In the last two days, there have been more than five separate brush fires incidents back weeds ie. weeds surrounding Gerritsen Beach. These fires were large and due to the dryness of the area fast moving.
The Back Weeds itself is pleading:
Photo by: Joseph Mikos (josephmikos.net)
Most area FDNY units in the our area as well as the Vollies were called in to help with the blaze. A few FDNY vehicles including the Brush Fire Unit (BFU-6) became stuck on debris for more than three hours. Additional Staten Island brush fire units had to be called in to control the brush.
Brooklyn Park Destroyed Weeks After Extreme Makeover
Just last month, the field behind PS 277 in Gerritsen Beach was the site of celebration as volunteers planted hundreds upon hundreds of trees as part of Mayor Bloomberg’s “Million Tree Program.”
This past weekend the Gerritsen Beach ball fields dugout and newly planted trees have been destroyed. Vandals ripped up and tossed around more than a hundred trees. They also severely damaged the dugout bending fence poles completely out of shape.
For those keeping track, they did not last 30 days.
The specific area of the back weeds , formally known as woodchips, behind PS 277, is now part of the nyc million tree program. The parks department and hundreds of volunteers planted these trees no more than 30 days ago. As soon as you walk back there went you will see more than a hundred trees ripped up and tossed around. Worse yet, sitting right in the middle of all of these trees is a mural with a Gerritsen Beach little league golf outing t shirt flapping around on top of it.
Some of the problem is the area itself the fields are very dark at night which and the dugout is not visible on a good night.The dugout is behind trees on Channel Avenue and the street lights don’t reach back there. The tree area behind the school suffers the same issues and would be almost impossible to see at night as it is uphill and behind containers.
I guess they didn't see the sign. Clean Up or You're Out!
Last year, parks cleared a large patch of land across from the library to plant 2,000 plus trees. While clearing the land they discovered a berm of cement and debris. At the time, Parks promised then that they would coordinate with sanitation and just remove the debris. Months later, Parks discovered they didn’t have enough money and shelved the project.
To get the project completed Councilman Lew Fidler has moved $100,000 in discretionary funding from another parks project into this specific project to have the debris removed.
Parks had a second day of tree plantings. I guess I haven’t been back there in a while because the entire tree line is fenced off to protect the trees they have been planting.
This past weekend the NYC Parks department with the natural resources group and hundreds of outside volunteers came in and planted thousands of trees as part of New York City’s Million Tree program, behind PS 277.
As per Senator Goldens requests and 311 calls, the NYC parks department has cleared most of the weeds in front of the soccer field fence. The fence is also known as the Green Monster as it blocks the view of most a good portion of the soccer field.
On Thursday, August 18, 2011 at approximately 0725 hours, police officers responded to calls of a body in the water at 3078 Gerritsen Ave within the confines of the 63 precinct. Upon arrival, officers discovered a M/W/28 unconscious and unresponsive on the shore of the location. EMS responded and pronounced the aided DOA. There are no arrests at this time, ME will determine the cause of death and investigation is ongoing.
Update11:45AM From information gathered at the scene.
There was a bar fight involving two brothers and another group that spilled into the streets. One brother was stabbed near Everett avenue and collapsed across the street in the weeds. He was transported to a hospital and is in critical condition. The other brother was stabbed and found DOA at the point.
Update 12:20PM Police are waiting on a warrant for a person of interest on 3609 Filmore Ave between 36 and 37th
Update 2:00pm The internet has identified the body as Timothy Murray and the stabbing victim as Ryan Murray.
Update 5:00pm The 63 has arrested someone in connection with the stabbing. A warrant was issued for Samuel Edison.
This is a breaking story and will be updated as information becomes available.
Warning: The below picture may be graphic for some.
Residents at the end of Gerritsen Avenue are struggling with a growing number of off-road vehicles who use Gerritsen Avenue for dangerous stunts and racing.
A video posted on YouTube in February shows an example of the use of these vehicles racing up and down Gerritsen Avenue at high speeds. The summer weather has brought out even more riders who race up and down Gerritsen Avenue and back weeds.
There are many law abiding ATV riders in the area that bring their ATV’s to a designated area. The issue in Gerritsen Beach is that many locals as well as some out of towners use Gerritsen Avenue and many of the Courts as their own private highway creating dangerous conditions. Another concern is that a few riders are tearing up the soccer and ball fields which are damaging them. Some locals and out of towners use back weeds which is considered to be illegal, but many residents of Gerritsen Beach are “okay with this” as they consider it “out of sight, out of mind”.
If you remember, in May 2007, a 26-year-old man was killed while street racing down Gerritsen Avenue during the early morning hours.
The police have always said that it’s difficult to catch offenders because they often take off when approached. If they were to chase the rider it would create an even more dangerous condition. Apparently, they never heard the saying “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”. While riding back weeds is technically illegal, some residents would rather have back weeds be used than the dangers of it happening on Gerritsen Avenue.
Here are some fun facts:
Just be reminded that Parks Enforcement or the Police can issue Criminal Court Summonses for unlawful operation of motorized vehicle and confiscate the ATV.
In the State of New York you cannot operate these devices on sidewalks, public streets or highways. These devices are motor vehicles, but they do not have the correct equipment or design for operation on roadways.
Motorized Scooter – a device with a motor attached and a handlebar for a standing rider. An example of a motorized scooter is the device called the Go-ped.
Mini-bike – a small, motorized device with two wheels and created for off-road use. A mini-bike does not qualify as a moped, a motorcycle or an ATV.
Dirt Bike – a motorized device like a motorcycle, but created for and used for off-road use. Some “dirt bikes” qualify as an ATV. These vehicles can register and operate off-road as an ATV.
Go-Kart – a small, motorized device with four wheels, created for off-road use. You cannot register a go-kart as a motor vehicle or ATV because a go-kart does not have the same equipment.
Motor-assisted Bicycle – a bicycle to which a small motor is attached. A motor-assisted bicycle does not qualify for a registration as a motorcycle, moped or ATV and does not have the same equipment.
You are subject to arrest if you operate one of these motorized vehicles and do not have a registration, driver license, inspection, insurance or correct equipment.
According to ATVSafety.gov, from 1982-2009, there were an estimated 740 deaths associated with ATVs nationwide, 357 in NY including 140 reported deaths that involved children. In 2004, an estimated 136,000 ATV-related injuries were treated in hospital emergency rooms.About 131,900 ATV use all-terrain vehicles and the police say most comply with the law, but Sgt. Jeff Johnston of the Kent County RCMP said the rule-breakers are putting themselves in danger.
No passengers are allowed on the ATV unless it is designed to carry more than one person.
All riders (operator and passengers) must wear a helmet at all times.
All ATVs must be registered with the Department of Motor Vehicles, renewing registration once every year.
ATV use on highways is prohibited, except to cross these roads.
No one under 10 may ride or operate an ATV.
Operators between 10 and 15 may ride an ATV if they are on their parent’s land and supervised by a parent, or on their parent’s land and in possession of a safety training certificate.
No ATV shall be operated without a lighted headlight and taillight from ½ hour after sunset to ½ hour before sunrise..
Over the weekend “The Swimming Cities of Serenissima” a fleet of handmade boats with crews of artists visited Gerritsen Point. They launched art boats from junk and generally played games like jousting.
Some of the handmade boats were made with 2L soda bottles, others water cooler bottles.
A crane doing construction work on the bridge on the Belt snapped, approx 40 ft of the crane fell into the water along with deisel fuel and hydro fuel, No one was injured. The construction company was going to handle the clean up.
Despite promises from Councilman Fidler, the Parks department was indeed allowed to encroach on the Gerritsen Beach Little League, blocking their walkway.
Parks recently “completed” the walkway, gate, guardrail mess (above) blocking normal pedestrian, stroller, dog walking, traffic while giving ATV’s easy access.
It appears that it’s a parks department gate and not necessarily a community access gate. If that is true then we are going to need a parks department employee to unlock this gate whenever necessary.
None of this makes any sense, the area is now 100% closed all the time instead of 100% open all the time. There used to be a small opening all the time through the guardrail (maybe 3 feet) then a huge concrete block to block any ATV’s from driving in. Now it’s closed 100% of the time. But now we have a 10+ foot gate that will be open when parks feels like it.
No where in previous meetings was a new path discussed, suggested, nor was anything presented to the community.
Original Plans Showed no Path - Encroaching the Little League
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