Sunday, May 1, 2016

Riverdale Avenue Street Festival



     Sunday was the annual Riverdale Avenue Street Festival. While the weather was not the greatest, it did not dampen the many people who came out to walk on Riverdale Avenue between West 236th and West 238th Streets. A huge stage set up where neighborhood children from the Riverdale Y Dance Theatre and the PS 24 Glee Club performed. On hand were State Senator Jeff Klein and Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz who tried their best at the miniature golf that was set up. As you will see in those photos both were not to successful, but it was a cold rainy day and Riverdale Avenue between West 236th and West 238th Streets is on a slope. The event was put together by KRVC and KRVC Executive Director Ms. Tracy Shelton joined the two elected officials on the stage to thank the many sponsors, performers, and the many people who helped set up the tents that kept the people who were in attendance dry. There were several information tables set up, and while the merchants on Riverdale Avenue were set up to have tables outside their stores the weather kept most of that away. City Councilman Andrew Cohen (an elected official of a few words) also stopped by, but left before Senator Klein and Assemblyman Dinowitz spoke. An interesting photo I was able to take while Senator Klein was speaking includes the vacant lot which was the site of the proposed eleven (then revised to six story) medical center on Riverdale Avenue which was halted by the Klein/Dinowitz Bronx Medical Center Size Limit Law. That Law was repealed one year later after the developer and hospital abandoned its plans for the medical center. The lot remains vacant and an eyesore to the community. You can click on any small photo to make it larger.
    
     











Above and Below are children from the Riverdale Dance Theatre.










Above - A joint dance by several members of the Riverdale Y Dance Theatre.
Below -  The PS 24 Glee Club.



Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz and State Senator Jeff Klein both tried their skill at miniature golf.


Above - State Senator Klein and Assemblyman Dinowitz gave remarks to the crowd after being introduced by KRVC Executive Director Tracy Shelton.
Below - As I took a wider photo the eyesore of an empty lot where the abandoned medical center was proposed to be continues to be a blight on the area much to the dismay of many merchants who were hoping for more business from the proposed medical center. 



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