Archive for reference

These pages are provided as an archive of the NAG blog on a previous system. Commenting is no longer available.

"Pool Parties" to return

But this time, they will be in East River State Park. Perhaps they will name them "Park Parties?"

Photo by Amit Gupta via creative commons license

Detail about the McCarren Park Pool Presentation to CB1

At the CB1 meeting last night, the architects, along with Julius Spiegel (Brooklyn Parks Commissioner) came to give a presentation on the pool. All of the fundng ($50 million) is still in place, and they said it will be open in two years.

It still looks the same as it did in the renderings from last year, basically--with the peninsula reaching into the pool and the water in a squared horse shoe shape. It will hold about 2,500 people. The main buildings will hold a gym and a rec center/community center. They will build cabanas off the main buildings onto the pool deck to use as changing rooms. These are essentially concrete awnings that make an enclosure with benches and lockers inside. They looked cool and modern to me.

Since the building is landmarked, not much of the exterior is being changed, which is good. A lot of the work they have to do is rebuilding--replacing almost all of the exterior brick and resurfacing the entire pool and deck. They are using the old baskets from way back in the day as an architectural accent on the ceilings on some of the rooms, which is nice. Because they are redoing the exterior brick, it is now possible that they will be able to add a comfort station--parkspeak for restroom--on the end near the playground (I think) that would be available to all park users. That is only if the whole thing stays in scope and there are no cost overruns.

They are making it all expandable--there are spaces for a future elevator and staircase up to the roof for a rooftop cafe if that comes into play with an outside vendor.

The diving pool can't be done at this time so they are going to fill it in with dirt, then put sand on top of the dirt and make it into a volleyball court. This doesn't prevent it from becoming a diving pool at a later date, though. They are putting the pipes in for this. The peninsula is usable for a wintertime ice rink, which would be done with an outside vendor like Bryant Park.

My concern was shade. The public isn't allowed to ask questions, so it didn't get asked, but as we all know, it is hot and bright in that pool, and will be more so with the sun reflecting off the water. I'm guessing Parks won't let people bring umbrellas, so will they provide umbrellas?

Another concern is that there is no lighting for the pool to be open past sunset. All NY pools close at dusk but it would be great to have the pool accessible at night. A lot of people work during the day and would like to swim at night and as we know, it is hot at night too! Also it would be possible to do small performances at night on the peninsula, wth people seated around the pool. But maybe OSA will consider this stuff later.

Phyllis Yampolsky spoke briefly and made some good points about the symmetry of the pool and preserving some of the smaller arches, which, happily, the architect assured her had been done.

-post by Mikki

Community Party at the Pool Tuesday Aug 26th

In case you miss the last Pool Party at McCarren Pool tomorrow (or even if you make it there), there is a chance for one more pool event Tuesday that promises to be even more hyper-local. From our good friends at the Open Space Alliance:

Please join us at McCarren Pool on Tuesday, August 26th for a free community Bloc Party hosted by the L Magazine, for the benefit of OSA.

Doors open at 5:30pm with a Taste of Williamsburg, where neighborhood restaurants sell snacks, with all proceeds going to improve our parks through OSA. Participating restaurants include Lodge, Urban Rustic, Lokal, Le Barricou, Fanny's, Brooklyn Label, Taco Chulo, Roebling Tea Room, Marlow & Sons and many more. Our friends from Greenpoint Wines will also be pouring.

At 6pm, free performances by Trashed on Fiction and The King Left.

And at dusk, a free screening of the film RUSHMORE, Wes Anderson's acclaimed dramedy about a young man with an extended extra-curricular resumé.

Concerts Seeking New Home

The Daily News has a story about where the McCarren Park Pool concerts will go once construction begins this winter, with a quote from NAG board member Evan Thies (hat tip: 11211). As noted previously, the City's Bushwick Inlet Park, proposed to be constructed in stages over the next few years is one possible site. Others under consideration are the waterfront State Park between N7th and N9th and several private waterfront parcels in Greenpoint.

Alex Kane, a concert organizer who runs JellyNYC--the folks who bring you the free Sunday pool parties--has been the very active on trying to find new concert space. The Open Space Alliance, a local non-profit that has coordinated the events at the pool this summer and helped keep the proceeds in the neighborhood, is also playing a major role in seeking a new venue.

Related Items
Sign the JellyNYC petition to keep concerts in the neighborhood
The last free concert at the pool is scheduled for this Sunday, August 24, and features indie-rock mainstay Yo La Tengo.

Proposed Concert Space in Bushwick Inlet Park

As you all know, and as Michael posted earlier, McCarren Pool will close as a performance venue at the end of the summer—so it can reopen as a pool in a few years!

This is thrilling but it does raise the question of whether our neighborhood can find a new place for outdoor performances and events. Local community groups, artists, activists, and others could use such a space for rallies, concerts, etc. I personally would love to see an amateur astronomy night like they have in Central Park, and to let local high schools put their drama club shows on. Or some classical music!

Jelly NYC, the group who puts on the free Sunday Pool Party shows, has started a petition to get a performance space in the new Bushwick Inlet Park. You can read more and sign it (if you want to) by clicking here.

—Mikki

McCarren Park Pool Events Need a Home in 2009

Free Williamsburg notes that the Pool Party at McCarren Pool this past Sunday was one of the most popular and crowded yet. Now in their fourth year, performances at the pool are operated under the non-profit umbrella of the Open Space Alliance.

As a welcome development, the Parks Dept. will begin construction a restored, functional pool in 2009. But while the pool is under construction for several years (and depending on Parks Dept. policies once it's finished), the free events that have thrived there will need a new home. One site under consideration is 50 Kent Ave, a former sanitation facility, but there may be environmental issues with the site preventing its use in 2009, and the site lacks the inspirational setting of the pool.

Photo by Agaton Strom

Noted: There will be a benefit concert for the Open Space Alliance on August 13 featuring Wilco (fun fact: band member Pat Sansone was a Greenpoint resident for a few years).

And, while we're talking about the pool, we can't resist a link to PoolAid's classic "We Are The Pool" video, which was produced by NAG board member Mikki Halpin and featured this poster in the role of a lifetime as PoolAid Man.