For decades starting in the 1930s, Gerritsen Creek in Brooklyn's Marine Park -- one of the "fingers" in the "hand" of Jamaica Bay -- was used as a dump. Its lush marshland and coastal grasses gradually succumbed to relentless trash, debris and pollution; and thick vegetation, mostly Phragmites, invaded.  

Today, the Phragmites has been vanquished and a salt water tide once again washes through marshes. Coordinated funding and work by city, state and federal partners has restored Gerritsen Creek's natural ecosystem.

"With the phragmites gone, the public will be able to see a whole lot more of the park," Dan Falt, a project manager with the Army Corps' civil works branch, told WaterWire two years ago when the restoration was first chronicled. Over several years, the Army Corps team removed invasive plants (photo below), replanted native vegetation and cleared debris so that the salt water could flow in and nourish plant and animal life. Walkways through the restored area will be open to the public this fall after the new grasses have taken root.

"This project is proof that you can restore natural functions and in a small corner of the globe help to improve the planet," said NYC Parks Dept. Commissioner Adrian Benepe, who joined U.S. Army Corps District Commander Colonel John R. Boulé, Commissioner of the National Parks of New York Harbor Maria Burks, Natural Resources Supervisor for the New York State Department of Conservation Steve Zahn and Assembly Member Alan Maisel on August 13 to announce the completion of the project. Described as "an ideal lesson in inter-agency cooperation, synergy, and economy of scale," the projected was funded by $1.3 million from the 1995 New York State Clean Air/Clean Water Bond Act Grant and the DEC, $5 million from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and $2 million from the NYC Housing Preservation and Development.  

The search for a new home by PortSide NewYork-- the cultural and maritime advocacy organization headquartered in the historic oil tanker Mary A. Whalen, docked at the Red Hook Container Port -- is down to two options: the city of Yonkers or another site in Brooklyn. "We are homing in on a real estate solution," said PortSide director Carolina Salguero.

"All parties involved with the boat want this resolved soon," she said. "The Port Authority has been very generous with us, but the situation is not sustainable. We are unable to do any programming." Strict security regulations at the container port impede PortSide visitors or volunteers.

A week-long sale of maritime artifacts and art to support PortSide's progress towards getting a new homeport will start tonight, Thursday, August 23, 2012 at the PortSide Pop-Up shop, 145 Columbia Street in Brooklyn. The store will be open until August 30, 10am-6pm weekdays and 12pm-8pm weekend days.

Ms. Salguero notes, "Many signs and objects in this gallery pertain to the famed Todd Shipyard, which started as a Red Hook business in 1916 and went on to become a national shipyard of note. The facility closed in 1986 and the site is now the home of IKEA. Todd built many vessels including yachts, minesweepers, NYC ferries, and the fireboat John J. Harvey.  Other items for sale are from Cowhey Brothers Marine Hardware, RMC Canvas & Rope, The Beard Stores, and historic Red Hook break-bulk pier operations. A barrel full of late 20th century ship plans are also for sale." At right, a knot board. 

Ms. Salguero will take bids from those who are interested in an item but cannot attend the reception this evening. Bidders should email research.portsidenewyork@gmail.com. 

Also available for purchase are paintings, photographs and illustrations by contemporary artists Jonathan Atkin, Dennis Doyle, Jim Ebersole, Frank Hanavan, Bill Murphy (left), Naima Rauam, Christina Sun and Ms. Salguero.