The Next Jewel in New York's Urban Park Crown

Home , Floyd Bennett Field

A REPORT BY THE FLOYD BENNETT FIELD BLUE RIBBON PANEL

THE NEXT JEWEL IN NEW YORK’S URBAN PARK CROWN The Bronx

Manhattan New Jersey

Queens

Brooklyn

JAMAICA BAY

Staten Island

FLOYD BENNETT FIELD

SANDY HOOK New Yorkers are clamoring for more opportunities Long Island to enjoy parks, and maintaining and expanding our quality of life requires us to answer that need. - PlaNYC

Other Parks and Open Spaces

Gateway National Recreation Area

Floyd Bennett Field

1 2 APPENDICES NEXT STEPS PANEL RECOMMENDATIONS GATEWAY’S TIME IS NOW THE OPPORTUNITY EXECUTIVE SUMMARY LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL support. national parkwithbroad public tions forcreating avibranturban development oftherecommenda- comprehensive process ledtothe management partnerships.This tion, restoration, infrastructure, and workgroups onparkvision,educa- the site’s potential.W develop abetterunderstandingof agencies, andelectedleadersto nesses, numerous non-profits, community groups, local busi- Field BlueRibbonPanelmetwith This pastyeartheFloydBennett and thePortAuthority. the U.S.ArmyCorpsofEngineers for NewYork Harborprepared by Comprehensive RestorationPlan Great OutdoorsReport,andthe PlaNYC, thePresident’s America’s implement thegoalsofMayor’s Our recommendations will help potential ofFloydBennettField. steps torealize thetremendous City. Thisreport provides thenext urban nationalparkinNewYork Now isthetimetocreate apremier to submitourrecommendations. Floyd BennettFieldBlueRibbonPanel, It isourgreat pleasure, asmembersofthe Congressman Weiner, Dear Sena e convened tor Schume& and thecountry. urban nationalparkfortheregion our shared visionofanexemplary tinuing toworkwithyouachieve its center. W Floyd BennettFieldasthegemat Recreation Area, andinparticular commitment toGatewayNational Thank youforyourleadershipand Field atitsheart. national park,withFloydBennett finally becomeatrulyiconicurban way NationalRecreation Area can local interest inthispark, Gate- the currently strong upwellingof the NationalParkService,and by theDepartmentofInteriorand park inCongress, focused efforts nett Field.Withchampionsforthis operations supportforFloydBen- capital fundingandlonger-term ing publicandprivatesources of a newparkdesign,andidentify- management structure, creating with respect todetermining anew recommendations, particularly as webegintoimplementthese W e looktoyouforyourleadership and ournationalparks. children to thenatural world our region’sconnect millions of Floyd BennettFieldcan e lookforward tocon- Now is the time to create a premier urban national park in New York City.

3 For every dollar spent on a national park, roughly four dollars are invested in the local economy.

4 TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. letter of Transmittal 2

II. executive Summary 6

III. The Great Urban National Park Opportunity 8

IV. The Time for Gateway is Now 12

VI. Panel Recommendations 18

VII. Next Steps 35

VIII. Appendices 38

PANEL CO-CHAIRS PANEL MEMBERS Caswell Holloway Commissioner, New York City Marian S. Heiskell Diana Balmori Department of Environmental Chair, New 42nd Street, Inc. Founding Principal, Balmori Associates Protection

Deborah Shanley Adrian Benepe Thomas Kiernan Dean, School of Education, Brooklyn Commissioner, New York City President, National Parks College / CUNY & Second Century Department of Parks & Recreation Conservation Association Commissioner Col. John R. Boulé II The Honorable Marty Markowitz Commander and District Engineer, US Brooklyn Borough President Army Corps of Engineers, New York The Floyd Bennett Field Blue Ribbon District The Honorable Helen Marshall Panel was staffed by Regional Plan Queens Borough President Association (RPA) and the National Marcia Bystryn Parks Conservation Association (NPCA). Executive Director, New York League of Neil Mulholland Conservation Voters President, National Parks Foundation

Denis Galvin Jay Walder Second Century Commissioner & Chief Executive Officer, Former Deputy Director, National Park Metropolitan Transportation Authority Service Christopher Ward Joseph Martens Executive Director, The Port Authority Commissioner, New York State of New York & New Jersey Department of Environmental Conservation Robert D. Yaro President, Regional Plan Association

5 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

mericans love their parks, and could also support local infrastruc- ANew York City’s more than ture needs, create jobs for the eight million residents, living and region’s residents, spur the local working in the densest city in the economy, and connect millions of United States, especially need their young people to the outdoors and parks. Today we have the unique the National Park System. Gate- opportunity to develop a new way is also uniquely positioned flagship national park for New York to facilitate community building by revitalizing Gateway National on a local, regional and national Recreation Area. This unpolished scale. Surrounded by established gem, with Floyd Bennett Field at its and newly developing immigrant heart, is ready to be brought alive communities representing dozens as the great urban national park it of countries, the park can play a was intended to be, elevated to vital role in introducing millions of shine as the next jewel in the emer- the country’s newest citizens to our ald crown of New York City’s great National Park System. park system. In the past decade, numerous As a premier urban national park in disparate efforts have been made New York City, Floyd Bennett Field to articulate Gateway’s potential could, and should, be a destination and define an exciting vision for its for urban outdoor recreation, eco- future. Recognizing that now is the logical restoration, aviation history, time for action, Senator Charles and place-based education for the Schumer and Congressman An- residents of southern Brooklyn and thony Weiner convened the Floyd Queens and visitors from around Bennett Field Blue Ribbon Panel. the world. If restored, supported, After much deliberation and public and managed in new and collab- discussion, the Panel makes the orative ways, Floyd Bennett Field following recommendations:

Floyd Bennett Field could, and should, be a destination for urban outdoor recreation, ecological restoration, aviation history, and place-based education.

6 LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL EXECUTIVE SUMMARY THE OPPORTUNITY GATEWAY’S TIME IS NOW PANEL RECOMMENDATIONS NEXT STEPS APPENDICES 7 TNERSHIP AR P Implement the Dead Horse as Bay Restoration Project identified in the Army Corps Jamaica Bay Feasibility Study. Remove or bury concrete defunct pads, remove bulkheads and runways, and abandoned numerous remove buildings. Rehabilitate and enhance the grasslands. North 40 natural the Restore area. Now is the time for action. • • • • Support ecological restoration: TION EDUCA ECOLOGY Structure the partnership to Structure allow for later inclusion of Fort Tilden and Riis Beach. Improve the arrival experience Improve within Floyd and circulation Bennett Field. public transit additional Create access to the park via bus and pilot programs ferry through and marketing. Enhance the bicycling and pedestrian experience. new ferry dock at a Create Gateway Marina. party entity Launch a third to manage the site with joint City involvement of New York and the National Park Service. • • • • Establish a partnership structure to begin and facilitate change by 2016, honoring the National Park Service Centennial celebration: Improve transportation and Improve access: • • - ACCESS V access and campsites. Create an expanded camping Create eco-lodges to experience from R stablish a year-round, state Establish a year-round, of the art education facility for use by visitors, school academic institutions, groups, and others. nonprofits, Preserve and herald the site’s and herald the site’s Preserve aviation history. access to the water Improve water. and front and Expand the recreational cultural programming. Make Floyd Bennett Field look and feel like a national park. unstruc- Embrace the site’s while restoring character tured its open space. Create a new design for Floyd a Create - Bennett Field and its surround ings. DESIGN • • • • • Develop a comprehensive education and interpretation program: • • Develop a coherent overall Develop a coherent design: • 8 APPENDICES NEXT STEPS PANEL RECOMMENDATIONS GATEWAY’S TIME IS NOW THE OPPORTUNITY EXECUTIVE SUMMARY LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL F and administered.” huge crowds ifproperly developed can servetherecreation needsof can beaplaceforallpeopleand the peoplethaneverbefore…(this) the nationalparkprogram closerto an urbancomplexanditwillbring al recreation area intheheartof noted, “thiswillbethefirstFeder experience. Itsenablinglegislation an entrypointtothenationalpark Gateway isintendedtoserveas the entrancetoNewYork Harbor, national park.Stretching across to serveasapubliclyaccessible Congress created Gatewayin1972 visitors from beyond. residents ofthetri-statearea and destination parkforthe21million York City. Theparkshouldbea more than8millionpeople ofNew of Brooklyn andQueens,the the park,5millionresidents people wholivewithin3milesof untapped resource forthe200,000 the sizeofCentralParkandisan United States.Theparkistwice the midstofdensestcityin recreational andhistoricparkin a rare chancetoprovide ahuge opportunity withinNewYork City, in 1972. national parkoriginallyenvisioned we cancreate thegreat urban With yourleadershipandsupport THE GRA represent thenextgreat park loyd BennettField’s 1440acres 1 T URBAN - recognized andcelebrated. significance oftheparkshouldbe towers. Thenaturalandhistorical visiting historichangarsandcontrol airplanes onactualrunwaysand landscapes, whilealsoflyingmodel grassland andvariedwaterfront ence suchvastpanoramasofopen in theurbanregion canone experi- and adaptivere-use. Nowhere else trol towercalloutforinterpretation runways, historichangarsandcon- history, FloydBennettField’s vistas, and municipalmilitaryaviation Native American,DutchColonial, and ecologicalhistory. Richwith New York City’s spectacularcultural tures provide auniquewindowinto acres, andW park. Itsvastopenspace,1440 Nation’s premier urbannational Floyd BennettFieldshouldbethe infrastructure, anddiversity. of itssurrounding urbanfabric, these functionswithinthecontext great urbannationalparkserves even asenseofnationhood.A historically importantstoriesand ecologically significantlandscapes, ing notonlyopenspace,but memorialize ourcountry, preserv- America’s nationalparkstangibly mier Great UrbanNationalPark Floyd BennettFieldasthePre- TIONAL P orld W ar IIerastruc- ARK OPPOR Acres 1440 TUNITY in Brooklyn &Queens 5 million within 5miles schoolchildren 100,000 people

With over five miles of waterfront, wetlands, grasslands, maritime for- ests, and beaches, Floyd Bennett Field has space for fishing, boating, camping and birding, outdoor recreational activities rare in the surrounding urban landscape.

These assets will help meet the needs of the city and the recreation and activity goals of national initiatives such as the First Lady’s Let’s Move program, President Obama’s America’s Great Outdoors initiative, as well as Mayor Bloomberg’s PlaNYC.

By 2025, 85% of Americans will live in metropolitan areas, and they will need access to natural areas more than ever. Encouraging children to visit Gateway and inviting them to explore its natural landscape is critical to the long-term success not just of this park, but of all parks.

Today’s children will be tomorrow’s stewards and champions of not only Gateway but national parks in general. As noted by Louise Chawla, “Environmental leaders… It is scientific attributed their commitment to a combination of two sources in fact that the childhood or adolescence, many hours spent outdoors ‘keenly remembered’ in wild or semi-wild occasional places and a mentoring adult who taught respect for nature.” contemplation At the center of a metropolitan of natural scenes region with 21 million residents and 50 million visitors annually, Floyd Bennett Field is an ideal site for the of an impressive National Park Service to convey its message and build its constituency character is for the next 100 years. favorable to health and vigor.

Frederick Law Olmsted

9 Economic Benefits of a Great Urban Park

successful park must provide Aopportunities for recreation and socialization and integrate with the region’s infrastructure. Great urban parks have long been recognized as being more than just places for outdoor recreation or sanctuaries for important natural and cultural resources; they are also generators of local economic development.

Creating a new urban park at Floyd Bennett Field will:

Grow the local economy

A fully developed Floyd Bennett Field will provide significant short and long term economic benefits to the neighborhood and the city.

• Turning Floyd Bennett Field into an iconic urban national park will, conservatively, generate an estimated 2,800 to 8,400 temporary and permanent jobs, and aggressive models suggest creating up to 16,500 jobs.2 • The value of surrounding real estate in Brooklyn and Queens will increase as the park is $1,200 improved. It is estimated that homes adjacent to well-man- dollars aged parks gain up to 20% in value, and even those farther Average tax savings to each away gain 5%.3 New York City household as a result of travel & toursim • In 2010 there were a total of 48.7 million tourists to New York City. These visitors contributed $31 billion to the 304 region’s economy. thousand

Total New York City jobs supported by visitor spending (2009)

10 (continued)

Get NYC residents moving, meet- commodate a wide assortment of LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL EXECUTIVE SUMMARY THE OPPORTUNITY GATEWAY’S TIME IS NOW PANEL RECOMMENDATIONS NEXT STEPS APPENDICES ing public health goals novice and expert naturalists and scientists studying everything from Increased recreation at Floyd astronomy to zoology. Bennett Field would directly address the Obama Administration’s Support Municipal Infrastructure Creating a new America’s Great Outdoors (AGO) and Climate Adaptation initiative, Mayor Michael Bloom- berg’s PlaNYC, and the First Lady’s Floyd Bennett Field serves now as urban park at Let’s Move initiative. Gateway a crucial link between fragments offers vast, open, free recreational of our remnant ecosystems, and its Floyd Bennett space that is easily accessed by mil- vegetation scrubs the air and re- lions of people. There are 100,000 duces the urban heat effect. In fact, Field will school children living within five Floyd Bennett Field could become miles of the park. the model green urban national park and potentially host municipal grow the local • Investing in and activating infrastructure supporting New York Floyd Bennett Field will meet City DEP restoration goals and the economy. AGO’s goals of Connecting National Park Service’s Climate Americans to the Great Out- Friendly Parks goals. Demonstra- doors & Preserving the Great tions projects could include: Outdoors. • Solar panels generating up to • Increasing access to, and pro- 10-12 watts/ft2 x 2.5 hours/ gramming at, Floyd Bennett day; Field will help facilitate the three prongs of the Let’s Move • A new Blue Belt absorbing initiative—Active Families, over 1M gallons/year/acre of Active Schools and Active storm water where hard sur- Communities. face areas are removed; and • 57.9% of adults living in New • Demonstration of new tech- York City are obese; encourag- nologies like tidal energy Urban national parks provide ing and facilitating physical generation. jobs in the commuinty, offer activity is a key part of improv- learning and recreation ing the health of New York City Provide opportunities for com- opportunities for visitors, residents. munity interaction and serve as destinations for cultural events. • Let’s Move calls for more exercise, and more unstructured Floyd Bennett Field can offer exercise outdoors for children. the space for communities to be Gateway offers the type of together for block parties, picnics, open and unstructured space and community events to strength- that children today are rarely en our national identity. Parks are able to enjoy. common ground for children from different neighborhoods. Offer outstanding educational resources for adults and school children

There are more than 1.2 million school-age children in New York City who could benefit from ranger-led interpretative programs or regular school sponsored field trips. Floyd Bennett Field can ac-

11 Floyd Bennett Field represents the next great park opportunity within New York City.

ateway National Recreation GArea is a complex park, com- prised of five administrative units spread across over 26,000 acres, two states, four counties, and three New York City boroughs. The park encompasses an astonishing mix of eco-types, uses, visitors, neighborhoods and urban contexts. Gateway is home to historical forts, a wildlife refuge, a former municipal airport, and beaches. Gateway National Recreation Area and, in particular, Floyd Bennett Field, has been the subject of numerous government and private studies and initiatives in recent years. Now is the time for the National Park Service, Con- gress, and local elected leaders to act together to implement these many concurrent and converging initiatives.

12 THE TIME FOR GATEWAY IS NOW LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL EXECUTIVE SUMMARY THE OPPORTUNITY GATEWAY’S TIME IS NOW PANEL RECOMMENDATIONS NEXT STEPS APPENDICES

2004 2005 2006

The National Parks Conservation As- The National Park Service creates the A Zogby International poll finds that the sociation (NPCA) opens a Northeast position of Commissioner, National majority of the area’s residents desire regional office to help lead the effort to Parks of New York Harbor, and helps an iconic national park in the region, elevate Gateway National Recreation launch the National Parks of New York but nearly half of them are unaware of Area (Gateway) and help it become a Harbor Conservancy to support the and have never visited Gateway. great urban national park. national parks in New York City. 2009 2008 2007

NPCA and Regional Plan Association NPCA, Van Alen Institute and Columbia NPCA’s State of the Parks report finds (RPA) release the report “The Path University hold the Envisioning Gate- that Gateway’s cultural resources score Forward: Public Input on the Future of way design competition drawing over just 46 out of 100, and its natural Gateway National Recreation Area,” 200 submissions from 20 countries re- resources score just 53 out of 100, the synthesizing the results of the Envision- envisioning the future of Floyd Bennett lowest rating of all 27 parks assessed to ing Gateway competition and all sub- Field. The competition raised the profile date. sequent public outreach and feedback. of the park and articulated the bench- Recommendations include revealing marks by which all stakeholders view the visitor opportunities, connecting and site. expanding access, integrating climate change, and re-naturing Jamaica Bay. The NPS begins preparing a new Gen- eral Management Plan for Gateway including Floyd Bennett Field. 2010 The National Parks Second Century Commission charts a vision for our Na- tional Park System’s second century of service focusing on building a national community and sustaining the health of the planet.

Senator Charles Schumer and Con- gressman Anthony Weiner announce the creation of the Floyd Bennett Field Blue Ribbon Panel.

13 CONCURRENT EFFORTS

GeneralGeneral Management Management Plan Plan / •Environmental Newsletter—Summer Impact Statement 2009 Newsletter—Fall 2010 National Park Service General Management Plan for US Department of the Interior Gateway National Recreation Area Gateway National Recreation Area Join us at one of these Open Houses for an informal opportunity to meet our planning team, get more information about Gateway and to share your ideas and comments. Find Common Ground, As part of November Thursday, November 4 12:00 to 6:00 pm Federal Hall National Memorial Navigate New Waters In 2008, the National Park Service 26 Wall Street New York, NY Gateway National Recreation Area The Gateway website is the best place Monday, November 8 (Gateway) is an urban oasis. Located in to stay connected with the GMP and 4:00 to 8:00 pm Starrett City the heart of the nation’s largest metropol- future events. The General Management Brooklyn Sports Club itan area, it is truly a getaway for millions Planning section contains updated and Community Center Room launched a new General Manage- 1540 Van Siclen Avenue of visitors every year. The woods, waters expanded information on GMP activi- Brooklyn, NY and beaches at Gateway are perfect for ties. There you can join the electronic

Tuesday, November 9 a wide variety of outdoor activities and mailing list and sign up on the website 2:00 to 8:00 pm serve as a permanent or temporary home to receive e-blasts. Gateway is also on the America’s Monmouth University McGill Commons, Clubroom 107 & 108 for a wide variety of birds, butterflies, fish Twitter! You can follow us at 400 Cedar Avenue and other species. It’s also a place where www.twitter.com/GatewayNPS ment Plan for Gateway National West Long Branch, New Jersey history comes alive in coastal fortifica- Wednesday, November 10 tions, historic air fields and the nation’s 2:00 to 8:00 pm Brookdale Community College oldest continuously operating lighthouse. Warner Student Life Center, Navesink 1 765 Newman Springs Road Congress established Gateway in 1972 Recreation Area, including Floyd Lincroft, NJ as a national park within easy reach of Friday, November 12 residents in the New York and New Jersey 12:00 to 6:00 pm Kingsborough Community College metropolitan area. Thirty years later Terrace Room (V219) in the Academic Village Gateway is in need of a new general 2001 Oriental Boulevard management plan (GMP) that will guide Great Outdoors Brooklyn, NY Bennett Field. This once-a-gener- the park for the next 20 years. Saturday, November 13 2:00 to 6:00 pm Much has been accomplished since the Oakwood Heights Three preliminary concepts, which can Community Church first GMP newsletter was published in be found on pages 10-11, were developed 345 Guyon Avenue Summer 2009. In this newsletter, we Staten Island, NY to help you think about how various ation effort will set out the broad share some of the progress we’ve made components of the park could be man- Tuesday, November 16 on the GMP over the last year. Part of 2:00 to 8:00 pm aged in the future. Think about what the Monmouth Beach Cultural Center that progress is a result of your com- concepts mean to you. Are there ways 128 Ocean Avenue ments and suggestions. A summary of Monmouth Beach, NJ we could better describe them or are those comments can be found in the We there things we have over looked? WE Wednesday, November 17 Listened and Learned from You section of agenda for Gateway for the next 2:00 to 8:00 pm NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU! Join us Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge this newsletter. Initiative, we Visitor Center at the open houses, or submit comments Cross Bay Boulevard online or in writing. We are navigating Queens, NY new waters and charting a new course. Thursday, November 18 This is your chance to shape the future thirty years. The plan identifies the 2:00 to 8:00 pm Fort Wadsworth, Visitor Center of America’s first urban national park, 210 New York Avenue please join us. Staten Island, NY For information on public transportation and driving directions to these Open Houses, key values for the park and sets out visit the park website at: http://www.nps.gov/gate

Linda Canzanelli Acting Superintendent look forward to strategies for best ensuring that Gateway National Recreation Area these are protected, enhanced and interpreted as part of the visitor ex- working with the perience. Department of America’s Great Outdoors the Interior and In 2010, President Barack Obama America’s the National released his report on America’s Great Outdoors: Great Outdoors (AGO), an initiative A Promise to Future Generations to address the challenges, oppor- February 2011 Park Service tunities, and innovations surrounding modern-day land conservation to enhance and the importance of reconnect- ing Americans to the outdoors. The initiative aims to deliver quality out- the largely door experiences to every young person and connect all Americans undiscovered to their natural and cultural heritage. NPS - J. CHAKRIN PHOTO beauty of Gateway National PlaNYC 2030 Recreation Area. In 2011, the City of New York released the update of PlaNYC 2030, the ambitious 30-year sustainability Mayor Michael R. plan to make the city a cleaner and healthier place to live. The goals, Bloomberg many of which align with a greener future at Gateway, include ensuring that all New Yorkers live within a 10-minute walk of a park; open- ing 90% of our waterways for recreation by reducing water pollution and preserving our natural areas; and providing cleaner, more reliable power for every New Yorker by up- grading our energy infrastructure.

14 LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL EXECUTIVE SUMMARY THE OPPORTUNITY GATEWAY’S TIME IS NOW PANEL RECOMMENDATIONS NEXT STEPS APPENDICES 15 - ateway as the model for Ameri- Gateway as the model Outdoors Initiative Great ca’s will mark the In 2016, the nation Park Centennial of the National of this anni- Service. In celebration Parks Second the National versary, charted Century Commission parks’ a vision for our national to the second century of service nation. Recommendations focused on how the National Park Service most critical can advance society’s objectives: building a national community and sustaining the health of highlighted the planet. The report need to connect urban, the urgent underserved communities to the national park experience, and high- that urban national lighted the role parks can play in that solution. In Barack Obama 2011, President on America’s his report released (AGO). Under Outdoors Great the leadership of the Secretaries of the Departments of the Interior the Administrator and Agriculture, Protection of the Environmental and the Chair of the White Agency, House Council on Environmental - AGO is a 21st-century con Quality, agenda servation and recreation the challenges fac- that addresses ing our nation. Now is the time to act together to implement these many concur initiatives and converging rent park and make Gateway the great Americans deserve and need. - aterfront Plan, a 10-year aterfront atershed. Goals include con- include Goals atershed. W vision for the future of the city’s 520 of the city’s vision for the future including a sus- miles of shoreline, water tainable framework for more public access transport, increased parks through to the waterfront restoration, habitat and recreation, and economic opportunities to help - make the water part of New York ers’ everyday lives. Jamaica Bay Watershed Jamaica Bay Watershed Plan Protection Released in February 2011, the City Department of En- New York Strategy Protection’s vironmental 2011 – 2014 has laid out long term plans for the Jamaica improvement Bay water quality in tinuing to improve Harbor to facilitate new New York water development and increased City Vision 2020: New York Plan Waterfront Comprehensive Michael 2011, Mayor March In and City Council Speak- Bloomberg Vi- er Christine C. Quinn released - City Compre sion 2020: New York hensive W omprehensive Restoration Plan Comprehensive – New Jersey for the New York Harbor the US Army In February 2010, Au- Corps of Engineers and the Port & New Jersey thority of New York - restora a Comprehensive released – New York tion Plan for the New P). Developed Jersey Harbor (CR over 15 years, it includes specific plans for Dead Horse restoration than 50 other well as more as Bay, and other, wetland restoration, Jamaica Bay. in and around projects and for all New Yorkers, access front natural systems that can restoring pollution while providing reduce habitat, and climate recreational, adaptation benefits. he Panel held seven public Tmeetings and stakeholder discussions. At our public meetings, and on our panel website, over 280 community members voiced their opinions on the future of Floyd Bennett Field. They expressed their appreciation for its potential as a vital open space and voiced their concerns regarding maintaining currently existing programs such as biking, kayaking, birding and model airplane flying. Members of the public also requested additional cultural and recreational uses, the maintenance and activa- tion of the historic structures, the preservation and restoration of the natural environment, and improvements to the educational facilities. They felt Floyd Bennett Field was big enough to accommodate a wide range of uses.

Floyd Bennett Field is home to many diverse uses and users. Today, people visit Floyd Bennett Field to camp, bird watch, fish, restore historic aircraft, kayak, ride bikes, learn about aviation history, wind surf, watch bike races, play hockey and soccer, stroll along quiet nature paths, horseback ride, and more. 16 Part of what is wonderful about Floyd is how open and unstructured it is. If you want to do something in New York City, there is room at Floyd. community member

17 18 PANEL RECOMMENDATIONS

19 Flatbush Corridor

Ferry Landing & Marina

Dead Horse Bay Restoration Area

FLOYD BENNETT FIELD

20 Camping Area

Grassland Restoration Boat Launch Non-motorized Boating

Possible HARP Locations

Sanitation & NYPD Minimize 5 Year Potential Education Location Vision Plan

Hangar Row Active Uses

US Armed Forces Reserves

21 Gateway National IS... Recreation Area is a part of what makes New York the greatest city in the world. As one of the country’s largest urban parks,

it is home to IS... immense natural beauty and an incredible variety of recreational opportunities – but we can make it better.”

Congressman Anthony Weiner

22 COULD BE...

COULD BE...

23 24 APPENDICES NEXT STEPS PANEL RECOMMENDATIONS GATEWAY’S TIME IS NOW THE OPPORTUNITY EXECUTIVE SUMMARY LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL W • • • II. • • I. A NewPark Design Re-Envisioning Ga national park.Thedesignwill: Bennett Fieldlookandfeellikea of thisnewdesignistomakeFloyd ments andparticipation.Thegoal a newdesignwithpubliccom- simply bydirectly commissioning St. LouisArch, orFresh Kills,or as acompetition,atFlight93, site. Thevisionmightbelaunched creation ofaholisticdesignforthe Floyd BennettFieldguidedbythe Project (HARP),inthelong- Historic Aircraft Restoration should bemaintainedforthe In thenear-term, HangarB uses. viewing orothercommercial for historicaircraft storageor pose spaces, possibly as space purposed asflexiblemulti-pur should berehabilitated andre- The remaining derelict hangars add exhibits. Ryan Centercontrol towerand Complete the work on the aviation history. Preserve and herald the site’s fully protected andrestored. ecological assetsshouldbe cal heritage.Theseremaining of theregion’s great ecologi- and provide tovisitorsaglimpse leled opportunitytopreserve maica Bayprovide anunparal - wetlands andsurrounding Ja- The grasslands,forested areas, rounding grasslands. serves thewidevistasandsur allees inawaythatalsopre - the memoryoftheseaviation new parkplanshouldreveal the designofpark.The referenced ormemorializedin fields. Therunwaysshouldbe Floyd BennettField’s open Enhance the central part of site’s openspace. Embrace andrestore the new comprehensive visionfor e recommend establishinga - -

• • • • IV. • • • • • III. tew Tamarack. shore, connectedtoCamp kayaks, etc.)ontheeastern and passivewateruse(canoes, sion supporting non-motorized Explore creation of a conces- launch ontheeasternshore. west andrefurbish thekayak at theGatewayMarinato Establish adockforferryaccess water access. tinuity ofthetrailsystemand the MarineCorpssiteforcon- Ensure enoughspacebehind access tothewaterfront. tem thatprovides enhanced Establish awalkway/trailsys- waterfront andthewater. Create betteraccesstothe tions. be realigned withnewdestina - The locationofstopsshould to servecurrent busriders. Flatbush Avenue shouldbe built A busshelterontheeastsideof around JamaicaBay. enway andGatewaysites connect theJamaicaBayGre - An internaltrailsystemshould and FlatbushAvenue. particularly alongBeltParkway tablished throughout the site, side exhibitsshouldbees- Signage, pull-outs,andway- visitor center. created attheControl Tower proved, withamajorentrance Flatbush Avenue shouldbeim- The existingentrancesalong the site. ence andcirculation within Improve thearrivalexperi- ing asavisibledrawtothesite. relocated toHangarRow, serv- term, aviationactivityshouldbe a y : heritage. ecological region’s great preserve the opportunity to unparalleled provide an Jamaica Bay wetlands and forested areas, The grasslands, Field mustbe improved. atFloyd Bennett experience The entrance andarrival (continued)

V. Remove inappropriate uses. • The current use of Floyd Ben- nett Field by the U.S. Marine The goal of this new design is to Corps and the City of New York’s Departments of Sanita- make Floyd Bennett Field look tion and Police are not compat- ible with the national park mission. In the short-term, these and feel like a national park. users should reduce their foot- prints, in particular by phasing out the Department of Sanita- tion and the New York Police Department driver training ac- (Upper Left) Peregrine fal- (Upper Right) New York tivities. cons, a native and endangered City’s first municipal airport, species, call Floyd Bennett Floyd Bennett Field boasts • Establish a moratorium pre- Field home. expansive historic runways. venting any inappropriate uses.

VI. Expand the recreational and (Lower Left) Floyd Bennett (Lower Right) Visitors cultural programming at Field’s historic hangars should should be able to easily access Floyd Bennett Field. be refurbished and open to the the more than five miles of public for use. waterfront. • Cultural events, concerts, art festivals and pop-up markets should bring in new users, connect them with other aspects of Floyd Bennett Field, and build a larger constituency for the greater park. Such activity should be concentrated along Hangar Row and on existing hard surfaces. • Provide enhanced and expanded camping experiences to connect New York City’s school children and other residents to world class urban camping opportunities. • New programs should seek to be self-sufficient, reflect the values of the park, the cultural diversity of New York City, and should build on existing uses and constituencies including: historic aircraft restoration; flying model planes; stewardship of the native habitat and plant- ings; birdwatching, hiking, and fishing. • Establish policies to ensure that new uses or events support the park’s values and help meet the marketing, transportation, and revenue needs of the site.

25 26 APPENDICES NEXT STEPS PANEL RECOMMENDATIONS GATEWAY’S TIME IS NOW THE OPPORTUNITY EXECUTIVE SUMMARY LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL T • • III. • • II. • I. Infrastructure Transpor and more enjoyable. making gettingtotheparkeasier Panel hasidentifiedseveralwaysof park’s greatest challenge. The Bennett Fieldisperhapsthe ransportation toandfrom Floyd Flatbush Avenue. Re-align parkentranceson cling paths. W Field. and withinFloydBennett rience alongFlatbushA Improve thepedestrianexpe- harbor ferryloop. New York Cityforcreating a There isgreat interest within NJ Harbor. within JamaicaBayandtheNY/ linking thesitetodestinations a stopforexcursionferries, Bennett Fieldshouldbecome The marinaoppositeFloyd ers atRiisBeach. muter and seasonal ferry us- Floyd BennettFieldtocom- and marketprograms at for inner-Jamaica Bayferries cess at the Establish adockforferryac- bush Avenue for special events. ing Q35busservicedownFlat- summer months;andincreas - service duringpeakhoursand bus to complement regular city support foranexpress beach cial eventsatthesite;securing ing inthetransitsystemforspe- card promotions; jointmarket- could include:theMTA’s metro marketing programs. These a seriesofpilotservices and Establish andcarefully evaluate vice. grams andincreased busser through marketing,pilotpro- cess toFloydBennettField Increase publictransitac- ell-marked walkingandbicy- Gateway t a tion & Marina venue - • • V. • • IV. •

ing water. the sitetoprovide safedrink- booster chlorinationsystem at site, allowtheconstructionof a current andnewusersofthe In order to meet the needs of ly benefittheparkitself. and wildlife,shoulddirect- the experiences of park visitors enhance, andnotdetractfrom, should bestructured soasto and anyfuture arrangements lines andpipelines.Current cal, gas,cableandtelephone of utilitiesincludingforelectri- is currently usedbyanumber The FlatbushAvenue corridor mission. advantageous tothepark’s region’s infrastructure and that are necessaryfor the A utility corridoronFlatbush structural needssuchasthe Accommodate criticalinfra- would helpattractnewusers. or othereventsinthefuture, of thetarmacforbicycleraces Sports andtheuseofaportion as thebikerental atAviator services andprograms, such Better marketingofexisting greenway network. City parksitesandtheCity’s nect thesitetootherNPSand Bennett Field will better con- creating biketrailsin Floyd nections in the Greenway byimproving con- Enhancing theJamaicaBay around FloydBennettField. Promote bicyclingtoand tion totheparkattractions. to improve internalcircula- Field shouldbeconsidered ing through FloydBennett popular, ajitneyserviceloop- As thesitebecomesmore venue aswellotheruses Rockaways and

throughout theHarbor.throughout loop thatlinksattractions York aferry creating for City interest withinNew great Gateway Marina. is There ing couldbe to added the land- photo)(Lower Aferry BayGreenway.the Jamaica theattractivenessincrease of internal biketrails would connections and key tion of (Middle Photo) Comple- pilot programs&marketing. could be through increased (Upper Photo) Busservice Transportation to and from Floyd Bennett Field is perhaps the park’s greatest challenge.

27 28 APPENDICES NEXT STEPS PANEL RECOMMENDATIONS GATEWAY’S TIME IS NOW THE OPPORTUNITY EXECUTIVE SUMMARY LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL F system Characteristics. tualized aseriesofTargeted Eco- sive RestorationPlan Harbor known as the Comprehen - around theNewYork /NewJersey restore agreat numberofsitesall Foundation, amore recent effort to ary Program andtheHudson River Protection Agency’s HarborEstu- gineers, theU.S.Environmental Led bytheU.S.ArmyCorpsofEn- protected andrestored. ing ecologicalassetsshouldbefully est valueofthesite.Theseremain- this opennessisperhapsthegreat- public has repeatedly noted that vistas. At community meetings the tant horizonsandscenicwaterfront vast areas ofopenspacewithdis- II. • • I. ecological restora Comprehensive ner intheimplementationof sey can contribute as the local part- Authority ofNewYork &NewJer significant ecologicalvaluesand loyd BennettFieldprovides both elements throughout the site, elements throughout thesite, and surficial remnants oflandfill Remove hard-edge bulkheads to a nearby camping facility. ditionally providing access (kayaks, canoes,sailing),ad- passive boatingactivities cess andwateraccessfor Hanger Btoallowfishingac- should bemaintainednear A sectionofconcrete pad and theperimeterofsite. circulation around HangarRow grassland area, andfocusing enhancing thecontinuityof quired foraccessorrecreation, other concrete areas notre- Selectively remove runways or habitats. seabird colonyorother new a canal, creating a colonial sand ordirtsurrounded by pad(s), orcoverthemwith Remove partsoftheconcrete Restoration Plan. 8 hasconcep- 9 ThePort - • III. • • • cal oftheHempsteadPlains. warm seasongrasslandtypi - for thenativedominated The area shouldbemanaged land, definedas>100acres. minimum criticalareas ofgrass- fields bypreserving several Floyd BennettField’s open Enhance the central part of panded. grassland maintainedandex- should becontinued,andthe der toPlainview, NY. acres from the Queens bor east, coveringover60,000 of thelargestprairiein Plains, which were once part acteristic oftheHempstead the runways,anecotypechar tion ofthegrasslandsamong have supportedthepreserva - the NationalParkService New York of cement pads or runways. shorelines orburyportions nial seabird islands,eroded pearing marshislands,colo- be used to restore disap- York Harborsandthatmight ly hasaccesstocleanNew The ArmyCorpscurrent - tion, andrecreation. aged forhumanaccess,educa- while othersshouldbeman- and least tern nesting sites, horseshoe crab,pipingplover designed andmanagedfor Some beach areas should be built andrestored. level, shorelines shouldbere- climate changeandrisingsea adaptive strategytoaddress as implementanimportant tion andvisitoraccess,aswell To improve waterfront restora- human use. shorelines for both habitat and historic value,andrebuild the that do not havesignificant remove abandonedbuildings tion City Audubon and 10 This - - waterfront vistas. and scenic distant horizons open spacewith and vastareas of ecological values both significant Field provides Floyd Bennett (continued) IS... • No fences, structures, or sign-posts should be al- lowed, precluding natural grassland species’ predators.

IV. Outside of the grassland area, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Comprehensive Restoration Plan should be the guiding document for any restoration efforts, although this will require resolving potential conflicts among equal- ly valuable Targeted Ecosys- tem Characteristics. • Implement the Dead Horse Bay Restoration Project as identified in the Army Corps Jamaica Bay Feasibility Study. The project is largely designed. Federal Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) Appropriations and a “local match” are required to move this forward. This project was reviewed by an external scientific panel and COULD BE... authorized by Congress this year. • With Dead Horse Bay restoration, the natural areas on the west side of Flatbush Avenue will attract new visitors. Pull- outs and viewing areas should be added to Flatbush Avenue with accompanying boardwalks and exhibit components.

Already an identified location for planned restoration efforts, with its vast open space, key wildlife habitat, and miles of waterfront, Floyd Bennett Field could be restored as an urban ecological paradise. 29 Possible Nonprofit Partners: EDUCATION & INTERPRETATION Christodora, Fresh Air Fund, YMCA, Boys & Girls Club, Boy and Girl Scouts of Amer- ica, New York Restoration ducation and interpretation are II. Modeled after Lowell Nation- Project, Outward Bound. Eat the heart of the national park al Historic Site’s successful experience. Floyd Bennett Field partnerships, develop stra- should be a unique environmental tegic programming partner- and historical learning destination ships with governmental and for New York City’s over one mil- nonprofit organizations. lion schoolchildren, the region’s 21 • Partnerships between lo- million residents, and visitors from cal universities, NPS, and the around the world. NYC Department of Education could transform Floyd Bennett We recommend that education and Field into the most cost-effec- interpretation programs transform tive environmental education Floyd Bennett Field into a hub of site in the world. Examples of outdoor educational opportunities successful education partner- for the tri-state region. ships include: the community engagement program at Low- I. Establish a permanent year- ell National Historic Site; the round educational facility at Hunter College internship pro- Floyd Bennett Field for di- gram for DEC; the City College verse users including schools, Environmental Engineering nonprofits, and individual program with DEC; the NYC park visitors. Department of Parks & Recre- • Education and interpretation ation partnership with the US are not land intensive, but for Forest Service Northern Re- successful partnership and dy- search Station; and the Public namic programs to thrive, there Service Scholarships at Hunter. must be a space for visiting • Partnerships should be need- students and scholars to use. and resource-based. Nonprofit A multi-use, year-round facility and civic partners should be would provide space for school able to exchange maintenance field trip programming, place- and capital investments for ed- based learning opportunities, ucational use of facilities. problem-based experiences, internships, park research, and • Pursue formal research-based teacher training. It could host partnerships with local uni- or house visiting students, versities, such as those highly scholars, and professors from successful long-term ecologi- local colleges and universities, cal monitoring and urban en- New York City’s Department of vironmental science research Education, or programs of non- collaborations through the City profits or private schools that of New York’s Department of abound in the region. Parks & Recreation. • This educational facility must include parking and easy access for school buses, meeting rooms, classrooms, lab space, rooms for collections and research, locker-rooms and bathrooms.

APPENDICES NEXT STEPS PANEL RECOMMENDATIONS GATEWAY’S TIME IS NOW THE OPPORTUNITY EXECUTIVE SUMMARY LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL EXECUTIVE SUMMARY TIME IS NOW THE OPPORTUNITY GATEWAY’S RECOMMENDATIONS APPENDICES NEXT STEPS PANEL

30 Floyd Bennett Field offers space for school field trip programming, place-based learning opportunities, problem-based experiences, internships, park research, and teacher training.

31 New Partnership Structure

artnerships are critical to manag- The following are three options Ping and maximizing the use of for a new management structure A new urban parks. Floyd Bennett Field and legal means of working with requires a new sustainable manage- new partnerships, not necessar- management ment structure that will be support- ily mutually exclusive nor exclusive ed by continued federal funding, of other potential arrangements: new support from New York City, structure can on-site revenue, and philanthropy. I. A Park Trust The National Parks of New York Modeled after the Brooklyn Bridge bring additional Harbor Conservancy and other non- Park, Governors Island, or Pre- profits can, and should, continue to sidio Trust, Congress would ap- resources, a new play an important role in this effort, prove the creation of a third but public funds will also be needed party entity supported by both level of energy to support capital and operating ex- the National Park Service and penses. the City of New York to formally manage and program the park. and outlook, and A new management partnership could include a broad spectrum of • The third party would operate the vision that will formal arrangements. New man- under a new legal structure to agement can bring additional release sites and facilities in the attract additional sources, a new level of energy and park, and activate them with outlook, and the vision that will at- new programs and services. tract additional philanthropic and philanthropic and organizational partnerships. Po- • This entity would have jurisdic- tential new partners include region- tion over Floyd Bennett Field, organizational al authorities, academic institutes, and perhaps subsequently ex- and nonprofits. A new manage- pand to other parts of Gate- ment partnership structure must: way. partnerships. • Both NPS and the City of New • Ensure the site’s use and pro- York would provide on-going gramming is aligned with the operational and capital sup- Gateway GMP and NPS mis- port, at levels determined in sion. the planning phase. Subject • Be approved by Congress in to Congressional appropria- form and/or intent. tions, NPS financial support for Floyd Bennett Field and all of • Bring financial structure of the Gateway would at a minimum site under a new legal frame- be based on, and locked to, a work (leases, partnerships, percentage reflecting current trust, etc.). support. • Maintain the current level of fi- • The City of New York’s Depart- nancial contribution by NPS. ments of Parks & Recreation, • Add operations and capital Environmental Protection, and support from NYC. Education should all be deeply • Ensure all revenue from con- involved in the programming cessions and other arrange- and use of the park. ments remains within the park. • Focus initially on improvements II. Intra-Governmental Lease APPENDICES NEXT STEPS PANEL RECOMMENDATIONS GATEWAY’S TIME IS NOW THE OPPORTUNITY EXECUTIVE SUMMARY LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL EXECUTIVE SUMMARY TIME IS NOW THE OPPORTUNITY GATEWAY’S RECOMMENDATIONS APPENDICES NEXT STEPS PANEL to Floyd Bennett Field, but be An intra-governmental agreement capable of expansion to Riis between NPS and the City of New Beach, Fort Tilden, and possibly York that would allow site- or pro- Canarsie Pier and Fountain and gram-specific partnerships through- Pennsylvania Avenue Landfills. out the park.

32 Possible Partners

(continued) • City of New York • Port Authority of New York & New Jersey • A leased arrangement would • United States Army Corps of Engineers allow New York City or a sepa- • Corporations rate entity to legally control • Nonprofits and manage Floyd Bennett Field. Alternatively, the lease • Local educational institutions might cover specific sections of the site that are linked to recreation, education, and concessions, while NPS retained control over natural areas and cultural resources. Such a lease structure must allow greater flexibility to attract and manage outside partners. • The lease might be over- seen by a Commission with some authority, similar to the legal structure at Low- ell NHS in Massachusetts.

III. Individual Partnerships In this option, the NPS would ag- gressively pursue strategic partnerships with various organizations to build and manage a number of facilities at Floyd Bennett Field. The Partnership Models City of New York could potentially • Central Park Conservancy – a private nonprofit corporation contracted by help find partners. Opportunities the City to maintain and run the park. Funding is contributed by the City include a partnership with New and by private donors. The City retains final control over the park. York City Department of Education for an educational facility, with the • Hudson River Park Trust – a public agency created to allow the State and Department of Parks & Recreation City to jointly develop and manage the park. Funding is provided by the for collaborations in recreation and City and State and privately generated revenue. outreach, and with the U.S. Army • Brooklyn Bridge Park Corporation – a nonprofit entity created by the City Corps of Engineers for restoration. to plan and develop the park. Capital funding for the project was provided by New York City; the park is required to become financially self-sufficient • Partnerships would continue to from onsite revenue generation. be created around specific fa- • Boston Harbor Islands Partnership – this unit of the National Park System cilities (i.e. an educational cam- coordinates management of the islands within the Park, which are owned pus) or covering delineated by multiple groups, governmental and non-profits. Some funding is pro- areas (i.e. Aviator Sports). Part- vided by revenue generated in the park, captured by the nonprofit partner ners would manage the sites group. covered by their agreements. • Presidio Trust – created by a special act of Congress creating an inde- • Given that this option would pendent entity to manage redevelopment of a National Park Service site. not change how commercial Federal funding was initially provided for the redevelopment of the site, arrangements and partnerships but it is mandated to become financially self sufficient relying on revenue are managed, and that the site from uses within the park as well as private philanthropy. would be managed on a piece- meal basis, this is not a pre- • The Prospect Park Alliance and the Open Space Alliance of North ferred option. Brooklyn are both nonprofit corporations that have formal operating partnership agreements with NYC Department of Parks & Recreation. The Executive Directors are also the chief administrators of the park(s), ensuring that both the City and the local community have a voice in the management.

33 In the heart of an urban complex... it will bring the national park program closer to the people than ever before.

34 NEXT STEPS

Senator Schumer and Congressman Weiner, LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL EXECUTIVE SUMMARY THE OPPORTUNITY GATEWAY’S TIME IS NOW PANEL RECOMMENDATIONS NEXT STEPS APPENDICES

e ask that you build on the emerging consensus and demonstrate your political leadership by moving forward on Wthe recommendations of this Panel. We believe the actions outlined here will result in new and more vigorous management of Floyd Bennett Field, will bring about a design for a park befitting the second century of our National Park System, and will ensure that the site be- comes an iconic urban national park benefiting the people of New York as well as visitors from across the country.

We therefore ask that you work with your Congressional colleagues, the National Park Service, the City of New York, and other partners to undertake or encourage these specific actions.

MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE PARK DESIGN FUNDING

• Ask the National Park Service • Direct the new entity – or the • Dependent upon agreements to incorporate the recom- partnership that precedes around the new management mendations of this report into it – to solicit a new externally structure, seek National Park the General Management prepared, inspiring design for Service Construction funds, Plan now being prepared for the Floyd Bennett Field area. additional Congressional ap- Gateway. This might be through an propriations, and City of New • Meet with the Department of open or invited competition. York capital funds to imple- the Interior, National Park Ser- We imagine a process similar ment critical and fundamental vice, and the City of New York to recent efforts at St. Louis’ capital improvements such as: to encourage their adoption of Gateway Arch, the Flight 93 »» Building rehabilitation and a new management structure Memorial, Governors Island, removals and Fresh Kills. for Floyd Bennett Field and »» Concrete pad removals, possibly Riis Beach and Fort • Work with the management waterfront softening, and Tilden. entity, National Park Service other enhancements • Help mediate discussions of and the City of New York to ensure the entire design pro- »» Transportation improve- such a partnership, particu- ments larly concerning each entities’ cess is open and transparent. potential legal, financial, and »» And more, dependent programmatic contributions. upon site design • Prepare and pass Congres- • Support the new management sional Authorization or other entity and its philanthropic legislation needed for the new partners as they seek addi- structure’s establishment and tional private funds for major oversight. capital and programmatic improvements such as visitor centers, educational facilities, and other enhancements.

35 National parks are America’s most precious treasures and Gateway National Recreation Area is New York City’s crown jewel.

Senator Charles Schumer

36 IMMEDIATE ACTIONS into a new entry point for LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL EXECUTIVE SUMMARY THE OPPORTUNITY GATEWAY’S TIME IS NOW PANEL RECOMMENDATIONS NEXT STEPS APPENDICES Floyd Bennett Field filled While these steps are underway, with modern exhibits and there are some immediate actions interpretation; that can also be taken by your »» Enhance ferry service offices to compel short-term and to Floyd Bennett Field tangible improvements to Floyd by creating a dock for Bennett Field: excursion boats and ferry service at the Gateway • Press the Administration to Marina. provide funding for the Army Corps of Engineers/National • Encourage the City of New Park Service/City of New York York to partner with the Na- partnership to restore Dead tional Park Service and: Horse Bay; »» Assume a leadership role • Encourage the National Park in the site’s new manage- Service to expand public activi- ment structure; ties at Floyd Bennett Field to »» Begin to minimize the build a constituency, including: footprint of City agencies »» Host more concerts and on the site, in particular, festivals, related to the phasing out the Depart- park’s values, in coopera- ment of Sanitation and the tion with Aviator Sports New York Police Depart- and other partners; ment driver training activities, while minimizing the »» Highlight aviation history impact of NYPD Aviation; at Floyd Bennett Field; encourage partnerships »» Complete the Jamaica Bay that will rehabilitate the Greenway; remaining historic han- »» Establish the Department gars and populate them of Education as a lead in with HARP and the model a partnership to create a airplane club; new environmentally-fo- »» Create a concession or cused educational facility work with a nonprofit or at Floyd Bennett Field, other NGO to support collaborating with other greatly expanded non-mo- academic institutions to torized and passive water facilitate a high level of use (canoes, kayaks, etc.) programming; on the eastern shore; »» Make significant »» Expand and make more streetscape improvements publicly accessible Camp to Flatbush Avenue. Tamarack to create ad- • Ask the Metropolitan Transpor- ditional outdoor camping tation Authority to work with and recreation opportuni- the National Park Service and ties, especially those tied NYC & Company to create a to passive watercraft use; marketing campaign and pilot »» Complete the Ryan Visitor bus programs down Flatbush Center and transform it Avenue.

NOW IS THE TIME.

37 APPENDICES A & B

APPENDIX A under, or near, Floyd Bennett representatives of the private sector, Field, such as the Port Authority elected officials and hundreds of park FLOYD BENNETT FIELD BLUE of New York and New Jersey, NYC lovers. Although it is impossible to RIBBON PANEL PROCESS Police Department, Department acknowledge each individually, we do of Sanitation, National Grid, Con wish to thank all who contributed their Edison, and Time Warner Cable. ideas, their time, their expertise, and In April 2010, Senator Charles Schumer above all, their passion for Gateway and Representative Anthony Weiner • Ecology & Restoration National Recreation Area, and in convened the Floyd Bennett Field Blue Interests, November 5th, 2010: particular those listed below. Ribbon Panel. Our charge from Senator Agencies, authorities, and other Schumer and Congressman Wiener organizations that are involved The Floyd Bennett Field Blue Ribbon was to help the National Park Service, in the region’s environmental Panel thanks the organizations and Congress, and agencies involved with restoration efforts, such as the individuals who helped during the the park: Army Corps of Engineers, NYC Department of Parks & Recreation, Panel meetings and report production process: • Establish a shared vision for the NYS Department of Environmental future of Floyd Bennett Field and Conservation, EPA’s Hudson Aviator Sports its environs; Estuary Program, and New York City Audubon, among others. Nikki Baran • Identify recreational, ecological, Maya Borgenicht and educational opportunities for • Educational Institutions, Alexander Brash the area; September 28th, 2010: Academic Elizabeth Case institutions, universities, teachers, • Provide specific guidance to the Brooklyn Community College and educational professionals National Park Service as to how New York City Hall that have been historically the vision and opportunities can Michael Della Rocca involved in the site’s use as an be articulated in the upcoming Financial Dynamics educational resource and/or General Management Plan (GMP) Federal Hall National Memorial have a future interest, such as as well as early actions that should Gateway National Recreation Area CUNY’s Brooklyn College, NYC be taken to implement the GMP’s Reina Gonzales Department of Education, and a finding; and Halcrow Inc. variety of individuals and nonprofit Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge • Work together to implement organizations. Alexandra Kerry needed improvements to make • Public Meetings, September 21st Sophia Koven Floyd Bennett Field a signature and 27th, 2010: The Borough Kevin McCabe element of Gateway National Presidents of Brooklyn and Queens National Parks Conservation Recreation Area and the National each hosted community meetings Association Park System. to which the local elected officials, The National Parks of New York Harbor The Panel met four times between April Community Boards, local and Conservancy 2010 and March 2011 and additionally regional civic organizations and The National Park Service held Listening Sessions in Brooklyn, nonprofit groups, user groups, and The New York Times Queens and Manhattan to solicit input the public were invited. Nearly 200 Robert Pirani on the needs and potential uses of the people attended the two public Regional Plan Association site. All meeting and listening session meetings. Darcy Shiber-Knowles participants expressed the desire to Oliver Spellman • Website, December - January, see the site become an exceptional 2011: The Panel posted our draft resource for the region and an iconic The Floyd Bennett Field Blue Ribbon recommendations on our website urban national park, and provided Panel thanks the facilitators of the in December 2011 and received important insight into how to achieve public meetings held to provide input more than 80 additional comments this reality. on Floyd Bennett Field’s future and this from a variety of interested report: people. • Concessionaires, July 14th, 2010: Companies and organizations that Lindsay Burtchell lease or operate concessions or Luke Depalma other businesses at Floyd Bennett APPENDIX B Jeanne Dupont Field, such as Aviator Sports, the Elizabeth Ernish marina, the golf course, and the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Sarah Haga APPENDICES NEXT STEPS PANEL RECOMMENDATIONS GATEWAY’S TIME IS NOW THE OPPORTUNITY EXECUTIVE SUMMARY LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL EXECUTIVE SUMMARY TIME IS NOW THE OPPORTUNITY GATEWAY’S RECOMMENDATIONS APPENDICES NEXT STEPS PANEL riding academy. Amanda Kennedy • Infrastructure Interests, This Report is the result of an Roland Lewis September 17th, 2010: Agencies, enormous collaborative effort on the Elizabeth Manclark authorities, utilities, and other part of government agencies, civic Sara Margolis organizations involved in the organizations, academic experts, Linda Morgan region’s infrastructure that lies community groups, consultants, Sarah Neilson

38 Milton Puryear New York Restoration Project Anthony Danza Jr. Becky Schneider New Yorkers for Parks Maria DeLongoria Donna Walcavage NYC Audubon Anthony DiLernia Alex Rothberg NYC Department of City Planning Howard Eilenberg NYC Department of Education Ruth Eilenberg The Floyd Bennett Field Blue Ribbon NYC Department of Environmental Elizabeth Ernish Panel thanks the many organizations Protection Michael Feller and individuals who attended and NYC Department of Parks and Naomi R. Fraenkel participated in public meetings, Recreation Adam Freed outreach, background information and NYC Department of Sanitation Wilda Gallager contributions to this report including: NYC Department of Transportation Barry Grodenchik NYC Economic Development Christopher Hahn 59th District Community Association Corporation Stephen Harbin AECOM NYC Mayor’s Office of Sustainability Thomas Hodson American Littoral Society NYC Police Department Kate Holmes AREAC NYS Department of Environmental Sam Holmes Birding Dude Conservation Leonard Houston Boy Scouts of America NYS Department of Transportation Bonnie Impaglaizzo Borough of Brooklyn Pennsylvania Avenue Remote Control Kevin Jeffrey Borough of Queens Society Louis Kaliff Brooklyn Bird Club Point Breeze Association Ted Kaliff Brooklyn College, CUNY The Port Authority of New York and Ashley Scott Kelly Brooklyn Community Board #13 New Jersey Dr. Oliver Klapper Brooklyn Community Board #14 Rare Bird Alert Mike Klein Brooklyn Community Board #15 Rockaway Music & Arts Aaron Koch Brooklyn Community Board #18 Rockaway Point Yacht Club Joshua Laird Brooklyn Greenway Initiative Rockaway Waterfront Alliance Venetia Lannon Brooklyn Velo Force Sebago Canoe Club Vincent LaRocca Century Road Club Association South Canarsie Civic Association David Li Citywide Disaster Services Swim Bike & Run Shops Helen Mahan Con Edison Team TAM Bicycle Club Gretchen Maneval Deep Creek Yacht Club The Gateway Marina John F. Marra Ecowatcher The Jamaica Bay Riding Academy Michael Marrella Floyd Bennett Field Gardener’s The Wave Regina McCarthy Association Tonio Burgos and Associates Suzanne McCarthy Fordam University Trust for Public Land Eileen Mcnamara-Cifone Friends of Gateway U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Eleanor Miele Gateway Bike and Boathouse U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Joe Monetti Gateway Marina Verizon Anthony Morenzi Gateway National Recreation Area Wild Metro Julie Murtagh Global Golf Services Williams Companies Brian O’Donaghue Gruge Cake Yacht Sailing Program Jeanette Parker Harvard University Patti Reilly Historic Aircraft Restoration Project Jennifer Adams Joseph Rende Jamaica Bay Riding Academy Ilonka Angalet Don Riepe Kingsboro Community College Alan Ascher Sheridan Roberts Kissena Cycling Club Dr. Bonne August Marie Salerno Linnean Society Renee Barnes Leah Sarashohn Madison Marine Homecrest Civic Robert Bernstein Joseph Seebode Association Kate Boicourt Rosalie Siegel Manhattan Beach Community Group Rebecca Boger John Stavrakas Marine Park Community Association Christopher Boylan Carter Strickland McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP Brett F. Branco Dave Taft Metropolitan Transportation Authority Keith Bray Edward Toth Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance Barbara Burke Ed Tomanek National Grid Maria Burks Bill Tai National Parks of New York Harbor Olivia Cackler Betsy Ukeritis Conservancy Linda Canzanelli Donna Wilson Natural Resource Protective Association Dr. Kathleen Cashin Richard Windram New York / New Jersey Trails Mickey Maxwell Cohen Steve Zahn Conference Michael Creasey Christopher Zeppie New York City College of Technology

39 APPENDICES C & D

APPENDIX C Comprehensive Restoration Plan. Page 10: c. Don Riepe/American Vol. I [Draft}. Littoral Society REFERENCES 9 Bain, M., J. Lodge, D.J. Page 11: c. Bill Woodroofe 1 U.S. Congress. 1972. Establishing Suszkowski, D. Botkin, A. Brash, the Gateway National Seashore in C. Craft, R. Diaz, k. Farley, Y. Gelb, Page 12: c. Don Riepe/American the States of New York and New J.S. Levinton, W. Matuszeski, Littoral Society Jersey and for other Purposes. F. Steimle and P. Wilber. 2007. House of Representatives. 92 Target Ecosystem Characteristics Page 16 (from top to bottom): Congress. Report No. 92-1392. for the Hudson Raritan Estuary: c. Rob Buchanan, c. Don Riepe/ Technical Guidance for Developing American Littoral Society, c. Harold 2 Garrett-Peltier, Heidi. 2010. a Comprehensive Ecosystem Laser, c. Scott Demel Estimating the Employment Restoration Plan. A report to the Impacts of Pedestrian, Bicycle, Port Authority of NY/NJ. Hudson Page 18 spread: c. RPA and Road Infrastructure: Case River Foundation, New York, NY. Study Baltimore. Political Economy 106 pp. Page 20-21 map: c. FD Research Institute, University of Massachusetts, Amherst.; Ball, 10 Bourque, Jean. 2007. Changes Page 22-23 renderings: c. Margaret Robert. 1981. Employment Created in Wildlife at Floyd Bennett Field Steiner by Construction Expenditures. over 20 years with emphasis on Monthly Labor Review. Bureau of birds. In Natural History of New p. 24: c. Vivian Carter Labor Statistics, U.S. Department York City’s Parks and Great Gull of Labor, Washington D.C. pgs. 38- Island. Transactions of the Linnaean Page 25 Grid (clockwise from top 44; Council of Economic Advisors. Society of New York. Volume X. left): c. Alex Brash/NPCA, c. RPA, c. 2009. Estimates of Job Creation Motzkin, Glenn, and David Foster. Sophie Koven, c.RPA from the American Recovery 2002. Grasslands, heathlands and Reinvestment Act of 2009. and shrublands in Coastal New Page 26: c. Don Riepe/American Executive Office of the President, England: historical interpretation Littoral Society (middle), c. RPA U.S. of America. Washington D.C. and approaches to Conservation. (bottom) 12 pgs. Journal of Biogeography 29: 1569- 1590. Page 27: c. Don Riepe/American 3 Ibid. Harnik & Welle. 2009 Littoral Society APPENDIX D 4 S Stynes, D. J., Propst, D.B., Page 29 renderings: c. Margaret Chang, W. and Sun, Y. (2000). PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS Steiner Estimating national park visitor spending and economic impacts: Cover, (images behind words, from Page 31: Photo courtesy of NPS The MGM2 model. May, 2000. top to bottom): c. Sophie Koven, Page 33: c. Alex Brash/NPCA (left), Final report to National Park c. Don Riepe/American Littoral c. NPS (right) Service. East Lansing, Michigan: Society, c. Don Riepe/American Department of Park, Recreation Littoral Society Page 34: c. Rob Buchanan and Tourism Resources, Michigan State University. Page 1, map: c. Maya Borgenicht/ Page 36: c. Sophie Koven RPA 5 Gateway GMP Newsletter. Back Cover (top row left to right): Summer, 2010. Page 3: c. Emily Daskalakis c. Don Riepe/American Littoral Society, c. Alex Brash/NPCA, c. 6 www.nan.usace.army.mil/harbor/ Page 4, Grid (clockwise from top RPA; (middle row left to right): index.php?crp left): c. RPA, c. RPA, c. RPA, c. c. Rob Buchanan c. RPA, c. Scott APPENDICES NEXT STEPS PANEL RECOMMENDATIONS GATEWAY’S TIME IS NOW THE OPPORTUNITY EXECUTIVE SUMMARY LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL EXECUTIVE SUMMARY TIME IS NOW THE OPPORTUNITY GATEWAY’S RECOMMENDATIONS APPENDICES NEXT STEPS PANEL RPA, c. Sarah Williams/Columbia Demel; (entire bottom row left 7 nyc.gov/dep University, GSAPP, c. RPA, c. RPA to right): c. Don Riepe/American Littoral Society 8 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Page 9: c. Don Riepe/American and The Port Authority of NY & Littoral Society NJ. 2009. Hudson-Raritan Estuary

40 www.rpa.org/floydbennett

The Bronx

Manhattan New Jersey

Queens

Brooklyn

JAMAICA BAY

Staten Island

FLOYD BENNETT FIELD

Other Parks and Open Spaces

Gateway National Recreation Area

Floyd Bennett Field

SANDY HOOK A REPORT BY THE FLOYD BENNETT FIELD BLUE RIBBON PANEL

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