Say NO to "Bloomberg Boulevard"
A conservancy is “an
organization that works to protect animals, plants, and natural resources
especially by purchasing and caring for areas of land,” according to
Merriam-Webster. The mission statement of Van Cortlandt Park Conservancy
(VCPC) is: “to sustain and enhance the park as a vibrant destination for
recreation, leisure and the enjoyment of natural
landscapes.”
Yet still, the VCPC is
doing nothing as NYCParks burns $2.41 million in federal/city taxpayer dollars,
to widen and pave over a popular historic trail that runs 1.5 miles through
nature preserves, sometimes feet away. The NYCParks plan destroys 1.5 to 2 acres
of forest and 400 trees, harming both plant and wildlife thriving
there.
Two wildlife preserves flank the
trail - Tibbets Brook/Lake, and the Northwest
Forest.*
Forever Wild preserves are supposed to receive special protection by the
city. The parks dept. describes them at their website: "The Forever
Wild Program is an initiative of the New York City Department of Parks &
Recreation to protect and preserve the most ecologically valuable lands within
the five boroughs."**
Asphalt causes water
runoff issues that result in contaminated water and rotted tree roots. The
Putnam Trail runs between the Lake and Tibbets Brook, with the lake enjoyed by
local fishermen.
An urgent problem: the
President of the Van Cortlandt Park Conservancy is also the administrator of Van
Cortlandt Park, in other words a parks department employee. This is clearly a conflict of interest,
says SPT.
Neither the
conservancy nor parks dept. is paying attention to the parks department’s poll
at their website for Van Cortlandt Park, where 55% of people say if they could
visit the park every day for one activity, it’d be to wander the nature trails.
Others chose: birdwatching (6%), fishing (9%), golf (6%), horseback riding
(25%).***
“When the parks
department sends out a spokesman about the Putnam Trail and says, `well, the
conservancy supports our idea,’ that’s nonsense,” said
SPT.
Please
write a note to Mayor Bloomberg and make him aware of this conflict of
interest and that his legacy will always be associated with the
destruction of 1 acre of land, 400 trees and unwanted asphalt on the
Putnam Trail in Van Cortlant Park. http://on.nyc.gov/3CDcV6
Tell
Mayor Bloomberg it's his choice and that the Putnam Trail can forever be
referred to as the "Bloomberg nature walk" or if current plans go
through the "Bloomberg asphalt raceway". (Bloomberg Boulevard)
______________________________
Webster’s New 20th
Century Dictionary, Unabridged, defines conservancy:
"The act of preserving;
conservation; preservation from injury or improper use.”
Van Cortlandt Park,
the city's fourth largest, has many recreational outlets including multiple
ball fields, bocce and basketball courts, fitness equipment, pools, ice skating
rink, etc.***
