Power Station Building J at Mill Pond Park

We are excited to share a brief concept presentation for the community input and use of a new public resource, the second floor of the Power Station Building J at the Mill Pond Park in the Bronx on the Harlem River. We look forward to a meaningful process of inclusion for the best use of this unique opportunity.

Old Photo of Brook Park


Here is a great old photo taken from a roof on 140th street. The path you see through the empty lots connects 141st and 140th Streets. The perimeter of the park space is clear to see. The lots were developed, making the park space all the more important and valuable. Click on the photo for a larger version.

It is interesting to see that the spontaneous flow of traffic through the space parallels the flow of the underground brook.

We believe the photo is from Camilo José Vergara and his book “New American Ghetto” 1995.

Mulchfest 2011

Thanks to all who participated, the youth, adults, community and staff of the NYC Parks Department. We recovered over 100 trees!

Thanks especially to the teens from buildOn and Brotherhood and Sister Soul.

Here is a video to pass around!

Click here for pics.

New Year’s Day River Patrol

We started out the new gregorian year with a fun and safe patrol of the Harlem River, Bronx Kill and small part of the East River. It was a warm January 1st, but with the snow still along the banks, especially along the lovely coast of Randall’s Island. On the Bronx side of the Kill we saw a pheasant flying thru this special Nature corridor.

paddling bronx kill in the snow

Also, due to the low tide we were able to see a number of seemingly unofficial pipes discharging from Randall’s Island. In addition, the Con Ed Electric cable that is a navigational obstacle with the right tide has a crumbled foundation. The metal holding it up has rotted entirely.
Rotted foundation of Con Ed cables across Bronx Kill

Please contact NYCDOT and explain that this structure is now an imminent danger and needs to be removed.
Click here to contact the Commissioner.
Thanks!

Harlem RiverWatch, a project of Friends of Brook Park

Mulchfest 2011

Chip in! Mulch your tree! Help NYC grow!

January 8 & 9, 2011
Mulchfest 2010

Bring your holiday tree to a designated city park to be recycled into mulch that will nourish plantings across the city! Remember to remove all lights and ornaments before bringing the tree to a MulchFest site.

List of sites besides Brook Park here.

Better yet, don’t buy a dead tree, and don’t choke it with electric lights powered by fossil fuels!

Check out this video below from previous fun times at Brook Park’s MulchFest.

Donate before 2011 & your gift is doubled!

Friends,

Thank you to all of you who responded to our year end to call. Just a final reminder to give before the end of 2010 for your tax deduction for the year, AND to DOUBLE your gift.

A generous donor, wanted me to remind you that your gift of $5-$5,000 will be doubled before December 31st, so please help today.Lehman College

If you cannot give at this time, please email to your friends with a personal note of your involvement with us.

Every little bit helps!

Visit here to donate online.

Or mail to:

Friends of Brook Park
PO Box 801
Bronx NY 10454

Thanks again for all you do!

Harry J. Bubbins

From a 9th Grader:

“Today I visited Brook Park and I loved being there feeling the air
on my face and tasting nutrients that are fresh and clean and from
mother nature herself.
Places like this are important because they let people stop and think
and breathe in the good nature air and take a step back to what we
have to do to keep our planet healthy and clean.
Brook Park is called Brook Park because there was/is a body of water
under all the construction that there is right now.
What I loved about this experience was that I did alot of things I
never thought I would be able to do. Like handle with logs and
decomposing. Moving concrete around and tasting sugar from a leaf.
(Stevia!) All that was new to me, and I’d love for someone else to
have an experience with places like Brook Park.”

Donate today and your gift is doubled!

Roasting Marshmallows





Where else in the City can children, teens and adults share around a campfire and enjoy roasted marshmallows after engaging meaningfully with Nature on community service projects?

campfire marshmallows, brook park

After a day of engagement in the garden, more fun! Bronx youth with our partners at buildOn.

Only Brook Park!

Compost Class

Six 12th grade Science classes from the International High School across the street from Brook Park were able to benefit from the composting expertise of the “Urban Transformers”.

Compost Class

Students learning about compost, using a pitchfork to turn the decomposing pile.

Click HERE for the lesson plan of the day.

From the Urban Transformers website, which you can visit here:

Our Mission – Go Green with Composting

IMG_1057

Learning about the chemical composition of the decaying matter and the impact on climate change. Using the corkscrew to turn the warm pile

Replacing landfill disposal with composting is one of the easiest and most effective ways for New Yorkers to fight global warming. New York City has numerous inspiring green initiatives; however, eliminating organic matter being hauled to landfill is not one of them. As it stands now, composting is not widely available to New York City residents.

Urban Transformers is working to change this. Through designing and implementing composting programs, education and community organizing, we will expand on-site composting in our parks, community gardens and throughout the City.

Urban Transformers is a special project with Friends of Brook Park. You can reach them at urbantransformers [at] gmail [dot] com.Compost Class South Bronx

Giving Thanks

Dear Friend,

As November comes to an end, cover crops are sown, leaves are raked and our thoughts turn to remembering how this country was founded and the enormous work for social justice in America, at Friends of Brook Park, we’d still like to pause for a moment to reflect on all the reasons we have to be grateful.

Here are just a few:

*We are grateful for the indigenous peoples and cultures, the philosophies and way of life that sustain a possible future on this finite Earth if we listen and act on them.

*We are grateful for our volunteers – educators, parents, organizers and activists – who devote their time and energy to teaching their neighbors to grow food, to eat well, and introducing their children to Nature in the inner city, encouraging free play and those challenging a system of greed and unfairness.

*We are grateful for our supporters – our donors, foundations, elected officials and private sponsors, and others who give so generously of their time and resources to support the mission and work of Friends of Brook Park.

As a nonprofit organization, we are 100% reliant on the generosity of friends and supporters – and with another year of accomplishment coming to a close, we have a lot to be thankful for.

Wishing you a reflective time filled with much to be thankful for and all the locally-grown delights of the season,

Harry J. Bubbins
Executive Director

PS
To learn more about the origins of “Thanksgiving” Look up the 1637 Pequot massacre, or visit here.