"Corporal Fischer Park" - Former Corporal Fischer Place (demapped road) & block 2520, lot 19 (on W 170th); block 2519, lot 27 & 32 (on W 169th Street)

I’m a brand new area resident - less than a month but I noticed the Park immediately on my walk to and from the subway. I’m thrilled to find out that there has already been a lot of progress in turning this abandoned space into something that is environmentally friendly and designed by the community it will serve. I do have a couple questions that I hope can be answered.

How will the proposed new design incorporate or honor other than name, the contribution of Cpl Irwin Fischer? Is there living family of Cpl Fischer still alive and/or living in the area who have been included in the planning of the proposed new design?

Excuse my ignorance but what would be the purpose of chicken coops as incorporated in this proposed design?

Thank you...Robert Ettinger

I grew up in 1340 Nelson and learned from one of your activists at the Parks Speak Up that Cpl. Fischer Park is there but inaccessible and in danger.

As the creator of a 3-block guerilla street garden in Spuyten Duyvil, it occurred to me that you might mobilize interest in CFP by throwing wildflower seeds onto it -- lots, bagsful, so something might take. And planting daffodil bulbs, muscari, etc. right along the edge. Soon after the snow would be a good time.

I've learned at my street garden that when you tend something, others come to care for it.

freeds@lycos.com

thanks for ferrying info over to me.... to say i was at the city planning
hearing such date to hear yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes and no

Bronx Rezoning Moves to City Council as Negotiations Enter Final Stages
January 29, 2018 | by Samar Khurshid

http://www.gothamgazette.com/city/7446-bronx-rezoning-moves-to-city-council-as-negotiations-enter-final-stages?mc_cid=f92a08e01d&mc_eid=279ac4d54d

The City Planning Commission voted January 17 to approve a comprehensive rezoning plan for the Jerome Avenue corridor in the Bronx, putting the proposal before the City Council for scrutiny in the final stretch of the lengthy land use review process. The rezoning would follow four others ushered through by the de Blasio administration as it somewhat controversially seeks to add housing density, including thousands of new affordable units, and make other investments in mostly low-income communities across the five boroughs.

The Jerome Avenue Neighborhood Plan put forth by the administration with local input envisions changing land use regulations in a 92-block area along Jerome Avenue, from East 165th Street to 184th Street, which currently comprises a mix of commercial, industrial, and residential space. The proposed plan would allow mixed-use development along the corridor with the intent of creating more affordable housing, while also funding new infrastructure, quality-of-life improvements, job creation, and economic development initiatives for the community.

While a deal appears imminent and the clock is ticking, negotiations are ongoing between the administration and City Council Members Vanessa Gibson and Fernando Cabrera, whose districts span the proposed rezoning and who will have the final say in whether the rezoning is approved. Gibson, Cabrera, and Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. met recently to discuss the changes to the plan that they want to see before it is passed by the Council.

The City Planning Commission’s approval of the plan started the 50-day clock for the Council to accept or reject the proposal. The entire body typically votes with the local Council member(s) on land use issues and has rarely overridden a member’s position. The Council’s subcommittee on zoning and franchises is expected to hold a public hearing on the rezoning on Wednesday, February 7.

“It is and has been very fruitful,” Gibson said of the negotiation process, in a phone interview on Thursday. But there remain a few big ticket items that have yet to be resolved, she said, including preserving more affordable housing and expanding school capacity to deal with the expected increase in population from new housing created under the plan.

jerome ave verticalThe city has promised to create 4,000 new housing units in the rezoned area, which will include affordable units set aside for different income bands under the city’s Mandatory Inclusionary Housing policy. The administration is also planning a Certificate of No Harassment pilot program to prevent tenant harassment and displacement, and will guarantee that half of new housing units created by the Department of Housing Preservation and Development will go to existing residents. Additionally, it has committed millions of dollars for infrastructure improvements -- including $4.6 million to revamp Corporal Fischer Park; $4 million to rebuild the Morton Playground; sidewalk lighting; and security upgrades -- and jobs and business development plans through the Department of Small Business Services

As is, the plan will also preserve 1,500 affordable units, a number that Gibson wants to see increased to 2,500 to cope with the gentrification pressures that neighborhoods targeted for rezoning have come to expect. She emphasized that many affordable units currently in those neighborhoods will see their city rent subsidies expire in less than a decade, and that the administration should take preemptive action.

“The city has a very good opportunity to engage those landlords on new programs and tax incentives so they can remain in the affordability program and access some of our resources for the next 30 or 40 years,” she said. “Now if we go over 2,500, I’m not mad. But I think 2,500 should be the floor.”

As with other rezonings that have been approved in the last three years, Gibson expressed larger concerns about displacement of existing residents as zoning changes bring additional density and improvements to the communities along Jerome Avenue. But she maintained that, unlike other areas that have seen luxury developers quickly move in to capitalize on a proposed rezoning, Jerome Avenue will likely not see market-rate housing being built in the short term.

“People are fearful, they have a right to be fearful, but the market in Jerome does not propel luxury housing right now,” she said.

Gibson predicted that recent increases in the minimum wage and residents getting prevailing-wage and union-wage jobs will eventually lead them to be ineligible for deeply affordable housing as they start to earn more than 30 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI), a federal measure that includes surrounding suburban counties and the city. The New York City region’s AMI in 2017 was $85,900 for a family of three. Gibson insisted that the MIH set-asides should therefore include additional moderate and middle-income housing.

“It has to be a diverse mixture of incomes, obviously with the majority of those incomes being on the lower end at 30 and 40 percent of AMI as well as set asides for formerly homeless families coming directly from the shelter,” she said.

Jerome Avenue is the latest proving ground for the administration’s neighborhood rezoning efforts, which are part of achieving the mayor’s target of creating and preserving 300,000 units of affordable housing across the city by 2026. The first such rezoning, in East New York, largely set the tone, with the local Council Member, Rafael Espinal, having extracted a slew of concessions from the administration including a new 1,000-seat school and about $267 million in capital investments. Diaz Jr. and the two Bronx Council members are working off of a similar script, as was the case with rezonings in East Harlem and Far Rockaway.

Diaz Jr. signed off on the city’s plan in November, granted the city meet certain conditions that he laid out in his non-binding formal approval in the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP), a multi-step process that also involves non-binding votes by the affected community boards, which also approved it with conditions.

The borough president said in his response that the city had “acted in good faith” in listening to the community’s concerns. But he maintained, “There is still more work to be done.” He called on the city to put in place a minimum of their monetary commitments before the rezoning is approved, an increase in the number of affordable housing units preserved to at least 2,000, enhanced enforcement of housing codes, the establishment of a new community center in Highbridge, and additional funding for improvement of parks and transit infrastructure.

Jerome Avenue is also home to a large automotive industry, and Diaz Jr. urged the city to identify locations where displaced facilities could relocate as well as fund relocation, training, and certification for those businesses. Gibson has made similar demands. The city’s plan would only retain about 20 percent of the 151 auto businesses in the neighborhood, she recently told Gotham Gazette at City Hall, and she is pushing to retain at least 50 percent.

Diaz Jr. also insisted that the city must address the school seat shortage in the district -- roughly 3,248 seats -- by identifying potential sites for new facilities. That is one of the biggest priorities for Gibson and Cabrera as well. Gibson said she and her Council colleague are pushing for two new elementary schools in school districts 9 and 10.

“The challenge we face is we don’t have large parcels of city-owned land,” she said, emphasizing that the administration will have to work with private landowners to find suitable locations for new schools, while also expanding capacity at existing facilities that can bear it.

“A school that we build of 500 seats is going to help us now but it wont help us in the future if we’re looking at potentially 4,000 units of housing,” she said. “So there has to be some give and take.”

Gibson is confident about securing that pledge from the city before the Council votes on the project. “We’ve been very consistent on what our priorities are and, at the end of the day, we are working as hard as we can to achieve that. I do know that the admin in the past typically waits until the very end to make all of their commitments and announcements and to the best extent that I can, I’m trying to avoid that because I don’t like to operate last minute.”

Asked about the final stages of negotiations, a spokesperson for the Department of City Planning said in a statement, "We continue to work hand-in-hand with local elected officials and community leaders to build and protect affordable housing while also boosting economic vitality along the Jerome corridor."

by Samar Khurshid, City government reporter, Gotham Gazette

/////// onwards.

promising replies! read from the bottom up:

Michael,

Great! Please keep us posted about those opportunities and we can get the word out to local advocates. Do you have an estimation as to when? Thank you!

In solidarity,

Mara Dawn Kravitz
Director of Partnerships
596 Acres, Inc.
540 President St #2E
Gowanus, Brooklyn NY 11215
mara@596acres.org
718-316-6092 ex 3
pronouns: she/her

On Thu, Dec 28, 2017 at 12:27 PM, Michael Parkinson (DCP) MPARKINSON@planning.nyc.gov wrote:

CC: 596 Acres Community Land Access Program organizers@596acres.org,
Dian Hawkins dian.organizecflot@gmail.com,
"Gallegos, Wendy" WGallegos@council.nyc.gov,
"Martell, Michelle (Parks)" Michelle.Martell@parks.nyc.gov,
"Molinari, Nicholas (Parks)" Nicholas.Molinari@parks.nyc.gov,
Stephanie Alvarado stephanie@596acres.org,
Vanessa Gibson vgibson@council.nyc.gov,
"joynerl@assembly.state.ny.us" joynerl@assembly.state.ny.us,
"Athanasiou, Katerina (Parks)" Katerina.Athan@parks.nyc.gov,
"Akins, Fiona (Parks)" Fiona.Akins@parks.nyc.gov

Thanks for the quick follow-up, Mara.

I am adding my colleagues from DPR who can provide information regarding the design process. The park is not yet in design and before entering the design phase, there will be a visioning process with the community.

Thanks,
Michael

From: Mara Dawn Kravitz, 596 Acres [mailto:mara@596acres.org]
Sent: Thursday, December 28, 2017 12:17 PM
To: Michael Parkinson (DCP) MPARKINSON@planning.nyc.gov
Cc: 596 Acres Community Land Access Program organizers@596acres.org; Dian Hawkins dian.organizecflot@gmail.com; Gallegos, Wendy WGallegos@council.nyc.gov; Martell, Michelle (Parks) Michelle.Martell@parks.nyc.gov; Molinari, Nicholas (Parks) Nicholas.Molinari@parks.nyc.gov; Stephanie Alvarado stephanie@596acres.org; Vanessa Gibson vgibson@council.nyc.gov; joynerl@assembly.state.ny.us
Subject: Re: Design for Corporal Fischer Park in Jerome Avenue Plan (Bronx Block 2520 lot 19 and de-mapped Cpl Fischer Place)

Michael,

Thanks for your email.

Is somebody currently designing the forthcoming park? Can you please put local resident Dian (CC'd) and us in touch with them so we can continue this important process of centering the most impacted people in designing this future place?

Thank you,

On Thu, Dec 28, 2017 at 11:17 AM Michael Parkinson (DCP) MPARKINSON@planning.nyc.gov wrote:

Good Morning Mara,

Thank you for passing this along! We look forward to continuing a dialogue with the community around parks and open space as we continue our planning work in the neighborhoods along Jerome Avenue. If you have any additional questions, please don’t hesitate to reach back out.

All the best,
Michael Parkinson

Emailed this on December 20th to Michael Parkinson, AICP, Project Manager, Jerome Avenue Neighborhood Plan; NYC Parks Bronx Borough Commissioner Iris Rodriguez-Rosa; NYC Parks Chief of Planning and Neighborhood Development Nicholas Molinari; NYC Council Member Vanessa L. Gibson; and NYS Assemblymember Latoya Joyner:

Dear Mr. Parkinson,

Thank you for your work of engaging local residents in creating their future neighborhood through the Jerome Avenue Neighborhood Planning process!

I am writing to request that local residents' design for Holistic Health and Wellness Garden be incorporated into Corporal Fischer Park, the new park finally coming to W 170th Street between Nelson and Shakespeare Avenues. Please see the attached PDF (https://livinglotsnyc.org/media/files/Holistic_Health_and_Wellness_Garden_Package_sans_sigs_December_2017.pdf), which goes into much more detail about why. This package is also headed to you, and to everyone CC'd, in the mail.

Thank you in advanced for working towards making local leaders' vision for community open space here a reality! Don't hesitate to get in touch with any questions or to discuss next steps using the contact info in my signature.

Sincerely,

Mara Dawn Kravitz
Director of Partnerships
596 Acres, Inc.
540 President St #2E
Gowanus, Brooklyn NY 11215
mara@596acres.org
718-316-6092 ex 3
pronouns: she/her

stay tuned!

The state legislation to "alienate" the lot on W 169th street, where you all have been planning Holistic Health and Wellness Garden, was signed into law on September 13, 2017. Here's where I got that information: http://nyassembly.gov/leg/?default_fld=&leg_video=&bn=A08422&term=2017&Summary=Y&Actions=Y

On September 6, the assemblymember invited Dian to meet with her, the councilmember, and NYC Parks staff the next day to learn about this decision. The meeting was merely to inform community members that they had already made this decision because the New York State Senate and Assembly had already voted yes to it on June 20! This means the decision was made entirely without consulting the most impacted people: the residents who live nearby.  

According to the draft plan from October 2017 (available here: http://www1.nyc.gov/assets/planning/download/pdf/plans-studies/jerome-ave/jerome-avenue-draft-plan-1017.pdf), the city plans to release a request for proposal (RFP) with a preference for senior housing (page 97). Perhaps an applicant wants to incorporate this open space into their proposal!?

It was great to connect with Dian in person at our organizers meeting last weekend in Harlem! We discussed next steps: advocating to incorporate Holistic Health and Wellness Garden into the park on W 170th that the City is finally planning to deliver to this long abandoned parkland (described on pages 66 and 67 of the Draft Plan: http://www1.nyc.gov/assets/planning/download/pdf/plans-studies/jerome-ave/jerome-avenue-draft-plan-1017.pdf).

Stay tuned!

Hi Shannon, hope you are doing well, =C2=A0I will call you tomorrow wednes=
day between 11&11:30

this group ought to get together soon to decide on next steps based on the move that the Council Member brought to the NYS Assembly which will alienate the parkland on W 169th between Nelson and Shakespeare Aves, where this garden was going to be, to build housing. Here's the update (from our June 29 Newsletter):

Highbridge, Bronx – The Holistic Health and Wellness Garden team has been organizing for access to a vacant public lot on W 169th between Nelson and Shakespeare Aves. This land is already in the inventory of NYC Parks; the city planned a park here back in the 1990s but instead it continues sitting locked and abandoned. This week, the group found out about a New York State bill, A08422 (read it at http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?default_fld=&leg_video=&bn=A08422&term=2017&Summary=Y&Memo=Y) that would “alienate” the site so the city can sell it to an affordable housing developer. The NYS legislature is out for the rest of the year, so the group has time to strategize about next steps! If you want in on this conversation, email dian.organizecflot@gmail.com or sign up to Organize here: livinglotsnyc.org/lot/59053/

Stay tuned for next steps.

updated name for the community garden neighbors are planning for W169th Street: Health and Wellness Garden!

I got a call from Dian today! She is reaching out to the Community Board to see about getting on the agenda to present their plan for Health and Wealth Garden. Does the CB want the group to present first to the full board, or a smaller committee?

With the sketch and mission statement nearly finalized (which Sabeena can share when she's back from travels), and plenty of stewards in on the project, the proposal is nearly done!

Once we set a target date for presenting for the CB's approval, we can also schedule the next planning meeting to finalize the proposal.

Dian is also working on improving the letter of support to be stronger. Once it's ready, she and neighbors will see which local groups want to sign it. If we can find that out before next group meeting, we can finalize those letters when we meet then, too.

Onwards!

Got this awesome email from Sabeena yesterday detailing what happened at last meeting, and the plan for the next one:

Hello and hope you are well!

First, THANK YOU to all who were able to attend our meeting this past Saturday! We were successful in reviewing our garden plan and choosing a group name the key terms of our mission statement. At the end of the meeting, we were able to go outside and view the lots from behind and take photos.

We are now the Health and Wealth Garden Group and will use our park and garden to Rejuvenate, Revitalize, and Educate.

Thanks to Dian, we have almost 300 individual signatures! Next, we need endorsements from local businesses and community groups!

The endorsement letter template attached in English and in Spanish. Please visit to local businesses (Bodegas, churches, childcare centers, stores), give them a quick overview of our garden plans and ask them to fill out the letter and bring it to our next meeting.

Our next meeting is at 1pm on Saturday May 6, 2017 at 1314 Nelson Avenue in the Community Room!

We will:
Look at and discuss the incredible garden and park plans (still finalizing the sketches, update to come!)
Organize our endorsements
Finalize our name and mission
Plan our presentation for the community board and Green Thumb.
(Also, there will be snacks! 🍿🍪🍶)

The flyer for the meeting is attached. Please print one out and post it in your building! Tell your neighbors and friends! If you have questions or cannot attend but have endorsements or want your comments shared at the meeting, please contact:

Dian: (929) 575-3438
Sabeena: (914) 263-2454
Email: dian.organizeCflot@gmail.com
Website: www.livinglotsnyc.org/lot/59053/

Thanks and see you on May 6th!

Sabeena 🌱🐔🌻

Meeting to plan the park and garden This Saturday, April 22 (EARTH DAY!) at 1pm, 1314 Nelson Ave, Bronx. See you there!

Dian Hawkins NEW CONTACT information:

Cell: 347 567 8896
929 350 2961
email: dian.organizeCflot@gmail.com

Dian Hawkins NEW CONTACT information:

Cell: 347 567 8896
929 350 2961
email: dian.organizeCflot@gmail.com

Dian Hawkins NEW CONTACT information:

Cell: 347 567 8896
929 350 2961
email: dian.organizeCflot@gmail.com

Join community members for a Corporal Fischer visioning meeting on Saturday, March 18th at 1pm at 1275 Nelson Ave! We will be going over ideas for a community garden and active park, including survey feedback and preliminary designs.

Since two of these warehoused public lots are already in Parks inventory, the City would need to alienate them first if it wants to develop anything other than open space on them.

What is alienation?

In order to convey parkland to a nonpublic entity, or to use parkland for another purpose, a municipality must receive prior authorization from the State in the form of legislation enacted by the New York State Legislature and approved by the Governor. “Once land has been dedicated to use as a park, it cannot be diverted for uses other than recreation, in whole or in part, temporarily or permanently, even for another public purpose, without legislative approval.” United States v. City of New York, 96 F.Supp.2d 195, 202 (E.D.N.Y. 2000). This clear law has been applied consistently since 1871.

The question is: what is parkland?

The term “dedicated” is often used in referring to municipal parkland subject to State alienation requirements. Common phrases include “lands dedicated for park purposes” and “dedicated parklands.” The dedication of parkland may be formal through an official act by the governing body of the municipality.

Dedication can also be implied. This may occur through actions which demonstrate that the government considers the land to be parkland or the public used it as a park. Examples include: a municipality publicly announcing its intention to purchase the lands specifically for use as a park, “master planning” for recreational purposes, budgeting for park purposes, or “mapping” lands as parkland. Kenny v. Board of Trustees of Village of Garden City, 735 N.Y.S.2d 606, 607 (App. Div. 2nd 2001)(property acquired for recreational purposes and used for recreation was instilled with public trust even though never officially dedicated).

Here is testimony about this lot from the Dec 1 City Council Committee on Parks and Recreation Hearing on Parks Department Properties Currently Inaccessible to the Public!

Dian's: http://livinglotsnyc.org/media/files/Dian_Hawkins_Inaccessible_Parks_Properties_Testimony_Dec_1_2016.pdf
Sabeena's: http://livinglotsnyc.org/media/files/Sabeena_Prescod_Inaccessible_Parks_Properties_Testimony_Dec_1_2016.pdf
Sharon's: http://livinglotsnyc.org/media/files/Sharon_Griffin_Inaccessible_Parks_Properties_Testimony_Dec_1_2016.pdf
Steven's: http://livinglotsnyc.org/media/files/Steven_Jackson_Inaccessible_Parks_Properties_Testimony_Dec_1_2016.pdf
Alix's: http://livinglotsnyc.org/media/files/Testimony_for_Inaccessible_Parks_Hearing_120416.pdf

Here's the blog post on the hearing on 596 Acres' website: 596acres.org/inaccessible-parks-properties/#cpl-fischer-park

The video of the hearing is posted here: http://legistar.council.nyc.gov/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=516682&GUID=1AE07C53-11EC-4BAD-8A8E-BEC0FDA88B9B&Search=

Here are the time marks where everyone goes on: Dian Hawkins (02:07:23), Sabeena Prescod (02:11:40), Sharon Griffin (written only), Steven Jackson (written only), and Alix Fellman of the Women’s Housing and Economic Development Corporation (03:15:56)

Neighbors interested in the future of this land are meeting next Wednesday, November 30 at 2pm at New Friendly Daycare, 2178 Nelson Ave in the Bronx to plan! We will prepare to testify at the City Council Oversight Hearing called "An Examination of Parks Department Properties Currently Inaccessible to the Public." Organizers working to gain access to parkland in other NYC neighborhoods are invited to join at 3pm to prepare testimony together. The hearing is on the next day: Thursday, December 1, 1pm at City Hall.

Neighbors interested in the future of this land are meeting next Wednesday, November 30 at 2pm at New Friendly Daycare, 2178 Nelson Ave in the Bronx to plan! We will prepare to testify at the City Council Oversight Hearing called "An Examination of Parks Department Properties Currently Inaccessible to the Public." Organizers working to gain access to parkland in other NYC neighborhoods are invited to join at 3pm to prepare testimony together. The hearing is on the next day: Thursday, December 1, 1pm at City Hall.

Tell City Council about the NYC Parks Property You Are Organizing at a Hearing on December 1 at the Oversight Hearing called "An Examination of Parks Department Properties Currently Inaccessible to the Public." It will be at 1pm at City Hall.

Email organizers@596acres to let us know you are coming and if you want help preparing your testimony!

Tell City Council about the NYC Parks Property You Are Organizing at a Hearing on December 1 at the Oversight Hearing called "An Examination of Parks Department Properties Currently Inaccessible to the Public." It will be at 1pm at City Hall.

Email organizers@596acres to let us know you are coming and if you want help preparing your testimony!

hay Alex, thanks for the update

The Draft Scope of Work for the Jerome Avenue Rezoning includes the following great changes for these lots:

"To facilitate the development of Corporal Fischer ParkCity:

1. Map Block2520, Lot19 as parkland. This city-owned parcel is located one block outside
   of the rezoning area and is bounded by West 170th Street, Nelson Avenue, Shakespeare Avenue, and Corporal Fischer Place in the Highbridge neighborhood of the Bronx, Community District 4.




2. Demap Corporal Fischer Place (street) between Nelson Avenue and Shakespeare Avenue, which is adjacent to the parcel to be mapped as park land as described above (Block 2520, Lot 19), and map it as parkland."

See https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/planning/download/pdf/applicants/env-review/jerome-avenue/draft-scope-of-work.pdf (page 23).

This proposed City action demonstrates a commitment to re-opening the Park, to eliminating the possibility of buildings on these lots and to developing the space for the community. It is a bit confusing because lot 19 is already zoned as Parkland (see http://www.oasisnyc.net/map.aspx?etabs=1&zoomto=lot:2025200019) so the extra map designation will not make a big difference, but demapping the street to extend the Park area WILL.

If you would like to support or ask questions, go the the hearing next Thursday, 9/29, 4pm at Bronx Community College.

Hi Dian! It's Alix from WHEDco! Just wanted you all to know that the draft EIS scope for the Jerome Avenue rezoning includes de-mapping Corporal Fischer Place (I think this is the "lot next door") and mapping Corporal Fischer Park as parkland. Not sure what this means if Parks already owns it? DCP hearing on the EIS scope is next Thurs, 9/29, 4pm at Bronx Community College - good opportunity to talk about this park! I'm happy to talk more: afellman@whedco.org or 718-839-1173

still in pursuit of both lots! ORGANIZING!!

CPL fischer park was meant to honor cpl Irwin A Fischer, a new yorker who served in the army air corps during world war two, and flew in locations including Iwo Jima Saipan.

Parks Dept had owned the lot for about six years and kept it locked up because its undeveloped..
There are no renovation currently scheduled..

looking for motivated residents in Highbridge community to join in organizing an organic community garden to plant beautiful flowers, vegetables and herbs to beautify the community and preserved green open space as the commnity is in the phase of rezoning.

time is running out, so lets get on board NOW

NYC Parks Dept records indicate that this lot is "part of" CPL Fischer Park, on the other side of the tax lot. That Park is also closed to the public.

Thanks for your reply, no there hasnt been a change i just have to tackle one project at a time. I joined partnership for parks and we had our monthly meeting with wendy. i discused my interest with her about the lot and gave her information on i gathered at the march 19th conference from 596 acres. im also trying to get other resident in the area involved.

thanks so much for all the important information you have given me so far

Dian Hawkins
my other contact number is 347 610 8774=20

I just brought this opportunity to the attention of Wendy Gallegos | District Director, Office of Council Member Vanessa L. Gibson via email at WGallegos@council.nyc.gov.

I just brought this opportunity to the attention of Wendy Gallegos | District Director, Office of Council Member Vanessa L. Gibson via email at WGallegos@council.nyc.gov.

THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE A PARK!

http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20141208/high-bridge/bronxites-angered-over-locked-fenced-off-park-land

If you're a part of the group of residents and/or the community board trying to push the Parks Department to clean it up, reach out to me at mary@596acres.org or call 718-316-6092 ext 3.