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March 17, 2008
Extreme Makeover Planned for J.J. Byrne Park
While Slopers wait for the Boymelbucks revamp of Terrapin Playground (the section of J.J. Byrne Park behind the Novo) to come to fruition, much bigger plans are on the drawing board for the entire park. Councilmembers David Yassky and Bill de Blasio and the Borough President's office have scared up millions in funding to transform a large chunk of the western section of J.J. Byrne into a wide-open synthetic field, according to Kim Maier, the executive director of the Old Stone House. "The area is now covered in asphalt, and it'll be a significant community asset in terms of open space," says Maier. A groundbreaking for the Parks Dept.-helmed project is scheduled to occur in May, and it's supposed to be timed to coincide with a ribbon cutting for the new Terrapin Playground, according to Maier. That part of the park will have eight new handball courts, a new dog run, two new basketball courts, and a walking oval with four low skateboarding ramps. At the same time, community listening sessions are now being held to discuss the future of the eastern side of the park, which stretches from 5th Avenue to the Old Stone House. Maier says that nascent ideas for that section revolve around making it a more useful public space. At present it's heavily used by parents, kids, and middle schoolers. Finally, as the Brooklyn Paper reported last week, there's a strong push right now to rename J.J. Byrne "Washington Park," its original moniker. GMAP
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Comments
Sounds good.
Hope the community is better at convincing the City not to use the synthetic/rubber stuff for their fields. We weren't in Brooklyn Heights (and were told by City and Brownstoner commenters that it's "better than what is there now"). Now they find it is indeed cancer causing and people don't love the smell of burning rubber tires all summer. I hear they won't be using it again, but who knows.
Posted by: guest at March 17, 2008 10:48 AM
Terrapin Playground link is wrong.
Posted by: guest at March 17, 2008 11:28 AM
Well, first of all let me say that this is one reason I love Brownstoner. I use that park all the time, and news like this is absolutely fascinating and not easy to find.
Second, I'm so glad that they are redoing that section of the park (though I doubt the softball teams will be too pumped about losing their admittedly asphalt paved and sloping field). The skate park will be totally cool - I'm even thinking of taking up skateboarding even though I'm in my 40s.....
As for the turf issue, I must say that much as I dislike anything artificial, if you have seen the problems they have keeping grass growing in the area in front of the Old Stone House, I don't think there's any other choice. It would be too bad to have that huge place turn into a mudfield for three quarters of the year.
Posted by: slopenick at March 17, 2008 11:28 AM
that was the arguement for Cadman Plaza. "better than a dustbowl". But of course artificial grass has been used for ages and is fine. It's the new and improved kind that is crap.
Posted by: guest at March 17, 2008 11:43 AM
They should just paint it green like they did in DUMBO.
Posted by: guest at March 17, 2008 11:48 AM
I don't understand why there is interest in redesigning the part of the park that is best used. According to the article, "At present it's heavily used by parents, kids, and middle schoolers." Why is that not a "useful public space"? If they want somewhere more conducive to quiet reflection, why not include that in the design of the newer parts of the park? Why is there an attempt to fix what is not broken?
Posted by: guest at March 17, 2008 11:54 AM
Must be stopped. Fourth Avenue needs to be kept sleazy as a gentrification firewall.
Posted by: guest at March 17, 2008 11:54 AM
If they change the name from JJ Byrne, I'm movin' to Carroll Frickin' Gardens!
Posted by: guest at March 17, 2008 12:57 PM
the name of the playground has already been changed... a genius graffiti artist added a "VA" before the J.J. on one of the signs...
Posted by: guest at March 17, 2008 12:58 PM
What does "Boymelgreen Section" mean on the map?
Posted by: zinka at March 17, 2008 1:03 PM
Regardless of the formal name, it's still "fifty-ones playground." Calling it JJ Byrne is like calling Sixth Avenue the Avenue of the Americas. It marks you as a tourist.
Posted by: Flatbushwhacker at March 17, 2008 2:00 PM
This is great news ... I posted a long time ago that Parks should develop that nasty asphalt section (almost a full city block large) behind Old Stone House. Can't wait ... and look, trees planted around the edge!!
In other news, don't mess with the east side of the park in front of Old Stone House or there will be trouble.
Posted by: guest at March 17, 2008 2:54 PM
Who knows what the color codes on the map mean?
I live nearby so I think:
Pink = handball courts
Tan = Basketball courts
What's going in the Yellow, Red and Purple zones?!?!
Posted by: guest at March 17, 2008 3:00 PM
The Yellow is a dog run for sure. And it's about time because this was promised to the dog owners over two years ago.
I think the dark purple may be a skate park, similar to the one in Bay Ridge.
Posted by: guest at March 17, 2008 4:11 PM
The layout of the east part of the park works fine, but it's in such crummy shape I avoid taking my daughter there. Half the swings are broken, the equipment is splintering, and the trash cans are always overflowing.
Three cheers for the Stone House though. They run a wonderful little venue.
Posted by: guest at March 17, 2008 4:31 PM
4:31 I think you're exaggerating a tad bit there. But whatever... one less kid there is more room for my brood!
Posted by: guest at March 17, 2008 6:48 PM
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