Q&A
Inquiry into new and improved parks, schools, and libraries for the project
0:28:24
·
5 min
Council Member Riley questions representatives from various city agencies about plans for new and improved parks, schools, and libraries as part of the Bronx Metro North rezoning project. He emphasizes the need for infrastructure improvements to accompany new housing development.
- Nick Molinari from the Department of Parks and Recreation discusses collaborative efforts to ensure accessible open spaces
- Riley requests specific improvement plans for Burns' playground, Givens Square, and Loreto Park
- Paul Philps from City Planning addresses plans for additional schools, working with the School Construction Authority
- Michael Kavalar discusses ongoing assessments of library needs in the area
- Riley inquires about increased funding for local precincts and firehouses
Kevin C. Riley
0:28:24
They should be.
0:28:25
Understood.
0:28:28
As I also mentioned in my remarks, you cannot just build housing.
0:28:31
If you're going to build more housing, you have also have to provide more parks, schools, and libraries.
0:28:36
You also have to improve the neighborhood's infrastructure and provide more funds for policing and firehouses.
0:28:42
So let's address this 1 by 1.
0:28:44
Will new park spaces be created, not just open space on private land?
Paul Philps
0:28:51
Thank you for that question.
Kevin C. Riley
0:28:52
Is parks there?
Paul Philps
0:28:54
Oh, they they are here.
Kevin C. Riley
0:28:55
Can can can they come up?
0:28:57
Sure.
0:28:58
Absolutely.
0:28:59
He's about to hit me with the same line.
Paul Philps
0:29:03
Go at a different level.
Kevin C. Riley
0:29:07
Okay.
0:29:09
Alright.
0:29:14
So it's Nick.
0:29:16
Oh, on our side.
UNKNOWN
0:29:17
You're head of us, Nick.
0:29:18
Can you please take my name for record?
Nick Molinari
0:29:20
Hi.
0:29:21
I'm Nick Monarch.
UNKNOWN
0:29:22
Can you swear to tell the truth enough about the truth in today in your remarks today in response to the questions and the council members?
UNKNOWN
0:29:29
Yes.
0:29:29
I do.
0:29:29
Thank you.
Paul Philps
0:29:30
How are
Kevin C. Riley
0:29:30
you doing, Nick?
0:29:31
Good.
0:29:31
So will new parts space be created and not just open space on private land with this project?
Nick Molinari
0:29:36
Thank you, Council member.
0:29:38
As Parks Department acknowledged the importance of open space, parks, and Plaza.
0:29:43
We've been working collaboratively with our colleague said city planning to ensure that the open spaces that are part of the plan are as accessible and large as possible.
0:29:52
And look forward to continuing conversations about open space needs within the districts.
Kevin C. Riley
0:29:57
Will the administration then be at least improving the current parks we have in the area?
Nick Molinari
0:30:02
Again, we acknowledge there's a lot of need within the district and could we will have continued conversations about the needs as part of the proceedings.
Kevin C. Riley
0:30:12
Alright.
0:30:13
Well, we're gonna be very passionate about this in the Bronx.
0:30:16
Understood.
0:30:17
We we do understand the Bronx, you know, plays their part with ensuring that we are building more land, opportunity with more housing with the land that we have.
0:30:26
But we wanna make sure that we're taking care of the infrastructure that's around.
0:30:30
We have existing parks in those areas.
0:30:32
We have existing streets in those areas.
0:30:34
Schools, libraries, firehouses, police houses.
0:30:38
We wanna make sure those are taken care of as we're adding this very important project.
0:30:43
That we all wanna see coming to the Bronx.
0:30:46
So before I continue my question, I just wanna add that.
0:30:49
Okay?
0:30:50
Have you surveyed the park spaces around the rezoning and assess potential improvements in the area?
Nick Molinari
0:30:57
We've been part of the collaborative process with City Planning over the last few years, have been in all of the engagement meetings about open space and have heard from tuning members about needs within the existing parks and needs for additional open spaces.
0:31:11
So we have an open ear, and we'll continue to have an open ear through the process.
0:31:15
Haven't had a specific on the ground to proceed survey that Parks has led though, but we've been very collaborative in this process.
Kevin C. Riley
0:31:22
I do have specific for examples, do you have any recommended improvements for Burns' playground Givens Square and Loreto Park.
0:31:33
If not, can you provide those to us as soon as possible?
Nick Molinari
0:31:39
Thank you.
0:31:40
We will look into those 3 slides.
0:31:42
You said Burns Playground, Gibbons Square, and Loreto Park?
Kevin C. Riley
0:31:45
Yes.
0:31:46
Thank you.
0:31:46
And is it your position that the park space in this area does not need improvement?
0:31:53
No.
Nick Molinari
0:31:53
I think parks spaced out.
0:31:54
The city needs improvement.
0:31:55
It continues to be used.
0:31:57
It needs improvement, and we look forward to seeing how these spaces can be improved through the process.
Kevin C. Riley
0:32:02
Thank you, Nick.
0:32:05
Has the administration committed to providing any additional schools within this project?
Paul Philps
0:32:12
Thank you for the question, council member.
0:32:14
So we've been working closely with our partners at the School Construction Authority throughout the planning.
0:32:19
And environmental review process to identify potential school seat impacts.
0:32:24
We have been and we'll be closely monitoring to identify future school sites and plan appropriately.
0:32:31
SCNDCP will continually monitor development here to track construction activity and potent and project potential future school needs and respond accordingly.
Kevin C. Riley
0:32:42
Is it funded and when will it be provided?
Paul Philps
0:32:47
Thank you for the question.
0:32:48
We certainly will take that back.
0:32:49
And certainly as we move forward, we will provide more details on school planning and funding as part of the process.
Kevin C. Riley
0:32:55
Will the new library be provided?
Michael Kavalar
0:33:07
Thank you for the question.
0:33:08
Council member we're obviously in discussions as part over the years.
0:33:14
We've been discussions with New York Public Libraries.
0:33:16
We're currently assessing their capital needs in the There are no current plans for new libraries, but we're working to understand what their needs might be in the the surrounding area.
Kevin C. Riley
0:33:25
So that was my next question.
0:33:27
If there weren't any new libraries, are you assessing the needs of the current libraries in the area?
0:33:31
So you are currently doing that.
Jack Connors
0:33:33
We're working with Yeah.
Kevin C. Riley
0:33:34
Do you have an assessment on when?
0:33:35
Do you have an assessment completed?
Michael Kavalar
0:33:38
I don't have for you right now,
Kevin C. Riley
0:33:39
but Okay.
Michael Kavalar
0:33:40
We can get back to you.
Kevin C. Riley
0:33:41
Alright.
0:33:41
Thank you.
0:33:42
Will you be increasing the funding for local precincts and firehouses in the area?
Paul Philps
0:33:50
Thank you for the question.
0:33:51
So we definitely have heard the need for increased capacity.
0:33:54
For the precincts.
0:33:55
So we're certainly in discussions with the administration and with the agencies, and we we will certainly get back to you as part of the process.
0:34:02
So on how that might be facilitated.