What happened to Gateway National Recreation Area?
That’s what we’d like to know. But good luck trying to get an update, or even a morsel of information on anything.
And we’re a news organization.
One cyber stroll to their antiquated website—nothing works and it obviously hasn’t been updated in what appears to be years—and you’ll quickly realize that the poorly managed public-information portal only reflects the poorly managed park.
Tuck The Forum under your arm as we walk down Memory Lane…
In August of 2008, we chronicled the dilapidated conditions of crumbling Frank Charles Memorial Park. A PR flack blamed the decline of the park on a “reduction in overall staffing that is a result of Gateway’s eroding budget situation…”
In the fall of 2008, the beach at the foot of the Joseph P. Addabbo Bridge, the beach that runs along majestic Jamaica Bay, was being used and abused by religious groups for ceremonies that left the open space littered with debris and, as area residents told this newspaper back then, the carcasses of sacrificed animals. Patti Reilly, at the time the acting superintendent for the Jamaica Bay section of the Gateway National Recreation Area, confirmed the discovery of dead animals and that such activities and dumping are illegal in Gateway.
In the spring of 2010, we revisited Charles Park and were floored by the conditions: “Tennis courts littered with fractured clamshells; broken concrete, faded lines and dangerously uneven surfaces make it near impossible for players to utilize the facility”; baseball fields “full of rocks and just plain dangerous.” To add insult to injury, money that had been allocated for repairs to the park could not be accounted for by Gateway, the National Parks Service or area elected officials.
Fast-forward a few years and there are three projects on the horizon for the recreation area: the Spring Creek Resiliency Project; Jamaica Bay restoration; and the beautification of the Gateway Preserve.
Two of the plans have already been met with some resistance by members of the community. The Spring Creek Resiliency Project involves removing unclean fill, replacing it with clean fill; and creating a berm, which is a type of flood fortification. But what will be the impact of the project—how will the fill get into and out of the site? Will the old fill be barged? How will the residents of 165th Avenue be affected?
As for the Gateway Preserve, the NPS is apparently is looking to beautify the space in order to eventually open it for public use. However, no one has provided the enforcement or sanitation parts of the plan. The area already is inundated with improper usage issues, with area residents complaining of alleged extreme religious rituals, foul odors and animal carcasses. If some smaller areas cannot be properly maintained, how will the expansive preserve be taken care of if the general public is granted full access?
If you’re concerned about the future of Gateway National Recreation Area and its affect on the community, come down to the next meeting of the Howard Beach-Lindenwood Civic on Tuesday, Oct. 28 at 7:30 p.m. at PS 207, which is located at 159-15 88th St. Representatives from Gateway and the NPS will be there.
Maybe we’ll get some information.
