Parks

Gowanus Canal, Parks

City makes case for retention tank location at EPA meeting, by George Fiala

A major part of the EPA’s plan to clean up the Gowanus Canal is the prevention of future contamination. In addition to chemical toxins that have leached into the canal as a byproduct of the 19th century gas plants that abutted the canal, organic poisons from sewage overflows continue to contaminate. Overflows happen during rain events when the sewers become […]

Music, Parks

SummerStage kicks off Red Hook summer with a great week of free shows!, by Halley Bondy

For eight years, SummerStage has delivered high quality concerts to thousands of Red Hook residents for free. True to form, the 2015 lineup will include heavyweights like legendary rapper Scarface and homegrown Brooklyn talent like Troy Ave. For the first time however, the programming in Red Hook Park will also include dance, theater, film, and family fare. “Red Hook is […]

Parks

Parks presents new Valentino Pier plan, by Overand Dunwith

In late March, NYC Department of Parks and Recreation unveiled their new plan for Valentino Park, which will incorporate the $2 million dollars allotted for a comfort station that was highly disputed in the community in 2014. In a 8,455 page document, Parks details every miniscule detail of the additions to the Red Hook Waterfront Park, complete with complex renditions, […]

Carlos Menchaca, Parks

Menchaca flexes his muscles on parks issue, by George Fiala

At a meeting organized by a recently formed  Red Hook park advocacy group, freshman City Councilmember Carlos Menchaca sped the community toward a quick resolution of the Valentino Pier bathroom controversy. Menchaca first became known to Red Hookers two years ago, when he was sent to the community by his then-employer, Council Speaker Christine Quinn. His job was to convey […]

Community Organizations, Parks, Politics, Valentino Pier

Our Beloved Valentino Park, by John McGettrick

Valentino Park & Pier, at the foot of Coffey Street in Red Hook is no doubt one of New York City’s smallest but also one of the most extraordinary assets. Its unobstructed vistas of the harbor – including the Statue of Liberty, the Verrazano Bridge, Ellis Island, Governor’s Island, the Manhattan skyline, State Island and New Jersey – are what […]

Parks, Valentino Pier

Valentino Update, by George Fiala

A Facebook group calling themselves “People for Red Hook Public Parks” held a meeting last night at 351 Van Brunt Street, hosted, but not attended, by Victoria Hagman. It was self-described as a community meeting but a reporter for the Star-Revue was not allowed to sit and report on the goings-on. When asked why not, the answer was that the […]

Parks, Valentino Pier

Valentino Pier community meeting

We just received a note from our councilman Carlos Menchaca. It has the details of a promised community meeting about proposed renovations to Valentino Pier. Here is the email in full: “Please join me this Thursday at 7:00pm at the Red Hook Library for an update from the Parks Department on the fencing around Valentino Pier. The fencing was put […]

Carlos Menchaca, Parks, Valentino Pier

Message from Carlos about Valentino Pier

FYI: Please see the following statement from CM Menchaca regarding the fencing placed around Valentino Pier Park and new capital funding for this Park   “This morning my office was informed by community residents that fencing was placed around Valentino Pier.  This is deeply concerning for several reasons.  First, our office received no advance communications from the Parks Department about […]