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O Ornamental Green Bush: MulchFest this weekend, curbside tree pickup through next Saturday

Posted by Brian Hedden at 1:00 am Bay Ridge, Parks

Jan 062012

Woodchippers can also be used to mulch trees.

Attention Christians, assimilated Atheists, and Jews with Gentile in-laws: the Parks and Sanitation Departments are once again teaming up to help you recycle your Christmas tree. Or any other kind of tree you’ve watched die slowly in your sitting room for the past month.

Curbside pickup started this past Tuesday, and runs until Saturday, January 14. It’s super-easy. Just remove all of the ornaments, tinsel, lights, and other attachments, and leave it on the curb. Do not place it in a plastic bag, or any other kind of bag. Done. Easy as cake. New York’s Strongest will turn the trees over to Parks, who will use the composted trees as fertilizer in the spring.

If you’re ambitious, you can take your tree to a MulchFest location tomorrow, January 7, or Sunday, January 8 (10am to 2pm both days). Trees will be chipped on the spot, and you can take a bag of mulch home with you. (You don’t have to bring a tree to get a free bag of mulch.) As with the curbside guidelines, please remove ornaments, tinsel, lights, plastic bags, and Coen brothers characters before taking your tree to a wood-chipping location.

In southern Brooklyn, MulchFest will be at Owl’s Head Park and Marine Park.

Additional restrictions to motorists in Prospect Park?

Posted by Nick at 11:39 am General News, Parks

Mar 292011

Recently Councilwoman Gale Brewer (Manhattan not Brooklyn) said “New Yorkers should be able to go to the park without worrying about motor vehicle traffic” and she proposed a bill that prevents motorists from driving in Prospect Park at all times. Currently, the only time the Park Drive is open to motorists is on weekdays, northbound from 7 a.m. – 9 a.m. and southbound from 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. Brooklyn Borough President Markowitz said “In many respects, the goal of having a car-free Prospect Park is a laudable one. However, as the borough president I must represent all Brooklyn residents, including those who drive through Prospect Park as well as those who reside near the park that may be negatively impacted by additional restrictions. This schedule was decided on jointly by the Office of the Brooklyn Borough President, the Brooklyn City Council delegation, Prospect Park Alliance, the NYC Department of Transportation and the NYC Police Department. I agree with Mayor Bloomberg in opposing changes proposed under this new bill, and believe the existing limited access for automobiles in Prospect Park sufficiently balances the needs of all users.” So what do you think about cars in Prospect Park?

UPDATED: How NOT to dispose of a Christmas Tree

Posted by Brian Hedden at 9:51 pm Parks

Jan 122011

Not like this. Ur doin’ it wrong.

UPDATE: Apparently, not by following the Sanitation Department’s curbside drop-off instructions, either.

WNYC – A spokesperson for the city sanitation department has told WNYC that the annual Christmas tree recycling program has been canceled this year because the department has been overwhelmed with cleaning up after the December 26th blizzard and catching up on backlogged garbage and recycling collection.

Although the sanitation department’s website still incorrectly advertises special Christmas tree collections for mulching, sanitation officials now say New Yorkers who want to get their tree chopped up and recycled need to do that on their own.

Original article: On the other hand, you can take your tree down to the curbside anytime between now and next Saturday, January 15, the Department of Sanitation will not only take it, they’ll recycle it for you! Trees placed curbside by the 15th will get mulched and chipped and other environmental things, and they will be sent off to parks and playing fields, with actual permission and everything.

Please remember to take all decorations off, including tinsel. [Update: Aw, who cares anymore.] And please, don’t wrap it in a plastic bag. Plastic bags are for garbage. Trees are recycling [garbage]!

You can also take your tree to Mulchfest locations at Marine Park or Owl’s Head Park this Saturday, January 8 or Sunday, January 9 (10am to 2pm). You can pick up mulch (for free!) as well if you bring your own bags. Additional locations are provided by Flatbush Gardener.

(Note: The Sanitation Department’s tree recycling program is going on now, despite the suspension of recycling pickup during their continued snow removal efforts.) (Bzzzzz! Totally wrong!)

This article was originally published on January 5, 2011, and updated on January 12.

Four-Mile NYRR Jingle Bell Jog in Prospect Park

Posted by Nick at 10:15 am Events, Parks

Dec 092010

Saturday, December 11, New Yorkers can take part in the NYRR Jingle Bell Jog; this race is expected to raise more than $75,000 for health programs in New York City public schools. Each race entry includes a long-sleeve technical shirt, jingle bells for runners’ shoes, and seasonal post-run refreshments. Each entry will also allow one student to participate in NYRR’s school-based youth health and fitness programs, so all runners can run and jingle knowing that they are giving a child the gift of running this holiday season. New York Road Runners serves more 10,000 children in 84 Brooklyn schools via its Young Runners and Mighty Milers programs and through events that include Youth Jamborees and a Developmental Track & Field Series. For more information, visit http://www.nyrrf.org/

Geese Killed:Follow up on prior story

Posted by Nick at 4:31 pm Parks, Politics, Random Chatter

Sep 202010

Follow up on prior story
Biologists working with the federal Agriculture Department killed Prospect Park’s geese with lethal doses of carbon dioxide. The idea is to kill off geese within seven miles of the major airports in the region. Prospect Park is 6.5 miles from both La Guardia Airport and Kennedy Airport. Entire post and readers comments available at
http://www.bksouthie.com/2010/07/prospect-park-geese-population-killed-off/
The Mayor of NYC finally returned comment
Dear Friend:
Thank you for contacting me about Canada geese, and the measures we’re taking to reduce the dangers they pose to aviation around our City. I’m glad you took the time to write. Incidents like the emergency landing of US Airways Flight 1549 show us how important it is to keep geese from nesting near airport runways. Please know that we’ve already taken a number of non-lethal measures, including: public education to discourage feeding, the use of dogs for herding, pyrotechnics, bird deterrent wires and netting, and more. We’ve had some success, and we’re now working with the United States Department of Agriculture Office of Wildlife Services to take additional steps to avoid serious accidents and ensure the safest possible conditions for New Yorkers and travelers alike.
Thanks again for writing and sharing your concerns.
Sincerely,
Michael R. Bloomberg
Mayor

Prospect Park geese population killed off

Posted by Nick at 1:09 pm Parks, Politics

Jul 132010

Biologists working with the federal Agriculture Department killed Prospect Park’s geese with lethal doses of carbon dioxide. The idea is to kill off geese within seven miles of the major airports in the region. Prospect Park is 6.5 miles from both La Guardia Airport and Kennedy Airport. A goose found last year with a damaged beak, which park goers had tried to help (not kill), was also believed to have been killed. Elsewhere in the country, nuisance wildlife birds are usually chased away by border collies or firecrackers…not killed! Also no relocation program for the geese was considered. The carcasses of the Prospect Park geese will be double-bagged and dumped in a landfill.

Seen From Dyker Beach Park: Sunset On The Verrazano

Posted by Brian Hedden at 7:00 am Parks, Seen In Photos

Apr 012010

Photo credit: Brian Hedden

Newsbites Roundup

Posted by Brian Hedden at 6:30 am Canarsie, Gravesend Bay, Parks

Jan 152010

True story: I was half-asleep when I wrote the last two days posts. The following are the remaining week’s stories I thought were worth repeating, yet I can’t bear another sleep-deprived night, so I’m giving you the extra-skinny version!

The ethanol tank on a ship in Gravesend Bay ruptured on Sunday morning when it was evidently overfilled. No ethanol is reported to have leaked into the water. (Staten Island Advance)
A heavily-polluted two-acre section of Floyd Bennett Field will be getting a $2.4 million cleanup. (NY Post)
38 acres of wetlands in Canarsie polluted by sewage overflow will be getting $15 million for their restoration. When complete, the restoration will include a five-acre park. (NY Post)

Tree Recycling and Mulchfest Locations

Posted by Brian Hedden at 6:30 am Parks

Jan 082010

Reminder: the Sanitation Department is collecting Christmas trees for their recycling program from curbside until Friday, January 15. Be sure to remove all ornaments and tinsel, and don’t wrap in plastic.

tree recycling

(photo credit: one of my awesome Facebook Friends™)

And for God’s sake. Don’t do this. Please.

You can also bring your tree to a Mulchfest site in person this weekend – from 10am to 2pm, this Saturday and Sunday – and go home with free mulch! (Bring you own mulch bags.) In southern Brooklyn, you can go to to either Owl’s Head Park in Bay Ridge, or to Marine Park.

(Map courtsey Flatbush Gardener)
View Brooklyn MulchFest 2010 in a larger map

The Ballfields at Gravesend Park

Posted by Brian Hedden at 7:30 am Borough Park, Parks

Jun 202009

baseball-at-gravesend-park

Peering through the fence, a few baseball players at Gravesend Park (located in Borough Park, two neighborhoods away from Gravesend) on a warm Tuesday evening.