December 13, 2018
ELEVEN BURNED CARS REMOVED FROM MARINE PARK
Part of a larger restoration effort in the Brooklyn Park
[Brooklyn, NY, December 13, 2018] Eleven burned cars were removed from the 133-acre natural area of Marine Park in Brooklyn this week. The cars were removed as part of an ongoing trail and natural habitat restoration project taking place in the Park, Brooklyn’s largest at over 800 acres.
The cars were removed by the Natural Areas Conservancy (NAC), a non-profit partner of NYC Parks. The work was made possible by a grant from The Nature Conservancy and the Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy (JBRPC) to improve the park through a series of native tree and shrub plantings and trail improvements.
“Marine Park is one of only two locations in all of New York City that contains what is known as a coastal maritime forest,” said Sarah Charlop-Powers, Executive Director of the NAC. “Maritime forests provide habitat for rare native plant species, as well as an array of native animals and birds. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to help restore and protect this beautiful natural space, and grateful to our partners for their support,” Ms. Charlop-Powers said.
“Through a multi-year partnership with the Natural Areas Conservancy, The Nature Conservancy and NYC Parks, we are literally uncovering the natural beauty of Marine Park. As Brooklyn’s largest park, Marine Park hosts both recreational and natural areas. Over the decades, these areas have fallen victim to illegal dumping and overgrowth of invasive plants,” Alex Zablocki, Executive Director of JBRPC said. “Past work at the park has included removal of invasive plants, and planting of native shrubs and trees. Parks should be enjoyed for their natural beauty, and we are proud to partner with these fine organizations on the latest improvements to the park by removing eleven abandoned cars from the natural areas of Marine Park,” Zablocki concluded.
“It takes a team to do the heavy lifting for nature, and removing abandoned vehicles from Marine Park embodies that sentiment quite literally,” said Emily Nobel Maxwell, NYC Program Director for The Nature Conservancy in New York. “We are proud to partner with the Natural Areas Conservancy and the Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Park Conservancy on our concerted efforts to restore Marine Park as a space for all New Yorkers to enjoy and connect with nature.”
The oldest vehicle removed this week had Florida license plates dated 1990, while the newest was a 2017 Dodge van burned on December 11, 2018.
Created in 2012, the Natural Areas Conservancy is a non-profit organization that works in partnership with NYC Parks to improve New York City’s 10,000 acres of forest, marshes and wetlands to enhance the lives of all New Yorkers. www.naturalareasnyc.org
The Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy (JBRPC) is a public-private partnership established in 2013 that is dedicated to improving the 10,000 acres of public parkland throughout Jamaica Bay and the Rockaway peninsula for local residents and visitors alike. With its partners at the National Park Service and NYC Parks, JBRPC works to expand public access; Increase recreational and educational opportunities; Foster citizen stewardship and volunteerism; Preserve and restore natural areas, including wetland and wildlife habitat; Enhance cultural resources; And ensure the long-term sustainability of the parklands, including the development of the Science and Resilience Institute. www.jbrpc.org
The Nature Conservancy is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world's toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. We are tackling climate change, conserving lands, waters and oceans at an unprecedented scale, providing food and water sustainably and helping make cities more sustainable. Working in 72 countries, we use a collaborative approach that engages local communities, governments, the private sector, and other partners. To learn more, visit www.nature.org or follow @nature_press on Twitter.