Our neighbors to the north at Hawthorne Street blog in Prospect-Lefferts Gardens (part of Flatbush? You decide…) have been discussing the horrifically dangerous entrance to Prospect Park at Ocean and Parkside Avenues for some months now, and have formed a local Livable Streets group called PLG Public Works to address this and other traffic-related issues. Today they provide details on an upcoming public meeting to discuss potential re-design ideas for the dreaded intersection:
Some help may be on the way for the Ocean & Parkside intersection at Prospect Park: park reps have informed us that the entrance will be redesigned as part of a massive Park development project due to begin next year.
Of course, how it will be redesigned remains to be seen. We’d urge anyone and everyone concerned about the Park entrance to attend the upcoming public meeting: Monday, May 19, 6:30 p.m. at Wollman Rink.
The current situation is a nightmare for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers alike, and Transportation Alternatives has lobbied for improvements here in the past. But new opportunity for change exists due to an upcoming project called Lakeside Center, which will be replacing Wollman Rink. While the green design principles described on their website sound nice and all (LEED Gold buildings, rainwater retention basin to irrigate landscaping, passive ventilation, recycled and local materials, native trees and shrubs), for starters I’d be happy just to be able to get across the street and into the Park without risking my life! Once again, the public meeting is on May 19th at 6:30, Wollman Rink.
One of the highlights of last night’s Brooklyn Blogfest was this piece, put together by Brooklyn Optimist and made up entirely of photos from lovely and talented Brooklyn photobloggers (including locals Flatbush Gardener and Fading Ad Blog). Take 5 minutes and have a look.
These photos were taken at Sunday morning’s 14th Annual Ditmas Park West Tree Planting. It was a really nice way to meet neighbors, add some greenery to the landscape, and be part of a longstanding neighborhood tradition. Thanks to David Ford, Dan Shapiro, Ditmas Park West Neighborhood Association, and the whole crew. For more photos and reporting on this event visit Flatbush Gardener, and my Flickr Gallery.
Okay, it’s true: I haven’t been on the blog much these days. The last post was on April 19th; more than a day or two without posting in the blogging world is enough to make one feel like Rip Van Winkle. I could point out that a sudden (and welcome) avalanche of gainful employment took up most of my time; however one need only look at the prolific output of other Brooklyn bloggers (with Gowanus Lounge setting the bar at ridiculous heights for both quality and quantity of posts) to discount THAT excuse. Maybe I’ve been somewhat at a loss for words after Congestion Pricing failed to even get a vote in the state legislature. However, one commenter certainly wasn’t: check out the Longest Blog Comments Ever on Sustainable Flatbush here, from a gentleman who calls himself Mr. Brooklyn. Clearly he and I don’t see eye to eye on this topic, but nonetheless he took the time to stop by and express himself. Thanks, Mr. Brooklyn! No thanks to Silver and the State Assembly, however. To quote a text message I received on that fateful day from neighbor and Sustainable Flatbush stalwart Mark Levy, “F**k! Shelly Silver sux!”
My own relative lack of output here should not be taken as an indication that nothing is going on in the Sustainable Flatbush world, in fact quite the contrary. We’ve got a number of projects brewing behind the scenes, and some right out in public. On Sunday we had our Street-Tree Walking Tour, preceded by a morning of tree planting with the Ditmas Park West Neighborhood Association (photos coming up!). Planning continues for the Newkirk Avenue Block Party, produced in association with Flatbush Development Corporation and NYC Streets Renaissance, which will take place on June 21st. (By happy coincidence, this is the same day as Make Music New York, a citywide festival of live music performances, and it looks like we’ll have a few on Newkirk!) Our monthly meetings happen every second Monday of the month. The next one is May 12th, so if you live in the neighborhood (or not) and would like to get involved, please stop by!
Please come join us at the Sustainable Flatbush Monthly Meeting, this coming Monday. We will be continuing plans for our Arbor Day Street Trees Walking Tour and Newkirk Avenue Block Party, and discussing future projects.
WHAT: Sustainable Flatbush Monthly Meeting
WHEN: Monday April 14th at 7pm
WHERE: 462 Marlborough Road (between Ditmas and Dorchester)
As a supporter of Congestion Pricing, I felt that this week was the time to do whatever I can to help get this legislation passed. So last Saturday I spent some time in Crown Heights (Brooklyn) asking people to take the time to compose a personal letter in their own handwriting to their local representatives (in that case State Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries and State Senator Eric Adams). I was quite amazed at how many people were willing to do this (it’s not an easy thing to ask for!). On Monday morning I went to City Hall for the Council hearings (wearing the green t-shirt pictured below) and heard testimonies from Speaker Quinn and DOT Commissioner Sadik Khan. Yesterday morning I was part of a small group that met with an aide to City Council member Kendall Stewart, who represents the 45th District (Flatbush, East Flatbush, Flatlands), and I also spoke briefly with Stewart himself afterwards.
What I can attest to from talking to ordinary citizens (meaning, NOT politicians) is that even those who weren’t sure where they stood on Congestion Pricing (or knew nothing at all about it) were in favor when told that the revenue would be dedicated to improving subway and bus service. A few expressed understandable skepticism that the money would actually be used for transit improvements, but were somewhat reassured when told that it would go to a dedicated lockbox.
As for our elected officials, many of them seem to be earnestly asking for the data and information that will enable them to answer their constituents’ doubts. Questions about neighborhood parking permits and whether New Jersey and Long Island commuters should pay more than those from the five boroughs seem to be sticking points for some people. But for those of us who don’t drive – a solid majority in all five boroughs – the need for better bus and subway service is not in question.
More posts on Congestion Pricing and Transit Equity in New York City:
Several weeks ago I was filmed for an episode of A Walk Around the Blog, a series that profiles Brooklyn bloggers as part of the news magazine program Brooklyn Review that airs on Brooklyn Independent Television. We checked out the neighborhood (by bike, of course!), spoke about some of Sustainable Flatbush’s past, present and future exploits on Cortelyou Road, and visited the Gardening Committee’s planning meeting.
At last week’s Sustainable Flatbush Monthly Meeting, some collective decisions were made to change our organizational structure. Here’s how the change was described to everyone who has signed up for our committees’ listserv groups:
Based on discussion at Monday’s general meeting, we’re going to pilot using a single, unified group to coordinate planning for all Sustainable Flatbush events. The goal is to provide more support for each event across the Sustainable Flatbush membership, and to provide greatest awareness and involvement of all the events being planned. I believe this approach is also more reflective of the synergistic nature of sustainability itself, where one objective supports and enhances another. What I’m saying is, It’s All Good!
For example, the Gardening Committee has already begun planning for a whole weekend of activities on Arbor Day Weekend (April 25-27); yes, it’s about trees, but trees and neighborhood “greening” are also Livable Streets issues, they affect energy use, are proven to be good for business, and are healthy for children and other living things. As well, on behalf of the Livable Streets committee, Stacy has applied (and been approved!) for a Block Party grant (event date TBA), which is a great project that everyone can get involved with. In addition to the traffic-calming and community building aspects of closing the street for a party (complete with NYC street games!), we can also have information tables with literature on Recycling and Composting, we can have CFL bulbs available for sale, local businesses can get involved…. many many possibilities.
If YOU would like to get involved with Sustainable Flatbush events and projects, sign up for the Planning Group HERE.
Sustainable Flatbush provides a neighborhood-based forum to discuss, promote and implement sustainability concepts in Brooklyn and beyond. This blog is maintained and moderated by Anne Pope. She promises to keep real estate and politics out of the discussion. (Well, maybe a little politics.)
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Check Out Our CALENDAR!
This somewhat Brooklyn-centric collection of events and activities will help you get your Green on. Most are cheap or free! Have a look!
Upcoming Events
Tue, May 13
7p - BIKE MONTH - Ladies' Night at Recycle-A-Bicycle
