Community activists are planning a rally tomorrow (Saturday) to protest the city’s resiliency plan for East River Park. From the organizers’ press release:
Demonstrators will bury a much-criticized flood control plan under a pile of compost in East River Park Saturday. It’s their response to the city’s plan to bury the 57-acre park beneath eight feet of landfill starting in six months. “East River Park ACTION is organizing the community to oppose the city’s scheme. We support a plan that will provide much-needed flood protection. At the same time it should expand the park and reduce greenhouse emissions in response to the climate crisis,” says Howard Brandstein, director of the Sixth Street Community Center. He is one of the organizers of the “March and Rally to Save East River Park.”
The rally and march begins at Tompkins Square Park at noon. Participants will cross over to the East River before heading down towards the Williamsburg Bridge. The city plans to demolish East River Park as part of the plan, and completely rebuild it. The park would be closed for at least 3 1/2 years. An earlier, community-driven resiliency plan was abandoned.
The City Planning Commission will vote on the plan Monday at 1 p.m. The proposal then heads to the City Council for final approval.
