Uneven Distribution/Quality of Greenspaces

Brooklyn Bridge Park in Brooklyn

Betsy Head Playground in Brownsville, Brooklyn

A map of upper Manhattan and South Bronx showing the percentage of people living below the poverty threshold. Highbridge Park and University Heights are two parks located in this area and are in desperate need of restoration. 

Marine Park in Brooklyn

Prospect Park in Brooklyn 

The south Bronx, N.Y. is an undeveloped area put in between a waste transfer station and a FedEx shipping facility.  Mychal Johnson, an environmental activist in the South Bronx, wants to turn it into a waterfront park. There are other designs on the space, however, namely the new headquarters for Fresh Direct, an online grocery delivery service, which would bring a massive warehouse and over 1,000 diesel trucks, plus a fueling station, to the site.

 The area of the South Bronx due to its industrial past, has some of the highest asthma rates in the country, and rates of death from asthma are approximately three times the national average. It also suffers from elevated obesity rates and is an acknowledged food desert.

 As of 2010, the South Bronx represented the poorest congressional district in the country, according to a Center For American Progress breakdown, with 256,544, or 38 percent, of its residents living below the poverty line. Since then it has been redistricted and is now part of New York’s 15th Congressional District.

 Johnson is not the only one proposing a large project with such local emphasis. The South Bronx Greenway is part of a city-led initiative to create links between the waterfront and Bronx residents. This 2006 initiative includes the Randall’s Island Connector — a pedestrian and bike pathway leading from the South Bronx to the 400-plus acres of recreational facilities on nearby Randall’s Island.

http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2014/10/09/3574768/battle-for-new-york-green-space/

  Sustainable South Bronx (SSBx) works to address economic and environmental issues in the South Bronx – and throughout New York City – through a combination of green job training, community greening programs, and social enterprise.

 Sustainable South Bronx (SSBx) was founded in 2001 with the began desire to advocate for parks and green development in the South Bronx and to promote environmental justice in a neighborhood that has borne, and continues to bear, a heavy environmental burden for the rest of the city.

SSBx’s work has evolved over the past decade and now reflects the belief that the environmental challenges facing the South Bronx cannot be separated from the neighborhood’s economic and social concerns. Over the past 10 years, SSBx has broadened its focus by linking environmental restoration to the economic needs of low-income New Yorkers who are seeking a fresh start. Today, the mission of SSBx is to address economic and environmental issues in the South Bronx – and throughout New York City – through a combination of green job training, community greening programs, and social enterprise.

We currently have five programs dedicated to improving the environment and the economic prospects of South Bronx residents:

          BEST Academy. Our award-winning green job training program has graduated

more than 400 New Yorkers since 2003.

SmartRoofs. Our social enterprise simultaneously improves the city’s environment

and creates opportunities for BEST Academy graduates.

Bronx Energy Efficiency. This program is dedicated to promoting energy audits

and retrofits throughout the borough.

Policy and Planning. This program includes our work on the South Bronx

Greenway as well as our collaborations with other environmental justice

organizations.

Education. In addition to working with South Bronx students on a variety of projects, we will soon launch our new AirCasting program.

Higbridge Park, like other city parks, relies solely on city funding, in order to improve the park in a more timely manner more community involvement and support is needed. In an area where most only have a high school education or less and one third do not speak English well or at all this can be a challenge.

 The park has received 85 million in funding from former mayor Michael Bloomberg's PlaNYC initiative. As well as additional funding from Congressman José E. Serrano. This has made it possible for the $61.7 million project to be underway. Improvements have been made to Highbridge Park including reconstruction and repairs to staircases and improvements on Roberto Clemente Park (a part of New York State Parks)

More than 40% of people in Washington Heights are reported to have less than a high school education and 32.2% percent of people do not speak English clearly or not at all. 

Fort George Amusement Park est.1895

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