Thank you to Karina Smith, Department of Parks and Recreation’s Correspondence Liaison for Special Projects, for the following information concerning the future Carmine Carro Community Center:
The community center is situated within the large outdoor active recreation area of Marine Park, which is also an important natural link to the Jamaica Bay ecosystem. The center will provide a long-awaited community meeting and gathering space for large and small local groups in a divisible multi-purpose space which will serve 180 senior citizens breakfast and lunch daily. There will be a training classroom within equipped with computer stations, and an adjacent outdoor plaza is provided for meals, events and informal social gatherings in suitable weather.
Marine Park Community Center is the first environmentally friendly, sustainable green building designed by the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation (DPR) staff; and it is the first DPR building registered for LEED® certification. During daylight hours the building is naturally lit by operable clerestory windows in the brick walls. An ‘air displacement ventilation system’ provides fresh air at a pleasant temperature directly to the center-goers throughout the year. A geothermal well system pumps pleasantly warm water from the aquifer through the building providing heating or cooling, while reducing electrical consumption and greenhouse gas emission. The lower roof is vegetated, insulating the building against hot and cold weather, while the plants filter out rain water contaminants, reduce storm-water run-off and humidify the atmosphere. On the upper roof a farm of solar panels produce 10% of the building’s electrical need.
Trees and broadly overhanging roofs provide exterior shade on the plaza, while light colored paving reflects the sun’s heating rays. The indigenous vegetation and meadow grass of the surrounding landscape obviate the need for irrigation.
Our anticipated completion date for the center is August 2010, and we are confident that you will enjoy the results.
Thanks Lisa for the update. I have been wondering what the community center will have to offer and now I know. Keep up the good work in telling us all what we need to know about what goes on in our neighborhood.