BROOKLYN COMMUNITY BOARD 6
PARKS/RECREATION/ENVIORNMENTAL PROTECTION COMMITTEE
September 21, 2016
ATTENDANCE
S. Bautista-Carolina A M. Neuman A F. Brown A J. Pautz P D. Buscarello E C. Pigott P E. Felder A M. Shames P J. Heyer P J. Oltman-Smith P G. Kelly P S. Turet P H. Link P
P = present, E = excused, A = absent
GUESTS
C. Zinnel, Council Member Lander’s Representative R. Parab R. Frinkelstein P. Basile A. Vandwehoof N. McCauley C. Rodriguez J. Colon N. Rothwell E. Phillips S. Naumann J. Sanders
*** MINUTES ***
PREP Committee meeting held September 21, 2016 at PS 58.
After a brief orientation by the Co-chairs a presentation was made by the Department of Parks and Recreation of a preliminary design for the Renovation of Ennis Playground located between 11th and 12th Streets and 2nd and 3rd Avenues.
The playground will be completely renovated. The playground is to have distinct areas for children 2 to 5 and 5 to 12. There will be four banks of swings. The playground will retain its basketball courts but with a different orientation. The playground will contain seating areas appropriate for adult use. However, park benches shall be constructed in such a manner as to discourage sleeping in the park by homeless individuals and others. The area that will be used in the summer for water recreation (spray shower) for children will be built so that the area may be used for community use the rest of the year. There will be limited dedicated bicycle parking (6) but in response to Joanne Oltman Smith’s concern it was stated that the fencing around the parking would allow for considerable additional bicycle parking. There will be new tree plantings where trees that are in distress will be replaced. There will be plantings of an
infiltration garden but if there is no active “friends” group formed the parks department will use treatments that require minimal maintenance. There will be a new water drainage and retention system installed. The number of entrances will be reduced from 8 to 2. The exterior will be constructed to discourage sidewalk truck parking. The main path will be asphalt. There will be additional lighting. The committee suggested the use of freeze proof fountains. After final design and procurement the playground should be closed beginning in the spring of 2018 and reopen in 2019. There will be a 16-foot high fence with mesh to hide trucks. No dogs will be allowed. It will be ADA accessible. It will maintain standard park hours.
Community and committee members asked questions and questioned as follows:
The types of swings (both for older and younger children);
The number of bike racks;
The number of entrances; and
The location of the congregating space nearer 11th Street and residences;
Chairman Kelly thanked the Parks Department for the presentation and the design and the Park’s Department agreed to send a pdf of its presentation to Chairman Kelly and Catherine of Councilman Lander’s office to forward to those who might want to see the plan in clearer detail and make further comment with the committee to take up the matter again after affording such opportunity.
It was followed by a presentation by Jessica I. Colon of the Mayor’s Office of Recovery and Resiliency concerning the Red Hook Integrated Flood Protection System (IFPS)
The presentation showed three possible alignments for the protective system for which $100,000,000 of federal money has been allocated:
Such a system has various permanent and deployable features. It takes into account impacts on the neighborhood of the system when there is no flooding. There were two stakeholder meetings in Red Hook and other stakeholder engagement with our presentation being the first presentation directly to the community board. The presentation took into account Design Flood Elevations that is base flood elevation, and in this case 2.5 feet of sea level rise and freeboard (a safety factor0 for 10, 50 and 100 year storms.
The broadest protection around the outermost edge with the least impact on vehicular and pedestrian traffic and potential for reducing flood insurance premiums also was the most expensive, protects structures in fair to poor condition, and would have a major impact on views.
The in-between alignment provides less flood protection while taking advantage of natural topography (high points) reducing the cost and length of the system
The innermost alignment also takes advantage of topography and is least expensive but provides the least flood protection.
This simple explanation folds within it a great deal of study of the area. There will be challenges with regard to creating any of the alignments.
There were questions raised as to why if the map shows the Columbia Street area and the Gowanus, those areas were not included in the study area and the request that we consider seeking an expanded study area? The funds allocated were for the most devastated areas from Sandy that included Red Hook but not the other areas. There was a suggestion that there was a great potential for surge relief at Hamilton Avenue. There was inadequate time to further explore what might be an appropriate committee resolution.
There was a brief request that CB6 consider a resolution with regard to the temporary and possible permanent pool in Brooklyn Bridge Park. This request may be taken up at the executive committee.