Monitoring East River Park - NYC

Under the Williamsburg Bridge, there's a Lead hotspot, according to the results of testing in 2020 as detailed here.

There are two monitors set up in the Park under the Williamsburg Bridge while painting and other work is being done. There is no signage or other indicators, but we have been told it's Lead that is being monitored. When details are confirmed about the threshold or how the public is alerted, we'll post it. These are gas-powered and small generators are adding their own tinge to the air here - this one is on the north side of the bridge. In 2020, LES Breathe tested the soil and remediation was recommended. Here is the EPA on Lead monitoring. This article explains the concept of (µg/m3) in the second paragraph, and here is an EPA fact sheet, from 2016 for lead exposure.

There are two monitors set up in the Park under the Williamsburg Bridge while painting and other work is being done. There is no signage or other indicators, but we have been told it's Lead that is being monitored. When details are confirmed about the threshold or how the public is alerted, we'll post it.

Construction in ESCR Project Area 2 is underway and  as of December 2020, there are: 4) air/vibration/noise monitors at Asser Levy Recreation Center (see photo)(2) air/vibration/noise monitors on Ave C south of 23rd Street(2) vibration monitors by Solar One

When the park is razed, birds and insects will be lost 

Until January 2021, anyone heading south from the park could walk, run or cycle south. Now, construction of Pier 42 is finally under way, and although nothing can be seen from the park side, access is closed.

The bridge to this flower park is a good place to see skaters and bike tricks. Those flood gates are a joke.

I am able to drop off my food scraps so that they will be made into compost. This compost is used as a soil amendment in the East River Park and is also given away to community groups. Because of this environmental service offered by the Lower East Side Ecology Center, my food scraps do not end up in a landfill and do not create methane, which is a very powerful heat trapping greenhouse gas. This is a bad flood protection plan that was made in secret by the Mayor and other NYC officials and dumped on the community without our input. The previous plan was developed with community input over a few years. The City has a bad track record in this park when it comes to completing renovations on time. When the bulkhead was previously repaired, it was supposed to take 2 years. Ha! It took 10 years and the work started to crumble within years of completion! The stainless steel railings were rusted when the project reopened.

Actually, it's where all the new ferries park at night. Does the current ESCR plan overly prioitize the ferries?

i relax 

Sadly there are stumps here, 

This is a lovely contemplative space in all seasons. With the tennis courts expanding, there's no room for a Dance Oval in the new park, although it's currently quite common to see people dancing, celebrating or even holding a memorial here.  The labyrinth is by artist Diana Carulli. We hope another will be painted in the new park or nearby. It has been grounding to have it in the center of the park.

i love the east river park and i use it almost everyday. im concerned it's going to take too long.

Dogs love East River Park

We will lose all the playgrounds and not be able to use the path for years.

Lots of money being spent but not to reduce CSOs, that is combined sewer outflows that pollute the river on rainy days. The Digester Eggs at Newtown Creek turn our sewage into methane (natural gas), CO2 and water. 

It's sad to think where these woodland creatures will go when the park is razed. The new park will have have to grow a long time to provide habitat for them.

A couple of years back, these signs were added. The first is Parks' directory and oddly enough, it leaves off the two stewardship programs that manage hundreds of volunteers in park cleanups, planting and other care projects. Yes, it mentions the Fire Boat House, but instead of listing Lower East Side Ecology Center (which has been there 20 years), it says comfort station. Solar One on the north end of the park, isn't listed either, although it's got an amazing edible food forest, solar innovation, etc.

This end of the park is already closed for construction. I have seen dust swirling around on windy days and I worry about the tons of fill coming into the park.

nature bats last

it's all about the views - especially from above - up on the bridges