NYCkayaker NYC Water Trail / East River Access

[jkhunka at ix.netcom.com]

I'd recommend the following solution to the issue of access to the beaches under the Brooklyn Bridge and at 21st Street.  First, the City installs locked gates at those locations.  Then, the City could issue keys to individuals who apply for canoe/kayak permits through the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation.  I think this proposal is a simple and practical way to provide access to the river for kayakers that addresses the concerns about safety.  Food for thought.

-----Original Message-----
>From: Erik Baard <erikbaard at gmail.com>
>Sent: Dec 12, 2007 1:02 AM
>To: nyckayaker <nyckayaker at rockandwater.net>
>Subject: Re: NYCkayaker NYC Water Trail / East River Access
>
>(Note -- I sent a reply to John right away, but the list serv -- yes, using
>the term generically -- rejects baard.com, aol.com, and other domains. Argh.
>So I am re-sending it here and now, after a great delay.)
>
>Good afternoon,
>
>You have allies on both fronts, Stuyvesant Cove and the South Street Seaport
>Museum. Please also seriously consider joining Rob Buchanan in his quest to
>have the beach beneath the Brooklyn Bridge (Manhattan side) a NYC Water
>Trail launch.
>
>I have been prodding Solar1 and the EDC administrators of the land upon
>which it sits for years. Everyone points to others when asked about access.
>Instead, the LIC Community Boathouse has gently broken local authorites in
>by scheduling regular "don't ask-don't tell" (as Jerry Blackstone might
>note, we are QUEENS people, after all!) visits to Solar1 events. The
>temporary peace is that no one interferes with landing and launching, but
>storage...ah, the eternal Manhattan problem: real estate. If you could step
>forward to be the steady, resident-advocate, many people would be grateful.
>
>South Street Seaport is another tricky and slippery one. Our best allies
>there are with the Pioneer program, and my goal has been to arrange special
>kayak visits to start, from the LIC Community Boathouse. With the safety and
>desirability of paddling access proven by this limited, modest start, we can
>nurture fuller and fuller development of the SSSP's identity as a paddling
>destination. Ultimately, boat storage would be fantastic there too. But
>perhaps there's a place for a shipping container or two under the Brooklyn
>Bridge?
>
>Thanks for your interest. Speaking as the secretary of the Gowanus Dredgers
>Canoe Club, our organization looks for local pioneers to rally their
>communities behind launch points. If they succeed in gaining access (and we
>allow for a *bit* of gray), we're happy to aid the further development of
>boathouses with advice, insurance coverage, 501(c)3 fiscal conduit services,
>and even sometimes a bit of equipment purchases or loans.
>
>So, in short, link up with allies and PUSH!
>
>Best regards,
>
>Erik
>
>
>On Dec 11, 2007 11:10 PM, rob buchanan <robbuc at aol.com> wrote:
>
>> John,
>>
>> The area you're talking about, around South Street Seaport, does not
>> belong
>> to the Parks Department but to the Economic Development Corporation. They
>> are in the process of redeveloping it as public open space with $150
>> million
>> of federal funds; if you google up 'East River Waterfront Esplanade and
>> Piers Project' you'll find the details. The best potential launch site
>> along
>> that stretch is the beach under the Manhattan end of the Brooklyn Bridge
>> (photos at http://www.newyorkharborbeaches.org/beach13.htm ). I think the
>> team at the Parks Dept. that's putting togther the Water Trail (led by
>> Dorothy Lewandowski, the Queens Borough Commissioner) is interested in
>> listing the site as part of their network, but is waiting for the EDC to
>> settle on an access policy there (they've got the usual institutional
>> worries about 'dangerous' currents, liability, etc.) Some of us have been
>> prodding the waterfront committee of Community Board 1 about this, and
>> lately there have been some encouraging signs of support. You're in
>> community board 3; might be worth going to speak to their parks/waterfront
>> committee the next time they meet.
>>
>> I don't know  what's going on at Stuyvesant Cove but agree it's a logical
>> launch site, too. Anybody know of any efforts to push for access there?
>>
>>
>> Rob Buchanan
>>
>>
>> On 12/11/07 4:07 PM, "jkhunka at ix.netcom.com" <jkhunka at ix.netcom.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>> > I live in the East Village and would like to use my Klepper folding
>> kayak in
>> > the East River.  However, there is practically no access to the water on
>> the
>> > East Side of Manhattan.  Is anyone aware of plans or proposals to create
>> new
>> > launch sites on the East Side as part of the NYC Water Trail?  Perhaps
>> the NYC
>> > Parks Department should collaborate with the South Street Seaport Museum
>> to
>> > create a place to store and launch sea kayaks at the seaport.  Such an
>> > undertaking would be in line with the museum's mission.  In addition,
>> the
>> > Parks Department should investigate creating access to the river at
>> Stuyvesant
>> > Cove Park.  There is a storage shed behind Solar One at 23rd Street that
>> could
>> > be enlarged to create storage for kayaks, and there's a sliver of beach
>> at
>> > 21st Street that could be used as a launch site if a gate were installed
>> in
>> > the railing.
>> >
>> > John Hunka
>> > 248 E 2d St #8
>> > New York NY 10009
>> > **********************************************************************
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>> public
>> > service offered to the kayaking community by the Hudson River Watertrail
>> > Association. Learn more about HRWA at www.hrwa.org
>> >
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>>
>> **********************************************************************
>> The NYCKayaker mailing list is hosted by www.rockandwater.net, and is a
>> public service offered to the kayaking community by the Hudson River
>> Watertrail Association. Learn more about HRWA at www.hrwa.org
>>
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>**********************************************************************
>The NYCKayaker mailing list is hosted by www.rockandwater.net, and is a public service offered to the kayaking community by the Hudson River Watertrail Association. Learn more about HRWA at www.hrwa.org
>
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