COMMUNITY BOARD SIX
PARKS/RECREATION/CULTURAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
APRIL 20, 2011
ATTENDANCE;
PRESENT:
J. FRANCIS D. HERBSTMAN H. HUGHES
G. KELLY L. MALUF E. ROBERTS
EXCUSED:
L. BLYER M. DEPALMA B. GINSBERG
N. LALLI K. MAIER
ABSENT:
Y. GIRELA R. GRAHAM M. HEYER
L. HOROWITZ W. LIU B. MCDONALD
C. MOLINARI M. SCOTT
GUESTS:
C. SALGUERO – PortSide New York
C. SALVAYON C. CONTI
*** MINUTES ***
Presentation and discussion with representatives for PortSide new York on their BoatBox Redesign Project that will transform the existing container at the entrance to the Valentino Park & Pier into an attractive park feature, educational amenity and year-round exhibition space.
Co-Chair, Glenn Kelly called the meeting to order at 6:42pm. He opened the meeting with the CB6 resolution on Brooklyn Bridge Park. Judi Francis thanked the committee for their initial support for the committee motion at the March Parks meeting and Glenn for his advocacy at the Executive Committee meeting.
Glenn introduced Carolina Salguero, Director of PortSide New York who made a presentation about bringing NYC’s Blue Space to life. Her funding comes from both economic development as well as cultural sources – to make the waterfront into both a working as well as a cultural amenity.
Their home is the “Mary Whalen” boat at Atlantic Basin. They do 44 events including bi-lingual “tanker tours”, concerts, researching on water themes, exhibits (for stories). She pointed out where, on Pier 11, the PortSide will be located sharing it with Phoenix Beverage.
She then outlined the BoatBox Project at Valentino Park. They will transform the outside of a container box where Red Hook boaters store kayaks when they arrive for programs in Red Hook for a permanent year round exhibition space.
Signage planned will include information: • Water safety • Illustrated guide to ships
• Water stories about a variety of historical topics. • How-to clean the beach • Red Hook Boasters and PortSide information
Questions:
Q. Is this a permanent site as shown in te photo? A. No, they are still in discussion. They are also looking for Parks Department approval to put something on the ATF fence to help orient people to exhibiting in the box.
Q. What is the timeline? A. The design is essentially for free and funding raised to build it out. It will be designed this summer and built out at the end of 2011.
Carolina is also seeking content for these signs and asked committee members for any insights, information or themes that they may have.
Q. Where do people contact you? A. www.portsidenewyork.org. (917) 414-0565.
She also urged CB6 residents to fill out the questionnaire on the survey – monkey for any ideas or other information they could share with PortSide for BoatBox.
One community member asked that the Parks Department place a bathroom/port-a-potty on this site, particularly on Sundays. The committee recommended that the visitor quantify the number of people who come to the site on Sundays and request that CB6 consider this for this remote site. It is badly needed for boaters at this site.
Judi Francis made a motion that the committee is favorably inclined toward the BoatBox Project and its exhibiting goals and looks forward to the speedy review of the project designs that will transform this container in Valentino Park into an attractive feature and educational amenity.
Lisa Maluf seconded the motion.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:40pm