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EVENTS
MWA-sponsored or co-sponsored eventJune 8th, 10am-4:30pm2009 Hudson River SummitDay-long
gathering at West Point focusing on the future
of the Hudson River valley. See story at right. For more information,
contact [email protected] or call 845-256-3016. Advance
registration required by June 3. $30. The Thayer Hotel at West Point General Waterfront Events
Come join the We Are All Brooklyn Fellowship in a skills building
conference on Sustaining Brooklyn. There, they will provide
information, skills, and resources necessary to sustaining Brooklyn.
June 5, 6pm-8pmRiver Day Launch Celebration: Harbor NightCelebrate the launch of of River Day with the Blessing of the Fleet and the awarding of the Medal of Discovery. See story at right. June 6, 7:30am-9pmRiver DayThe first day of an exciting week celebrating the Hudson River. View a full schedule of events for the week here. June 6, 9am-11amNational Learn to Row DayA parade and a great day to learn to row with the East River Crew! June 6, 2pm-6pmGreen Shores NYC: Queensboro Bridge BirthdayCelebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Queensboro Bridge with art, music, tours, games, food and more. June 6, 5pm-8pmLower East Side Ecology Center 22nd AnniversaryCelebrate with activities and food. June 7, 1pm-4pmJersey Shore Sea Kayaking Association: A view from the Water (Art Show)Join the JSSKA for the opening of their art exhibit. June 7, 1pm and 4pmCIRCUSundaysEvery Sunday in June, the Waterfront Museum brings a Circus on board! June 11, 6:30pm-8:30pmHarlem River Promenade Design and Programming WorkshopThe Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation invites you to
participate in a Design and Programming Workshop to guide the
redevelopment of the Harlem River Promenade, below the High Bridge at
Depot Place.
June 13, 10am-5pmThe 16th Hunts Point Summer Festival and 6th Fish Parade
Children's Arts Corner, boat rides, bird watching, a day-long
basketball tournament, face painting, print-making, tons of great food
and activities, live music and performances, and info about all your
favorite Bronx-based organizations.
Free. June 13, 11am-5pm West Harlem Piers Park Fishing FestivalEducational hands-on activities about life on and in the Hudson River, Dutch Colonial and Native American arts & crafts, live entertainment from Astrograss, Thunderbird American Indian Dancers and New Amsterdam Musical Association. Free. June 13, 6pm-9pmPortSide New York First Fundraiser Proceeds will support programming and design of Port Side New York's
upcoming home in Atlantic Basin. Donated items, experiences welcome!
June 17, 6pm - 9pmWE ACT for Environmental Justice 20th Anniversary Gala Celebrating Environmental Leadership & Action!June 18, 6pm-9pm
New Views 2009, Benefit for Brooklyn Greenway InitiativeJoin friends, neighbors and fellow greenway supporters at Erie Basin
Park in Red Hook, along the route of the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway. June 20, NoonSustainable South Bronx Earth Day: Hunts Point HustleJoin us for the 3rd Annual Hunts Point Hustle! THis 5k walk/run will start at the Hunts Point Riverside Park. June 27, 3pmClean & Green: Gowanus Canal Clean-UpJoin the Gowanus Canal Conservancy at thier monthly clean-ups along the banks of the Gowanus Canal!
June 27, 10pm-12pmTime's Up Riverside RideShare the tranquility of Central Park plus the lovely tree canopy and grand vistas of the Hudson River from Riverside Park.
June 28, Noon - MidnightFriend's of Clearwater: New York City's First Annual Water FestivalThe first Annual Water Festival aims to draw Water Activists and
Organizers together. This unification, memorializing the legendary
leadership of the late Carl Schwartz, will create connections around
water and the Hudson River.
July 18th, 10am-4pmCity of Water DayFun with a purpose! Float, ferry, paddle, row, splash, canoe, and kayak your way to beautiful Governors Island for the 2nd annual City of Water Day Festival. Quadricentennial EventsOngoing
Amsterdam/New Amsterdam: The World of Henry HudsonAmsterdam/Nederlands
Scheepvaartmuseum Amsterdam, will employ rare 16th- and 17th-century
objects, images, and documents from major American and Dutch
collections to bring the transatlantic world to life and reveal how
Henry Hudson's epic third voyage of exploration planted the seeds of a
modern society that took root and flourished in the New World. Through Sept. 27.
Museum of the City of New York , 1220 Fifth Avenue at 103rd St. www.mcny.org River ReadingsThis
series, presented in collaboration with Poet's House, will explore the Hudson as literary
inspiration. Themes may include "Haunted Hudson," "Pastoral Hudson," and
"Immigrant Traditions." Series will include two panel discussions and three
outdoor readings. Dates to be announced. Wave Hill, Bronx. www.wavehill.org The Glory of Dutch Bulbs: A Legacy of 400 Years
Opening day of a new exhibition of rare Dutch bulbs at the NY Botanical Garden.The New Amsterdam TrailFirst
day of multi-platform, self-guided walking tour sponsored by Henry
Hudson 400, with the Dutch National Archives and the National Parks of
New York Harbor Conservancy at Federal Hall. Speaker Series at the Waterfront MuseumHead over to Red Hook for this great speaker series entitled "Vessels and Profiles of the Quadricentennial" Save the Date!September 9-10, 2009H209: A Water Forum
Business, environmental and government leaders explore solutions to the water
challenges of coastal cities. H209 is organized by the Henry Hudson 400 Foundation in cooperation with Liberty
Science Center, Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance and the Netherlands Water
Partnership.__________
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Please help build a blue movement in the region and lay the foundation
for a strong MWA and the greatest waterfront in the world. Financial
contributions made to the Waterfront Alliance, a 501(c)(3)
organization, are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.
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West Harlem Piers Park Opens Two new piers -- one for docking and one for fishing -- now rise from the water
A half century after the remnants of the once-bustling Harlem Piers were demolished, two new piers -- the first built in NYC in more than 40 years -- and a new waterfront park have opened at the west end of 125th Street.
More than one speaker commented on the extensive effort it took to raze
a supermarket parking lot, take down a chain link fence and create the
two-acre park. "It is the culmination of an extensive collaboration among a great
diversity of stakeholders -- community organizations, environmental
groups, and local, state and federal agencies," said Deputy Mayor
Robert C. Lieber.
"It's been a long haul, a ten-year process from the time we started with community
charrettes. The park is beautiful and we're ecstatic that people are
using it," said WE ACT for Environmental Justice Executive Director Peggy Shepard, adding, "The West Harlem Piers Park represents the best example of
true community and government partnership."
The $20 million park connects West Harlem to the Hudson River Greenway and creates a continuous path for pedestrians and bicyclists along the Hudson River.
Art by Nari Ward and historic signage curated by Eric Washington, both of Harlem, enhance the new public space. The docking pier accommodates ferries and excursion boats. The recreation pier was designed with fishermen in
mind. In fact, the first city-sponsored event at the West Harlem Piers Park is a fishing festival on June 13. Click here for details.
"Harlem is a wonderful community. And today, with the opening of this park, life in Harlem has become a bit more wonderful," said Governor Paterson in a statement. "Over the last two decades, the Hudson River has gone from an industrial area to a recreational paradise. However, this half-mile of West Harlem riverfront -- from Riverside Park to Riverbank State Park -- remained nothing more than a parking lot. Now, this parking lot has been transformed into a magnificent waterfront park which will become a popular destination for walking, jogging, bicycling, fishing and boating.
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Dutch Planners Visit NYC to Prepare for H209 ForumJune workshops and field trips will jumpstart an international idea exchange on water managementThis September's extraordinary gathering of water experts from the Netherlands and the New York/New Jersey metropolitan region -- the H209 Forum -- is expected to produce innovative and far-reaching ideas for addressing water challenges facing coastal cities with an emphasis on the New York/New Jersey and Dutch delta areas. The Forum, organized by the Henry Hudson 400 Foundation in cooperation with the Liberty Science Center, Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance and Netherlands Water Partnership, will take place September 9 and 10 at the Liberty Science Center, and will feature working keynote presentations and workshops, and the winners of the New Generation Competition that challenges students to come up with solutions to water management issues. The chairmen of H209 are Cees Veerman, Chairman of the Dutch Delta Commission and Emlyn Koster, President and CEO of the Liberty Science Center. Confirmed speakers for H209 include Tineke Huizinga, Dutch Vice-Minister for Transport, Public Works and Water Management; environmental activist Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and Lisa Jackson, Administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency. The H209 Water Gala: Hoopla on the Hudson will take place the night of September 9. In preparation for the H209 Forum, a delegation of Dutch planners, engineers and government officials is visiting NYC June 15 through 18, re-enforcing a connection between two countries that has its roots in the 1609 Dutch-sponsored voyage of Henry Hudson. The three-day preparatory workshop is being coordinated by the Regional Plan Association, and will include field trips around the metropolitan waterfront to jumpstart this transatlantic exchange of water expertise. Stay tuned to future editions of WaterWire for more details about H209 Forum. As a co-sponsor, the MWA will have 125 tickets for sale at a discounted price for Alliance Partners. Call 212-935-9831 for details.
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Brian O'Neill, 1941-2009 National Park Service superintendent and inspiration to environmental and waterfront advocates across the country
Brian O'Neill, the Superintendent of the Golden Gate National Parks whose methods and ideas influenced many around the country, died unexpectedly this spring. Mr. O'Neill's inspiring vision of public space and waterfront access, as realized in California, was emulated far and wide, as were his methods for community building. "He had succeeded
remarkably in adapting a non-urban institution (the National Park Service) to
successfully flourish in a diverse and dense urban setting," said MWA President Roland Lewis, one of Mr. O'Neill's many friends in the NYC area.
Brian had friends and admirers from
coast to coast. Tom Fox, President of the Harbor Experience Companies in New York City, a former
National Park Ranger, and a 30-year friend of Brian O'Neill's, offers this appreciation and photo.
Brian O'Neill, the innovative genius behind Golden Gate National Recreation Area, passed away from heart surgery complications. Brian had a twinkle in his eye, a gregarious nature and a strong belief in the power of people and nature to heal and nurture one another. A creative and kind soul, he was a visionary park planner, an environmental educator, and a friend to all who had the privilege of knowing him.
Brian's unique leadership abilities helped create and expand one of our nation's first urban national parks. During his 22 years as its steward, Golden Gate doubled in size to the 76,000 acres and became one of the most unique urban parks in the world.
The Park now encompasses an area twice the size of San Francisco, with 1,250 historic structures including Alcatraz which Brian turned from an abandoned prison to a major tourist attraction. He spearheaded the $32 million restoration of Crissy Field and nurtured the growth of Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, one of the most effective volunteer organizations in the nation.
Our world is much better place for the life of Brian O'Neil and it is greatly diminished by his passing. May his spirit rest in peace; roaming the woodlands, meadows, and waterways of the San Francisco Bay Area, basking in the laughter and joy of countless generations who will enjoy the generous gift of his genius forever. |
Join the Blessing of the Fleet (June 5) and Hudson River Day's Grand Flotilla (June 6) Don't miss the parade led by the flagships of New York, including two 17th-century replicas
BLESSING OF THE FLEET All mariners from captains to coxswains are invited to participate in the Blessing of the Fleet in New York Harbor on June 5. Landlubbers may enjoy the festive ceremony, too, along with Governor Paterson, US Coast Guard Captain of the Port Robert O'Brien and other VIPs, from the seawall railing of Battery Park, past which vessels will sail in single file. This event kicks off River Day on June 6, part of the Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Quadricentennial.
A delegation of religious officials will bless each vessel, re-enacting a tradition that began centuries ago in Mediterranean fishing villages. As each boat passes, sailing from north to south, its name, owner and history will be announced to the crowd. The first boats to be blessed, starting at 6:30pm, will be, in order, the Half Moon, Clearwater, Mystic Whaler, Onrust, John J. Harvey and other flagships, followed by a parade of vessels in single file.
HISTORIC REPLICAS IN THE PARADE Leading the Blessing of the Fleet is the Half Moon, a full-scale replica of the Halve Maen, sailed by Henry Hudson in 1609, that first explored the Hudson River. While crew members dressed in period clothing often operate this modern-day Half Moon under sail alone, a diesel engine, electric generator and modern navigational equipment are hidden within. The Half Moon is based in Albany, known as New Netherland in the 17th century. Click here to see a video of the ship under sail.
Making her maiden voyage, the Onrust is another replica joining the party in New York this weekend. Supervised by Gerald de Weerdt, a Dutch historic ship-building expert, the Onrust was constructed over the past three years using 17th-century Dutch building methods by history afficionados at the Mabee Farm Historic Site of the Schenectady Historical Society at Rotterdam Junction, NY. The Onrust was completed last month and launched on May 22. The original Onrust was built in New York and launched in New York Bay in 1614. Her captain was Adriaen Block.
Some of the human-powered boats joining the Blessing have historic ties. "The fleet being blessed is mostly historic, but our Whitehall
rowing gigs [see photo at bottom] are also historic -- they're replicas of the 'water taxis'
that were used in the 19th century, before the steam engine and the
bridges came along," said Rob Buchanan of the Village Community Boathouse. "Anyone
who sees us go by will immediately get the message, which is not only
that human-powered boaters played a big role in the harbor's past, but
that they should be equal partners in its present and future."
For more information and to register for the Blessing of the Fleet, click here.
RIVER DAY/OPENING DAY The next day, June 6, is River Day, the start of weeklong commemoration of the great voyage of Henry Hudson, 400 years ago, from Europe to the river of the New World that now bears his name. The Great River Day Flotilla will gather near the Statue of Liberty by 9am and then parade north, reaching Tarrytown around 5pm. By June 13, the flotilla will be docking at Albany.
June 6 is also known as Opening Day to sailors in New York Harbor. The New York Harbor Sailing Foundation is encouraging boat owners to "invite lots of friends to sail with you,
wear bright colors, fly many flags, toot your horn and wave as you pass other
boats." Register for Opening Day and the Great Flotilla here.
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Waterfront Information Center to Open In a Red Caboose on the Hudson River Going Coastal offers to distribute the promotional material of Alliance Partners
This red Lackawanna caboose, parked in the middle of Pier 66 Maritime, at 26th Street and the Hudson River, is the charming new home of the Waterfront Information Center. The Center is sponsored by Going Coastal, a nonprofit group whose mission is to connect people to the coastline. "We will feature information and materials from all of the city waterfront advocates, stewards and attractions to reach new audiences and help spread the word about all of the terrific ways residents and visitors can enjoy our waterways and waterfront," said Going Coastal's founder Barbara LaRocca. Stop in and you might meet Fatima Gomez da Silva, above, one of Going Coastal's volunteers. (Consider donating some of your time, too, as the Waterfront Information Center needs volunteers on the weekends.) If you'd like to see your waterfront-related organization's brochures, maps, event flyers and other promotional literature distributed in the Waterfront Information Center in Hudson River Park and other high-traffic Manhattan waterfront locations, please contact Ms. LaRocca at [email protected]. Printed materials must promote New York City's waterfront and give information for the general public about destinations, attractions, activities, events, points of interest, ecology, lodging or dining.
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The Debut of New York Harbor's First Flupsys
A "Floating Upwelling System" docked off Governors Island is seeding oysters and excitement The baby oysters in New York Harbor's first "Flupsys" -- a Floating Upwelling System; see photo at right of the Flupsys with its top deck removed -- are growing nicely. "They're essentially being force-fed," said Pete Malinowski, a marine technology instructor at the Urban Assembly New York Harbor School, explaining that the rush of water flowing through the center of the Flupsys creates an artificial current and feeds the oysters at a much faster rate than if they were in their natural environment. The Flupsys was launched at the Restoring the Urban Oyster conference on Governors Island in April. This past weekend, with Governors Island open to the public, Harbor School students were back on the island making oyster cages and answering questions from passers-by about the famous Flupsys. A duel-use piece of equipment, the Flupsys is both an aquaculture installation and also a floating dock, once its top deck is in place. This Flupsys was developed by Mr. Malinowski, below right, whose family has operated the Fishers Island Oyster Farm for 30 years. With the constant water flow, the oysters feed constantly and grow rapidly. An oyster seedling measuring 1mm can grow to 25-30mm within a few weeks. At this point, they are placed in baskets, such as those made by students, and seeded around the harbor. In a dry run for the Harbor School, which will move to the Island in 2010, the students will be monitoring the baby oysters this summer. Mr. Malinowski expects to find significantly cleaner water coming from the Flupsys. "We'll be able to measure ambient water and exhaust water from the Flupsys so we'll see the direct effect," he said.
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More than 10,000 Visit Governors Island on Opening WeekendWhile thousands of people attended the Governors Island Family Festival on Opening Day (May 30) and watched HRH Prince Henry of Wales play polo in the Veuve Clicquot Manhattan Polo Classic, a few wandered over to Picnic Point, below, a beautiful new space at the southern tip of the island. The island is now open every Friday from 10am-5pm, and on Saturdays and Sundays
from 10am-7pm, through October 11. Events, activities and performances are planned for every weekend, including the City of Water Day, presented by the Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance on July 18. Ferries leave from the Battery
Maritime Building, on the corner of South and
Whitehall Streets, in Lower Manhattan. For up-to-date ferry schedules and downloadable maps, click here.
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Get the Word Out About YOU! Reach thousands of people at the City of Water Day Information Fair on July 18
Don't forget, City of Water Day, presented by the Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance on July 18 on Governors Island, is one of the best
ways to tell people about your organization's work for the waterfront, our
harbor, the environment and the maritime industry.
The
Information Fair takes place at beautiful, shady Nolan Park (see photo
above, courtesy of the Governors Island Education and Preservation
Corporation). Thousands of people
will visit your booth, display, activity or table at City of
Water Day.
Click here to learn more about the Information Fair at City of Water Day. Then be creative and let us know about your plans by filling out
and returning this form. You'll have a great
day promoting your mission. See you on July 18, 2009!
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MWA Boat Available for Your Use!
Attention Alliance Partners! The Big G, a retired police boat, is available, no charge, for your use. Take funders on a tour! Throw a party! All we ask is a suggested contribution to cover the fuel usage. The Big G can hold a dozen people. Click here to contact Captain Carter Craft for more information. Photo by Bernard Ente
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MWA PARTNER SPOTLIGHT From the paddlers of the Sebago Canoe Club on Jamaica Bay to the International Shippers of the New York Shipping Association, nearly 400 organizations dedicated to a healthy, shared and vibrant harbor make up the Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance. Together these hundreds of organizations and hundreds of thousands of people create a diverse and powerful voice for a better waterfront.
Below, read about the Brooklyn Greenway Initiative. If you'd like to see your waterfront group in the WaterWire Spotlight, email [email protected] and consider the answers to these two questions: What does your group want most for the waterfront? What part of the Waterfront Action Agenda interests your group most?
Brooklyn Greenway Initiative Brooklyn Greenway Initiative (BGI) is the non-profit organization responsible for conceiving, planning and coordinating the development of the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway. When its founders started in 1998, a 14-mile greenway along Brooklyn's industrial waterfront was inconceivable, but today the Greenway is recognized as an essential public health and transportation resource that will shape future development of Brooklyn's waterfront communities.
The Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway is a planned 14-mile continuous landscaped route, physically separated from traffic, with separate paths for pedestrians and cyclists, which will extend along Brooklyn's waterfront from Greenpoint to Bay Ridge. Once complete, the Greenway will connect existing neighborhood parks and gardens, three new open space areas, and four major regional parks: East River State Park / Bushwick Inlet Park, Brooklyn Bridge Park, Red Hook Park, and Bush Terminal Piers and Park.
The Greenway concept plan supports many aspects of the Waterfront Action Agenda, especially the public access of a "Waterfront Town" and the multi-use, multi-modal possibilities of "A Well Designed Edge." Waterfront areas are poorly served by public transit, so people who live in these neighborhoods are significantly more likely to commute by bicycle than are New Yorkers as a whole. In addition to making bicycle commuting (and walking) more efficient than driving, the Greenway will also promote the use of ferries and other waterborne transportation, thus linking communities not just along the East River waterfront but across it as well. BGI's core mission is to create the Greenway, but equally important is insuring that this new public facility enhances health, transportation, recreation and economic development along its entire 14-mile route.
Brooklyn Greenway Initiative was founded and incorporated as a NYS non-profit organization in 2004 by Brian McCormick, Meg Fellerath and Milton Puryear, with the vision of creating a safe, off-street route along Brooklyn's waterfront, in order to improve healthful recreation, transportation and waterfront access for all New Yorkers.
BGI's co-founders originally spearheaded this effort as neighborhood volunteers beginning in 1998. From 1998-2004, the team secured broad-based support for the Greenway from Greenpoint through Sunset Park, and also secured initial right-of-way commitments from NYC DOT and the Brooklyn Navy Yard. From 2004-today, BGI has used three rounds of funding from the NYS Environmental Protection Fund, each sponsored by the Brooklyn Borough President's Office, to work with its partners to complete conceptual planning for the entire route, as well as to publish design principles and a stewardship plan.
Additionally, BGI has coordinated the right-of-way assemblage and secured over $20 million in initial federal funding for the northern 10.5 miles of the Greenway. In 2008, marking a major milestone, New York City DOT agreed to sponsor the federal funding, coordinate the master plan, and build the Greenway. Throughout this ten-year planning process, BGI has functioned as the glue that holds this effort together, negotiating and securing property commitments from public agencies and private owners, and working with community members and stakeholders to create a shared vision along the entire route of the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway.
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Recent Waterfront News
Hurricane barriers floated to keep sea out of NYC Associated Press, May 30, 2009
Demolition of Most of Admirals' Row Is Approved The New York Times, May 28, 2009
New York, Boston "Directly in Path" of Sea Level Rise National Geographic News, May 28, 2009
Other big news from the Gowanus Canal hearing The Brooklyn Paper, May 27, 2009
Gowanus Bay anglers persist even when fish deemed unsafe by experts The Ironic Nature Walk The New York Times, May 8, 2009
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