Bay Street Corridor,

OPEN SPACE INDEX BAY STREET CORRIDOR, STATEN ISLAND OPEN SPACE INDEX ❁ 1 BAY STREET CORRIDOR

Bay Street Corridor Study Area T S i n Atlantic Ocean, The Narrows S 11 M Staten Island Railroad R C B B S. G n CITY HOUSING HAMILTON AVE F T AUTHORITY DEVELOPMENTS

VINE ST CRESCENT AVE n NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS 2 (1 to 20 acres in size) 6

DANIEL LOW TERR MONTGOMERY AVE 1. Liotti Ikefugi Playground LAYTON AVE 7 CENTRAL AVE

MONROE AVE

TAFT AVE SHERMAN AVE 2. Lt. Lia Playground ST MARKS PL 1 3. Lyons Pool & Recreation Center BENZIGER AVE 4. Stapleton Esplanade 5. Tappen Park 1 JERSEY ST 3 CORSON AVE 11 n POCKET PARKS AND BROOK ST GREENSTREETS C R (Less than 1 acre) FRONT ST C S HANNAH ST 6. Baker Square VICTORY BLVD SWAN ST 7. Barrett Triangle WARD AVE 8. Davis Playground CEBRA AVE HOMER ST NIXON AVE

9. Fort Hill Park ST PAULSAVE 10. National Lighthouse Promenade

VAN DUZER ST 11. Tompkinsville Park BREWSTER ST

WATER ST

BAY ST

BEACH ST WRIGHT ST

S L 4 BOYD ST 5

BROAD ST CANAL ST

TARGEE ST GORDON ST

TOMPKINS ST HARRISON ST

VAN DUZER ST

TOMPKINS AVE

.4 Miles

0 0.1 0.2 0.4 Miles

2 ✿ NEW YORKERS FOR PARKS Bay Street Corridor The Bay Street Corridor consists of three distinct neighborhoods: St. George, Tompkinsville, and Stapleton, represented by Community Board 1 and Council Member Debi Rose. Compared to the rest of park-rich Staten Island, the Bay Street Corridor is grossly underserved in regards to accessibility and quantity of parks and open spaces. This is especially notable when it comes to the proportion of active open space available for recreational use.

The Bay Street Corridor rezoning $250 million of public investment to BAY STREET CORRIDOR is the first of Mayor de Blasio’s neigh- the area and allow denser development, DEMOGRAPHICS borhood rezonings in Staten Island. seeking to catalyze affordable housing SEX Historically, the area was home to work- creation.1 Locally, electeds and advo- ing and professional class Italian and cates gave the proposal mixed support, 50% 50% Irish immigrants. Today, the area is the citing concerns about adding residents Female Male most diverse and dense in the borough. to the area’s already overburdened Although the Staten Island Railroad and transportation, traffic, and open space the Staten Island Ferry terminal are infrastructure. One of the commitments nearby, the area suffers from the island’s made by the City as part of the rezoning most congested traffic conditions, and is the reconstruction of the Cromwell AGE local public transit is unreliable and Recreation Center, a dilapidated former underinvested, leaving locals with few community hub that was destroyed by 24% 11 % transportation options. Superstorm Sandy in 2012. Despite this 19 and 65 and investment, needs for open space in the under older City agencies have long pursued Bay Street Corridor remain. 65% studies and strategies to facilitate the 20-64 area’s revitalization. In June 2019, the 1 Gray, Victoria. “City Council Approves Major City Council approved the Bay Street Bay Street Corridor Plan with Modifications,” City Land, Corridor Rezoning, which will introduce New York Law School, July 18, 2019.

RACE AND ETHNICITY 24% 33% 32% 6% White Black Latinx Asian 5% Other

Tompkinsville Park, 2018

BAY STREET CORRIDOR, STATEN ISLAND OPEN SPACE INDEX ❁ 3 Open Space Goals and Local Results For each Open Space Goal in the Index, NY4P staff gathered data from publicly available sources to answer the question, “Does the Bay Street Corridor meet this goal?” Information on population comes from the US Census’ American Community Survey, and most open space amenity and acreage information comes from the open data platform. Visit www.ny4p.org/data-and-research for methodology.

AMOUNT OF OPEN SPACE Total Open Space Active Open Space Playgrounds Athletic Fields

Tappen Park Davis Playground Lt. Lia Playground Future Leaders Playground

All acres of open space in the All acres of playgrounds, fields, Places for play with things like Fields for sports like soccer, neighborhood that provide courts, rec centers, and other swings, climbing frames, water football, cricket, baseball, rugby, space for play, relaxation, and active open spaces features, sand boxes, or other and field hockey, as well as contact with nature play areas outdoor ice rinks

CITYWIDE BAY STREET CITYWIDE BAY STREET CITYWIDE BAY STREET CITYWIDE BAY STREET GOAL RESULT GOAL RESULT GOAL RESULT GOAL RESULT 2.5 1 1 0.3 1 2.7 1. 5 0 acres per acres per acre per acres per per 1,250 kids per 1,250 kids per 10,000 per 10,000 1,000 people 1,000 people 1,000 people 1,000 people people people

Courts Recreation Centers Passive Open Space Community Gardens

Liotti Ikefugi Playground Lyons Pool Stapleton Esplanade

Courts for playing sports like Indoor recreation centers All acres of lawns, esplanades, All GreenThumb gardens and basketball, handball, volleyball, operated by NYC Parks, and plazas, beaches, natural areas, other community gardens with tennis, and bocce other indoor facilities with planted areas, and community public access similar fees and public access gardens

CITYWIDE BAY STREET CITYWIDE BAY STREET CITYWIDE BAY STREET CITYWIDE BAY STREET GOAL RESULT GOAL RESULT GOAL RESULT GOAL RESULT 5 1.6 1 1. 3 1. 5 0.7 1 0.7 per 10,000 per 10,000 per 10,000 per 10,000 per 10,000 per 10,000 per 20,000 per 20,000 people people people people residents residents residents residents

4 ✿ NEW YORKERS FOR PARKS NY4P studied the area of Staten Island that the NYC Department of City Planning used for its Bay Street Corridor study. Meets goal Approaches goal Does not meet goal

ENVIRONMENTAL ACCESS TO OPEN SPACES SUSTAINABILITY Pocket Parks Neighborhood Parks Large Parks Urban Tree Canopy

Baker Square Tappen Park Stapleton Esplanade National Lighthouse Promenade

Parks smaller than 1 acre Parks larger than 1 acre but Parks larger than 20 acres The layer of tree leaves, in size smaller than 20 acres in size in size branches, trunks, and stems, that cover the ground when viewed from above

CITYWIDE BAY STREET CITYWIDE BAY STREET CITYWIDE BAY STREET CITYWIDE BAY STREET GOAL RESULT GOAL RESULT GOAL RESULT GOAL RESULT %001 %001 %63 %001 %14 %001 %1 %04 %22 of people live of people live of people live of people live of people live of people live potential tree actual tree ten ten canopy canopy minute walk minute walk minute walk minute walk minute walk minute walk

PARK MAINTENANCE Cleanliness Overall Condition

Tompkinsville Park Baker Square

NYC Parks’ Park Inspection NYC Parks’ Park Inspection Program rating based on the Program rating for overall park maintenance conditions weeds, and ice

CITYWIDE BAY STREET CITYWIDE BAY STREET GOAL RESULT GOAL RESULT 90% 95% 85% %48 of inspections of inspections of inspections of inspections rated “acceptable” rated “acceptable” rated “acceptable” rated “acceptable”

BAY STREET CORRIDOR, STATEN ISLAND OPEN SPACE INDEX ❁ 5 Findings and Recommendations

ACCESS INFRASTRUCTURE

The Bay Street Corridor falls short of The Bay Street Corridor does not meet Findings the goals for park access: less than half of the goals for amount of total open space, residents live within a 5-minute walk to passive open space, or active open space. a neighborhood park or open space, and With the rezoning, 6,557 new residents some local open spaces are inaccessible are expected to move to the area, further- due to safety concerns. There are clear ing the burden on existing open spaces. opportunities to connect upland parks Most recently, NYC Parks has torn down and waterfront open spaces. The City has the comfort station infamous for frequent committed to improving these pedes- drug use at Tompkinsville Park to provide trian connections as part of the rezoning. additional space for future programming. Tompkinsville Park and Tappen Park are Based on conversations with local advo- the area’s key neighborhood parks, but cates, plans for this were not discussed both suffer from safety concerns stem- beforehand with community members ming from systemic drug and alcohol use. and do not necessarily reflect immediate Investments in these two parks—in their needs for this park. At Tappen Park, there buildings, maintenance, and programming— is an opportunity to restore community are critical opportunities that can open space at the Village Hall, which needs the door for more community program- major investment. ming and activities.

Recommendations 1. Develop streetbed plazas near the 1. Ensure all local parks get appropriate St. George ferry terminal to increase maintenance improvements and ameni- pedestrian network connectivity and ties to address the planned significant provide pathways to parks, which falls in increase in population and involve line with NYC Economic Development local institutions and residents in parks Corporation (NYCEDC), Department of improvement decision-making to better Transportation (DOT) and NYC Depart- prioritize immediate needs of the ment of City Planning (DCP) efforts. community, which is a project for NYC Parks, the Council, and the Mayor. 2. Encourage local organizations to apply for DOT public space activation initia- 2. Invest in local parks, notably program- tives such as WalkNYC to implement ming for Tompkinsville Park, and in better wayfinding. the Village Hall at Tappen Park.

3. Create connectivity between upland 3. Use existing community-based plans parks and waterfront open spaces, such as the Maritime Education and particularly Tompkinsville Park and Recreational Corridor and the North the National Lighthouse Promenade, Shore Greenway Heritage Trail as and Tappen Park and the new catalysts for developing programming Stapleton Esplanade. for youth and further connecting the community to waterfront open spaces, 4. Collaborate with nearby social service a project for NYCEDC and DCP. organizations to develop event program- ming or public amenities that address safety concerns in the park, which will require coordination between Parks Enforcement Program Officers at NYC Parks and local institutions.

6 ✿ NEW YORKERS FOR PARKS NY4P’s Findings and Recommendations are guided by the vision set forth in the 2017 Public Realm Bill of Rights for New York City. Visit ny4p.org/general/public-realm-bill-of-rights-for-new-york-city to learn more.

HEALTH ENVIRONMENT FUNDING

The Cromwell Recreation Center col- Trees provide multiple benefits to the Bay Street Corridor parks meet or exceed lapsed in 2012 due to Superstorm Sandy, surrounding community. They are linked the goals for park cleanliness and overall and local stakeholders have demanded to sustainability and health benefits for condition, yet the need for further invest- that the critical community resource be Bay Street Corridor residents—such as ment into these spaces is still paramount replaced. Lyons Pool provides some recre- improved air quality, and stormwater mit- for the healthy future of the neighborhood. ational facilities, but is not a full recreation igation. The current tree canopy coverage However, these spaces are still consid- center. The rezoning includes a commit- for Bay Street is 22%: if the area were ered so unsafe that Community Board 1 ment to rebuild Cromwell. There are planted with trees to its full capacity, 40% made requests for additional PEP officers also impediments to recreation outdoors of the neighborhood would be covered at parks in its 2018 Needs Assessment. in the Bay Street Corridor. There are with tree leaves and branches. There is Feedback from community members also no publicly accessible athletic fields, and only one community garden in the area, suggests that the condition reflected in some residents report feeling unsafe while less than the goal. Community gardens maintenance score is not in accord with recreating in local parks.Although Tomp- are neighborhood assets, providing the experience of everyday residents. kinsville Park has been the focus of recent fresh-grown produce and space to form Additionally, although Staten Island has a investments and community programming, closer social connections. The Bay Street robust nonprofit sector, aside from the those actions alone have not significantly Corridor is within a high-risk floodplain. Friends of Tompkinsville Park and Historic reduced the rates of drug use, alcohol Future development along the waterfront Tappen Park, there are few volunteer stew- abuse, and violence that contribute to should incorporate mitigation strategies ardship organizations for parks unsafe conditions. such as installing green infrastructure. in the Bay Street Corridor.

1. Develop new active open spaces for 1. Collaborate more with local parks 1. Additional long-term investment in recreation either based on existing groups such as Friends of Tompkinsville Tappen Park and Tompkinsville Park, in community-based plans or involving Park, Historic Tappen Park, and other particular, should be encouraged since community through planning and local institutions in developing commu- both have already been identified as decision-making process, Council, nity gardens and more trees in green struggling community assets. Develop Mayor, NYC Parks. space, a potential project for Partner- these spaces to better accommodate ships for Parks and GreenThumb community institutions and activities, a 2. Expand the Schoolyards to Playgrounds at NYC Parks. priority for NYC Parks, the New York program to the North Shore to City Council, and the Mayor. increase active open spaces available 2. Ensure that future waterfront esplanade for youth population, a project of the plans incorporate coastal resiliency 2. Partnerships for Parks should be funded Trust for Public Land. models and that they remain publicly to deepen support for volunteer park accessible, which is under the stewards and advocates, ensuring that as 3. The NYC Department of Health and jurisdiction of NYC EDC. neighborhood population densifies, there NYC Department of Homeless Services are clear paths for community steward- should collaborate with NYC Parks 3. Collaborate in developing more ship and funding of local open spaces. and local institutions on addressing “green infrastructure” in flood-prone substance abuse and homelessness with areas such as bioswales or more 3. The Mayor and Council should provide a particular focus on youth and senior greenstreets to reduce storm run-off funding for both small and large sur- population near parks and citywide. impacts, which would involve the rounding community and cultural groups NYC Department of Environmental to ensure consistent programming and Protection and NYC Parks. activation of open spaces, and concrete long-standing partnerships with local organizations so programming matches the needs of Bay Street communities.

BAY STREET CORRIDOR, STATEN ISLAND OPEN SPACE INDEX ❁ 7 NEW YORKERS FOR PARKS BOARD OF DIRECTORS STAFF The Arthur Ross Center for Parks and Open Spaces Joel Steinhaus, Chair Lynn B. Kelly 55 Broad Street, 23rd Floor Mark Hoenig, Secretary Executive Director New York, NY 10004 Fern Thomas, Treasurer Gabriella Cappo (212) 838-9410 Gabrielle S. Brussel Outreach Coordinator & www.ny4p.org Kate Collignon Director of the Daffodil Project Christopher Collins Justin Cristando Margaret A. Doyle Development Associate Audrey Feuerstein New Yorkers for Parks is the citywide Sam Mei Catherine Morrison Golden Fiscal Manager independent organization championing Paul Gottsegen Lucy Robson George J. Grumbach, Jr. quality parks and open spaces for all Director of Research & Policy New Yorkers in all neighborhoods. Parks Kyle Kimball Albert Laverge Jessica Saab Communications & are essential to the health of residents, the Carol Loewenson Administration Associate livability of neighborhoods, and the economic Lynden B. Miller Michelle Velez development of the city. Through an integrated Josh Moskowitz Patricia Ornst Director of Development approach of research, advocacy, and strategic Jon Paradiso Emily Walker partnerships, we drive immediate actions and Alan Steel Director of Outreach & Programs long-term policies that protect and enhance Edward C. Wallace Jamala Wallace Research & Policy Analyst the city’s vast network of parks, ensure EMERITUS DIRECTORS Robin Weinstein equitable access to quality open spaces for Ann L. Buttenwieser Director of Operations & Finance all neighborhoods, and inform and empower Ellen Chesler Barbara S. Dixon PROJECT STAFF communities throughout New York City. Barbara Fife Mariana Lo Richard Gilder Research & Policy Analyst This study was made possible in part by Michael Grobstein Jessica Brown funds granted by the Altman Foundation. Ira M. Millstein Graduate Research & Philip R. Pitruzzello Planning Intern New Yorkers for Parks’ research is also supported Wilfrido Batista, Ashley Berton, by The J.M. Kaplan Fund, the Cowles Charitable SPECIAL THANKS Ebelin Garcia, Justin Helmkamp, Trust, and other generous funders. Friends of Tompkinsville Park Lauren Jimenez Historic Tappen Park Field Survey Interns Island Voice Report Design: Michael Bierman NYC Department of City Photography: NY4P Staff Planning © 2019, New Yorkers for Parks NYC EDC NYC Parks SIEDC Great Parks Make a Great City ii ✿ NEW YORKERS FOR PARKS