The Friends of Gulick Park got some good news this week. For the past year, we’ve been reporting about their efforts to transform the ragged little section of the neighborhood at Delancey and Willett streets. The City Council had already allocated $360,000 for the rehabilitation of Gulick Park, and State Senator Daniel Squadron kicked in $100,000 more. Now an additional $1,050,000 – $550,000 from City Councilmember Margaret Chin and $500,000 from Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer – has been earmarked for the project.
That means, there’s more than $1.5 million on the table. In the past, the Parks Department has said it requires $2 million to begin drawing up design proposals. Jake Itzkowitz, Chin’s communications and legislative affairs director, said they’re hopeful work can now proceed. Itzkowitz said Chin will be working with Stringer to advocate for Gulick Park. Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, who lives in the apartment building alongside the park, indicated earlier this year he would try to find additional funds for the revamp.
This past spring, with the help of the Hester Street Collaborative, organizers held a “visioning” workshop, giving residents an opportunity to weigh in on the park’s future. Once the funding is in place, there will be more community-based planning events. Dave Bolotsky, Friends of Gulick Park organizer, said he’s grateful for Chin and Stringer’s support, and looks forward to working with them, as well as the Parks Dept. as plans progress.
We contacted the Parks Dept. press office earlier this week for comment. We’ll let you know if they respond.
