On March 19th, the city will close the Track and Field at McCarren Park for a year. The field and quarter-mile running track on Lorimer Street between Driggs and Bayard will be getting a facelift thanks to a 4 million dollar overhaul funded by the mayor’s office. During the year-long closure, the parks department will lay new turf, and a new rubber track, at the complex.Additionally, the department will install new bleachers, planters and fitness equipment around the track. The rest of the park will remain open while the track and field overhaul is in progress. Continue reading →
Old London Plane Trees hang over GPL Property Photo Credit: Darren Lipman
In recent weeks, some of you may have spotted the mutilation of 5 trees bordering the northern edge of Barge Park. These trees, identified as 75 yr old London Plane Trees, have been around longer than most of us and recently met their untimely death at the hands of our new neighbor Greenpoint Landing, and the Parks Department.
How they were chopped down and how much money Greenpoint will be getting out of the deal is rather murky indeed.
Let’s just say, in NYC money really does grow on trees. Continue reading →
I can’t tell you how many readers were writing in, “What is happening at McCarren Park? When will it reopen?” I wish I had the Mayor on speed dial! What happened is that over the winter they spent about a million bucks to fix the drainage issues and repave the paths that were becoming “hipster lakes” during rain storms. And they kept their promise to reopen by Spring. The lawn is freshly cut, there are new park benches and the roses are in bloom. So now go play in the park!
Don’t trash your tree, abandon it at McCarren Park, where it will be slaughtered in a chipper in the spirit of Christmas!
Mulchfest takes place Sat. & Sun. January 12-13th from 10am-2pm, in McCarren Park (Driggs Ave & Lorimer St) where they will chip your tree and give you a free bag of mulch!
Or you can drop if off from Wed. 1/19 – Sun. 1/13 at McGolrick Park (Driggs Ave & Monitor St) or McCarren Park (Driggs Ave & Lorimer St)
Even easier, just abandon your tree curbside for sanitation to pick-up anytime until Sat. 1/12 to be chipped and mulched.
Watch our short video below for a great way to get your tree out the door window without making a huge mess!
Why mulch? According to the city, “all of the trees will be chipped into mulch that will be used as ground cover to nourish plantings across the City.”
Remember: remove tree stands, tinsel, lights, and ornaments from trees before dropping them off or placing them out for collection. DO NOT PLACE TREES IN PLASTIC BAGS.
Two years and 12 million dollars later, Greenpoint’s Transmitter Park is set to open this Saturday. The 1.6 acre park will feature an open lawn, play area, bird garden and new pier. The pier, however, will not be finished for several months. According the to the NY Post, the existing building in the park will eventually be outfitted with public restrooms and a café. Soak up the rays while you still can – Labor Day is only 2 weeks away!
How will you use the new waterfront space? Picnics? Sunbathing? Birding?
Here on “this side” of Greenpoint, we are very proud of our park that goes by the name of Winthrop or McGolrick depending on what century you moved or were born here. While we can’t agree on the name, we all love this hidden gem of a public park. The McGolrick Park School Alliance has recently formed in order to get surrounding schools (P.S. 110, St. Stan’s & P.S. 34) to collaborate in clean-up and beautification of our park, starting March 2012 through November 2012. There are some really cool events planned including a grass-seeding, tree planting, an art show, nature workshops led by the Hall of Science, a craft/painting day and a compost project. Count me in! The group needs funding in order to accomplish these goals, which will make the park better for ALL to enjoy. The alliance needs a little over $2000 to make it all happen. You can donate to this project here. Even $1 helps, so fork it over!
It’s a bitch out there, so cool off at the McCarren Park pool, which opens today, for $free dollars.
