Earlier this week we received some information about a controversy brewing in Williamsburg concerning the proposed addition of BBQ Pits in East Williamsburg’s Cooper Park. The Boy Scouts planned to install 10 BBQ pits and benches this Saturday at the park, near the corner of Maspeth and Morgan avenues, as park of a major renovation the park is in the midst of. Brooklyn Paper noted this morning the pits came after “more than 80 residents including many tenants at a public housing development one block from Cooper Park lobbied city officials last year to include a barbecue pit in the renovation plan.” But a tipster told us some local residents were “vehemently opposed” to the installation, given the small footprint of the park already, the possibility of losing the only undisturbed green space there, and concerns of extra foot traffic and refuse. Residents planned to demonstrate against the installation this Saturday in what was described as “Residents vs. the Boy Scouts.” At last night’s CB1 meeting, Stephanie Thayer of the Open Space Alliance addressed the issue. She said the volunteer event on Saturday has been postponed, although the BBQ pits are still coming in. She said OSA reached out to residents and wants to continue the discussion, ultimately “moving forward with the BBQ pits and making it the best possible situation for everyone.” A concerned resident later spoke at the meeting and said she was not aware of any outreach through OSA. Anyone else involved in the matter care to chime in?
Photo by chicapoquita


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