Parks Department Defends Boardwalk Plan
@The Coney Island Blog
The Parks Department has responded to opposition over it’s controversial plan to change the Riegelmann Boardwalk from wood to a plastic and concrete mixture.
According to the Brooklyn Daily Eagle Parks Department Spokesperson Maeri Ferguson sent them an email stating:
“The entire project is adhering to the city’s policy of environmentally-friendly construction, Ferguson wrote.
The city has a long-standing policy of reducing the use of tropical hardwoods. In fact, to reconstruct the entire boardwalk with tropical hardwoods would destroy thousands of acres of rainforest and contribute to the very climate change that destroyed the boardwalk in the first place,” Ferguson said.”
Do you agree with the Parks Department’s justification for changing the Boardwalk?
Let us know.
How about… http://www.asla.org/uploadedFiles/CMS/Business_Quarterly/ASLA_Black_Locust_Lumber_Presentation.pdf Or… https://savetheboardwalk.wordpress.com/ ?!
How about… “Stephen Noone, ASLA, senior associate, Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, said Black Locust lasts just as long as Ipe. He said it’s a “pioneering, not invasive” plant that “takes root on sites that other plants don’t like.” Unlike Ipe, the tree grows together in densely planted areas. In Europe and Asia, it’s already treated as an acceptable crop. In fact, a number of countries are moving forward with planting large groves for wood production, a business that, oddly, has failed to take root in the U.S.” Or…”Strong, durable and naturally water-resistant, white oak (Quercus alba) is at home indoors and out. Light to dark brown, rich in tannins and straight-grained with long rays that contribute to figuring, it’s the most popular choice for hardwood cabinets, high on the list for flooring and home furnishings, and valued in the construction of bridges, barrels and boats.” ?!
Or…”In the beginning, the original material chosen for the boardwalk was long leaf pine decking. Over the years, as the amount of foot traffic and enjoyment of the boardwalk increased, it became apparent that a stronger, tougher and more durable decking material was necessary. Ipe decking boards, one of the toughest natural outdoor hardwoods in the world, were chosen as a replacement for the older boardwalk decking. It was soon discovered that Ipe decking could withstand an amazing amount of foot traffic, beautifully, without splintering or wearing out. The Ipe decking was so strong that before long, vehicles including police cars and trash trucks, were riding on the wooden deck boards.” “Mataverde Cumaru Decking escapes Hurricane Sandy unscathed. It has been noted recently in newspaper reports that the devastating effects Hurricane Sandy had on large areas of the Northeast including the New York and New Jersey coasts particularly, did not affect the areas of the Coney Island boardwalk that had been rebuilt and repaired recently using the FSC Certified Mataverde Cumaru decking. The Cumaru section of the boardwalk shown in the photo above was installed with recycled plastic sleepers and FSC Certified 100% Pure Cumaru Decking. The Cumaru decking boards were securely attached with stainless steel decking screws for additional fastening strength and durability. This strong installation method helped the Cumaru decking in this section of the boardwalk to escape the brutal wrath and battering of the vicious storm.” From: http://www.mataverdedecking.com/blog/bid/139445/Cumaru-Decking-Coney-Island-Boardwalk
Was the above mentioned materials used to reconstruct the Coney Island Pier after super storm Sandy? If not what was used and could this material be a possible alternative to concrete?
‘During the hurricane, Steeplechase sustained the most damage to the wood timbers that form the connection between the concrete pile cap and the wood deck, says Paul Lewis of LTL Architects, the architecture firm that was hired as part of a collaborative team charged with restoring access to the beaches. The storm surge separated the wood deck from the concrete pile cap underneath it, sliding it around like a surfboard. According to Azzollini, the wood timbers were not bolted into the pile cap, providing support to the deck only “based on gravity.” Now, the newly rebuilt pier has reinforced concrete beams, which are twice as long as before and bolted right into the pile cap. The pier’s deck was rebuilt using recycled plasticized lumber, a plastic composite that has a longer lifespan than the tropical hardwood previously used.”
From: http://bklynr.com/pierless/
There’s a ‘Quality-of-Life’ issue here as well. “Walking Surfaces: Choosing a good walking surface is important to avoid injury. The best surfaces are flat, firm, and not too hard. Avoid concrete if at all possible.” From: http://www.thewalkingsite.com/knees.html And… From: http://www.sparkpeople.com/blog/blog.asp?post=how_running_surfaces_impact_your_running_form “Concrete is considered to be one of the worst surfaces to run on as it causes the greatest impact to body. As with asphalt, be aware of the camber of the roads if you must do your running on this type of surface.”
If Parks & Rec cares anything about HEALTHY recreation, they should deal with the expense…as should City Hall!