BROOKLYN COMMUNITY BOARD 6
PARKS/RECREATION/CULTURAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
JUNE 18, 2014
ATTENDANCE;
PRESENT:
S. ADELS E. CAUSIL-RODRIGUEZ G. KELLY
J. OLTMAN SMITH
EXCUSED:
I DUTTON J. FRANCIS H. HUGHES
J. REISCHEL
ABSENT:
J. HEYER N. LALLI E. LIN
R. REILLY M. RUIZ C. RYAN
A. SOFILLAS J. STRABONE
GUESTS:
E. LANDAU C. MARTIN S. PHILLIPS
R. LAW D. RYAN G. FINT
C. SAWEL C. MOREY
*** MINUTES ***
Presentation and discussion with representatives for Prospect Park on Prospect Park- related planned and contemplated projects, programs and policies of interest to park users and supporters.
The presentation was made by Eric Landau, VP for Government and External Affairs at the Prospect Park Alliance and Corinne Martin, Outreach and Press for the Alliance.
Transition – Emily Lloyd, Administrator of the Park and President of the Prospect Park Alliance is gone. There is a Search Committee in place with a search firm.
Eric Landau is leaving as well. “change is good”, he said. James Snow is the acting Administrator and President of the Prospect Park Alliance.
Q. Education budget? A. Won’t be affected by transition. Already in place. Eric outlined various education programs in place. • Adding second pop-up Audubon education program (Astor Foundation funded). • Pop-up has a lot more users (200-300) participants on weekend day than the Audubon Center.
Q. What is Tupper Thomas’ group?
A. NYers 4 Parks – issues of equity, rating parks.
Q. How is conservancy equality issue being addressed? A. All conservancies have different operating agreements with the city. State Senator, Daniel Squadron proposes any 5 million + conservancy must give 20% to trust for benefit of parks without conservancies. Prospect Park needs more resources itself and serves citywide population. Overall, parks budget needs more funding. IRS/Legal Issues about non-profit moving money to other entity is problematic. Levine, Chair of NYC Council Park Committee and NYers 4 Parks agree parks budget needs increase (27.5 Million).
The Alliance can mentor other “Friends of” groups – more can happen on this front.
New Park Signage • Dogs off-leash in woodland areas – needs signage to prevent damage to the habitat. • Regulation sign and map of allowed off-leash areas. • Also fishing areas and ____________less homes.
Bikes in Park • New drive configuration to make space for bikes and pedestrians 100% of the time. • Pedestrian activated signals. • Still need compliance for bikes stopping at red lights and pedestrians crossing at crosswalk. Requires big cultural shift and infrastructure improvements. • Vanderbilt Playground area still dangerous but now has high-visibility crossing and fence to direct pedestrians. • Sign challenges – stencils don’t match park aesthetic - don’t want to create operational challenges with equipment. Have installed banners with bike information/education as a pilot. Comment from the Community Board: Banners’ design looks like an invitation, not prohibition.
Q. What are the materials? A. Corplast signs and vinyl banners.
Events
June 28 – Handmade events group pop-up dinner. $35 fee for seat/table equipment – donation to the park. Ben Folds performing. People bring their own food.
Q. What’s in it for event coordinator? A. Testing the market.
Q. Alcohol? A. One bottle of wine “allowed”.
July 9 – Philharmonic plus fireworks in Long Meadow near ball fields. Come early for good seats (5 ish).
Parade Grounds drainage (fencing) Construction/Capital Completed: Lakeside • 60 thousand ice skaters this winter. Now covered rink is for roller skating. Admission money only to skate – rest of the area open to the public. • Water play/splash pad oval rink now open – 42 jets! Age 12 and under – free. No teens allowed. • Bluestone Café from Friday to Sunday and full time concession stand. Upsilon Ventures is sub-concessionaire of entire facility.
Zucker National Exploration Area • Fallen storm wood repurposed as a play area.
To be built
Lakeside parking lot on Breeze hill – not paving over any landscaped areas. Access via Lincoln Road. Park Circle now closed during car morning rush. No parking during Spring/Summer.
Drainage project near Lakeside.
Landscaping old parking lot from old skating rink. Should be done by mid-July.
Q. Any additional disabled parking? A. No sure.
Q. Can you drop off/pick up at Lakeside? A. New Ocean bus drop off zone or use parking lot.
Ballfield restoration - $6 million
Phase One – Field one and Bridle Path will be done by fall. Phase Two – Many bundled projects – drainage, sub-surfacing, scoping. • North Transverse Path – participatory budgeting funded. • Drainage Park Circle • Parade Grounds drainage (fencing)
Well House – restroom is in the works.
New Maintenance Facility – Trying to get funding. Would fix storage container issue and free up existing work offices for use as restroom.
Picnic House – Air conditioner in design process.
Riding Rink on Coney Island and Caton Avenues at Parade Grounds – looking for funding to build Gallop NYC facility.
Flatbush Grand Army Plaza to the Zoo restoration – upcoming – sidewalk and fence.
Parade Ground – par course
More ballfield funding needed.
Next major area for restoration: Vail of Cashmere Future projects: Grand Army Arch restoration and Oriental Pavilion restoration.
Q. Public access to the Arch? A. Not until safe.
Q. Moving Lincoln monument? A. No – staying near Lakeside.
Q. Status on Phase 2 of drive infrastructure? Still no crosswalks at Bartell and Garfield makes predictability of user movement inconsistent. Makes enforcement challenging if behavior is unpredictable. A. No new progress.
Q. Will BBQ be banned? Poor enforcement currently. Air quality issue. A. PEP and NYPD do all enforcement, not Alliance. Can’t comment. Advocate for more Park Enforcement Officers? New signage coming.
Q Can you move barbecue away from homes? A. No, it’s tradition. Also very popular – attracts diverse user ship which is purpose of the park. No policy changes to occur during transition.
Q. Red Hook Coffey Park restoration. How to get information? Project signs/info lacking. A. Ask CB6 Parks Manager, Max Medozile. He is not present at this meeting.
Community Comment: Coffey Park rumors flying – need new outreach efforts. Also, construction short cuts worrisome (pavers vs. asphalt).
Presentation by Planning Fellow Mia Brezin on the Brooklyn CB6 Community Budget
Suggestions online mapping tool.
Mia Brezin, CB6 Planning Fellow, made a presentation on the Community Budget Planning Map – citizens can suggest large capital projects and comment on others. These suggestions will be considered in October when CB6 budget is finalized.
Service requests and requests that are too small get re-routed.
The e-mail is http://www.brooklyncb6budget.org
Map developed by Open Plans CB6 Map Project has been well received. Overwhelmingly street-related projects have been most popular. A few parks projects suggested but not necessarily realistic.
Parlays well with Participatory Budgeting. Serves as model for OMB to be more user-friendly. District wide requests are possible.
There being no further business to come before the committee, the meeting was adjourned.
The minutes were submitted by Joanna Smith.