NYCkayaker Boathouses and Waterfronts

[Erik Baard]

Ahoy'all,

Urban planners are once again proving that beyond the old saw about the
"banality of evil," the fact is that *banality is evil!* And thanks to
Roland Lewis of the Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance, this evil has a name:
Esplanadia.

These endless, bland esplanades and promenades are killing our dynamic
waterfront. No one argues for public access to the waterfront more
forcefully than the kayaking community. But not when waterFRONT comes at the
cost of waterWAYS access.

The Yonkers Paddling and Rowing Club case add another dimension, that of
community history. To add a few yards of uniform pavement, misguided
planners would tear down a building with character, history, ubiety, and
ample pedestrian access to the waterfront and dock? Insane.

A long term challenge for the LIC Community Boathouse is to get a boathouse
on the water. Our main partner on the Astoria waterfront wants us to aim for
a basement across a busy boulevard as a short term solution, and has in the
past hinted at that as a long term plan. We have for the moment agreed to
put that potentially explosive issue aside.

More than ever we need a unified voice. MWA has been very helpful, but a NYC
Water Trail Association must be established. And of course we can count on
our friends at the Hudson River Watertrail Alliance to support the community
in Yonkers.

I love waterfront bike trails and walkways. It wouldn't occur to me to
complain that a water delendent activity be located on the water. Indeed,
it's an attraction to see such things.

Erik

-- 
Erik Baard

www.licboathouse.org
www.naturecalendar.com