Though the city says the bike path is complete, bikers now ride on the Belt Parkway because the path is unusable.
In addition to the statements Congressman Anthony Weiner gave, there were two things worth noting on Plumb Beach yesterday, both of which indicate the city is ignoring problems in the area and creating a dangerous situation.
First is that the Parks Department has declared reconstruction work on the Plumb Beach bike path complete. However, any visitor would agree that it’s hardly the case.
One of East 19th Street’s precariously leaning trees lost a limb during yesterday’s storm, which turned up jammed in this car’s windshield.
According to Ray Johnson, who sent in a mini-report last night, the car is between Avenue X and Avenue Y. It didn’t appear the owner was aware of the situation when Ray was on the scene (so if this is your car, don’t kill the messenger. Which is Ray. Don’t kill Ray. And especially don’t kill me.).
But it doesn’t look like the damage is just to the car. It’s hard to make out in the photo after the jump, but the other end of the tree limb is resting on the power lines, which haven’t yet snapped.
A reader who lives very close to this location was just telling me last week about the awful condition of trees and power lines on the block. Many of the trees are leaning or twisted. East 19th Street’s sidewalks bare the scars of unkempt vegetation through lifted and cracked concrete. The power lines weave in and out of branches, many with stress put on them, and some of the poles are leaning as well.
Is this a cry for arboreal assistance? Do you know of other blocks in similar states?
When I talk privately with friends about Sheepshead Bay’s recreational fishing industry (and other summer activities), I often say the city government ought to do more to promote the area for local tourism. Sure, it ain’t South Street Seaport, but it’s one of the nation’s oldest fishing villages, and there’s nowhere else like it in the five boroughs.
Not to mention, the city spent $13 million renovating the waterfront in the 1990s. Wouldn’t you want to max out that investment?
But, little did I know, the city’s Parks Department did put a little bit of effort into promoting the neighborhood.
Time warp back to 2006! The video above was shot for It’s My Park, a government produced television series that features parks and park-related activities around the city. The show airs on NYC TV Channel 25 on Tuesdays at 10:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 5 p.m.
Yes, it’s a little cheesy (just listen to that gawd awful music). But it’s a good example of what the city should do more of to promote neighborhood commerce. At the moment, a search for “sheepshead” on NYCgo.com – the official website for NYC tourism – has 13 results. Most of which are irrelevant or decidedly un-touristy business listings (Kings Plaza Macy’s, anyone?).
But NYC is a big city, and I’m sure most neighborhoods are clamoring for more tourist love. So the downtown bigwigs that run the show have their job cut out for them. Maybe what they need are some creative ideas from locals.
So – how can New York City do a better job promoting our neighborhood as a summer tourist destination?
In a historic operation lasting more than five hours, three New York City agencies coordinated to remove a sunken boat from frigid Sheepshead Bay waters.
Department of Sanitation’s Derelict Vehicles Operations Unit, NYPD’s Harbor Unit and Scuba Team, and the Parks Department converged near the Ocean Avenue footbridge at 8 a.m. today, marking the first time any of these city agencies were involved in the removal of a submerged boat.
The 30-foot sailboat had sat in Sheepshead Bay’s waters for two months, since the March 13 storm that ripped nearly a dozen vessels from their moorings. All but three of the other boats have been removed by private towing companies. The Sanitation Department and NYPD units will return to remove the other two boats, which are near the Holocaust Memorial Park.
Plumb Beach is named as it is because of the beach plumbs that grow there, ripening in August. But we’re wondering if it should be named after another kind of vegetation growing wild there. Just check out the photo (one of several), taken by a reader walking along the paths:
Last year, reader complaints hit such a fever pitch that we wrote a feature on city programs to remove poison ivy. Well, it’s that time of year again, and we’re hoping to head off problems as the three-leafed menace starts taking root in public places.
So remember: if you see three-leafed vines growing in public parks, on school property, on trees along the sidewalk – call 311 and inform your city councilman. Poison ivy is more than a nuisance, it can cause serious injury and potentially death.
The Madison-Marine-Homecrest Civic Association’s next meeting is set for Thursday, April 15, 7:30 p.m., at the King’s Chapel (Quentin Road and East 27 Street). The program includes reports from the Park’s Department on the condition of Marine Park following the recent devastating storm, progress of construction of a new senior center, and activities at the Salt Marsh Nature Center. Local elected officials and a 61st precinct officer also are scheduled. Dues of $10 per household or business for 2010 may be paid at the meeting. For more information, phone 718-375-9158.
Artist's renderings of the proposed amphitheater, courtesy of Grimshaw Architects
Newly revealed details about the planned $64-million concert venue in Asser Levy Seaside Park are adding fuel to the controversy about its establishment. The amphitheater will take up nearly three-quarters of the park’s recreation area, leaving roughly the size of half a football field for neighborhood children.
A large portion of the new venue at Surf Avenue between Ocean Parkway and West 5th Street will be an elevated lawn reserved for a viewing area for outdoor concerts. But when not in use, Parks Department officials say there are no plans to allow sports.
“The elevated lawn isn’t being designed for sports,” Parks Department spokesperson Phil Abramson told Courier-Life. “It will likely be a passive open space for relaxing.”
Yesterday we told you about how to spot trees that were leaning over, weakened by this year’s incredibly severe weather. Well, Parks Department got back to us about how to get these trees taken care of.
From Philip Abramson, a Parks Department spokesman:
Any trees that appear to have weakened from the recent storm should be reported to us via 311 as a dangerous tree. We will inspect them and try and save those we can with staking (used mostly with younger trees). Larger trees usually have to be removed. These shifted trees often have broken roots and therefore if we don’t cut them down there is a good chance that they will fall in the near future.
Remember, these trees can be a danger to people and property. Please look out for them and report it to 311.
This tree, on East 27th Street between Avenue Y and Avenue Z, could be a victim in the next big storm. The gap around the base of the trunk from the soil around it shows that the tree is starting to lean. It could be weakened from the storm or just a subject of time and erosion. Either way, this is an indicator or which trees may fall in the future, so look out for them.
But what can you do? We’ve contacted Parks Department officials and are waiting for an answer to that. But for now, I’d suggest reporting them to 311 – and take down your reference numbers. If a tree falls on your home, car, body, friend, dog, BBQ grill, garden gnome, or (god forbid) satellite dish, a record of your complaint could be very useful in case of a lawsuit.
The Parks Department is removing a tree that fell on a house on East 19th Street, between Avenue X and Avenue Y near the P.S. 254 playground (currently closed for construction).
The street has been closed to vehicular traffic, but pedestrians have not been prohibited from standing nearby. One of them has set up a lawn chair to sit on while watching the work being done. A few are taking pictures of the crane and mulcher in action.
The sound of the mulching machine pulling in and pulverizing the branches will be heard until the tree is fully gone. Hopefully, that will be before school is out, because we wouldn’t want anyone distracting the workers from operating the dangerous wood chipper.
