Whole Lot Of Kids Learning To Ride Bikes In Carroll Park

Jose Rivas and Kathleen Henderson of NYC Parks And Recreation

Perhaps you walked through Carroll Park on Saturday morning at about 10 Am and saw a whole lot of kids on bikes in the ball field. They were taking part in a free "Learn To Ride" event sponsored bt the NYC Parks And Recreation department. The program teaches" fundamentals of bicycling, preparing riders for years of safe and confident riding."  (Adults are also welcome.)
What a great idea. If you missed this session, don't worry. The Parks Department has scheduled others throughout the city this the summer. For more information, click here.

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News Of Carroll Park Piazza Greatly Exaggerated

Contrary to what was reported by the Brooklyn Paper, Carroll Gardens resident and National Public Radio's Studio 360 host Kurt Anderson is not envisioning a permanent
change or displacement of the ball courts in Carroll Park. Instead, he would like to bring even more vitality to our neighborhood oasis by helping to organize a few summer events that will allow everyone in the community to come together for a few themed evenings during the summer.

In order to make that happen, he has reached out to Councilman Brad Lander who set up a meeting with the Friends of Carroll Park, a long standing park volunteer organization, to discuss the idea.

The meeting was attended by Mr. Anderson and his wife Anne Kreamer, Councilman Lander and four officers of the Friends group. (For full disclosure, as the co-secretary of the group, I was in attendance.)

After the meeting, the Friends of Carroll Park issued this statement:

"On Thursday, February 10th, at the request of Councilman Brad Lander, several officers of the Friends of Carroll Park/Committee to Improve Carroll Park, met with long time Carroll Gardens residents Kurt Andersen and Anne Kreamer so that they could present an idea to contribute to the vitality of Carroll Park. They had been inspired by a wonderful piazza they enjoyed during their travels and hoped that some elements might be introduced here. Since our park is already a piazza , we discussed ideas which might enhance the "piazza" atmosphere of the park. Everyone felt that the idea was worthy of consideration, as long as it did not interfere with the existing park uses.

At this point, we are exploring the idea of "Friday Evenings in Carroll Park" around the monument, perhaps with some cafe tables and chairs, a food or drink vendor, lights, and some entertainment. The committee has organized such activities many times in the twenty years we have volunteered at Carroll Park. We want to assure the community that no plans have been made and that discussions will continue with community notification and input. As a result of this discussion, we contacted the Parks department regarding the rumor we had heard about a food vendor awarded a contract to serve Carroll Park. We have confirmed that a contract had been signed several months ago and we may see a food cart in or around Carroll Park in the near future. The committee had nothing to do with this, we just wanted to know if it was true as it should be considered in our discussion. We will want to be sure that a vendor will only add to and not detract from our wonderful park.

We have always welcomed ideas from many sources and will continue to do so. Please join us for our monthly meetings which begin again in March - The first Thursday of each month in the park house at 7:30. The more ideas and help we have, the better Carroll Park becomes for all of us. You can also contact us at: friendsofcarrollpark@yahoo.com"

Calexico Comes To Carroll Park

The Friends Of Carroll Park have confirmed with the Park's Department that Calexico has been awarded a five year contract for food services at Carroll Park.

The three Vendley Brothers behind Calexico, who operate a restaurant at 122 Union Street as well as in Greenpoint, already hold a concession contract for Brooklyn Bridge Park. They also operate a food truck in Soho.

I am not sure how I feel about that myself. The decision was made independently of the community by the Parks Department, but we certainly should be involved in making sure that the food cart does not interfere in everyone's fun in Carroll Park.

photo credit: Complex City Guide

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Retiring Brooklyn Park's Commissioner Julius Spiegel Wants To Be Remembered For His Looks

Last night at Parks & Recreation Brooklyn Borough 

Commissioner Julius Spiegel's Retirement Party 

Brooklyn Park's Chief Of Staff Marty Maher

New York City Park's Department Commissioner Adrian Benepe

Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz

The man of the hour, Julius Spiegel

The Friends Of Carroll Park

More Friends Of carroll Park

What a send-off into retirement!  Last night's farewell party for Parks & Recreation Brooklyn Borough Commissioner Julius Spiegel was held under a giant tent at Dumbo's Tobacco Factory and was a fitting tribute to a wonderful public servant.

After 37 years, the man in charge of  every Brooklyn Park and playground from Coney Island to the Heights, is stepping down. In a deserving tribute, Spiegel received citations from Borough President Markowitz, from the NY City Council and from the New York State Assembly. 

But the speeches of his colleagues in the Parks Department were the most moving.  Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe called him a true "mensch" and Gordon Davis, the man who created the role of Borough Commissioner in the early 1980 and had hired Spiegel for the Brooklyn position, expressed his affection and admiration for him in a funny, moving speech.

Towards the end of the evening, Julius Spiegel, in a cowboy shirt, addressed the audience and thanked his colleagues.  He revealed that he was stepping down because he could not remember the f---ing passwords and that he intended to finally make time for a mid-life crisis and will grow a ponytail and get an earing.  A very humorous speech by a clever man.

I was at the event with the Friends of Carroll Park, the great group of volunteers who helps maintain our neighborhood park by taking care of the planting areas and by organizing concerts, flea markets and clean-ups.  Some of the volunteers have been part of the group for more than 22 years now, almost as long as Julius Spiegel has been Borough Commissioner.

Julius will be missed by our group.

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Starting Monday, Curb Your Christmas Tree...For Composting

People, people! No need to dump your 2009 Christmas tree in such inappropriate places... like the Carroll Street Bridge over the Gowanus Canal. (That area has seen enough dumping over the last century.)
The New York City Sanitation Department will pick it up right from the curb in front of your house starting on Monday, January 4th, 2010 through Friday, January 15th.

From the NYC Sanitation Dept website:



Residents should remove all tree stands, tinsel, lights, and ornaments
from holiday trees before they are put out at curbside for removal.
Trees must not be placed into plastic bags. Clean, non-bagged Christmas
trees that are left at the curb between Monday, January 4th and Friday,
January 15th will be collected, chipped, and made into compost. The
compost will be processed and subsequently spread upon parks, ball
fields, and community gardens throughout the city.

In January 2009, the Department collected 122,235 discarded Christmas trees.

"The Department is very pleased to offer this special recycling
service. Providing collection and recycling options for residents is
environmentally valuable and benefits our neighborhoods. Working in
conjunction with the City's Parks & Recreation Department allows
residents to take part in the recycling process and permits them to even
reuse their composted Christmas trees to fertilize for the
spring. Compost is a natural fertilizer and is an excellent soil
enrichment that promotes the healthy growth of plants and grass," said
Commissioner Doherty.

For more information on Christmas tree collection and recycling and/or
Mulchfest 2010, visit www.nyc.gov/sanitation
<http://www.nyc.gov/sanitation> or www.nyc.gov/parks
<http://www.nyc.gov/parks> or call 311.

In addition, the NYC Park's Department will be hosting its yearly Mulchfest on Saturday and Sunday, January 9&10.



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Start The New Year "Green"; Recycle Your Xmas Tree

All right! So Christmas is over and your tree is starting to lose its needles. When you are ready to toss it out of your living room, you may want to recycle it at the Park Department's Mulch Fest. More info below.

TreeCycle! Take your tree to Mulchfest 2010!

Saturday & Sunday, Jan 9 & 10, 10am to 2pm

What's Mulchfest? Well, each January, Parks Department hosts a two-day event to chip Christmas trees around NYC. The event involves designated drop-off and chipping sites where people bring trees to be chipped and turned into mulch. Please remove lights and decorations!

Chipping Sites:
*Cobble Hill Park, Clinton St. & Verandah Pl.
*Prospect Park, Prospect Park West & 3rd St.

Drop-off Locations:
*Coffey Park, Dwight St. & Verona Pl.
*Red Hook Farm/Added Value, Columbia & Halleck Sts.

Mulch is available at chipping sites and at most drop-off locations.



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They Are Back!!!! Rats Invade Carroll Park... Again!

photo credit: Suzanne DeChillo/ The New York Times
on "The First (And Hopefully Last) rat Festival" In Carroll Park 2005

You know you have an infestation, when you see rats running around in the middle of the day. Unfortunately, that is exactly what is happening in Carroll Park right now. The Park workers are reporting that rodents have been sighted not only in the flowerbeds and in the open areas, but droppings were also found in the park house. This is not the first time that our park has been over-run by rats.

Back in the summer and fall of 2005, the Committee To Improve Carroll Park, of which I am a member, notified the Parks Department that we had a real rodent problem.

Though the department tried hard to bait and get the problem under control, it was apparent to the Committee, that an inter-departmental effort was needed. (After all, the subway runs under the Smith Street side of the park) However, trying to get the other agencies, like the Sanitation Department and the MTA, to co-operate was hard.
In an effort to draw attention to the problem, the C.I.C.P. organized a "First (and hopefully last) Rat Festival" on the same day other parks around the city were hosting their official "It's My Park Day!" The event included relay rat races, the adopt-a rat program, eatable gummy rats were handed out as prizes and a giant inflatable rat, generously lent by a labor union, stood guard in front of the Park House.)

On First (And Hopefully Last) Rat Festival day, Carroll Park 2005

That got results! The event's press coverage got the city administration's attention and the necessary help to combat the rats. The problem seemed under control, until now that is..

C.I.C.P. is determined to attack the problem head-on and not to wait till it 'multiplies.' The committee is reaching out to the Park's Department, will hang up fliers informing the general public, as well as encouraging people to clean up after themselves and asking them to refrain from feeding birds and squirrels.

But we all need to help!

***If you have seen rats in other parts of the neighborhood, please leave a comment. It will help the city to bait more efficiently.***

Related Reading:
http://newyork.timeout.com/articles/i-new-york/862/trash-talk

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A Day Of Fun, Art And Games In Carroll Park

The fun started early on Tuesday in the ball field in Carroll Park



There were board games


and ball games,


and little duckies to fish out of the water
(and maybe win a prize).

To make a scary or funny mask?
How difficult it was to choose.


Little tiny fingers were busy stringing shiny beads


Or if one wanted,
one could just have fun doing one's own thing.

The New York City Parks Department organized a day of fun for the children in Carroll Park yesterday. Judging by the number of kids who showed up with their parents or caregivers, it
was a much welcomed event before the start of school next week.
As always, Kathleen, our very own Parks Recreations person was on hand, to help coordinate some of the games and prizes.
Later in the day, a clown was to appear, but this blogger could unfortunately not stick around to take more photos.

Judging by the many smiling faces, the day was a big success.



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