North Brooklyn Community Boathouse Explained

North Brooklyn Community Boathouse
Formation:2010
Abbreviation:NBCB
Founded Date:2010
Founder:Founding Members Include; Dewey Thompson, Jens Rasmussen, Monica Schroeder and others
Location:Greenpoint, Brooklyn, New York
Area Served:Greenpoint, Williamsburg, and Bushwick
Focus:Environmentalism, Education, and Boating
Website:https://nbcboathouse.org/
Num Members:Over 280

The North Brooklyn Community Boathouse (NBCB)] is a Brooklyn-based, volunteer run, 501(c)(3) nonprofit community organization. It is dedicated to enabling safe, responsible, human-powered boating, and educating residents to be stewards of the history, ecology and sustainability of the waterways of Newtown Creek and the adjacent East River.

History

Formerly named North Brooklyn Boat Club, NBCB started in 2010 as a way to reconnect people to the waterways with the goal of recreation, education and environmental stewardship.[1] NBCB is an open, volunteer-run organization consisting of kayakers, canoeists, sailors, environmentalists, boat builders, community leaders and activists.[2] NBCB was formally organized with the support of Greenpoint Waterfront Association for Parks and Planning (GWAPP) and many in the community as a way to increase access to open space and the waterways by securing funding for the Greenpoint Boathouse.[3]

Greenpoint Community Boathouse and Environmental Education Center

A 2008 settlement over pollution fines by the New York City Department of Environmental Protection led the state of New York to create a $7 million fund for projects that would tangibly benefit the community affected by the pollution with a priority given to projects relating to the environment.[4] NBCB proposed building one of the largest boathouses in the city along the shores of the Newtown Creek.[5] The project aimed to enhance the community’s open space, educational and recreational facilities and improve the perception of the Newtown Creek.[6] The idea was that awareness and stewardship are inextricably linked so a boathouse would best connect people to the waterways.[7]

The proposal received strong community support and garnered the approval of elected officials and organizations, including: Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, State Assemblyman Joe Lentol, City Council Member Steve Levin, Open Space Alliance for North Brooklyn (OSA) and Neighbors Allied for Good Growth (NAG). In a combination of the public polling and feasibility ranking, the Boathouse project was selected as the top priority project for the funding.[8] Based on the public support and strength of the proposal the Boathouse was chosen to be funded.[9] The Boathouse was allocated $3 million from the state.[10] The City Parks Foundation will oversee the spending and construction of the Boathouse.[11] As of 2014, negotiations are being made for 6,500 square feet on Ash Street.[12]

The Broadway Stages Boatyard

In the interim period before the construction of the Greenpoint Boathouse the members of NBCB searched for a location with which to access the water and held monthly meetings at the Brooklyn Rod & Club.[13] Christine Holowacz, of GWAAP, introduced NBCB to Tony Argento, the owner of the film company Broadway Stages.[14] Argento granted NBCB the 150-by-20-foot empty plot next to the Pulaski Bridge and Newtown Creek to create a boatyard. The Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance and many of the more established boat clubs in Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Long Island City provided expertise and spare equipment. NBCB received a grant for infrastructure expenses from the Hudson River Foundation[15] and donations of materials, such as steel storage containers, from local businesses and organizations including Allocco Recycling, Box House Hotel, Build It Green! NYC and TNT Scrap Metal to transform the empty lot to the Broadway Stages Boatyard.[16] The storage containers were modified to serve as boat storage, an educational center, and boat building workshop. Local artist, Duke Riley, designed artwork for NBCB.

The Boatyard was further improved with the addition of floating docks obtained in partnership with Urban Swim.[17] The Manhattan Solid Waste Advisory Board (SWAB) and Citizens Committee for New York City has provided NBCB a grant to improve its composting and gardening initiatives.[18] NBCB is also collaborating with LaGuardia Community College on building an educational center on site called the Ed Shed and the Newtown Creek Alliance on research projects.[16] The Ed Shed received additional funding for more environmental research equipment from a grant created by a legal settlement from the Greenpoint oil spill.[19] The Ed Shed has become a center for teaching and researching the Newtown Creek ecosystem by students, researchers, and community members.[20]

The Boatyard has been recognized for being fun for families,[21] dating[22] [23] and as one of the top places to boat in New York City.[24] [25] Common trips include Red Hook, Brooklyn Bridge Park, Bushwick Inlet, and Roosevelt Island.[26] Several local businesses and musicians such as the New York Distilling Company, Brooklyn Brewery, Aura Sonic, Hungry March Band and Sasha Dobson have made donations to help NBCB host benefit concerts to continue its programming.[27]

Projects

The North Brooklyn Community Boathouse has led many projects related to nearby bodies of water. It has hosted free public canoe trips on the East River and Newtown Creek;[28] [29] boat building and restoration,[16] performed weekly water quality testing;[30] performed mycoremediation on Newtown Creek in order to clean it up from pollutants;[31] and formed a Newtown Creek Armada to clean the polluted Newtown Creek.[32] The organization has also participated in environmental activities, such as gardening and composting;[33] creating an environmental education center (Ed Shed)[16] [34] hosting birdwatching tours;[35] performed wildlife monitoring;[36] [37] [38] created a Living Dock for local fauna;[39] [40] and balloon mapped (see Public Lab) in the area.[41]

NBCB has hosted concerts and events like the Summer Solstice benefit concert;[42] Rock the Pulaski benefit concert;[43] film showings;[44] [45] the SHORE Feast;[46] and SeaChange: We All Live Downstream.[47] Beautification projects include the Newtown Nets (found objects)[48] and the "Don’t Put Your Butt in the Creek" campaign to install cigarette disposal containers along the Newtown Creek.[49]

External links

40.7384°N -73.9531°W

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Brooklyn Boat Club Has High Hopes For Creek's Future . NY1 . August 17, 2012 . https://archive.today/20130630200520/http://www.ny1.com/content/top_stories/167080/brooklyn-boat-club-has-high-hopes-for-creek-s-future. dead. June 30, 2013.
  2. Web site: The MO Spotlight: North Brooklyn Boat Club . Greenpoint Waterfront Association for Parks and Planning (GWAPP) . April 2, 2013 .
  3. Web site: A Dream on Its Way to Reality: The Greenpoint Boathouse & Environmental Education Center . Greenpoint Waterfront Association for Parks and Planning (GWAPP) . October 1, 2012 .
  4. Web site: Short . Aaron . City has $7M to spend on Greenpoint waterfront . Brooklyn Paper . November 3, 2010 . May 9, 2017.
  5. News: Dailey . Jessica . What's Going On With Greenpoint's Newtown Creek Boathouse? . January 4, 2021 . Curbed NY . January 30, 2014.
  6. Web site: Short . Aaron . Meanwhile, group pitches a new boathouse . Brooklyn Paper . October 21, 2010 . May 9, 2017.
  7. Web site: Surfers, Sailors and Other Waterborne Urbanites on Sandy's Legacy . Next City . Graham T. . Beck . April 22, 2014 . May 9, 2017.
  8. Web site: A Dream on Its Way to Reality: The Greenpoint Boathouse & Environmental Education Center . Greenpoint Waterfront Association for Parks and Planning (GWAPP) . October 1, 2012 . June 28, 2013 .
  9. Web site: Short . Aaron . Green dreams in Greenpoint - Locals choose projects to get $7M in state cash . The Brooklyn Paper . January 12, 2011 . May 9, 2017.
  10. Web site: Short . Aaron . State approves Greenpoint boathouse . The Brooklyn Paper . October 29, 2011 . May 9, 2017.
  11. Web site: Fraser . Lisa A. . Greenpoint Boathouse moves along toward opening . Greenpoint Star . February 8, 2012 . May 9, 2017.
  12. Web site: Greenpoint Boathouse . City Parks Foundation . May 9, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170628022209/http://www.cityparksfoundation.org/greenpoint-boathouse/ . June 28, 2017 . dead .
  13. Web site: The Greenpoint Boathouse . Greenpointers . November 17, 2011 . May 9, 2017.
  14. Web site: A Dream on Its Way to Reality: The Greenpoint Boathouse & Environmental Education Center . Greenpoint Waterfront Association for Parks and Planning (GWAPP) . October 1, 2012 . June 28, 2013 .
  15. Web site: North BK Boat Club Updates: Meeting Tonight! . Greenpointers . April 3, 2012 . May 9, 2017.
  16. Web site: Shilling . Andrew . Brooklyn's refuge for the outdoor enthusiast . Greenpoint Star . March 5, 2013 . May 9, 2017.
  17. Web site: Hoffman . Meredith . North Brooklyn Boat Club Adds Floating Dock for Easier Water Access . DNAinfo New York . July 24, 2012 . May 9, 2017 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20151025080530/http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20120724/greenpoint/north-brooklyn-boat-club-adds-floating-dock-for-easier-water-access . October 25, 2015 . mdy-all .
  18. BP Stringer, Manhattan SWAB and Citizens Committee for New York City Announce Winners of First City-Wide Community-Scale Composting Contest . . April 22, 2013 . June 28, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130517013427/http://www.mbpo.org/release_details.asp?id=2066 . May 17, 2013 . dead .
  19. Web site: Geberer . Raanan . Local groups get grants from Greenpoint oil spill settlement . Brooklyn Daily Eagle . March 10, 2014 . May 9, 2017.
  20. Web site: The eyes and ears of Newtown Creek . Scienceline . Klein . Joanna . April 8, 2015 . May 16, 2015 .
  21. Web site: Favorite Places for Families in Greenpoint & Williamsburg . A Child Grows in Brooklyn . September 20, 2012 . May 9, 2017.
  22. The 8 Best Summertime Dates in Brooklyn . . Smith . Virginia K. . June 5, 2013 . June 28, 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131029192418/http://www.thelmagazine.com/BrooklynAbridged/archives/2013/06/05/the-8-best-summertime-dates-in-brooklyn?page=3 . October 29, 2013 .
  23. Web site: The Date-Night Dossier . NYMag.com . July 21, 2013 . May 9, 2017.
  24. Web site: Best Boat Club: North Brooklyn Boat Club - Best of NYC 2013: Your Key to the City . Village Voice . 2013 . May 9, 2017.
  25. Web site: Zimmer . Amy . Best Places to Go Boating on New York's Waterways . DNAinfo New York . August 3, 2012 . May 9, 2017 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130128030722/http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20120803/new-york-city/best-places-go-boating-on-new-yorks-waterways . January 28, 2013 . mdy-all .
  26. Web site: I Canoe, and You Can, Too! Paddling the NYC Waterways with the North Brooklyn Boat Club . Williamsburg Greenpoint News+Arts . June 1, 2013 . June 28, 2013 .
  27. Web site: Nonko . Emily . The Hot Seat: Justin La Mort . Brownstoner . September 13, 2013 . May 9, 2017.
  28. Web site: Canoeists Explore North Brooklyn's Waters . Greenpoint Gazette . Soyars . Megan . August 9, 2012 . June 28, 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120822015823/http://www.greenpointnews.com/news/4759/canoeists-explore-north-brooklyns-waters . August 22, 2012.
  29. Web site: Paddling Down Polluted Newtown Creek Is Actually Awesome . . July 17, 2014 . May 16, 2015 .
  30. Web site: Eisenpress . Cara . Brooklyn locals find rebirth as mariners on Gowanus Canal, Newtown Creek . Crain's New York Business . June 9, 2013 . May 9, 2017 . subscription.
  31. Web site: Bioremediation Workgroup Inoculation Bonanza . Newtown Creek Alliance . April 2, 2012 . June 28, 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130923231054/http://www.newtowncreekalliance.org/2012/04/02/bioremediation-workgroup-inoculation-bonanza/ . September 23, 2013 .
  32. Web site: Glassberg . Lauren . Newtown Creek Armada puts new focus on contaminated waterway . ABC7 New York . September 13, 2012 . May 9, 2017.
  33. Web site: North Brooklyn Boat Club . Citizens Committee For New York City . 2013 . May 9, 2017.
  34. Web site: Renfroe . Alexa . Willis Elkins . Queens Ledger . May 21, 2013 . May 9, 2017.
  35. Web site: Birdwatching in an industrialized area . Queens Chronicle . McRae . Tess . May 2, 2013 . May 9, 2017.
  36. Web site: There Are Two Dolphins In The East River . . Yakas . Ben . March 17, 2013 . June 28, 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130604113636/http://gothamist.com/2013/03/17/photos_videos_there_are_two_dolphin.php#photo-1 . June 4, 2013 . mdy-all .
  37. Web site: 2nd dolphin is now hanging out in the East River . . Tanner . Jeremy . March 18, 2013 . June 28, 2013 .
  38. Web site: Boat club members get close to dolphins . . March 18, 2013 . June 28, 2013 . https://archive.today/20130630200502/http://www.myfoxny.com/story/21668731/boat-club-members-get-close-to-dolphins. dead. June 30, 2013.
  39. Web site: Kensinger . Nathan . Bringing Community, and Nature, Back to the Banks of Newtown Creek . Curbed NY . April 16, 2015 . May 9, 2017.
  40. Web site: 'Living dock' seeks to aid struggling species . News 12 Brooklyn . May 6, 2015 . May 9, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161013075545/http://brooklyn.news12.com/news/greenpoint-s-living-dock-seeks-to-aid-struggling-species-in-newtown-creek-1.10398005 . October 13, 2016 . dead .
  41. Web site: Newtown Creek . Public Lab: Public Mapping Mission . December 2, 2013 . May 9, 2017.
  42. Web site: Summer Solstice with the North Brooklyn Boat Club « Only The Blog Knows Brooklyn . Only The Blog Knows Brooklyn . June 16, 2012 . May 9, 2017.
  43. Web site: Shorelines . Summer . Come On In, Paddlers, the Water's Just Fine. Don't Mind the Sewage. . The New York Times . August 29, 2013 . May 9, 2017.
  44. Web site: Shilling . Andrew . Opening reception at the Greenpoint Film Festival . Queens Ledger . September 25, 2013 . May 9, 2017.
  45. Web site: Greenpoint Film Festival Returns Next Week . Greenpoint Gazette . D'Angelo . Kevin . September 13, 2013 . September 28, 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130915223621/http://www.greenpointnews.com/entertainment/5658/greenpoint-film-festival-returns-next-week . September 15, 2013.
  46. Web site: New York Live Arts & Emily Johnson/Catalyst to Present SHORE Installation of Dance, Volunteerism and More, 4/19-26 . BroadwayWorld.com . February 23, 2015 . May 9, 2017.
  47. Web site: Voon . Claire . Artists Paddle Around Manhattan for Environmental Justice . Hyperallergic . September 15, 2014 . May 9, 2017.
  48. Web site: newtown nets . . May 9, 2017.
  49. Web site: Shilling . Andrew . First round of Exxon money handed out in Greenpoint . Queens Ledger . March 12, 2014 . May 9, 2017.

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