MarineParker.net

I braved today’s weather to go around the neighborhood and take some “snow pictures.”  Snow can definitely be a nuisance at times, but it sure is pretty!

Marine Park from East 33rd Street - "White Out"

America's Favorite Sport in the Snowfall...

Firehouse and Plow - Hard at Work

Tax Dollars at Work!

All alone in the blizzard...

The Salt Marsh Nature Center (3302 Avenue U) is hosting a series of FREE ongoing programs for the month of February:

• Early Morning Birding, Saturdays at 8 AM
• Pilates, Tuesday February 16^th at 3 PM-4 PM
• Yogalates, Tuesdays February 9^th & 23^rd at 3 PM-4 PM
• Yoga, Thursdays at 9 AM
• Photography, Thursdays at 11 AM
• Zen & the Art of Drawing, Friday February 19^th at 1 PM
• History Club, Sunday February 14^th at 1 PM
• Relax with Marilyn, Saturday February 13^th at 1 PM

In addition, there are some SPECIAL programs this month as well:

• History Club: The History of Valentine’s Day, Sunday February 14^th 1 PM
• Photography Club: Guest Lecture by Photographer and Author Dick Hunt, Sunday February 21^st 1 PM
• Discussion: Flower of the Month: Iris, Saturday, February 6^th 1 PM
• Discussion on Owls: “Who, Who, Who Did I Eat?” Saturday, February 21^st 1 PM
• Evolution of the Field Guide, Sunday, February 28th

KID’S WEEK AT THE MARSH: Take advantage of these programs during Midwinter Recess!

• Monday February 15^th – Build a Bug @ 10 AM and Animal Tracks @ 1 PM
• Tuesday February 16^th – Portable Adventures @ 10 AM and Create a Nature Collage @ 1 PM
• Wednesday February 17^th – Owl Pellet Dissection @ 10 AM and Children’s Winter Nature Hike @ 1 PM
• Thursday February 18^th – Portable Adventure @ 10 AM and Backyard Bass Ice Fishing Derby @ 1 PM
• Friday February 19^th – Build a Bird Feeder @ 10 AM and Fun with Map and Compass @ 1 PM

Congratulations MarineParkers.  We are responsible for chipping down nearly one-third of the Christmas trees (2,164 trees to be exact) sent to Brooklyn shredders during MulchFest 2010 – way to be GREEN!

From New York Post/Courier Life:

Marine Park was responsible for 29 percent of the 7,477 trees mulched in Brooklyn, which had the second highest number in the five boroughs. King of the mulch heap was Manhattan, which cut down 10,533 trees.

All told, 23,615 trees were mulched throughout the five boroughs — the highest in the city’s history.

“New Yorkers helped the city stay green by bringing their Christmas trees for chipping at Parks’ annual MulchFest,” explained Commissioner Adrian Benepe. “By recycling their Christmas trees, New Yorkers support the environment and the MillionTreesNYC initiative by providing wood chips that help trees, flowers and shrubs grow.”

Residents were asked to take as much mulch as they could for their own tree-pits, gardens and planting beds.

Mulch was still available for the taking at the park, members of Community Board 18’s Parks Committee was told Wednesday.

The remainder would be used by the city Parks Department for their trees and gardens.

Area residents were all smiles over the achievement, especially if one considers that 80 locations throughout the city were deemed mulch centers.

Yet some wondered if Marine Park was cooking the books, or should we say bark.

“Two-thousand of those trees probably belonged to the guy who was selling them there this Christmas,” Community Board District Manager Dottie Turano joked when told of the news.
 

Thank you to bagels, JD and blueMagoo for the following information concerning the Ecosystem Restoration Project ensuing at Gerritsen Creek:

From the US Army Corps of Engineers:

This ecosystem restoration project seeks to improve the aquatic and coastal grassland habitats located in the northeastern section of Marine Park, Brooklyn, NY near the junction of Gerritsen Creek and Mill Creek, immediately west of Floyd Bennett Field. The project purpose is to ameliorate the adverse impacts of past filling activities related to the construction, maintenance, and improvement of the large network of navigation channels within Jamaica Bay. The recommended plan is designed to increase the twice-daily  tidal inundation across of the project site, and to convert the Phragmites dominated areas that lie adjacent to the existing salt marsh fringes to more healthy tidal ecosystems. The project will restore 31 acres of salt marsh and 23 acres of rare coastal grassland. Located adjacent the Marine Park Nature Center, this project will provide a highly visible and accessible contribution to the overall restoration of greater Jamaica Bay.

While the Army Corps of Engineers estimates the total construction cost of this project to be $6,650,000, the New York Post reports that this project will total $8 million.  The nature trail will be closed throughout the duration of this restoration project. 

The New York Post spoke to Dan Falt, project manager ACE’s New York District, who stated:

“We are working to restore the habitat,” stressed Falt, who said the project would encompass 67 acres adjacent to the nature center on the north side of Gerritsen Creek. In total, he went on, “We will be creating approximately 32 acres of marsh and 25 acres of coastal grassland.”

The entire project, Falt went on, will take approximately one year, with construction beginning early this month. The first step is grading, which, said Falt, will take place over the winter, with planting occurring in the spring, “So people will be able to see big changes rather quickly.”

As a result of the project, he added, “The nature trail will be closed to the public for the construction duration.”

However, once the project is complete, “There will be additional trail area,” and visitors will “be able to see a lot more, because the really tall phragmites will be gone,” Falt said.

Besides revamping the vegetation growing in the area, ACE will also be putting in what Falt called “features,” such as poles for osprey, in hope of attracting the birds to the area.

 

Coming in Via Email:

If you think riding your quad in the center of Marine park during a snow storm is a good idea think again. NYPD aviation will literally be on top of you.

The pair of quads walked their bikes of the park.

Follow-up: The Marine Park cricket player who was struck by lightning on July 26, 2009 is making an extraordinary recovery, the New York Daily News reports.  Covered by MarineParker in July, forty one year-old Stephen Gibson was struck by lightning to the left side of his face, causing his brain to bleed, damaging his lungs, kidney and liver.  After being in a three week coma following his injuries, Gibson only recently regained movement in his arms and legs and has begun to speak again.  Now being treated at the Coler-Goldwater Speciality Hospital and Nursing Facility on Roosevelt Island, we wish Mr. Gibson best wishes and continued success in his rehabilitation.

For the complete article, click here.

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.

Marine Park on a beautiful Autumn afternoon.  Have a wonderful weekend!