How Would You Improve Fort Greene Park's Perimeter? Have Your Say Until Nov. 16

FORT GREENE, BROOKLYN — Neighbors shared their ideal fix-its for Fort Greene Park's 10-block perimeter at a community input meeting Wednesday night, the latest and near-to-last stage in the city's "Parks Without Borders" initiative to better integrate city parks with their surrounding neighborhoods.

But it's not too late to share your vision, as well: Locals can continue to contribute ideas and feedback about the park renovations until Nov. 16.

"This is where magic and memories are made," Council Member Laurie Cumbo said of Fort Greene Park, speaking before a crowded room at the park's visitors center. "And now we are adding a new chapter."

As part of Mayor Bill de Blasio's overarching vision for the city, called OneNYC, the city dedicated $50 million last year toward improving eight lucky parks' entrances, perimeters and park-adjacent spaces. First, city residents were surveyed about which parks needed the upgrades most. Based on that info, eight parks — including at least one in all five boroughs — were ultimately selected. The winners included Brooklyn's Prospect Park, Van Cortlandt and Virginia Park in the Bronx, Jackie Robinson and Seward Park in Manhattan, Flushing Meadows in Queens and Faber Park in Staten Island.

NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell Silver and Marty Maher, chief of staff for the department's Brooklyn's division, fielded suggestions from Wednesday's audience about what specifically should be done at Fort Greene Park — particularly along its northern Myrtle Avenue perimeter — to improve accessibility, aesthetics and usefulness.

Photo by Jason Nuckolls/Patch

Suggestions from the crowd included adding handy recreational features to the park — for example, areas designated especially for barbecuing, hosting meet-ups or skateboarding. The prospects of installing more fitness equipment at the park, and adding better lighting along the park's perimeter, were also popular with the crowd.

The most contentious suggestion: adding signage in the park to help visitors navigate their way through the greenery.

"No signs. They're just visual clutter," one resident said, receiving both grumbles of disagreement and slight applause from a divided audience.

After another round of suggestions — including possible concession stands, additional benches and mosquito abatement equipment — Maher, chief of staff for Brooklyn Parks, described next steps in the Parks Without Borders funding process.

After a remaining two-week period ending on Wednesday, Nov. 9, during which citizens can submit ideas via the Parks Without Borders website, city officials will draw up some designs. Community Board 2's Parks Committee will review the designs sometime in 2017. Construction is slated to wrap up circa 2020.

So far, more than 6,000 specific suggestions on improving park perimeters have been submitted through the Parks Without Borders initiative, according to city officials.

Lead image via Google Maps