Keep Our Park Clean (Literally)
Alexa David-Lang, ‘22
November 2019
Of course, the only time some boomers actually acknowledge climate change is when they’re destroying a park.
I’m referring, of course, to the East Side Coastal Resiliency Project, or ESCRP, just a few months and votes away from beginning at the start of 2020. This plan, proposed by the city in July of 2019, will cover the entire East River Park in around 8 feet of garbage and build a new park on top of it as protection from flooding. The very notion of the ESCRP has immensely angered the localsbecause they already had a plan to build an 8 feet wall around the edge of the park to protect from flooding. But the city decided that this plan would be better despite the fact that it is more expensive and destroys an insane amount of nature and space for the community.
And not only that, but on Tuesday, November 12th, the City Council’s Land Use Committee voted unanimously to move the plan forward. Then the following Thursday the 14th, the City Council voted again,also almost unanimously to move the plan forward. As per the NYC Uniform Land Use Review Procedure, the plan only has to go through a mayor’s vote and decision finalizing to begin. And it is already very clear that the mayor will vote in favor of it as he has expressed his support for the plan multiple times. He claims that the safety of the people is what’s at stake. However, he has also avoided meetings with locals from the area to discuss the negative consequences of the plan.
Okay, but why should you care? This plan doesn’t really have anything to do with you, and it just concerns a random park near your school. Well, I think you should care a lot more. With the rise in the average global temperature caused by climate change, there are increasing numbers of natural disasters, including hurricanes like Hurricane Sandy. While this plan does seem like it provides a good solution to protect against flooding, it’s not only a temporary solution, but it’s also one that adds to the problem. By covering miles of flora and fauna with garbage, you’re destroying providers of oxygen that help combat rising carbon dioxide levels from pollution. And while the plan says it will replant everything, it will take years for some of those trees to grow to where they are today. And also, I know that we all complain about Bard, but I don’t think we really want it to drown in water. Because as I have been informed, when that happened with Sandy, we had to share a building with *shudder* Bard Queens.
A specific group that should watch out for this are student-athletes. When the park gets covered, so do the fields, courts, track, and more. This has the sad result of there being no more practice space unless you count the “gym” (and yes I’m putting “gym” in quotes because let’s face it, it’s smaller than the auditorium, you can basically stand in the middle of the room and touch both sides with your arms). And you can also kiss outdoor gym goodbye. It’ll be yoga for the entire year. Or worse, that weird game we sometimes play where you have to keep a tennis ball balanced on your hand and try to knock other peoples’ off.
My point is, you should care! It sucks that this is happening at all, but especially because it’s happening to something very close and important to us. While we are just kids and sometimes that can make a person feel totally useless, I will wrap up this article as I often do with pieces like these: by listing ways you can help! First, Google the heck out of this. While I think I did an amazing job writing this op-ed, it’s also just that: an op-ed. It’s short and snappy and definitely doesn’t cover everything that you need to know to inform yourself properly about this topic. Second, go bug the hell out of Bill de Blasio. We need to let him know that this plan is not what’s right for not just the park and the locals, but the city as a whole. Contact him and tell him that he needs to listen, and he needs to listen now before it’s too late. And lastly, the thing that we all do best: take to social media. Share this article with anyone who you think might be interested or could help. Tag politicians or people in power to grab their attention. Go to eastriverparkaction.org to learn about the people opposing this plan and how to help them. Even if you think you’re doing nothing, you’re really not. Spread the word before this plan begins at the start of 2020, and our park goes under garbage.