Category Archives: Public Space

Fort Greene Park to Receive $5M in Capital Funds

We are thrilled to announce that Fort Greene Park’s Myrtle Avenue edge was selected to receive up to $5 million for capital improvements through the NYC Parks Department Parks Without Borders initiative! Thank you to all of the community members who nominated it. The Park received the second most votes of any park in Brooklyn, just after Prospect Park, which was also selected for funding.

The announcement was made at PARKS WITHOUT BORDERS: IDEAS FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF URBAN PARKS AND PUBLIC SPACE, a summit on the future of parks and urban spaces, brought together the leading minds in parks and public spaces from NYC and across the country, organized by NYC Parks Department.

Earlier this year, prior to this initiative, the Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership worked in partnership with the Fort Greene Park Conservancy to draw attention the capital improvements needed on the north side of the park, touring the site with Parks staff, assembling photos of areas in need of repair, and sharing specific concerns raised by community residents, especially seniors.

We look forward to working with the Park, the Conservancy, our elected officials, and local residents to shape the plans collaboratively.

Top: Commissioner Silver announces the selection of Fort Greene Park.
Photo Credit: Fort Greene Park Conservancy

City Proposes Bike Lane for Clinton Avenue

Update: NYC DOT requested that the Community Board NOT vote on this proposal at this time so that they can conduct further outreach. We will keep you updated if additional opportunities to provide input on this plan are announced.

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The NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) has released a proposal that would add a two-way protected lane to Clinton Avenue in Clinton Hill. The new bike lane would be accommodated by converting the currently two-way street into a one-way, single-lane street for drivers.

The proposal will be presented to the Community Board 2 Transportation Committee on Tuesday, May 17, 6:00pm at Brown Memorial Baptist Church, 484 Washington Avenue.

Below is a diagram of how the proposed changes would reshape the street, making room for a two-way bike lane, eliminating one travel lane, and retaining two lanes for street parking. The proposed changes would be implemented along Clinton Avenue between Flushing and Gates avenues.

Image Credit: NYC DOT.

The new protected two-way bike lane would run for 2.2 miles, connecting to existing bike lanes at Flushing and Vanderbilt avenues and providing an easy north-south bike route from Prospect Heights to the Brooklyn waterfront. The single driving lane would alter Clinton Avenue to operate as a one-way street for vehicular traffic, running northbound. Pedestrians would also see changes, including landscaped pedestrian islands at intersections, which would reduce the length of crosswalks. Parking lanes along both sides of the street would remain in place.

DOT’s current proposal does not include any changes to neighboring streets, such as Vanderbilt or Waverly avenues. DOT notes that these surrounding streets should be able to absorb any extra traffic that may be displaced from Clinton Avenue.

The proposal has only recently been announced by DOT and is currently being shaped by input from local residents. To share your thoughts on the proposal, you can speak with a DOT Street Ambassador at a number of upcoming events in the neighborhood (view a schedule here), or complete one their pedestrian or bike surveys.

The Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership has requested that DOT hold a community meeting to allow another forum for community members to provide feedback and input. A meeting has not yet been schedule, but please continue to check our events calendar or Facebook page for forthcoming information about that event.

View the full proposal details on DOT’s Clinton Avenue Enhancements webpage.

Take a Myrtle Avenue “Hard Hat” Tour

Take a guided “hard hat*” tour along Myrtle Avenue in Clinton Hill on Saturday, May 21. Hear about the area’s evolution beginning 175 years ago, ending with present day and construction to the future Myrtle Avenue Plaza. Attendees will get insider knowledge about four new construction projects underway, and learn about some of the history (with photos!) of this rapidly transforming area along Myrtle Avenue between Classon Avenue and Hall Street.

The tour will begin at 11am on Saturday, May 21st, at Brewklyn Grind (557 Myrtle Avenue) and last 90 minutes. Registration is required and capacity is limited. Reserve your spot by clicking here.

*Note: Actual safety gear is not required for this tour. The tour won’t enter active construction sites and will remain on Myrtle Avenue. Attendees will receive a fun “Myrtle Avenue Hard Hat.”

Bike Registration Event on Myrtle & Vanderbilt, 5/16

Join the Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership and our local NYPD 88th precinct for a free bike registration event, Monday, 5/16 from 7am to 9am. We’ll be near the corner, just near the bike lane. Register your bike + stop by for morning coffee and pastries.

Register your bicycle with the NYPD at this free event on Myrtle Avenue sponsored by the Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership and the 88th Precinct. Bikes registered with the department are easier to recover if stolen, according to the 88th precinct.

Where: Near SE corner of Myrtle and Vanderbilt (just near the bike lane)

When: 7am to 9am

Myrtle Avenue Plaza Look Ahead – May 2, 2016

A “Look Ahead” at Myrtle Avenue Plaza Construction work this week (5/2/16- 5/6/16)*

Construction Work Hours: Monday – Friday 7am – 4pm

Myrtle Avenue from Emerson Place to Hall Street on the south side:
Saw cutting/ Excavation/ Pouring of concrete for curbs

Myrtle Avenue between Emerson Place and Hall Street, Mondays – Fridays 6am – 6pm until further notice:
• No Parking In Effect
• Work Operations including construction of Plaza, etc.

The traffic detour remains in effect from Myrtle Avenue from Washington Avenue to Emerson.

NYC Transit B54 Bus detour (eastbound only) remains in effect:
• Right on Washington Avenue
• Left on Willoughby Avenue
• Left on Classon Avenue
• Right on Myrtle Avenue and back on regular route

*This information was provided by the NYC Department of Design and Construction, who is managing the project. Questions about construction activities should be directed to Chris Fields, DDC Community Construction Liaison at (718) 857-3283 or myrtleplazaccl@gmail.com.

TreED on Myrtle

The Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership is transforming street tree beds in Fort Greene & Clinton Hill into informal laboratories through its new initiative, TreED on Myrtle (Tree Education on Myrtle). The Partnership has played a key role in street beautification and economic development initiatives on Myrtle Avenue since its inception in 1999. This spring the organization is forging relationships with the Urban Soil Institute at Brooklyn College, Greenbelt Native Plant Center and engaging with a cohort of young environmentalists from Benjamin Banneker Academy for Community Development High School. Together they are working to significantly improve soil structure in Myrtle Avenue street tree beds through planting a beautiful array of native plant species, with funds from the TD Charitable Foundation, the charitable giving arm of TD Bank. The goal is to create a thriving ecological micro-environment in tree beds that improves long term health of street trees in the district and creates street tree stewards in the process.

Myrtle Avenue’s annual tree bed planting program will convert 40+ tree beds into sidewalk gardens filled with annuals and perennials, planted to match the soil conditions within which they will thrive; the first of three planting days will be Wednesday, May 11^th, 2016. There are many challenges in planting in street tree beds as soil conditions are heavily impacted by a hostile environment that sometimes proves prohibitive: car pollution, dogs and people all pose potential threats to the survivability of the plants that they invest in each year.

Over four sessions, beginning on April 13^th and ending on May 11^th, Banneker students will learn about the conditions of the soil in street tree beds and collect soil samples, conduct soil tests together with the staff at the Urban Soil Institute at Brooklyn College, learn about those native plants suitable for the microclimates and soil conditions created in street tree beds with the staff of the Greenbelt Native Plant Center and join volunteers for a Spring planting day.

TreEd is made possible with funds from the TD Charitable Foundation, the charitable giving arm of TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank^®.

For Arbor Day, A Tree Trail in Fort Greene Park

On Saturday April 30, 2016 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., the Fort Greene Park Conservancy (FGPC) and NYC Parks will celebrate Arbor Day with the launching of the recently updated Fort Greene Park Tree Trail in Brooklyn’s historic Fort Greene Park with guided tours by FGPC staff and NYC Parks’ Urban Park Rangers. Park attendees are encouraged to walk independently along the trail or join a scheduled tour to learn more about some of Brooklyn’s oldest and largest trees.

The Fort Greene Park Tree Trail is a self-guided walking tour that helps park visitors identify and interpret a variety of significant trees with the assistance of a brochure and signs located throughout the park. The trail is composed of 19 stops running north to south along the eastern side of the park, and trail walkers will become familiar with tree species from the American Elm to the Himalayan White Pine. Visitors will also pick up facts along the way, including which trees are planted around the park to keep in tradition of Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux’s original plan for Fort Greene Park. Park visitors are invited to take a walk along the tree trail during all park hours and can find the self-guided tour brochure in the Visitor Center starting on April 30th. Also on launch day, visitors are invited to join FGPC staff on half-hour guided tours at 11:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m., or 3:00 p.m. or attend the NYC Parks Urban Park Ranger “Spring Blossoms” Weekend Adventure Program at 1:00 p.m.

The Fort Greene Park Tree Trail was originally created in 2007, but natural deterioration and every day wear removed many of the signs and posts. FGPC and NYC Parks worked together with additional help from volunteers to streamline the trail, restore posts, design new signs and brochures, and host a launch event for the public on Arbor Day. FGPC will also be sponsoring four free Natural Classroom programs with the Urban Park Rangers in the weeks following the Tree Trail launch for students who live or attend school in the surrounding neighborhoods. The Tree Trail can be accessed from the Myrtle Avenue and Washington Park entrance or the South Portland Avenue and Dekalb Avenue entrance.

New Titles and Additions at the 88th Precinct

(l-r: Officer Sargeant, Deputy Inspector Fiorillo, Officer Kinney)

Big congratulations to 88th Precinct Commanding Officer Peter Fiorillo for his promotion in March from Captain to Deputy Inspector. Also sending a big welcome aboard to Officer Kinney, who will join Officer Sargeant as part of the Community Affairs team. We look forward to working with you. We will miss Officer Brathwaite for formerly served in the capacity as community affairs officer, but wish you the very best on your upcoming retirement and next chapter.

The end of the year may also bring an NCO, or Neighborhood Coordination Officer, to the neighborhood, The NCOs are revamped versions of the beat cops of old, one officer assigned to the neighborhood and developing strong ties.

B54 Bus Reroute Map

The eastbound traffic re-route on Myrtle between Hall and Classon, beginning Wednesday, March 30th, includes a bus detour at Washington Avenue and a vehicular traffic reroute at Hall Street. The bus detour will make three stops (as displayed above) at Washington Av. and Myrtle Av., Hall St. and Willoughby St., and Willoughby St. and Classon Av.

Please see the above MTA Planned Service Change notice with the latest information and updated map showing the locations where MTA has placed temporary eastbound B 54 bus stops (there have been no changes made to westbound bus traffic).

Four Month Traffic Reroute on Myrtle Avenue Planned

For the next four months (March 28, 2016 – July 28, 2016) eastbound traffic will be suspended on Myrtle Avenue between Washington and Classon Avenues. This will allow the next phase of the Myrtle Avenue Plaza project to be completed. This eastbound reroute will include a B54 bus route; click here for the latest MTA communication on planned service changes. During this month period:

The B54 will turn right off of Myrtle Avenue onto Washington, travel down Willoughby and return to Myrtle Avenue at Classon Avenue. MTA will be placing temporary bus stops at the southwest corner of Myrtle and Washington and at the southwest corner of Willoughby and Classon.

All other eastbound vehicular traffic will detour right at Hall Street.

We understand that the altered traffic patterns could be a major inconvenience to passengers, residents and vehicles relying on the convenience of bus travel and our Myrtle Avenue businesses that rely on customers being able to more easily get to you. The Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership will be launching an eye-catching marketing street campaign that will specifically ask residents & visitors to supporting the businesses located between Hall & Classon during this critical time. DDC assures us that this reroute should not last longer than the end of July and as always, as soon as we hear any updates, we will this information to you as soon as possible.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to DDC’s community liaison with any concerns, Chris Fields at myrtleplazaccl@gmail.com.

TreED on Myrtle: Countdown to Spring

Put away your pea coats and winter hats and bring out those sweatshirts and planting gloves as we countdown to the first day of spring, March 20th. With daylight savings time behind us we are taking this week to prepare for spring planting day on the second week in April. This year we are filling Myrtle Avenue tree beds with plant species that are native to the city and region and testing the soil conditions for optimal compatibility; educating a cohort of young environmentalists from Benjamin Banneker Academy for Community Development in the process. We call this initiative TreED on Myrtle Avenue and it is made possible with funds from the TD Charitable Foundation.

Since Thursday, March 10th we have been counting down the days until spring on our social media networks while providing the community with a glimpse into our horticultural minds. Our posts will highlight ten of the twenty-four species of native plants that you will see on the avenue this year. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram and join the #countdowntospring!

Volunteer at the Park this Spring

As the winter slowly but steadily inches into planting season our amazing partners at the Fort Greene Park Conservancy are looking to engage individuals and groups in their efforts to keep Brooklyn’s first park beautiful.

For Individuals

There are plenty of opportunities for individuals to get their hands dirty in Fort Greene Park and spend some quality time with their neighbors. Get involved through:

For Groups

Whether you’re a high school club looking for service hours, or a corporate office in search of an amazing day of team-building, they are happy to help create the perfect volunteer event custom-tailored to your needs.

The Conservancy is now taking reservations for spring projects, so connect while there’s still spots left. For more information on how you can help e-mail volunteer@fortgreenepark.org.

New, History Inspired Tree Guards On the Way

Myrtle Avenue is prepped to see more custom tree guard and benches installed later in 2016, each featuring new designs from local artists. The new street furniture will be installed along Myrtle Avenue between Hall Street and Emerson Place in Clinton Hill.

Each of the eight new designs is inspired by a new a famous artist who once lived on or near Myrtle Avenue. By using this theme in the call for designs, the new tree guards provide an opportunity to reflect the neighborhood’s rich artistic history, Designers chose a variety of artists to be inspired by, including photographer Robert Mapplethorpe, jazz trombonist Slide Hampton, rock musician Vernon Reid, author Walt Whitman and singer/actress Josephine Premice.

Installation of the new guards and benches will begin in mid-2016, once construction of new sidewalks, as part of the Myrtle Avenue Plaza, is complete. The project is funded by the Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Business Improvement District (BID), with support from the NY State Department of Homes and Community Renewal’s New York Main Street (NYMS) grant program.

Since 2011, the Partnership has installed 87 tree guards, 40 of which have benches. Click here to view existing designs that are currently installed along Myrtle Avenue.

Scroll below to view the new designs and artist information:

Got ideas for park improvements?

NYC Parks Departments Parks Without Borders initiative is asking for community input on local parks utilizing an online tool. Residents can recommend parks and improvements to be funded with PWB capital dollars, keeping in mind Parks’ goal of better integrating parks with surrounding communities through improvements at the borders.

The north side of Fort Greene Park is an important public space for the Myrtle Avenue community. We’d like to see even more space for barbecueing, even more picnic tables, even more benches, even more workout equipment. The Myrtle Avenue side hasn’t seen investment in quite some time in terms of capital dollars, and we think it deserves it, and so do the residents that use it!

We encourage you to visit the website, and submit your support for the Myrtle Avenue side of Fort Greene Park, or any park you feel deserves attention via this initiative!

Ride Safely This Holiday Season

Image Credit: SoCo

Who says you can’t have lots of FUN and be safe on New Year’s Eve?

Dance the night away with friends and family! Eat drink and be very merry! Make sure to have a cab number in your phone to get home safely. Call when your partying is done or arrange your ride in the advance of the night.

Our car services on Myrtle Avenue offer safe, reliable and fast door-to-door service.
Give them a call:

Myrtle Car Service
525 Myrtle Avenue (rear entrance on Grand), (718) 230-8100

Pratt Car Service
562 (between Emerson & Classon), (718) 789-4900

Mulchfest in Fort Greene Park

It’s that time of year again! NYC Department of Parks & Recreation, NYC Department of Sanitation, and GrowNYC will be recycling holiday trees into wood chips at Fort Greene Park. These wood chips are used to nourish trees and plants on streets and in gardens citywide. You may also take a bag of mulch home to use in your back yard or to winterize the street trees on your block. More than 30,000 trees were tree-cycled last year! Here’s how you can ‘chip in:’

First, remove all lights, ornaments, and netting from your holiday tree before bringing it to the park. Bags will be provided if you wish to take some mulch home for free. You can bring your tree to the northeast entrance to Fort Greene Park (at the corner of Myrtle Ave & Washington Park) on January 9^th and 10^th from 10:00am to 2:00pm.

The event is co-sponsored by the Fort Greene Park Conservancy, who will be serving holiday treats and hot chocolate.

Looking Festive On Myrtle Avenue

As you stroll down Myrtle Avenue this holiday season you may notice it to be quite festive this year; with red bows on street trees, holiday lights on bank parking lot fences (at Clinton & Myrtle), illuminated snowflakes on light poles and three dimensional stars at intersections. Do not fret if you missed the holiday tree lighting event at the corner of Myrtle and Washington Park, the tree will be up until the first week in January for all the family photos that your heart desires! Share the moments that you capture on Myrtle Avenue with us on social media and don’t forget to tag @MyrtleAveBklyn and #MyrtleAvenue.

Happy Holidays!

EXTENDED DEADLINE: Open Call For Tree Guard Designs

If you’ve ever walked down Myrtle Avenue, you probably noticed the custom guards and benches lining most of the street’s trees. We are looking to install even more tree guards and are holding an open call for panel designs! New tree guards and benches will be installed in 2016 along Myrtle Avenue between Hall Street and Emerson Place, north of the new Myrtle Pedestrian Plaza.

HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR DESIGN: Please click here to view the full call for artwork, which includes design parameters and submission requirements. The deadline to submit your design is January 12th, 2016. To download the tree guard template (in Adobe Illustrator), please click here (To use this file, you will need to download the file from Dropbox and open in Adobe Illustrator).

The tree guards provide a ‘canvas’ that reflects local creativity while protecting our street trees – which are valuable in providing shade and filtering fresh air. Since 2011, we’ve selected designs from 40 local artists – from pre-schoolers to professional artists – and installed these designs on more than 80 tree guards and benches along Myrtle Avenue.

The Myrtle Avenue custom tree guard and bench program is supported by a New York Main Street grant program from New York State Homes and Community Renewal.

CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR DESIGN.

Holiday Tree Lighting at Fort Greene Park

Join us on Sunday, December 6th, from 5 – 6 pm for the Second Annual Holiday Tree Lighting at Fort Greene Park (corner of Myrtle Avenue and Washington Park) sponsored by Apple Bank. Come enjoy FREE hot chocolate from Castro’s Restaurant (511 Myrtle Avenue), cookies from Pushkin Bakery & Creperie (541 Myrtle), treats from Brooklyn Sweet Spot (366 Myrtle), and live holiday music presented by the Dr. Susan McKinney Secondary School of Arts Choir. You can also bring new, packaged toys for the toy drive benefiting the annual holiday toy drive held by Fort Greene SNAP and Whitman Resident Association and take selfies with Santa.

The tree lighting will be followed by greetings from your local elected officials including Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, State Senator Velmanette Montgomery, Assembly Member Joseph Lentol, Assembly Member Walter T. Mosley, City Council Member Laurie A. Cumbo, and District Leader Olanike Alabi.

This event is presented by the Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership in collaboration with the Fort Greene Park Conservancy.

Fall Tree Bed Landscaping

It is no secret that trees are important to Brooklynites, that’s why we take special care of our street trees on Myrtle Avenue. The U. Arias Corporation crews were out in the rain this week aerating soil, laying fresh mulch and placing gravel in pits on the avenue. Why gravel? We are glad that you asked! The gravel is being placed in select tree beds to improve the irrigation and provide a buffer for plants, protecting them from debris, people, and dogs. Help us keep the avenue beautiful and place garbage in trash cans, not in tree beds!

Fort Greene Park Rangers Natural Classroom

Are you a teacher or community-organizer with a class looking to learn about the local history and/or ecology of Fort Greene? Stop by Fort Greene Park and talk to Urban Park Ranger Chris Wood! The Urban Park Rangers offer programs ranging in everything from Ecology, to American History, to Botany. Check out http://www.nycgovparks.org/programs/rangers/natural-classroom for more information, or get in touch with Ranger Chris Wood directly at christopher.wood@parks.nyc.gov!

Myrtle Avenue Plaza Survey

The Myrtle Avenue Plaza is shaping up along the south side of Myrtle between Hall Street and Emerson Place and we need your input on public programming ideas. With a new grocery store in tow, and the Pratt Film School adjacent to the 25,000 square foot site, we are full of ideas on how to program this space and we are sure that you have some ideas as well. Click here if you’d like to receive updates on plaza construction and provide feedback on the types of events you’d like to see in the plaza.

Construction is being managed by the New York City Department of Design and Construction (DDC). For construction-related questions, please contact the DDC Community Construction Liaison (CCL) Chris Fields. He can be reached at myrtleplazaccl@gmail.com or (718) 857-3283.

You’re Invited: Scope Meeting for Fort Greene Park

Where: Fort Greene Park Visitor Center

When: Wednesday, October 7th at 6:00 p.m.

What: Scope meeting for Fort Greene Park pathways

Why: NYC Parks wants community input about the upcoming capital project for pathways in Fort Greene Park

Fort Greene Park has recently received funding for a capital construction project for the park’s pathways. The Scope meeting is the first step in the capital process after a project has been funded, providing the community with the opportunity for input in the design. At scope meetings, Parks staff, the designer, elected officials, residents, and community board representatives come together to share ideas about the project. The designer gathers ideas from everyone present and considers them when preparing the park’s design.

Take a look at the full guide to the capital process here…

http://welcometocup.org/file_columns/0000/0613/improve_my_park.pdf

…and a guide for community participation here:

http://peoplemakeparks.org/steps/promote-and-attend-the-scope-meeting/

Reimagining the Brooklyn Strand

Photo Courtesy of Downtown Brooklyn Partnership

Photo Credit: Downtown Brooklyn Partnership

Community Board 2’s Park Committee along with the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership are holding the second public workshop this Monday evening, September 21st to offer local residents the opportunity to play a direct role in reinventing a series of disconnected parks and plazas stretching from Borough Hall to Brooklyn Bridge Park, known as the Brooklyn Strand.

Find out more about the Brooklyn Strand, enjoy light refreshments, and invite others.

Event Details:

What: Brooklyn Strand Public Workshop
When: Monday, September 21, 6pm-7:30pm
Where: Whitman Willoughby Senior Center at 105 North Portland Avenue
RSVP: Click HERE to RSVP.

Myrtle Ave Gets Honorable Mention in Greenest Block in Brooklyn Contest 2015

Proud of our honorable mention in the commercial category of this year’s Greenest Block and Brooklyn Contest. Thank you Brooklyn Botanic Garden!