4 APRIL 28 – MAY 4, 2017 BROOKLYN MEDIA GROUP Rendering courtesy of NYC Parks & Recreation A rendering of the new ramp coming to Shore Road Park at 97th Street. Shore Road Park ramp to be replaced BY MEAGHAN MCGOLDRICK [email protected] Roughly one year since its closure due to a cave-in, Parks Department officials have confirmed to members of Community Board 10 that the battered ramp leading to St. Patrick’s Field at Shore Road and 97th Street will finally be getting a much needed, ADA-compliant facelift. First sectioned off last summer, the collapsed ramp – and subsequent lack of access to that part of the park – has ruffled feathers of residents, many of whom have been jumping the protective fencing around the collapse to reach that part of the park more quickly. Brooklyn Parks Commissioner Marty Maher attended a Monday, April 24 CB 10 full board meeting – held at the Knights of Columbus, 1305 86th Street — to explain why the ramp’s repair is so much more than a simple repaving. “The entire ramp is past its lifespan,” he explained, stressing that, when Parks first sent engineers to the park to investigate a reported sinkhole, they uncovered much more. “We realized then that we would have to rebuild it completely .” Parks’ decision to make the ramp compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Maher added, is twofold. “We don’t just do it because it’s required by law; we do it because it’s the right thing to do.” The new layout – which will include both a staircase and a winding, softly curved ramp – will benefit everybody, according to Maher. The renovation will also include new lighting fixtures and fresh landscaping, as well as skate stops to prevent it from becoming a “skate area.” But, perhaps best of all, Maher said, is the project’s accelerated timeline. “This here was an existing contract that we already had, so we were able to expedite it,” Maher went on. “We think that construction could start as early as July.” Furthermore, Maher said, he believes the project – once underway – could finish well under the typical one-year-mark for most capital projects. The board ultimately voted unanimously to green light the $2.7 million project. In the meantime, community members inquired about alternatives. With the entrance roped off, the closest entries are five blocks south at 93rd Street and three blocks north at 100th – something a St. Patrick’s Catholic Academy baseball coach contended is not ideal for parents of multiple children looking to get their little players to practice. “What’s happening, and I think it’s just human nature, is that, regardless of how many barriers are put up, parents are still going to hoist their kids over and older people are still going to go over because it’s the easiest way down,” he said, “but there are some legitimate reasons for it too, like some parents that drop their kids off may have other kids in the car and that’s the only place where they can see them all the way down to the field. “What keeps coming up over and over again with parents is, why can’t the Parks Department simply take one of those metal plates that we drive over in the road sometimes during construction and put it over the ramp?” the coach asked. “Because people are going to jump over, they’re going to risk their own safety anyway, is there something we can do between now and when construction starts just to allow people to pass over?” Maher said such a solution isn’t feasible. “We’re not making it up when we say that it’s dangerous,” he said. “If we could put a ramp of something temporary, we would have done that. We’re closing it to protect those kids and their parents – that’s why there’s not a metal plate over there, because it’s not safe. “We love that the kids are outside. We want them to learn how to play,” Maher said, “but we also want them to understand the rules and that, when somebody closes something, it’s for protection.” NYC FERRY APP DEBUTS The New York City Economic Development Corporation and Hornblower, operator of the soon-to-set-sail NYC Ferry, on Wednesday, April 25 announced a brand new app to go along with the waterway service. Available in both the Apple and Google Play stores, the app allows riders to purchase oneway and 30-day passes, and provides access to maps and schedules, as well as real-time notifications and service alerts. It also allows for easy scan-and-go boarding, reducing the use of paper tickets (though ticketing kiosks will also be available at each landing). COOL-DOWN COMING TO CITY SCHOOLS Mayor Bill de Blasio, Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña and members of the City Council have announced funding to equip every public school classroom in New York City with a functioning air conditioner by 2022. Approximately 11,500 classrooms across the city do not have functioning air conditioners. Installation in the first cohort of schools will begin the summer. "As a former educator, I have seen firsthand how poor ventilation and uncomfortable temperatures can negatively impact the learning process," said Councilmember Mark Treyger, a former New Utrecht High School teacher. "It makes paying attention in class and staying alert difficult for students while creating undue stress for teachers and school staff. That's why I have been advocating for air conditioners in all of our schools for some time now." Total funding for Fiscal Year 2018 is $5 million, $5.5 million for FY 2019, $6 million for FY 2020 and 2021 and $6.25 million for FY 2022. In addition, the SCA’s five-year Capital Plan includes approximately $50 million for electrical upgrades to support the equipment. LIU BROOKLYN RAISES OVER $40,000 FOR RELAY FOR LIFE Blackbird pride was on display as Long Island University’s Brooklyn campus raised over $40,000 for the American Cancer Society on Friday, April 21 at its second annual Relay for Life event. The fundraiser – which saw well over 300 attendees – included student-run entertainment. Keeping with tradition, LIU’s event also featured a Luminaria Ceremony, in memory of loved ones lost to cancer as well as a survivor and caregiver lap. The event took place at the college’s Steinberg Wellness Center on Flatbush Avenue. —Meaghan McGoldrick
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