Bronx Council for Environmental Quality

Park Land Math 101: Mill Pond Pier 5 Park

October 9th, 2017 Posted in Front Page News, Harlem River BOA, Harlem River Working Group, Harlem River Yards Park Greenway, Low Impact Development, Lower Concourse North, Pier 5 Pop Up Wetland - first of its kind, Yankee Stadium Redevelopment

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An Open Letter to New York City Council Members:

The Lower Concourse North EDC proposal will soon be coming to a vote before the City Council. A crucial piece of the Bronx’ economic development plan, the EDC Lower Concourse North proposal will bring MIH-required affordable housing to an area nominated for Downtown Revitalization Initiative designation. We applaud the Bronx economic boom.

But as longtime community activists and members of the Bronx’s oldest environmental organization, Bronx Council for Environmental Quality, we descry the cost: the improper acquisition of an expanded Mill Pond Park on the site currently known as Pier 5. The park expansion was promised and passed by the City as part of the Yankee Stadium construction deal. To date, the community has not been made whole for this loss of parkland. Even worse, the property designated to replace that parkland is now being acquired to build Lower Concourse North. The attachment, which describes the importance of the public trust document to this proceeding, is a call for the Bronx delegation to recognize the designation of the property in question and to hold the Lower Concourse North proposal accountable to past City Council actions.

Waterfront parks are great economic boons too. Even more, they provide essential public health benefits to a community struggling with the greatest environmental health threats in the United States. We hope and expect the Bronx delegation to make sure that the Bronx gets not only its fair share of waterfront parkland but the parkland it was promised over 10 years ago. Do not allow Lower Concourse North to be built on broken promises.

Here is the Math: Mill Pond Park Land Math 101

Here is the attachment: Public Trust Doctrine summary and application Council