it was too low to the ground. There were three
workgroups. My group was J.A.K., for the first letter of our names. Š Then
we pulled vines from the gate because it was choking the plants around it.
While we were there a reporter from Bronx News 12 was there to interview us
and watch us. Then we climbed a tree. I had a great time at Brook Park.
The End.

Bronx: Garbage Takes the Train. BS?

2007-08-15T10:45:00.000-04:00

Bronx: Garbage Takes the Train

from the NYTimes
Read more Here

Published: August 15, 2007

Garbage is now being shipped out of the Bronx entirely by rail instead of by trucks, part of a city plan to reduce the number of trucks traveling on the streets, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg announced yesterday. The Bronx is the second borough to use trains to ship the garbage; Staten Island began shipping household waste in May after the city reactivated the Staten Island Railroad. The Bronx ships about 2,100 tons of garbage each day for disposal outside the city, the mayor said.

Note:

What this means is that all of the garbage being shipped out of the Bronx, which includes trash from Queens and Manhattan currently, is coming through Community Board #1 of the South, South Bronx. The Mott Haven and Port Morris neighborhoods specifically.

It comes into our neighborhoods via diesel trucks and to the Waste Management facility on the Harlem River Rail Yards. Although the Harlem River Rail Yards are owned by the NYS Dept of Transportation, and leased to Galesi Group, we enjoy no public benefit whatsoever. Still at this time there is no official public access, though it is 96 acres of waterfront property. See our efforts to create these kinds of amenities at:

http://www.friendsofbrookpark.org/waterfront.html

Email us to get involved in environmental justice efforts!

The images are of the doubled up lines of idling trucks blocking the Third Avenue Bridge at Bruckner Boulevard at the entrance to the Port Morris facility. note the police breaking through the lines to get traffic to flow and the worker with a bag of food he went to get while is idling truck was waiting to enter the facility.

See a follow-up article at:

AM NEWS Article

Women's Garden Cycles Bike Tour vists FoBP

2007-08-11T09:12:00.001-04:00

hey friends of brook park,

thanks for letting us tag along on your canoe trip! here's the info
for our blog: http://womensgardencycles.wordpress.com - where you can
find a link to liz's flickr page that features some pictures from our
ride down the river. feel free to use and/or link us to your
website.... great!
best,
kat and wgcbt

--
- the garden cyclers

Women's Garden Cycles Bike Tour

A 1,600 mile bicycle journey to promote local food growers.

http://womensgardencycles.wordpress.com

The Interview Project: New FoBP Videos on Youtube!

2007-07-22T10:59:00.000-04:00

A creative communications initiative of Friends of Brook Park, The Interview Project gives voice to the wide variety of people that participate in their efforts. Unscripted and super-minimally edited, the impromtu interviews allow you to hear firsthand a diverse array of exeriences from this verdant jewel in the South, South Bronx.

Interview wih teachers, teens, local residents and more!

See our youtube page at:

http://www.youtube.com/user/friendsofbrookpark

for a continually updated slate of interestig and informative clips straight from the South, South Bronx!

Fundraising Paddle for Randall's Island

2007-07-14T10:50:00.000-04:00

Paddle for Randall's Island

Canoe Trip
to raise Money
to Protect Randall's Island!

(With light vegetarian dinner from
Whole Earth Bakery on Saint Mark's Place.)

$100 - $10,000 a seat.

August 9th, 2007

5:30 PM- 9:30 PM
Approximate time/s.

Meet on the Harlem River.

End on the Harlem River.

This lovely paddle offers a unique opportunity to launch in a canoe on our
local waterways and experience the coastline of Randall's Island. See the
spots where those locals in the know cast their lines from the banks of the
Harlem River to catch striped bass and more. We will check out the Bronx
Kill, the connecting strait between the Harlem and East Rivers. See the
shorelining wetlands threatened by inappropriate development and a proposed
fossil fuel power plant. The Police Marina and Icahn Stadium will be
visible from our sturdy and safe vessels, as will the little known Little
Hell's Gate Inlet, a wildlife bonanza in the heart of the city. Proceeding
south we will view the Ward's Island Psychiatric facility, as well as the
newly opened Bike and Pedestrian Greenway, which should eventually circle
the entire Island, along the shore, without fences or imposing structures.
Finally, we will paddle under the 103rd Street Bridge to East Harlem and
learn about access challenges to inner-city residents. On shore, we will
enjoy a light vegetarian dinner with spectacular views of Manhattan,
Astoria and Long Island City before we paddle back in the immaculate sunset
and twilight.

If you cannot join us that day, but want to contribute, please make a
monetary gift.

Your contribution of $100 to $10,000 will go towards efforts to
protect Randall's Island for all New Yorkers.

Contributions are tax-deductible.

Fill out the form on the other side of this flier!

_____________________________
Side 2

))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

Name

Address

Phone

Email

Want to come on the Paddle for Randall's Island?_______

Yes, save me ___ seat/s.

I am sending a contribution in the amount of: _________
($100 minimum per seat.)

I can't make the Paddle for Randall's Island

But accept my contribution in the amount of: ___________

Please send far and wide to your contacts!!!!

If you want to join us in your own vessel, please come!

http://friendsofbrookpark.org

Mail: PO Box 801, The South Bronx, NY 10454

Harlem River Video Clips

2007-07-07T11:17:00.000-04:00

Check out the latest testclip of a video in progress of our waterbound activities.
This is a test, more to come!

See:

A quick series of 3 brief clips from a canoe excursion with the Fire Lotus Zen Temple and friends in June 2007. See us launch from the South Bronx Harlem River park site we are creating, with serendipitous Floating the Apple boats in the background. Also featured are shots of New York Restoration's Swindler's Cove Park. Urban Divers and Inwood Canoe Club were all on the water, evidencing a vibrant Harlem River stakeholdership. Volunteer, intern, or more. www.friendsofbrookpark.org This is a test film project, more to come.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ib9YT6QkLrk

Video support sought, help us craft something in the five minute range!
Volunteers needed.

From a Special Education Teacher

2007-06-22T14:06:00.000-04:00

Thank You Friends of Brook Park for an extraordinary learning experience for my 8th grade class from MS 331. For our culminating end of the year project we addressed "How can a small group make change in the world?" Year long we looked at individuals in our lives and communities and through out history that have dedicated their lives to social change. Bringing students to Brook Park, where individuals are making a difference to create community gardens and preserve indigenous heritage we had the rare opportunity to be a part of that experience right in our own back yard of the Bronx.

Our class came together as a group to put up the park's tipi. It was a special experience to see students support each other and work together as we chopped wood, and organized to put up the tipi. In the unique outdoor experience that our classroom became, students that often have social and behavioral challenges were able to take time to themselves and reflect quietly next to a tree. The next day I noticed a shift in certain students attitudes and I directly related this to our team building experience at Brook Park.

Thank you to the staff for your talent in leading and communicating harmony and team practices with young people. My class truly learned a lot from you and respected the process and really enjoyed the outcome that came from our time At Brook Park. I look forward to continually bringing my class for more educational experiences through Friends of Brook Park.

Anna McHugh
Special Education Teacher
MS 331
Bronx School of Science and Inquiry