NYCkayaker Harbor Month, 5-Boro Tour

[Erik Baard]

Hi All,

This is a really exciting time, but one that is full of challenges.
While the NYC Dept of Parks and Recreation is essentially
institutionalizing the somewhat scattershot harbor revival with a
comprehensive NYC Water Trail, we're also seeing water access threatened
along the Hudson and disregarded in many new waterfront developments.

Let's really hammer home harbor awareness with a month of activities,
much like the bike month of May, with the highlight being a five-boro
paddling and rowing tour. I recommend starting with June, 2008, which
might be when a the NYC Water Trail map is fresh.

I put "Harbor Month" in this subject heading, but we'll need something
more apt -- there are too many industrial and other issues outside our
scope, and there are passive uses that don't capture our in-water
spirit.

But I'm agnostic on the month: I also like September because it's a
warm-water month and the students are in town. Maybe we could have an
event in September of this year, giving us time to organize, and then
switch to June from 2008 forward?

I know I have pushed this idea before, but it seems more appropriate
than ever.

Ditto for the tour I've proposed for years. We can start with our
friends at Brook Park and the NYRP's Sharp Boathouse, visit Hallets
Cove, and then Valentino Park in Red Hook, and finally paddle down to
Staten Island (I love Snug Harbor, but something closer might prove more
popular).

The tour would highlight these waterfront groups, could include a
Governors Island stop. Manhattan's midtown and downtown districts are
tougher to include: no landings as the South Street Seaport and while
landings are tolerated at Stuyvesant Cove, such a big event might
stretch that grace.

The Hudson route is tricky: it would cut out Queens and make a Brooklyn
landing difficult. One option might be to take the Hudson River down
from the Bronx (or Yonkers?) and cross over from Staten Island to Coney
Island and finally Rockaways?

This tour would potentially generate more media attention than any other
paddling event. Naturally, it could be billed as a race too, though I
personally welcome lollygaggers.    :)

Rowers should absolutely be welcomed -- should be central, in fact --
and maybe small sailboats could be accommodated. I'm simply ignorant on
that front. And... THERE SHOULD BE SWIMMING! Maybe only an elite few
should swim this event, but we should have recreational swim stops along
the way!

Any thoughts?

Warm regards,

Erik

Erik Baard

http://www.licboathouse.org
http://www.naturecalendar.com