Page 4 NATURAL RESOURCES PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATION Spring 2016 grassland and 20% woodlands. ists are excited. Potential active us- Goats assisted in phragmites remov- ers of the park including hikers, al and that portion of the project be- kayakers and cyclists, are pumped. came world famous. Living shore- The day is near for park enthusiasts lines (soft shores) aim to remove to come out and play. There are bulkheads and promote natural are- many volunteer opportunities now. as of the estuary. The Parks Depart- Google “Fresh Kills Park” for the ment sponsors a 24 hour Bio-Blitz website and either get involved or twice each year to survey life in the follow along at home. 230 acre area. The most recent blitz uncovered 10 fish species, 68 bird EAST SHORE RIDE types, 137 different plants, 6 mam- By Jim Scarcella mals and 12 types of shoreline mat materials. More information is avail- In early spring, I decided to take a able on the iNaturalist.org website. bike ride to see what changes hu- manity and the tides /weather brought forth to the East Shore.

Starting at Father Vincent Capo- danno Boulevard and Seaview Ave, turning north, the new Parks Dept. Ocean Breeze Track and Field Facil- ity is open and it dominates the land- parks. Fresh Kills will be almost scape. To manage the traffic for three times the size of track meets, there are two new traf- with a surface area the equivalent of fic signals on the Blvd. from to 23rd Street. Projected activities include Parks also is managing the field be- hiking, kayaking, mountain biking tween the boardwalk and the street. and cross-country skiing. New York students from grades 6 At one time there was a population City planned an equestrian center to -12 are recruited to assist in water of rabbits here. be part of a plan to attract Olympic monitoring and other ongoing pro- attention to the five boroughs. Bird- grams. Many college level activities The road salt piles at Parking lot 4 watching is already an active and are already taking place. are successfully secured, Calcium integral part of the operation of the chloride can be detrimental when its site. Projected uses of the sprawling Other ongoing programs already in excessive use poisons our water- area may include an amphitheater place or planned include nature ways. Also, I stopped to pay my for concerts and its seemingly limit- hikes (which will begin in May). respects to the memorial to Chaplain less acres have allowed the replace- Kayaking, one of the most popular Capodanno at Sand Lane. ment of the Jersey Street Sanitation activities draws participants from garage without sacrificing wetlands throughout the city. Registration for Up next was Gateway Fort at Arlington Marsh, as had been an- kayaking opens the first day of the Wadsworth, part of National Park ticipated. month in which it is scheduled and Service. The Park is in need of capi- fills up quickly. Discovery Days are tal funding for road and ecological Forty five percent of the site is land- scheduled for May 15th and June shoreline restoration. fill, limiting development as struc- 25th. The Hawk Watch in the fall co- tures cannot be built on the possibly incides with kite flying. Next up was Arthur Von Briesen shifting surface. The park is about Park at the intersection of Bay Street 40% waterway and wetlands, 40% There are five sections delineated for and School Road. This park has use; North, South, West and East beautiful woodland paths that weave Parks and the Confluence, where the uphill, to a plaza with spectacular four parks meet as well as the two views of the Verrazano Narrows streams that cut through the park. Bridge, and Lower NY Bay. East Park is the first area designated to be opened fully for park use with Back to biking on Bay Street, there an entrance on Richmond Avenue at is actually a portion of the street to Yukon Avenue to be cut through the 'Share the Road'. The day of the existing berm within three years. week was Sunday, there were no 18 Roadways that were used for the wheelers and I was cautious and landfill operation will be opened to safe. facilitate movement between the The at 2 Hylan West Shore Expressway and the mid Blvd. with Matthew Buono Beach is -Island. the next accessible shoreline. The wood picket fence and a piece of the Everyone involved in the park design shoreline path were removed by is excited. Birdwatchers and natural- (continued next page)