BY JESSICA PARKS
A pair of popular Bay Ridge
parks will see a wave of investment
in the upcoming budget
year with more than $9 million
allocated to revamp the
area greenspaces that have
seen decades of neglect.
“Many of our local playgrounds
haven’t been updated
in 30 years,” said Councilman
Justin Brannan, who helped
allocate the funding.
This year’s budget includes
$5.4 million for a redesign
of Russell Pedersen Playground
near Fort Hamilton
High School, and another $4
million for the construction
of four new basketball courts
and bleachers at nearby Owl’s
Head Park, the freshman
councilman announced.
This is the second consecutive
year Brannan has helped secure
YOUR PARTNER IN THE
STRUGGLE FOR JUSTICE
BEST ATTORNEY AND
BEST PERSONAL INJURY LAWYER
JOHN J. CIAFONE ESQ.
THANK YOU!
COURIER L 16 IFE, OCT. 30-NOV. 5, 2020
funds to revamp his hometown
greenspaces — a feat more
important than ever, he said, as
local parks serve as an outlet for
cooped-up Brooklynites during
the ongoing pandemic, and city
agencies like the Parks Department
face severe budget cuts.
“As a kid growing up in an
apartment building, the park
was my backyard. I spent so
much time in Shore Road Park
as a kid, I probably should have
started paying rent,” the councilman
said. “And now, with
our parks and playgrounds
more popular than ever before,
I’ve made it my business
to make sure that all of these
precious open greenspaces
and play areas fi nally get the
love and attention they so desperately
need and deserve.”
The head of the Brooklyn
bureau of the city’s Parks Department
Owl’s Head Park is one of two Bay Ridge greenspaces due for a makeover with funds in the upcoming city
budget. NYC Parks Department
also lauded the good
news, and boasted the heightened
importance of funding
for local greenspaces.
“Despite these unprecedented
times, we remain as
committed as ever to bring
world-class parks and amenities
to Brooklyn,” Brooklyn
Parks Commissioner Marty
Maher told Brooklyn Paper,
adding that, thanks to local
elected offi cials, community
members and the agency’s capital
team, Parks has completed
projects “from Brownsville to
Canarsie” in recent months —
with several notable renovations
entering the fi nal stages
of the capital process.
“We have also re-imagined
our community outreach as a
part of the capital design process
and recently launched online
community input sessions
— responsive to the need for
social distancing during the
current COVID-19 pandemic,”
Maher said, noting that recent
virtual community input sessions
for parks in Brannan’s
district helped compile crucial
feedback.
On Oct. 8, locals weighed in
on the redesign of Owl’s Head
Park, John J. Carty Park and
Vinland Playground — all
of which will see a collective
$13.5 million poured int them
as part of last year’s budget negotiation.
Parks will work with community
boards to review and
fi nalize designs over the next
year, Maher said.
Going green
Bay Ridge parks see wave
of investment for second
consecutive year
203 Meserole Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11222
718-278-3900
johnjciafone@yahoo.com
NYS
Certified
EMT/EMS
BEST ATTORNEY
WINNER 4 YEARS IN A ROW!
BEST PERSONAL INJURY LAWYER
WINNER 3 YEARS IN A ROW!
ANTIQUES AND ESTATE BUYERS
516-974-6528
ASK FOR CHRISTOPHER
ANTIQUE & ESTATE BUYERS
We buy anything old. One piece or house full.
WILLW TRILALV TERLA. VWEEL M. HAOKUE SHEO UCSAEL LCSA.LLS.
37W 47TH ST, NYC
HOUSE
CALLS
FREE
Estimate
YERS
MILITARY
Collections Wanted
Swords, Knives,
Helmets, etc.
www.AntiqueAndEstateBuyers.com
Q
/www.AntiqueAndEstateBuyers.com
/www.AntiqueAndEstateBuyers.com
link
link