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Home , Marcus Garvey Park

COMMUNITY BOARD ELEVEN BOROUGH OF 1664 NEW YORK, NY 10035 TEL: 212- 831- 8929 FAX: 212- 369- 3571 www.cb11m.org

Nilsa Orama Chair

Angel D. Mescain District Manager

Environment, Open Space, & Parks Committee Thursday, April 2, 2020, 6:30 p.m. Virtual Meeting on Zoom Webinar

*** MINUTES ***

Present: Diane Collier, Jessica Elliott (chair), Elsie Encarnacion, David Giordano, Jada Heredia, Malik McCullough, Jessica Morris, Ryan Sheffield, Russel Shuler, Carly Wine (staff)

Absent:

Excused: Frances Mastrota

Guests: David Salerno, NYC Parks/RIPA; Mary Nell Hawk, East River Crew; Shena Raufman, NYC Parks; Steve Simon, NYC Parks; Councilmember Diana Ayala; Luisa Lopez, Councilmember Ayala’s Chief of Staff; Grey Elam, Conservancy; Bob Rumsey, ; Jeff Keiter, NYC Parks; Jon Ernsberger, NYC Parks; Leslie Peoples, NYC Parks; Zach Bordkin; Christine Johnson, Pleasant Village Garden; Sherrie Plowden, NYC Parks; Nadia Andrews, DOHMH; Sara Reinstein, NYC Parks; Renee Keit, Chenchitas Garden

1. Call to Order– Adoption of the Agenda

2. Announcements

3. Informational updates (20 minutes)

a. Randall’s Island Park Alliance b. NYC Parks c. Park

4. Presentations & Discussions

a. Presentation by NYC Parks of the proposed plan for the renovation of the P.S. 155 Playground play equipment area (15 minutes) NYC Park requests a letter of support for the playground proposal for P.S. 155. The playground renovation costs a total of $2.5 million, and was funded by Councilwoman Diana Ayala ($2.17 million) and Gale Brewer ($.33 million). The schematic plan for the playground includes safety surfacing, 8 new swings, spray showers, and state of the art mobility accessible playground equipment for different age groups. The schematic plan aims to relate the play equipment area to the entire Jointly Operated Playground (JOP) and P.S. 155. The committee voted to support the project.

EAST * HARLEM * EL BARRIO * SPANISH HARLEM * RANDALL’S & WARD’S ISLAND

b. Presentation by East River C.R.E.W. on proposed temporary relocation of the East River C.R.E.W. boat launch and community rowing program to East 99th Street until esplanade repairs are complete at East (10 minutes) East River CREW requests a letter of support to temporarily access the waterfront from the Esplanade seawall at East 99th Street for East River CREW while the existing access is on hold from their original location at East 96th Street. The relocation involves moving the davit, ladder, and gate to the new temporary location. In addition, a sturdy and aesthetically pleasing temporary shed would be placed on the grassy area near the boat launch to house two 25-foot rowing boats. The work would be paid for and performed by East River CREW, with the understanding that the area is adequately safe to support the activity. Upon completion of the work on the East River Esplanade at East 96th Street, East River CREW will return to their original location at East 96th Street. This access ensures that CREW volunteers are able to continue to provide the public with rowing and estuary education activities and the opportunity to get out into the water through a safe and fun community activity. The committee voted to support the project.

c. Presentation by Central Park Conservancy on four project proposals (15 minutes) i. : Located along 5th Avenue between E. 104th-106th Street this is an in-kind restoration of the garden's infrastructure, paving, fence and masonry. Limited regrading will be completed on an as-needed basis in compliance with ADA requirements. ii. Bendheim Playground: Located at E. 100th Street, the scope of work is limited to the composite play structure, which will be replaced to address accessibility and safety standards. iii. Dairy Access Path: Consistent with our approach throughout the Park, we will be adding a ramp and regrading the path to the Dairy Visitor Center to achieve accessibility. The path is located mid-park, near 65th Street. iv. Perimeter: As part of our effort to restore the perimeter in full, we will be doing an in-kind restoration of the perimeter from E. 85th-90th Street. The Central Park Conservancy requests a resolution to support the projects named above. The Conservatory Garden, located in Central Park adjacent to our district between 104th and 106th Streets aims to repair the pathways and provide accessible routes for the public. The Dairy, located in Central Park at East 65th Street aims to provide an ADA-compliant ramp. This committee voted in favor of the projects and the efforts to create a more equally accessible Central Park.

5. New Business

6. Old Business

a. Resolution in support of findings of The Black Institute’s Poison Parks Report The committee reviewed the request from the previous meeting at which time we did not have quorum in order to issue a resolution. The committee voted in support of the NYC Council Intr. 1524-2019: A Local Law to Amend the Administrative Code of the City of New York, In Relation to the Use of Pesticides by City Agencies.

b. Letter of support for East River Esplanade’s proposed “Swale Barge,” a concept floating community garden and educational center along the waterfront The committee reviewed the request from the previous meeting at which time we did not have quorum in order to issue a letter of support. The committee voted in support of the proposed floating food forest at as presented, with the condition that SWALE incorporate East Harlem

history and culture into the concept and naming of the barge.

7. Adjournment