DEIS: Parkland concerns; Costs of new parkland

COSTS OF NEW PARKLAND

Draft EIS states:

Based on preliminary estimates, the net construction investments for the proposed park space would amount to approximately $95.5 million (2006 dollars). This figure includes site preparation and hard costs (actual construction), as well as design, legal, and other soft costs.

According to NYCDPR the total construction cost for the proposed park space would be $101.3 million. However, absent the proposed project, approximately $5.7 million would be spent on physical improvements to Macomb’s Dam Park and these improvements would not take place in the future with the proposed project.

Without the project, proposed open space would include a waterfront esplanade along with a larger lawn area along the waterfront containing benches and landscaping. As shown in Figure 4-7, a portion of the proposed esplanade would run along a portion of the western boundary of the Yankee Stadium project area. The large waterfront park area that is part of the Gateway Center project would be immediately south of the Yankee Stadium project area.

The second project would improve the active recreational facilities in the portion of Macomb’s Dam Park located north of East 161st Street (see A on Figure 4-1) with funds from the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYCDEP) water filtration plant project. The improvements would include installation of a synthetic turf soccer field, lighting around the track, reconstruction of the bleachers, and construction of a comfort station.

Outside the project area, the fountain on the triangle portion of Macomb’s Dam Park located between Woodcrest and Ogden Avenues (Parcel G on Figure 4-1) will be repaired. This NYCDPR project will restore the existing stone work, stairs, and pathways in the park.Additionally, improvements will be made to the northern portion of John Mullaly Park (see K on Figure 4-1), also with funds from the NYCDEP project, including reconstructing the playground and constructing a spray shower and comfort station. It is anticipated that both of the park improvement projects outside the project area will be completed by 2009.

Response:

The DEIS states that money is already programmed to be spent in our local parks if the stadium project does not happen. If the new stadium gets built, these improvements will not be made, but rather, the parks will be wiped out and new park facilities will get built. So in essence, if the stadium does not get built, the community gets improved parkland anyway. Building the stadium will essentially replace our current facilities – which are programmed to be improved – with facilities that nobody wants.

What is interesting is that one of the already pre-programmed improvements is a waterfront esplanade, which is being touted as part of the project. Therefore, the Yankees should not be given credit with bringing this esplanade to the community, since it was already planned anyway. The potential for this esplanade to be useful is better without the proposed new stadium since the proposed stadium will expand waterfront parking lots right up to the edge of the esplanade – essentially making it a path through a parking lot. The community would be better off with the already planned esplanade without the proposed project.