COMMUNITY BOARD SIX
PARKS/RECREATION/CULTURAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
NOVEMBER 17, 2010
ATTENDANCE;
PRESENT:
L. BLYER J. FRANCIS D. HERBSTMAN
L. HOROWITZ H. HUGHES G. KELLY
N. LALLI K. MAIER B. MCDONALD
C. MOLINARI E. ROBERTS
EXCUSED:
M. DEPALMA W. LIU L. MALUF
J. SCHOENWALD E. SPICER
ABSENT:
J. BURKARD B. GINSBERG Y. GIRELA
R. GRAHAM M. HEYER M. SCOTT
GUESTS:
NEIL HARMON – REP. FOR THE NYC DEPARTMENT OF PARKS
P. MORALES I. MARVY J. SAUNDERS
*** MINUTES ***
Nica Lalli, Co-Chair, called the meeting to order at 6:35pm and asked everyone to introduce themselves She introduced Neil Harmon, the new Parks Department manager replacing Eric Greene. He has been on board for 90 days. He spoke about getting to know the parks in the Community Board area.
A motion was made to approve the minutes of the previous meeting held on October 20, 2010.
Presentation of a slide show covering the tour given to the committee by the Parks Department in October 2009.
Judi Francis made a slide presentation on the CB6 Parks Committee tour last October. Discussion ensued regarding who takes care of parks in housing, what to do about trees that are problematic. We also talked about the park renovation projects in the works: • Thomas Greene Park • Red Hook/Xavier field • Mother Cabrini garden • St. Mary’s (closed-MTA)
We discussed the kinds of issues the committee often hears: • Locking/unlocking parks • Dogs off leash • Police enforcement
Neil announced that he has gotten a second van. He also ran through staff changes in his group this year and urged us to contact him with problems or needs. He also recommended calling 311 with parks complaints.
Presentation and discussion with representatives for Added Value, the urban farming program operating out of Red Hook which promotes the sustainable development of the neighborhood by nurturing a new generation of young leaders.
Ian Marvy, the Executive Director of Added Value, made a presentation to the committee on his program at the old Todd Memorial Ballfield Park (since 2002), the Red Hook Farm. Partnerships for Parks helped put the schools, the Community Board and the Parks Department together to advocate for parks. After 9 months, they were given a 5 year lease. The first raised bed was put in in 2003.
The five year agreement has expired and the farm now runs year-to-year with a goal of getting a longer term (20 years) contract for the farm from the city.
These are some programs: 1. Farm on Governor’s Island 2. Food and farm based learning through schools working with elementary schools (about 1700 kids come through annually).
3. Youth improvement programs – 20 teens during the summer work for pay to grow food for sale.
4. Run a farmer’s market and sales of produce to 6 restaurants. (approx. $35,000 in sales per year)
Committee members urged to go to: www.added-value.org to look at the video.
They are in the process of bringing in goats and chickens. They already have bees. The farm lost almost $10,000 in value during the recent hail storm, which was raised by CSA fundraising and the help of Independence Foundation. When asked how the Community Board can be supportive, Ian said that both the Parks Department and the Community Board have been helpful.
There being no further business to come before the committee, the meeting was adjourned at 8:15pm.
The minutes were taken by Judi Francis.