Tire Swing Park: The victim of two feuding bureaucracies

August 26^th, 2010

The new Tire Swing Park by West Thames has had as controversial of a launch as its planning stage. First, opponents of the park raised concerns over the iconic swinging tire and forced it to be removed. Then, the drainage of the rubberized surface by the kid’s waterfall was backing up and creating a pond.

As a result, the BPCA never assumed responsibility for the park from the DOT as promised on the day of the ribbon cutting.

As the two bureaucracies feuded and played “hot potato” with the troubled park, the expensively sodded playing field became the neglected child in an ugly divorce. The DOT was watering the field too much and the BPCA Parks Conservancy people did not close the grass field occasionally to protect it from overuse, as they do with adjacent grass lots in the parks.

Rector Park grass field closed for protection

Hence, 40% or so of the field is now completely dead and all mud.

Re-sodding would cost $30,000 for a private project, but likely $100,000 for a State contract. This is in addition to the $9 Million cost of building the park (that many did not want and preferred the original shaded, more natural, park with a real tire swing!)

BatteryPark.TV emailed and called the Region 11 of the New York State DOT media relations staff nearly a dozen times and received no reply. Only after contacting the Director, Phillip Eng, did we get some answers. They wrote:

From the DOT: I am writing in response to your questions regarding West Thames Park. First, my apologies for not getting back to you yesterday. As you saw from my response e-mail, I was on vacation the past week, and I was very busy catching up on other calls and e-mails.  Also, I wanted to touch base with the Route 9A project team to see if there had been any communication with you before I spoke with you.

Next, as part of my discussion with the project team, we visited the park today, and I saw that the drainage issue has been repaired. Perhaps you’ve seen the holes the team drilled in the safety surface to improve the drainage.  These holes were drilled last week, and the parents in the park told us they have been pleased with the performance of the drain since that time.  This is only a temporary measure, and we will look to do something more permanent after Labor Day, when the Parks Conservancy is expected to shut off the water features of the park for the season.

Regarding the lawn, as we have noted in the past, it was constructed to Parks Conservancy standards, and the responsibility for closing the lawn to rest the grass is theirs. We have been involved with testing of the grass and soil to determine if there are any changes that would be necessary to either the grass or soil.  We are expecting the results of those tests within the next few days, and we will be discussing the results with the Parks Conservancy and the BPC Committee of Community Board 1.

Finally, the park is already partially under the authority of the Parks Conservancy. They are already tending to the sand, cleaning and policing the park, and performing other operational functions. We will continue to work with them on construction “punch list” items, such as the lawn and the drainage, to ensure a smooth transition.

I hope this is helpful.  Please feel free to let me know if you need any additional information.

Adam Levine

National Night Out with Mayor Bloomberg, Commissioner Kelly, Commander Winsky

August 3, 2010

The NYPD hosted community outreach events with the focus on reducing crime. The First Precinct held their rally by the North Cove Marina. Mayor Bloomberg made a brief appearance. Police Commissioner Kelly spoke, and the new First Precinct Commanding Officer, Captain Ed Winsky, was introduced. Note the response of Mayor Bloomberg when someone asked him to run for President.

Tire Swing Park Ribbon Cutting

July 1, 2010

The new Tire Swing Park was officially opened today with a ribbon cutting ceremony. While the play area has been open since Memorial Day, the grass lawn was just opened up. Officials from the State DOT, BPCA and CB1 spoke, but no State or City elected officials presented.

Whither the swing of Tire Swing Park?

July 1, 2010

The new “Tire Swing Park” has ironically been without the iconic rubber swing since some children bumped their head on the first day of the park. The tire swing was replaced on July 1^st for the ribbon cutting ceremony and is supposed to stay in place. Some warning signs have been posted for liability reasons.

To explore this ultra-local-news controversy, BatteryPark.TV interviewed a local resident concerned about the swing safety and Leticia Remauro of BPCA.

July 8 update: Local journalist Matthew Fenton is reporting that the tire swing has been removed yet again after more children hit their head on the horizontal overhead support beam. According to Fenton, the topic was brought up during a CB1 meeting and member Anthony Notaro testified the personally witnessed two children bump their head on the first day the tire swing was replaced on July 1. The swing will remain down until design changes can be studied.

CB1 explained by Tribeca Chair Peter Braus

October 14, 2009

New York City Council takes advice from Community Boards on matters such as liquor licenses and construction permits. Community Board 1 oversees lower Manhattan and is divided into subcommittees by region, such as Battery Park, Tribeca, Financial District, etc. Tribeca committee Chairman Peter Braus explains how the system works.

For more information http://mbpo.org/free_details.asp?id=64

The other dangerous crossing on Albany St

January 16, 2010

The dangers of the Albany St/West Side Highway crossing have been well documented. Not so well appreciated are the dangers at the other end where Albany meets South End Avenue. Drivers making turns onto Albany are too occupied by looking down South End for other cars that they neglect to yield for pedestrians crossing Albany who have the white walk sign. The problem is particularly bad in the early evening.

BatteryPark.TV spent a mere five minutes filming the problem on a crude cell phone camera. Within that time, numerous cars violated the law and could have run over a pedestrian who was not paying attention.

If the NYPD posted patrol personnel, it could possibly earn more than $100,000 in revenue per year. Rather than ticket parked cars and do nothing to improve safety, perhaps the NYPD should try targeting more dangerous areas where moving violations are concentrated. Just a friendly suggestion: earn revenue and please the community.

The new Tire Swing Pork Park

May 8, 2010

The old “Tire Swing Park” was bulldozed last year over the protests of many families in Battery Park City. It was a park design with natural materials such as wood, sand, grass, etc. Families loved it because it offered rare shade in the summer time, among other reasons.

The new park is almost completed. The design incorporates considerable amounts of modern steel, concrete, and rubber.

The reviews are coming in, and they are not good. We realize that it might shape up over the next month.

One local resident wrote, “Not an ounce of F-en real grass!” Another wrote, “It resembles a new subway station or Frank Gehry building more than a natural playground.”

Decide for yourself. Post some comments.

Coalition to save Tire Swing Park

Battery Pork City

April 13, 2009

The New York Post writes about the corruption scandal of the BPCA

A tour of the NYC Rescue Mission for the homeless

October 14, 2009

With the closure of the John Hughes shelter, the nearest homeless shelter to Battery Park City is now in Tribeca. Joe Little of the New York City Rescue Mission gives a tour of the city’s oldest homeless shelter. With the bad economy and closure of other shelters nearby, demand for meals at the Mission have increased 20%.

To volunteer or donate money, contact (212) 226-6214 or go to http://www.nycrescue.org/

The deadly crossing

Construction on Route 9A, also known as The West Side Highway, and closure of the pedestrian bridge south of Albany Street have created a very dangerous situation. The ground-level crossing of The West Side Highway at Albany Street can be a death trap.

In February of 2009, Battery Park City resident Marilyn Feng was killed and her boyfriend seriously injured when a drunk driver struck the couple. Ms. Feng was an intern in Manhattan Borough president Scott Stringer’s office. In late September of 2009, another pedestrian was struck by a motorist, but he survived.

Funding for the permanent pedestrian overpass has been cancelled. Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer discusses the problem.

BPC Meeting to discuss Tire Swing Park

The office of the Manhattan Borough President

The office of the Manhattan Borough President link to our story on “Kill the Drill”

http://mbpo.org/blog_details.asp?id=322&page=1

Why is the city shutting down at 2:00 AM?

October 18^th, 2009

This weekend, on a survey of more than five hotel bars, regular bars, and restaurant bars in Bowery, SOHO and Tribeca, all of the establishments shut down no later than 2:00 AM despite having plenty of customers. What is the explanation for this seemingly voluntary forfeiting of lucrative revenue?

The answer lies in a citywide effort to limit hours of operation of liquor-licensed establishments using Community Boards as the tool. This article written in 2008 explains it well.

2 a.m. Closing Time Becoming Norm for Manhattan Bars

http://gothamist.com/2008/04/17/2_am_closing_ti.php

When Hog Pit co-owner Felisa Dell sent an email to Eater on April 7th confirming the closure of her Meatpacking District BBQ joint, she insinuated that “the mayor and the State Liquor Authority are now only issuing Liquor Licenses until 2 a.m. It’s very sneaky, but in 5 years the 4 a.m. liquor license will be a thing of the past, without any community input.” Today the NY Sun backs Dell up, reporting that many Manhattan bar owners are finding it “nearly impossible to open new nightlife establishments that are permitted to serve alcohol until 4 a.m.”

While the New York State Liquor Authority can’t arbitrarily impose a specific closing time before 4 a.m., Community Boards have been demanding bar owners agree to curfews before they recommend approval to the SLA. The Sun looked at the most recent records available from Community Board 3, which covers the East Village and the Lower East Side, and found that not a single liquor license recommendation was granted to a bar that would close after 3 a.m. on weekends and 2 a.m. on weekdays.

And in Tribeca, Community Board 1 killed Matthew Piacentini’s plans to open a lounge in a commercial building on Hudson Street by telling him he’d have to close at midnight on weekdays and 1 a.m. on weekends. The early closing times are a big problem for bar owners; a recent survey found that 58% of their revenues are earned between those magical hours of 1 a.m. and 4 a.m. These are also the hours when some of us lose 58% of our dignity, so maybe it’s all for the best?

Say goo’bye to my leetle friend

October 13, 2009

Wasting no time, the DOT began construction on the new “Tire Swing Park” preventing any further delays from opposition groups. The current estimated budget is approximately $9 Million for the project. Despite opposition from residents, the project is proceeding with “Plan A” which cuts down all of the trees and has the maximal loss of grass field space to make way for the “Pataki Promenade” granite walkway parallel to the West Side Highway Route 9A.

The project is scheduled to be completed by Memorial Day, 2010. Near-term upside to the plan is that it will greatly expand the space allotted to the community gardens and level the grass playing field. The major downside to the plan, and reason for opposition from parents, is the loss of the large pear trees that provide great shade, and the down time from construction, of course.

Selectively enforced parking rules on West Thames

October 11

Matt Fenton has an interesting article in the Broadsheet about how State and City employees are parking their cars in no-parking zones on West Thames. The cars post government affiliations on their dashboard to avoid getting ticketed. Some use handicap passes.

The controversy is whether these car operators are really on government jobs and really handicapped or are just abusing the system while regular Joe’s like us get expensive tickets on the other side of the street.

As an update, we did notice this handicapped car was ticketed.

NYPD 9/11 bagpipe parade 2007

Over 60,000 views and counting (originally posted on YouTube at another location of ours)

The growing homeless problem in BPC

October 15th

For the first time this decade, multiple homeless individuals are making the parks in Battery Park City their preferred location during the day. In particular, Wagner Park in front of the Jewish Heritage Museum is a popular spot.

James VarnHagen of the New York City Rescue Mission explains the reasons for this growing homeless problem. A key homeless shelter near BPC, the John Hughes shelter, did not receive a city grant and had to shut down causing many of the people that used to rely on it to spill into the park system. In addition, the budgetary problems of the city and increased unemployment have caused a 20% increase in homeless as the city shelters become overburdened.

To learn more and how to help, you may view the video now.

Meeting to go over Plan B options for Tire Swing Park