NYCkayaker Parks & Recreation Plans to Create a NYC Water Trail—Volunteers Wanted

[Nancy Brous]

The following is a press release from the NYC Parks Department.
With this initiative, the Parks Department is expressing a commitment to
maintain, enhance, and expand human-powered boating in NYC.
The guide will be posted online to facilitate updates, and will be a free
service.
If you are interested in helping to collect information, survey conditions
at sites, photograph area launches, submit day-trip ideas, and/or write
narratives on the history, geology and points of interest along the trail,
please see the contact information at the end.
We will be getting started in the next few weeks and this project cannot
happen without the input from our vibrant local paddling community.  Please
spread the word!


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
www.nyc.gov/parks

PADDLING FROM PARK TO PARK
Parks & Recreation Plans to Create a NYC Water Trail—Volunteers Wanted

Before planes, trains and automobiles…it was boats that carried people from
one place to another by way of rivers, lakes and oceans.  New York City is
surrounded by such bodies of water, yet its shorelines have been largely
dominated by commerce and industry for centuries.  One of Mayor Michael R.
Bloomberg's highest priorities is to restore access to the City's
waterfronts and interpret the rich history of its shoreline.

"Throughout the city, parks along the shoreline are being built and
renovated to reconnect the public with the water—Baretto Point Park,
Brooklyn Bridge Park, Hudson River Park, Fort Totten Park and Fresh Kills
Park to name just a few," said Parks & Recreation Commissioner Adrian
Benepe.  "Among the amenities available at these parks, many have or plan to
have canoe and kayak launches.  To connect these sites and enhance the
users' experience and safety, I have asked our Queens Borough Commissioner,
Dorothy Lewandowski—a water sports enthusiast and an accomplished kayaker—to
spearhead the initiative to create a NYC Water Trail."

"As an avid kayaker, I am delighted that the opportunities for kayaking
right in my own backyard are expanding," said Queens Borough Park
Commissioner Dorothy Lewandowski.  "And am thrilled to be working to create
a comprehensive guide that will enable people to safely travel throughout
the City via its waterways and to thoroughly enjoy their day at sea."

The NYC Water Trail will provide information on safe and legal access to the
waters surrounding all five boroughs of New York City.  The project will
identify park launch sites, as well as connect those to non-park launch
sites. The guide will also provide recreational, educational and scenic
opportunities on each leg of the trail.

This spring and summer, Parks will be collecting information, surveying
conditions, photographing, and writing narratives. There are currently 18
existing public canoe and kayak launch sites on parkland with an additional
11 sites in planning and nearly 20 identified as potential sites.  Borough
Commissioner Lewandowski plans to travel each leg, along with project
volunteers, to document the trail.  Once all of the information is gathered,
work on the website development of the guide will begin—with hopes to launch
in the spring of 2008.

Parks will be working with the Hudson River Watertrail Association,
Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance and American Canoe Association.  This
project will rely on volunteers who understand and use the waters of New
York City, as well as those who can provide information on the history,
geology and points of interest along the trail.  If you are interested in
becoming involved in this project please contact Borough Commissioner
Lewandowski's office at 718-520-5905.  For more information on existing
canoe and kayak launch sites in New York City parks, visit
www.nyc.gov/parksor call 311.


Contact:     Warner Johnston / Abigail Lootens    (212) 360-1311
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