Pols Pledge $1.3 Million for Fort Greene Park Entrance
At last night’s fundraiser atop the Forte , the Fort Greene Park Conservancy announced that it had just secured $1.3 million in funding for the restoration of the park entrance at Myrtle and Washington Park. Most of the money cam from two of the politicians who were present at the event: Marty Markowitz and Tish…
At last night’s fundraiser atop the Forte , the Fort Greene Park Conservancy announced that it had just secured $1.3 million in funding for the restoration of the park entrance at Myrtle and Washington Park. Most of the money cam from two of the politicians who were present at the event: Marty Markowitz and Tish James. Both are kicking in $500,000 and the city is expected to put up another $300,000. As good news as this is, there’s still a long way to go: we were told last night that the park needs a total of about $30 million in work over the next few years. One of the first projects—which should be quite popular—is the resurfacing and repair of the park’s tennis courts; we believe this is planned for early next spring. (Party photo on the jump. Plus, we’ll have some photos of the twilight views from the Forte roof up later tomorrow.)
I just wonder why the renovations of the monument are taking forever, I never see anyone doing any work there. The best part of the park has been closed off for over a year. Who cares about bronze eagles when you’re losing green space?
These funds are for capital improvements, that is, improvements that last for more than one year. These funds aren’t used for temporary fencing, upkeep, operation, etc. They are for drainage improvements, improving access (ADA accessibility), landscaping, and so on. The corner at Myrtle/Washington is in a very bad state, the Belgian blocks are in horrible shape. This entrance, along with the Willoughby/Wash Park entrance need lots of attention.
Letitia James rules!! she fights for the people of brooklyn. get a clue dude.
Ohhhh, now I see where that exorbitant rent money Tish James charged us has gone to!
10% increases year over year surely do payoff!!!! I guess she’s trying to repair her damaged reputation and ineffective Atlantic Yards political stumblings. Don’t be fooled by this false quest…
Marine park is in brooklyn. It is on the other end of the borough and not in a brownstone neighborhood. Marine park is not kept up as nice as central or prospect park, but what other park in the city is 🙁
LOL 1:39! I think Marine Park is on Parris Island. But seriously….
I concur with 1:32. The original money for the work on the monument and plaza was in the 1999 budget! People should also remember that the parks department takes 30 percent off the top for design, construction supervision and contingency. That leaves a $910,000 for actual construction, which is not a whole lot as 10:18 points out (twice).
It’s nice to see what looks like a strong turn-out for the conservancy benefit. I wonder how much was raised. I also wonder whether people in Fort Greene are ready to philanthropically support the restoration of the park in the same way (but perhaps not quite the same degree) as Park Slope residents support Prospect Park. All these half-million dollar studio apartments and multi-million dollar townhouses–is there enough wealth here now to really restore Fort Greene Park?
I think the park looks a million times better than it did ten years ago, when the grass was routinely knee-high in the summer. Our park group (Fort Greene PUPS) has been waiting for three-plus years to have the dog fountain we raised funds for installed in the park. So I would say don’t hold your breath on anything having to do with the Parks Dept.
where is marine park?
I actually miss the days of the old S. Oxford Tennis Club. No stupid $100 Parks ID to get access…
sg.