Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance  6-3-09
 WATERWIRE           
   HIGH TIDE 5:33am  �  LOW TIDE 11:52am  �  HIGH TIDE 6:08pm                                                      (for June 3 at The Battery)
IN THIS ISSUE

Harlem Piers

Dutch Visitors

Brian O'Neill

Blessing of the Fleet Great River Day Flotilla

Waterfront Info Center


What's a Flupsys?

Governors Island Opens

City of Water Day

Information Fair

Take a Ride on the Big G

Alliance Partner Spotlight


Do you have waterfront news that everyone should know about? WaterWire is your platform for getting the word out, whether it be a public, nonprofit, government or citizen waterfront issue. Let us know about your news by emailing [email protected]

WaterWire welcomes all comments, points of view, and your letters to the Waterwire editor, Alison Simko. You can also reach Alison at [email protected]

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EVENTS



MWA-sponsored or co-sponsored event

June 8th, 10am-4:30pm
2009 Hudson River Summit
Day-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-8pm
River Day Launch Celebration: Harbor Night
Celebrate 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-9pm
River Day
The first day of an exciting week celebrating the Hudson River. View a full schedule of events for the week here.


June 6, 9am-11am
National Learn to Row Day
A parade and a great day to learn to row with the East River Crew!


June 6, 2pm-6pm
Green Shores NYC: Queensboro Bridge Birthday
Celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Queensboro Bridge with art, music, tours, games, food and more.


June 6, 5pm-8pm
Lower East Side Ecology Center 22nd Anniversary
Celebrate with activities and food.


June 7, 1pm-4pm
Jersey 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 4pm
CIRCUSundays
Every Sunday in June, the Waterfront Museum brings a Circus on board!


June 11, 6:30pm-8:30pm
Harlem River Promenade Design and Programming Workshop
The 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-5pm
The 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 Festival
Educational 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-9pm
PortSide 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 - 9pm
WE ACT for Environmental Justice 20th Anniversary Gala Celebrating Environmental Leadership & Action!


June 18, 6pm-9pm
New Views 2009, Benefit for Brooklyn Greenway Initiative
Join friends, neighbors and fellow greenway supporters at Erie Basin Park in Red Hook, along the route of the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway.


June 20, Noon
Sustainable South Bronx Earth Day: Hunts Point Hustle
Join us for the 3rd Annual Hunts Point Hustle! THis 5k walk/run will start at the Hunts Point Riverside Park.


June 27, 3pm
Clean & Green: Gowanus Canal Clean-Up
Join the Gowanus Canal Conservancy at thier monthly clean-ups along the banks of the Gowanus Canal!


June 27, 10pm-12pm
Time's Up Riverside Ride
Share the tranquility of Central Park plus the lovely tree canopy and grand vistas of the Hudson River from Riverside Park.


June 28, Noon - Midnight
Friend's of Clearwater: New York City's First Annual Water Festival
The 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-4pm
City of Water Day
Fun 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 Events

Ongoing
Amsterdam/New Amsterdam: The World of Henry Hudson
Amsterdam/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 Readings
This 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 Trail
First 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 Museum
Head over to Red Hook for this great speaker series entitled "Vessels and Profiles of the Quadricentennial"


Save the Date!

September 9-10, 2009
H209: 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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DonateNow

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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westharlemWest Harlem Piers Park Opens
Two new piers -- one for docking and one for fishing -- now rise from the water

West Harlem Piers Park

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.
     

H209 Forum brochure cover
dutchDutch Planners Visit NYC to Prepare for H209 Forum
June workshops and field trips will jumpstart an international idea exchange on water management

This 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.
     
brianBrian 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 O'Neill
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.
     
Sailboats in the harbor

bestblessingJoin 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 PARADEHalf Moon
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.


Onrust
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.

Whitehall gig
     

cabooseWaterfront Information Center to Open
In a Red Caboose on the Hudson River
 
Going Coastal offers to distribute the promotional material of Alliance Partners

Pier 66 caboose
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.
     
flupsysThe Debut of New York Harbor's First FlupsysFlupsy
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. NJ Meadowlands

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.
Pete Malinowski
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.
     

openingdayMore than 10,000 Visit Governors Island on Opening Weekend

While 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.

Picnic Point on Governors Island
     
COWDad City of Water Day card 
     
wordout Nolan Park on Governors Island 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!
     

BigGMWA 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.

Big G
Photo by Bernard Ente
     
scow 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 InitiativeBrooklyn Greenway logo

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.

Brooklyn Greenway logo

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.

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
Daily News, May 24, 2009

Staten Island's Toxic Stew
Gotham Gazette, May 2009

Setting the stage for conservation
Queens Chronicle, May 12, 2009

New York City waterfront: from ghost towns to coast towns
Daily News, May 15, 2009

Reading New York
The New York Times, May 10

The Ironic Nature Walk
The New York Times, May 8, 2009