In Briefs

Public Input Sought On New BPC Community Center

The two new buildings to rise adjacent to the ball fields in Battery Park City will include a 50,000 square-foot community center. The center will house a swimming pool, gym, dance and classrooms, a kitchen and auditorium.

Community Board 1 this month will begin to explore possible programming and management alternatives for the space. A public meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m., July 18, at the Battery Park City Authority, 1 World Financial Center, 24th floor.

Anyone interested in the future of the center is invited to attend, listen and share ideas.

Tree Helpers Branching Out in Tribeca

No one knows Tribeca’s trees like Steve Boyce, president of Friends of Greenwich Street. Not only has he surveyed and mapped every neighborhood tree, but he is out to make sure that the number of trees is growing, and that they’re staying healthy.

Thanks to his group’s Tribeca Tree Campaign, 24 new or replacement trees will shade the neighborhood’s mostly barren sidewalks this fall.
“That will push us past 410 trees in Tribeca,” Boyce said.

At least 20 new trees, he said, will continue to be planted every spring and fall, with support from the state’s Department of Environmental Protection, the city, and some building owners.

Boyce said that only one percent of the neighborhood’s sidewalks are shaded by trees. By reaching five percent, his goal, “it will ameliorate the heat island effect and make the neighborhood more pleasant to be around.”

Planting street trees is one thing, keeping them alive is another. At last count, Boyce had found guardians for 159 Tribeca trees—more than 40 percent of the neighborhood’s arboreal population. The guardians will keep an eye on the health of their charges and make sure they get water during dry spells.

Already, Boyce has done more than his share. Last month alone, he persuaded Citigroup to remove root-killing salt from eight tree pits in front of its building on Greenwich Street and to trim dead limbs off 28 of its trees that posed a danger to pedestrians.

He also convinced Borough of Manhattan Community College to save eight trees that are growing through openings in the wooden walkway on West Street, outside its trailer classrooms. By getting BMCC to widen those holes, the trunks—now with deep gashes—can continue to expand. “That will buy them a couple of more years,” Boyce said.

Boyce would like to hear from residents who think a tree could go in front of their building, or who know of a tree that may have no one to watch over it. He can be contacted at president@friendsofgreenwichstreet.org.

Friends of Lower Manhattan Taking Grant Applications

Friends of Lower Manhattan, a non-profit group that funds Downtown community projects and organizations, is to begin accepting grant applications on June 21. Grass-root, non-profit groups can apply for grants ranging from $2,500 to $25,000.

A 10-member grant committee will review the applications. Half of the committee will be members of Community Board 1. According to the Friends group (formerly Friends of Community Board 1), the grants are intended to benefit organizations that support children and youth, community enhancement and beautification, cultural activities, civic engagement; and adult services and programs.

The applications to Friends of Lower Manhattan, is due by July 31 and grant winners will be announced Oct. 1. Applications can be picked up at the Community Board 1 office, 49 Chambers St, or at the Murray Street Branch of the New York Public Library at 9 Murray Street. It also can be downloaded at www.cb1.org.

Baby Toys And Clothing Donations Sought

Want to free your closets of those boxes of playthings your child has long outgrown? Babylicious, a baby toys and clothing shop at 51 Hudson St., is seeking donations of old toys, clothing and books. The items will be donated to the Room to Grow Foundation, a nonprofit group that supports children born into poverty.
Donations will be accepted July 15–30 at the store. The items should be for children five years old or younger.

Public Input Sought On New BPC Community Center

The two new buildings to rise adjacent to the ball fields in Battery Park City will include a 50,000 square-community center. The center will house a swimming pool, gym, dance and classrooms, a kitchen and auditorium.

Anyone interested in the future of the center is invited to attend, listen and share ideas.