Beach 84th Street Garden!

Nyc Parks got jurisdiction of these lots for use as a community garden this week! What a long long long road but the fun ya about to start!

We heard from greenthumb that the group's application package is good to go! They also shared that this lot just got a new sidewalk! They say the only thing delaying the transfer now is the need for new fencing, and they think they have enough fencing in their compound to cover it. Good news afoot, we hope!

promising response from colleen, nyc park's chief of parklands and real estate:

Alderson, Colleen (Parks)
Sep 8 (4 days ago)

to Kelsey, mara, stephanie, organizers
Mara,
I am forwarding your correspondence to our Green Thumb Office and will confer with them on status of their review and then Kelsey and I can take any next steps.
Have a good weekend,
Colleen

We sent a letter to NYC Parks' Chief of Parklands and Real Estate this week requesting the transfer of this lot to NYC Parks asap! Read it at http://596acres.org/letter-requesting-transfer-for-five-gardens/ -- with photos! Here's an excerpt:

August 31, 2017

Colleen Alderson
Chief of Parklands and Real Estate
NYC Department of Parks and Recreation
830 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10065

RE: Request for transfer of vacant lots to NYC Parks so they can become GreenThumb gardens

Dear Colleen,

With your help, five community gardens that GreenThumb has approved for transfer can become real.

In each case, groups of neighbors have completed the process for starting a new garden. They have identified which vacant lots on their blocks are in the inventory of NYC agencies that do not have active plans for them. They have committed to their future stewardship as community gardens, developing proposals with plans for how the space be used and how they will share the work of maintaining it. They have gained support from hundreds of fellow neighbors, local businesses, schools, community organizations, and their Community Boards. They have completed GreenThumb registration and met with their GreenThumb Outreach Coordinators who are ready to support them.

To make their visions real, people who live near these vacant lots have been requesting that they be transferred to the inventory of NYC Department of Parks and Recreation from the city agencies that do not have active plans for them. GreenThumb has approved these sites for transfer.

We are writing to request that you expedite the transfer of the following properties to NYC Parks. This will ensure they can be transformed from waste spaces that have long added to the hardships of life for those who live nearby, into the beautiful, inclusive community parks and gardens that these same people need and desire! Please enjoy the stories and the photos that follow:

...

Queens block 16103, lots 83, 84 on Beach 84th Street on the Bay in Rockaway Beach. Reference page with garden proposal: https://livinglotsnyc.org/lot/58968/

About Bay 84th Street Community Garden: Wanda McDowell, longtime resident of the block who works in construction, lives directly across the street from this lot and has been spearheading its transformation from a post-Superstorm Sandy dumping ground into a community garden. With a committed group of neighbors, the group gained support from the local Community Board.

We got an update from GreenThumb that their application was accepted last December, but that its transfer from DCAS to NYC Parks was slowed down by the possible need to apply for a wetlands permit from the State DEC, since it is so close to Jamaica Bay. You and I discussed that this might not actually be needed at the Community Board ULURP hearing on Maple Street’s acquisition, especially considering that community gardening has a mild impact on the environment and a beneficial one that is completely aligned with the DEC’s goal of protecting our coastal and aquatic environments.

The meeting with GreenThumb outreach coordinator Lilian Reyes has been rescheduled to Monday April 10 at 5pm.

it's happening! GreenThumb + garden stewards are meeting next Tuesday, April 4 at 5pm at the garden - Beach 84th Street north of Beach Channel Drive on the bay side.

We got an update from GreenThumb: the application has been accepted BUT the Parks Department just learned that it needs to apply for a wetlands permit from the State DEC to be able to have a garden here because it's so close to the Bay. Carlos Martinez is following up and finding out whose job this is in the department and keeping us posted.

Yesterday we sent NYC Parks GreenThumb the updated application for the Beach 84th Street Community Garden in Far Rockaway! We are so excited to have NYC Parks request jurisdiction of this vacant lot so that it can become the permanent community green space that neighbors want!

Excellent .. I too and a member of Rockaway Civic and are eager for the
this project
to happen!
Randi Savron

I support the Garden on 84th street.

Great news. Keep us posted! Thanks. Also can you suggest some plants that ar=
e good for sandy soil to be used for decorative purposes as I know you once s=
ent a list .. To be put up against a fence, maybe that grows high like the "=
sea grass" stuff that they have planted all over Rockaway? Also any mosquito=
repair line plans that you know of?=20
Any way to get discounts on such plants for community gardens or a suggestio=
n in where to purchase? Thanks so much=20
Randi Savron=20

Oh yes. Thanks to Paula Z Segal @ 596 Acres. And to City Council District 31 represented by Donovan J Richardson, and Community District Queens 14/ Jonathan Gaska. And David Gibbs that takes time out of his busy schedule to help us. Also Isak Mendes that has been with me from the beginning through it all. Letters of support are now in progress and thing are moving in the right direction for our up coming community dream garden. We are in affect.

Great news: letters of support from s local day care and church are on their way to Wanda. The proposal that NYC Parks needs to consider taking jurisdiction of these lots for stewardship by neighbors as a community garden is nearly done!

any updates on 84th street???

Here is a list of plants that thrive in environments where salt water is present. This will be great for the small constructed marshland in the front of the lot where the water comes in when the water table comes up.

https://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_about/parks_divisions/gnpc/pdf/salt_tolerant_species_list.pdf

The following species include those whose native habitats have a specific brackish or saline water level and/or can tolerate salt spray. These species may prove useful in coastal or roadside plantings depending on their other cultural requirements.

Trees
• Betula papyrifera– Paper birch
• Betula populifolia– Gray birch
• Celtis occidentalis– Hackberry
• Juniperus virginiana– Eastern red cedar
• Magnolia virginana– Sweet bay magnolia
• Nyssa slyvatica– Black tupelo
• Pinus rigida– Pitch pine
• Populus deltoides– Eastern cottonwood
• Prunus serotina– Black cherry
• Quercus alba– White oak
• Quercus bicolor– Swamp white oak
• Quercus coccinea– Scarlet oak
• Quercus palustris– Pin oak
• Quercus rubra– Red oak
• Quercus stellata– Post oak
• Quercus velutina– Black oak

Shrubs/Vines
• Amelanchier arborea– Common serviceberry
• Amelanchier canadensis– Canadian serviceberry
• Aronia arbutifolia– Red chokeberry
• Aronia melanocarpa– Black chokeberry
• Baccharis halmifolia– Groundsel tree
• Cephalanthus occidentalis– Buttonbush
• Clethra alnifolia– Sweet pepperbush
• Gaylussacia baccata– Black huckleberry
• Ilex glabra– Inkberry
• Iva fructescens– Saltmarsh elder
• Lindera benzoin– Spicebush
• Myrica pensylvanica– Bayberry
• Prunus maritima– Beachplum
• Rhus copallinum– Winged sumac
• Rhus glabra– Smooth sumac
• Rhus typhina– Staghorn sumac
• Rosa carolina– Pasture rose
• Rosa virginiana– Low pasture rose
• Salix discolor– Pussy willow
• Sambucus canadensis– Black elderberry
• Vaccinium angustifolium– Lowbush blueberry
• Vaccinium corymbosum– Highbush blueberry
• Viburnum dentatum– Southern arrowwood
• Vitis labrusca– Fox grape

Herbs
• Arctostaphylos uva–ursi– Bearberry
• Cakile edethula– Sea rocket
• Eupatorium album– White thoroughwort
• Hibiscus moscheutos– Marsh mallow
• Lathyrus maritimus– Beach pea
• Lechea maritima– Beach pinweed
• Limonium carolinianum– Marsh rosemary
• Maianthemum canadense– Canada mayflower
• Oenthera biennis– Common evening primrose
• Opuntia humifusa– Eastern prickly pear
• Solidago sempervirens– Seaside goldenrod
• Symphyotrichum novi–belgii– New York aster

Graminoids
• Ammophila brevigulata– Beachgrass
• Distichlis spicata– Saltgrass
• Juncus gerardii– Blackgrass
• Panicum amarum– Bitter panicgrass
• Panicum virgatum– Switchgrass
• Schizachyrium scoparium– Little bluestem
• Scirpus maritimis– Seaside bulrush
• Scirpus pungens– Commpon threesquare
• Scirpus robustus– Saltmarsh rush
• Scirpus validus– Soft stem bulrush
• Spartina alternifolia– Smooth cordgrass
• Spartina patens– Saltmeadow grass
• Spartina pectinata– Prairie cordgrass

Aquatics
• Pontederia cordata– Pickerelweed
• Sagittaria latifolia– Broadleaf arrowhead
• Typha latifolia– Broadleaf cattail

Ferns
• Thelypteris palustris– Marsh fern

See you today!

Wed Jun 1, 2016
11am
at Rockaway Roasters, 9206, Rockaway Beach Blvd, Rockaway Beach, NY 11693

Email organizers@596acres.org with any questions

Join us to plan a proposal for this garden-to-be:

Wed Jun 1, 2016
11am
at Rockaway Roasters, 9206, Rockaway Beach Blvd, Rockaway Beach, NY 11693

Email organizers@596acres.org with any questions

I will stay tuned. Just keep me posted for new date for our Parks meeting

So happy to know that things are looking up for Lots 84, 83. I was told the process is being slowed up. But people keep your fingers crossed for this project to speed up so the beautifying of these lots will start to bloom.

Our meeting with NYC Parks has been postponed - stay tuned!

We are going to meet Jeff Keiter, RLA Sustainability Coordinator for the NYC Parks Department Green Infrastructure unit on Tuesday May 10 at 1pm at the site. Come if you can - we will be discussing possible design solutions for managing the water that sometimes floods the block.

Thanks for the update. I am interested in helping with this project but
personally do not have the time or knowledge oh writing a proposal. Please
keep me posted.
Thanks
Randi Savron

It's time to put a full proposal together for this site!

The proposal should describe how the will design and steward the space with their 10+ members.

GreenThumb needs to understand the group's plans for physical improvements and social dynamics.

A proposal should also include a description of all the effort that organizers have made so far to seek help from 596 Acres and GreenThumb, as well as future plans to engage more greening institutions (like GrowNYC), and green infrastructure groups. And of course letters of support from local groups excited the use the garden, like schools and daycares and block associations, would also be good things to include as part of the plan.

Good Morning

I would like to take this time out to thank Paula and any one else involved in posting the lots I am Involved in and all of the pictures and valuable information connected to the lots. Thank you for letting me be a part of this amazing journey we will be partaking in an letting me be come a organizer. I admit I will be new to a lot of things but I'm sure I will be helpful in many other ways. So if any one needs me as you see my e-mail is posted and I will be looking forward to meeting other people involved this program.

Great news! Thank you!

We have asked Council Member Donovan Richards' staff to request that NYC Department of Sanitation finish leveling the lots to prepare them for use as a garden.

We have also requested the NYC Department of Transportation and Parks Green Infrastructure unit consider these lots and the surrounding block for a project. You can find out more about the Green Infrastructure program here: http://www.nycgovparks.org/greening/green-infrastructure

And Wanda and Joe, who are the local residents taking the lead! They are well on their way and would love to include you. Check out the letters here for some context:
http://livinglotsnyc.org/media/files/Beach_84_Letters_of_Support.pdf

Thanks for the update and the pic Paula! Looking forward to getting this project going along with Travis.

EDC Hold was lifted

GreenThumb is drafting letter to DCAS to place hold on the lot.

DSNY leveling site on 3/31/16
4.If and when the hold is placed on the DCAS vacant lot NYC Parks Department will assess transfer of jurisdiction from DCAS to a Parks Department-community garden based on site conditions and proposal from community group and letters of support already submitted to GreenThumb.

EDC's hold on this lot - which was from 2009 - is being lifted. NYC Parks can now request jurisdiction for use as a community garden.

Just sent this note to EDC:
"I am hoping to get in touch with whomever at EDC it was or is managing the "hold" on Queens block 16103, lots 83, 84 (http://livinglotsnyc.org/lot/58968/). The hold appears to have been put on the property in connection with a ferry study in 2009 by EDC.

I am working with a local community group that has successfully petitioned NYC Parks to take jurisdiction over the property for a community garden but this hold is making the transfer impossible.

Thank you so much for your attention."

Thanks, Isak!

And nice to meet you Randi.

Isak - it would be great to have some specific information about what Parks is thinking how flooding can be mitigated (e.g. the lot can be raised; the garden can be constructed as a series of walkways that actually takes advantage of the wetlands as a feature, etc). This can be incorporated in a presentation to the Community Board and the Council Member.

Taylor and Randi,

Here is a sample proposal package for another garden in Rockaway.

Proposal: http://livinglotsnyc.org/media/files/edgemerewoutsignatures.pdf

Plan Drawing Draft: http://livinglotsnyc.org/media/files/Garden_drawing_for_Edgemere_Coalition_Garden.JPG

Final Drawings: http://livinglotsnyc.org/media/files/Edgemere_Coalition_Final.pdf

Letters of Support from Community Board 14 & Frank Avenue Civic Association: http://livinglotsnyc.org/media/files/Letters_of_Support_Edgemere_Coalition.pdf

The organizers put the proposal and drawings together before approaching the Community Board or the local civic association and asking for their support.

Queens Community Board 14’s new policy about issuing letters of support for community gardens is that you must have a letter from the local civic association if there is one for the block where the proposed garden is. Do you know if there is one?

If there is none of these civic associations cover the block you are working on, the community board would like to see written support from neighbors on the block. You can print and use the attached petition form to gather their signatures. If there is a civic association, showing them that neighbors already support the project will be good way to get them on board.

You will need to present to both the Parks Committee of Queens Community Board 14 and, once you have their approval to the full community board.

Here is a recap of your next steps:

1. Find out if there is a Civic Association that covers your area (you can try calling 718-471-7300 Community Board district manager: Jonathan L. Gaska next week)


2. Get signatures from the neighbors (use the petition linked from the lot's page)


3. Develop a written proposal and a draft plan for the garden space (like the one linked above)


4. Get a letter from the Civic if there is one (like the one from the Frank Avenue Civic)


5. Schedule a presentation for the community board Parks Committee (email CBROCK14C@nyc.rr.com asking for a meeting)


6. Meet with the Community Board Parks Committee and get approval (show them all the documents you have gathered)


7. Schedule a presentation for the Full Community Board (cbrock14@nyc.rr.com / 718-471-7300 ), district manager: Jonathan L. Gaska)


8. Make a presentation to the Full Community Board, which meets month at KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS, 333 BEACH 90TH


9. Get a letter from the Community Board


10. Put the letters, signatures and proposal together and send to GreenThumb

I suggest having a meeting with Wanda and Joe (who don’t use email) and other neighbors on your block to review this message and get started! Let me know if you would like me or another 596 Acres network person to attend that meeting.

And let me know if you have questions!

Isak at GreenThumb said:

Wanda McDowell and her husband Joe Logan, neighbors who saw signs on this lot that 596 Acres put up in 2012, are the lead organizers for the Beach 84th parcels. I would recommend connecting with them and petitioning your local community board and council member about your interest in transforming this lot into a community garden. The Deputy Director of GreenThumb Carlos Martinez is in conversation about the parcels with DCAS, whom currently has jurisdiction over the lot, and the Parks Planning Dept. about the possibility of transferring the jurisdiction to the Parks department, which will then allow us to start the process of transforming the lot into a growing space. We are dealing with some literal obstacles though with this space because it floods pretty easily during rain events and it appears it was some type of post Sandy dumping ground. Nonetheless we are definitely pushing for this to be a community garden but awaiting for approval from DCAS and the Parks Dept.

Folks are organizing here, with the help of Isak Mendes (Brooklyn & Queens Outreach Coordinator for GreenThumb, (212) 602-5314, Isak.Mendes@parks.nyc.gov).

People who live across the street from this lot saw the signs we put up on the fence here with GreenThumb's phone number and reached out directly!

We're looking forward to connecting them with the 596 Acres network!

This lot was included in a City auction in December 2013 (see http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcas/downloads/pdf/auctions/sales_auction_brochure.pdf). The lot was not sold. The fact that the City is putting it up for sale is a clear indication that there are no agency plans for its use. This would be a great candidate to get some plans for. It would be wonderful if neighbors could convince GreenThumb to request the transfer of this lot to the Parks Department for use as a community garden.

This lot was part of the 2012 City Surplus Auction and no one bid on it. http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcas/html/business/sales_updates.shtml This makes it a good organizing target since its clear the city has no plans for it at this time.

We put a sign on this lot today!