Secretary of Interior Kenneth Salazar called Jamaica Bay “one of the great urban parks of America,” but asked caretakers to think creatively about the parkland’s future.
Salazar made the statements during a July 26 harbor summit, hosted by National Parks Service and the Harbor Conservancy. Regional leaders gathered to discuss how government, nonprofit and industry can work together to achieve the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Hudson-Raritan Estuary Comprehensive Restoration Plan, which includes Jamaica Bay.
“I believe that America is at a time when we can embark and embrace a new agenda for conservation for America,” Salazar told the audince. “And I think that here in New York and New York Harbor we can move forward and create what will be a star relative to the great urban parks of America in the 21st century. I think the assets are here, I think the vision is here I think the New York Harbor Conservancy has done a lot to move us all forward.” Keep reading about Salazar’s statements.
The event kicked off at noon on July 9, stretching throughout the day until the last band played the final note just before 8 p.m.
Jamsterdam took place at Asser-Levy / Seaside Park, and was hampered by the hubbub around the proposed amphitheater. Because of the ban on amplified sound that is being enforced for the first time in years, organizers were denied use of the band shell just days before the event. They were given permission to set up a makeshift stage at the other end of the park.
LoSapio said the event was a success and she’s looking forward to doing more cultural events in the area to benefit various causes, including a possible comedy show in the near future. If you’re interested in getting involved with this terrific grassroots effort, drop us a line and we’ll get you in touch with the Jamsterdam crew.
Remember Samantha LoSapio? Sam wrote several articles for Sheepshead Bites, and over the last few months she’s been busy organizing Jamsterdam, a benefit concert for Autism Speaks. The free show will take place in Asser-Levy Seaside Park on Friday, July 9, featuring ten bands representing several genres.
But that’s not the whole story: this awesome concept of bringing good local music to the neighborhood and raising awareness of an important cause was almost squashed by the ongoing legal debacle surrounding BP Markowitz’s Seaside Summer Concerts. But enough of my yammering, we’ll let Sam tell you the story.
We all know Sheepshead Bay’s music scene is less than a blip on the radar. With the scene booming just about everywhere else, it’s hard to believe we don’t have a single reliable venue.
Despite that, some of us just refuse to give up on the idea – even when threatened by lawsuits. My brother, Cory, and I are organizing a concert to take place July 9 in Coney Island’s Asser Levy/Seaside Park.
Jamsterdam, a benefit concert for Autism Speaks, will feature eight NYC bands and two bands making the special trip in from Pennsylvania, and has been funded entirely by us and Vile, from headlining band Circadian Clock. We had bartered for a PA from Brooklyn Audio Rentals, helping ease costs, up until we were smacked with near-devastating news: the court order giving Marty Markowitz’s Seaside Concerts a headache would be the very same one to threaten Jamsterdam.
With grilling season in full swing, we got Sheepshead Bay’s resident grilling expert, Robert Fernandez, to tell us what are the best public places to cook up some dead animals. Fernandez is the organizer of Grillin’ On The Bay, the city’s only sanctioned BBQ contest, and is the editor of WhiteTrashBBQ, a city-dwellers guide to grilling.
Barbecue season is hitting the high water mark, so it’s time to answer that age old question, “Where can I barbecue in New York City?” And the answer is, “Lots of places.” NYC has over 30 parks where grilling is legal.
Some of my favorite spots in Brooklyn include:
Manhattan Beach, which has two grilling locations, Oriental Boulevard & Hastings Street and Northeast of Promenade, median adjacent to parking lot (no amplified sound permitted)
Of course these are just some recommendations, you can check out the entire list of grilling spots in New York City at the Park’s Department webpage.
Remember; barbecuing or grilling is allowed in designated areas ONLY. No barbecuing permitted under trees. All coals and litter must be disposed in trash receptacles. Please remember to extinguish all coals before dumping them into a trash can. No extra fires please. And if you’re going with a group of 20 people or more, the city requires that you get a $25 permit 21 days in advance.
(06/29/10) SHEEPSHEAD BAY – Emergency officials say they responded to reports of a seven-year-old girl sexually assaulted inside a Sheepshead Bay park this evening.
A family friend tells News 12 Brooklyn that kids ranging from ages four to eight wanted to go to the park. At that time, a 17-year-old from the building she knew offered to take the kids for her.
The victim told the family friend that when she needed to use the bathroom, the 17-year-old boy sexually assaulted her.
EMS took the girl by ambulance to Kings County Hospital. The police are talking with her and the investigation is ongoing.
Manhattan Beach Community Group President Ira Zalcman is demanding stronger enforcement of barbecue laws on the quiet community’s shore this summer.
Currently, the beach has only two legal locations for grilling in the park: next to the parking lot and by the corner of Oriental Boulevard and Hastings Street.
But Zalcman implied on the group’s website last Friday that grilling happens in other locations, and law enforcement is trying to shrug off responsibility. He wrote:
After last weeks BBQIng skewer head stabbing, NYC Parks said we only have two areas set aside for BBQing. They are kidding?
Parks Police claim they have jurisdiction on the sand only. Kidding again?
We’re insisting that the law is enforced this year and people BBQ only in the designated areas allowed by law.
Among the problems the group has with beachside barbecuing is the increased violence it inevitably causes (i.e. the skewering on May 7), and the second-hand smoke other park visitors are forced to inhale.
One of the neat things about having your own website with a sizeable audience is that you occasionally get to abuse the inherent power. In my case, I’m going to show you photos I take that you probably don’t care about. And since I take most of these photos during bike rides out of the neighborhood, it’s kind of like the digital equivalent of your nerdy uncle making you sit through a slideshow of his vacation to who-the-hell-cares-where.
In this case, my trip took me out to Floyd Bennett Field, which I haven’t really explored since I was a kid. I rode over to Hangar B, which is this desolate area that looks like the meeting ground for many a mob transaction. The hangar itself looks beaten up and abandoned. But there’s actually some really cool stuff going on inside.
Namely, Floyd Bennett Field’s Historical Aircraft Restoration Project (HARP) is headquartered in the hanger. There, volunteers piece together and showcase dozens of planes and other aircrafts from different eras. Though they were closed when I was there, word is that volunteers sometimes take visitors aboard to check out the cockpit. For more information, and a photo gallery of some of the planes, check out this website.
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.”
Reader nolastname was wandering about yesterday morning, and watched as the beautiful weather kicked off with an awesome sunrise. She saw this crane at work in the Marine Park Salt Marsh. Snazzy…
A Tern photographed near the nature center by PhotoJeff via Flickr
…and you should answer! The Parks Department is having two local events this Saturday that you should consider attending with your family.
If you’re into bird watching then head over to the Salt Marsh Nature Center (Avenue U and East 33rd Street, directly across from Marine Park) at 8 a.m. The Park Rangers will be holding a “Birding Event“. Don’t ask me what that means but you’ll learn everything you need to know about birds!
After you’re done learning all about the birds (I wonder if they’ll teach you anything about bees too?), head over to the Coney Island Boardwalk (West 10th Street entrance) for a Marine Mammal Watch. You’ll be looking for seals, whales, and dolphins. Don’t expect any people in the water unless the Polar Bears are out and about!
Both events are courtesy of the City Parks Deparment and provide a perfect way to spend a Saturday morning. If you need any more information then call (718) 421-2021.
If you’re still looking for more to do, the Salt Marsh Nature Center will also hold a Book Blitz on Sunday at 3 p.m. and a Nature Lecture with Dr Judith Weiss on Monday @ 7 p.m.
Barbecue season is hitting the high water mark, so it’s time to answer that age old question, “Where can I barbecue in New York City?” And the answer is, “Lots of places.” NYC has over 30 parks where grilling is legal.
