P1246990943SFVTX

1
Boating Programs in Valentino Park, Red Hook2008
The Red Hook Boaters PortSide NewYork Urban
Divers Conservancy
2
A little history

• Fall 2006, PortSide NewYork, Red Hook Boaters,
  and Urban Divers met with Julius Spiegel, Eric
  Green, and Partnership for Parks.
• Spiegel approved us to have boat storage in
  Valentino Park.
• A container was discussed. Concern about the
  ugliness of containers was expressed.
• The three boating groups met and concluded
• all our gear does not fit in one container
• Increased programming in Valentino necessitates
  more than just a storage box
• Carolina Salguero of PortSide conceived of a
  3-container complex that looks like a building
  with educational panels and a roof water
  collection system.
• The designer Todd Seidman turned the napkin
  doodle into a plan.

3
2008 schedule Free kayaking on 22 days this
summer
1,500 kayak rides in 3 years
4
every person who has a fun kayak ride, and picks
up some trash becomes an environmental advocate
for the harbor.
All programs free and open to all.We do a beach
clean-up every time we run the kayaking program.
This gets the local residents thinking about
litter and water quality.
5
We partner on programs 3/08 Hosted Parks NYC
Watertrail launch attended by Parks Commissioner
Benepe 9/07 Hosted rest stop and press
conference for 5 borough Kayak Ramble run by
Queens Parks Commissioner Lewandowski Free
kayaking during Red Hook Waterfront Arts
Festival Free kayaking during PortSides Kayak
Valet event Activities with youth from the Red
Hook Initiative We hosted event for Partnership
for Parks to thank their grant recipients. We
helped BCUE do a tour of Red Hook
6
re-establishing the connectionbetween people
ashore and on the water creating activities
and spaces for both
7
Kayak Valetinvented by PortSide
Valets watch the boats so paddlers can visit
inland. Neighborhood historical and shopping
Information is provided to visitors coming by
land and sea.
8
Proposed for Valentino
Education and interpretation
Safe boating information (tides, currents, use of
marine radio) Ship identifier chart Maritime
Trail about Red Hook history
Community Sailing - makes sailing affordable and
shared
9
Proposed for Valentino
Community Sailing
Community sailing means low cost and free
programs, lessons, and events on boats many
people use. Programs can be structured a number
of ways. Usually, grants and low-cost adult
sailing subsidize free youth boating.
Results FunExercise Teaches teamwork Instills
confidence Teaches water safety Develops work
skills PortSide will launch a Marine Career
Center
10
Community Sailing Market Research
We looked at other examples Community Boating
Center, Providence, RI The American Small Craft
Assoc., Queens Community Boating,
Boston Courageous Sailing, Boston
We surveyed the community Community Board 6 Red
Hook Houses Tenants Assoc. Survey form available
on line Survey form in Red Hook Rec Center Dozens
of surveys received
11
What it needs
A boat, heres our first one
Something to attach the boat to
Your permission
12
Urban Divers Conservancy
Live! Beneath The Estuary Underwater Video
Exploration Guided eco-cruises historical and
ecological perspective hands-on scientific
investigation on the health of the Gowanus
Canal. Annual Submerge Art and Environment
Festival celebrates the Gowanus Canal.
13
Urban Divers
Environmental testing Annual waterway clean-up of
Gowanus Canal Oyster seeding project
14
The Roof

• makes the containers look like a building
• provides shade
• collects rainwater for rinsing boats, gear,
  people

15
Signage

• Announces programming
• Provides educational, safety historical info
• Masks the container look

16
Location

• Fills unused, ratty corner of the park
• Blocks view of ugly ATF building
• Convenient to beach

Avail space is 27 x 66 without cutting down
trees or moving rocks
17
Whats there now
A lovely view of the ATF!
18
Growing interest
Locals spend more time in Valentino because of
our programming. We draw people from around the
city to the park.
PortSide will host Rocking the Boat from the
South Bronx. 5/15-17, they will circumnavigate
Manhattan with 5 boats and 18 rowers. They will
sleep on PortSides home, the tanker Mary Whalen,
but we dont know where to put their boats.
19
Not so fun facts
Red Hook real estate is increasingly expensive
and constrains boat programming. PortSide did
not get the space it was promised and has been
searching since winter 2005 for space for The
Flotsam Project (outdoor furniture made from
beach driftwood) and boat storage. The Red
Hook Boaters sublet space in an industrial
building in 2007, but had to leave due to
redevelopment. For 2008, the Red Hook Boaters are
renting storage space for one container on
industrial land. The 4,000 they pay in rent
could purchase additional equipment for expanded
programming.
20
BUILD IT AND THEY WILL COME