"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

East River State Park to Reopen March 1st

As you might know, East River State Park closed for January 1-April 1, because the State Parks Department wanted to save some $40,000 and couldn't find a more creative way than closing the new park.

Anyways, because of some great work by Assemblyman Lentol and the Friends of the East River State Park, the park will open March 1st. It was up in the air until this Daily News article hit the stands yesterday.

Friends of the East River State Park Succeeds
in Getting Park Open Again.

EAST RIVER STATE PARK WILL RE-OPEN SUNDAY, MARCH 1ST!

With spring right around the corner and weather getting warmer, we’re happy to report that the East River State Park on Kent Avenue between North 7th and 9th Streets in Williamsburg, Brooklyn will be open in time to enjoy nice days ahead.

The Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (aka State Parks) plan was to close the East River State Park until the beginning of the next fiscal year (April 1st). The Friends of the East River State Park with help from Assemblyman Joe Lentol has been working to get the park open. After a letter from the Friends Group to the State Parks Commissioner—signed by thirty-two elected officials and statewide and local open space advocates—meetings and numerous phone calls, State Parks finally relented.

With the support of the Friends Group doing clean ups at the park, the East River State Park is now able to be open again starting this Sunday, March 1st at 9:00 am.

Come join us Sunday, March 1st at East River State Park. We need Volunteers so email us at friendsoftheeastriverstatepark@gmail.com or call us at 914-799-1832.

At Least Someone's Enjoying the State Park

Metro went to the East River State Park yesterday, and despite that it was in the 30s, found disappointed people who wanted to use the park.

But at least the park wasn't empty:

State Park Officially Closed

Even after a solomonic offer by Assm. Lentol to keep the park open without staffing, and even after steady usage during the month of December, the East River State Park is closed until April 1. This is the only state park in the city to close for the winter because of the budget crisis--most other parks throughout the state are only having reduced programs or reducing the number of facilities open. Now our only open waterfront park is Grand Ferry Park.

At the root of this is a lack of creativity and open minds by State Parks to solutions to this problem. Does this park need two or three staff on site at all times to be open? Most would say no, but apparently this is the only way that State Parks knows how to run a park (which apparently includes keeping dogs out and closing before the posted hours).

If you care about parks issues like this, join our Parks/Waterfront organizing group at a working meeting Jan 27th.

East River State Park May Close Until April!

We were dismayed to learn late last week that the East River State Park may close for the winter because of the State budget crunch. This park has rapidly become part of the community and closing it even for a season threatens the progress we've made here over the past few years. It should be noted that other neighborhood's parks are facing program cuts, not total closures. It seems highly counter-productive to close a park that struggled to open.


We're confident there is some way to keep the park open in an affordable and safe way. City parks is able to operate parks without a staff member on site at all times, perhaps this is the way that the State will have to run this park for the winter.

Assembly Member Lentol seems to be leading the charge to keep the park open. In the meantime, readers are urged to send letters to Governor Patterson and the State Parks Department urging them to keep the park open for the winter:

Send letters to Governor Patterson online

Send snail mail to State Parks:
Rachel Gordon
Director, New York City Region
New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
163 West 125th Street, 17th floor
New York, NY 10027

Photo by Steve & Sara via Creative Commons License

Sun Oct 26: Green Fall Festival and Pumpkin Palooza at State Park

From our friends at the Friends of the East River State Park:

Following our recent successful Voter Registration drive at the park, the Friends of the East River State Park are excited about our next event and we hope you will be part of the "Green Fall Festival and Pumpkin Palooza" on Sunday, October 26th from noon to 6 pm. Co-sponsored with Assemblyman Joe Lentol and NY State Parks, we will have:

*games, arts & crafts and educational programs for children from
Brooklyn Children's Museum and the NY Aquarium
*live music and entertainment from The Hungry March Band
*fall wreath making
*NYS farm fresh produce
*Green Expo with hands-on alternative energy,
Weatherization and recycling games
….And pumpkins (organic, grown in New York) pumpkins, pumpkins…and more pumpkins for kids to decorate

We think it is too dangerous to cross Kent Avenue to get into the park
so come sign our petition calling for a stoplight!

What can you do as a Friend to the Park?
(1) Spread the word. Let your friends know about the 10/26 event. Send a message to your listservs.
(2) Help out. We need people to help that day, so please let us know if you can help.
(3) Come to the park! Come 10/26 & enjoy the park with family, friends & neighbors.

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.