North Brooklyn Boat Club

North Brooklyn Boat Club
Abbreviation NBBC
Founded 2010
Founder Dewey Thompson
Focus Environmentalism, Education, and Boating
Location
Area served
 Greenpoint, Williamsburg, and Bushwick
Members
 Over 250
Website northbrooklynboatclub.org

North Brooklyn Boat Club or NBBC is a Brooklyn–based nonprofit dedicated to promoting environmental stewardship and human-powered recreational boating on Newtown Creek and the East River.[1] NBBC's mission is to reclaim, protect and celebrate the waterways.[2]

History

The North Brooklyn Boat Club (NBBC) started in 2010 as a way to reconnect people to the waterways with the goal of recreation, education and environmental stewardship.[3] NBBC is an open, volunteer-run organization consisting of kayakers, canoers, sailors, environmentalists, boat builders, community leaders and activists.[4] NBBC was formally organized with the support of Greenpoint Waterfront Association for Parks and Planning (GWAPP) and many in the community as a way to increase access to open space and the waterways by securing funding for the Greenpoint Boathouse.[5]

Greenpoint Community Boathouse and Environmental Education Center

A 2008 settlement over pollution fines by the New York City Department of Environmental Protection led the state of New York to create a $7 million fund for projects that would tangibly benefit the community affected by the pollution with a priority given to projects relating to the environment.[6] NBBC proposed building one of the largest boathouses in the city along the shores of the Newtown Creek.[7] The project aimed to enhance the community’s open space, educational and recreational facilities and improve the perception of the Newtown Creek.[8] The idea was that awareness and stewardship are inextricably linked so a boathouse would best connect people to the waterways.[9]

The proposal received strong community support and garnered the approval of elected officials and organizations, including: Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, State Assemblyman Joe Lentol, City Council Member Steve Levin, Open Space Alliance for North Brooklyn (OSA) and Neighbors Allied for Good Growth (NAG). In a combination of the public polling and feasibility ranking, the Boathouse project was selected as the top priority project for the funding.[10] Based on the public support and strength of the proposal the Boathouse was chosen to be funded.[11] The Boathouse was allocated $3 million from the state.[12] The City Parks Foundation will oversee the spending and construction of the Boathouse.[13] As of 2014, negotiations are being made for 6,500 square feet on Ash Street.[14]

The Broadway Stages Boatyard

In the interim period before the construction of the Greenpoint Boathouse the members of NBBC searched for a location with which to access the water and held monthly meetings at the Brooklyn Rod & Club.[15] Christine Holowacz, of GWAAP, introduced NBBC to Tony Argento, the owner of the film company Broadway Stages.[16] Argento granted NBBC the 150-by-20-foot empty plot next to the Pulaski Bridge and Newtown Creek to create a boatyard. The Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance and many of the more established boat clubs in Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Long Island City provided expertise and spare equipment. NBBC received a grant for infrastructure expenses from the Hudson River Foundation[17] and donations of materials, such as steel storage containers, from local businesses and organizations including Allocco Recycling, Box House Hotel, Build It Green! NYC and TNT Scrap Metal to transform the empty lot to the Broadway Stages Boatyard.[18] The storage containers were modified to serve as boat storage, an educational center, and boat building workshop. Local artist, Duke Riley, designed NBBC's logo.

The Boatyard was further improved with the addition of floating docks obtained in partnership with Urban Swim.[19] The Manhattan Solid Waste Advisory Board (SWAB) and Citizens Committee for New York City has provided NBBC a grant to improve its composting and gardening initiatives.[20] NBBC is also collaborating with LaGuardia Community College on building an educational center on site called the Ed Shed and the Newtown Creek Alliance on research projects.[21] The Ed Shed received additional funding for more environmental research equipment from a grant created by a legal settlement from an ExxonMobil oil spill in Greenpoint.[22] The Ed Shed has become a center for teaching and researching the Newtown Creek ecosystem by students, researchers, and community members.[23]

The Boatyard has been recognized in the media for being a great place for families,[24] dating[25][26] and as one of the top places to boat in New York City.[27][28] Common trips include Red Hook, Brooklyn Bridge Park, Bushwick Inlet, and Roosevelt Island.[29] Several local businesses and musicians such as the New York Distilling Company, Brooklyn Brewery, Aura Sonic, Hungry March Band and Sasha Dobson have made donations to help NBBC host benefit concerts to continue its programming.[30]

Projects

References

  1. ↑ "Boat Club Members Paddle Through Pollution On Newtown Creek" WCBS-TV August 30, 2013, Retrieved September 10, 2013 http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2013/08/30/boat-club-members-paddle-through-pollution-on-newtown-creek/
  2. ↑ "Goings on About Town" The New Yorker, April 8, 2013
  3. ↑ "Brooklyn Boat Club Has High Hopes For Creek's Future" NY1, August 17, 2012, Retrieved June 28, 2013 http://www.ny1.com/content/top_stories/167080/brooklyn-boat-club-has-high-hopes-for-creek-s-future
  4. ↑ "The MO Spotlight: North Brooklyn Boat Club" Greenpoint Waterfront Association for Parks and Planning (GWAPP), April 2, 2013, Retrieved June 28, 2013 http://gwapp.org/2013/04/the-mo-spotlight-north-brooklyn-boat-club/
  5. ↑ "A Dream On Its Way to Reality: The Greenpoint Boathouse & Environmental Education Center" Greenpoint Waterfront Association for Parks and Planning (GWAPP), October 1, 2012, Retrieved June 28, 2013 http://gwapp.org/2012/10/a-dream-on-its-way-to-reality-the-greenpoint-boathouse-environmental-education-center/
  6. ↑ "City has $7M to spend on Greenpoint waterfront" The Brooklyn Paper, November 3, 2010, Retrieved June 28, 2013 http://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories/33/45/wb_greenpoint_2010_11_05_bk.html
  7. ↑ "This is New York-Dewey Thomson: Filmmaker and Founder of the North Brooklyn Boat Club" The Epoch Times, March 1, 2011, Retrieved June 28, 2013 http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/united-states/this-is-new-york-dewey-thomson-filmmaker-and-founder-of-the-north-brooklyn-boat-club-52194.html
  8. ↑ "Meanwhile, group pitches a new boathouse" The Brooklyn Paper, October 21, 2010, Retrieved June 28, 2013 http://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories/33/44/wb_kayakssidebar_2010_10_22_bk.html
  9. ↑ Graham T. Beck, "Surfers, Sailors and Other Waterborne Urbanites on Sandy’s Legacy" Next City, April 22, 2014, Retrieved on May 5, 2014 http://nextcity.org/daily/entry/surfers-sailors-and-other-waterborne-urbanites-on-sandys-legacy
  10. ↑ "A Dream On Its Way to Reality: The Greenpoint Boathouse & Environmental Education Center" Greenpoint Waterfront Association for Parks and Planning (GWAPP), October 1, 2012, Retrieved June 28, 2013 http://gwapp.org/2012/10/a-dream-on-its-way-to-reality-the-greenpoint-boathouse-environmental-education-center/
  11. ↑ "Green dreams in Greenpoint — Locals choose projects to get $7M in state cash" The Brooklyn Paper, January 2, 2011, Retrieved June 28, 2013 http://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories/34/2/wb_greenpointvote_2011_1_14_bk.html
  12. ↑ "State approves Greenpoint boathouse" The Brooklyn Paper, October 29, 2011, Retrieved June 28, 2013 http://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories/34/44/dtg_newtownboathouse_2011_11_04_bk.html
  13. ↑ "Greenpoint Boathouse moves along toward opening" Greenpoint Star, February 8, 2012, Retrieved June 28, 2013 http://www.greenpointstar.com/view/full_story/17441198/article-Greenpoint-Boathouse-moves-along-toward-opening-?instance=home_news_right
  14. ↑ "Greenpoint Boathouse" City Parks Foundation, Retrieved May 5, 2014 http://www.cityparksfoundation.org/greenpoint-boathouse/
  15. ↑ " The Greenpoint Boathouse" Greenpointers.com, November 11, 2011, Retrieved June 28, 2013 http://thegreenpointers.com/2011/11/17/the-greenpoint-boathouse/
  16. ↑ "A Dream On Its Way to Reality: The Greenpoint Boathouse & Environmental Education Center" Greenpoint Waterfront Association for Parks and Planning (GWAPP), October 1, 2012, Retrieved June 28, 2013 http://gwapp.org/2012/10/a-dream-on-its-way-to-reality-the-greenpoint-boathouse-environmental-education-center/
  17. ↑ "North BK Boat Club Updates: Meeting Tonight!" Greenpointers.com, April 3, 2012, Retrieved June 28, 2013 http://greenpointers.com/2012/04/03/north-bk-boat-club-updates-meeting-tonight/
  18. ↑ "Brooklyn’s refuge for the outdoor enthusiast" Greenpoint Star, March 1, 2013, Retrieved June 28, 2013 http://www.greenpointstar.com/view/full_story/21882570/article-Brooklyn%E2%80%99s-refuge-for-the-outdoor-enthusiast-?instance=home_news_1st_left
  19. ↑ "North Brooklyn Boat Club Adds Floating Dock for Easier Water Access" DNAinfo.com July 24, 2012, Retrieved June 28, 2013 http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20120724/greenpoint/north-brooklyn-boat-club-adds-floating-dock-for-easier-water-access
  20. ↑ Press Release - "BP Stringer, Manhattan SWAB and Citizens Committee for New York City Announce Winners of First City-Wide Community-Scale Composting Contest" Office of Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer, April 22, 2013, Retrieved June 28, 2013 http://www.mbpo.org/release_details.asp?id=2066
  21. ↑ "Brooklyn’s refuge for the outdoor enthusiast" Greenpoint Star, March 1, 2013, Retrieved June 28, 2013 http://www.greenpointstar.com/view/full_story/21882570/article-Brooklyn%E2%80%99s-refuge-for-the-outdoor-enthusiast-?instance=home_news_1st_left
  22. ↑ "Local groups get grants from Greenpoint oil spill settlement" Brooklyn Eagle, March 10, 2014, Retrieved May 5, 2014 http://brooklyneagle.com/articles/local-groups-get-grants-greenpoint-oil-spill-settlement-2014-03-10-120000
  23. ↑ "The eyes and ears of Newtown Creek" Scienceline, April 8, 2015, Retrieved May 16, 2015 http://scienceline.org/2015/04/the-eyes-and-ears-of-newtown-creek/
  24. ↑ "Favorite Places for Families in Greenpoint & Williamsburg" A Child Grows in Brooklyn September 20, 2012, Retrieved June 28, 2013 http://www.achildgrows.com/favorite-places-for-families-in-greenpoint-williamsburg/
  25. ↑ "The 8 Best Summertime Dates in Brooklyn" The L Magazine June 5, 2013, Retrieved June 28, 2013 http://www.thelmagazine.com/BrooklynAbridged/archives/2013/06/05/the-8-best-summertime-dates-in-brooklyn?page=3
  26. ↑ "The Date-Night Dossier" New York Magazine July 21, 2013, Retrieved July 25, 2013 http://nymag.com/nightlife/features/how-about-we-2013-7/
  27. ↑ "Best Boat Club 2013" Village Voice, Retrieved October 22, 2013 http://www.villagevoice.com/bestof/2013/award/best-boat-club-4400540/
  28. ↑ "Best Places to Go Boating on New York's Waterways" DNAinfo.com August 3, 2012, Retrieved June 28, 2013 http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20120803/new-york-city/best-places-go-boating-on-new-yorks-waterways?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
  29. ↑ " I Canoe, and You Can, Too! Paddling the NYC Waterways with the North Brooklyn Boat Club" Williamsburg Greenpoint News+Arts, June 1, 2013, Retrieved June 28, 2013 http://thewgnews.com/2013/06/i-canoe-and-you-can-too-paddling-the-nyc-waterways-with-the-north-brooklyn-boat-club/
  30. ↑ "The Hot Seat: Justin La Mort" Brownstoner.com September 13, 2013, Retrieved September 28, 2013 http://www.brownstoner.com/blog/2013/09/the-hot-seat-justin-la-mort/
  31. ↑ "Canoeists Explore North Brooklyn’s Waters" Greenpoint Gazette, August 9, 2012, Retrieved June 28, 2013 http://www.greenpointnews.com/news/4759/canoeists-explore-north-brooklyns-waters
  32. ↑ "Paddling Down Polluted Newtown Creek Is Actually Awesome" Curbed, July 17, 2014, Retrieved May 16, 2015 http://ny.curbed.com/archives/2014/0/17/paddling_down_polluted_newtown_creek_is_actually_awesome.php
  33. ↑ "North Brooklyn Boat Club" Citizens Committee for New York City, 2013, Retrieved April 17, 2014 http://www.citizensnyc.org/grantee/north-brooklyn-boat-club?utm_content=buffereb56a&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer
  34. ↑ "Brooklyn’s refuge for the outdoor enthusiast" Greenpoint Star, March 1, 2013, Retrieved June 28, 2013 http://www.greenpointstar.com/view/full_story/21882570/article-Brooklyn%E2%80%99s-refuge-for-the-outdoor-enthusiast-?instance=home_news_1st_left
  35. ↑ "Brooklyn’s refuge for the outdoor enthusiast" Greenpoint Star, March 1, 2013, Retrieved June 28, 2013 http://www.greenpointstar.com/view/full_story/21882570/article-Brooklyn%E2%80%99s-refuge-for-the-outdoor-enthusiast-?instance=home_news_1st_left
  36. ↑ "Willis Elkins" Queens Ledger May 21, 2013, Retrieved June 28, 2013 http://www.queensledger.com/view/full_story/22655783/article-Willis-Elkins?instance=menu
  37. ↑ "Brooklyn locals find rebirth as mariners on Gowanus Canal, Newtown Creek" Crain's New York Business, June 9, 2013, Retrieved June 28, 2013 http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20130609/TRANSPORTATION/306099987
  38. ↑ "Birdwatching in an industrialized area" Queens Chronicle, May 2, 2013, Retrieved June 28, 2013 http://www.qchron.com/editions/central/birdwatching-in-an-industrialized-area/article_a8c92bc4-3edd-517b-bb3a-61392c59cd21.html
  39. ↑ "There Are Two Dolphins In The East River" Gothamist, March 17, 2013, Retrieved June 28, 2013 http://gothamist.com/2013/03/17/photos_videos_there_are_two_dolphin.php#photo-1
  40. ↑ "2nd dolphin is now hanging out in the East River" Pix 11, March 18, 2013, Retrieved June 28, 2013 http://pix11.com/2013/03/18/2nd-dolphin-is-now-in-the-east-river/
  41. ↑ "Boat club members get close to dolphins" MyFox5, March 18, 2013, Retrieved June 28, 2013 http://www.myfoxny.com/story/21668731/boat-club-members-get-close-to-dolphins
  42. ↑ "Bioremediation Workgroup Inoculation Bonanza" Newtown Creek Alliance, April 2, 2012, Retrieved June 28, 2013 http://www.newtowncreekalliance.org/2012/04/02/bioremediation-workgroup-inoculation-bonanza/
  43. ↑ "The Newtown Creek Armada" WABC-TV, September 13, 2013, Retrieved June 28, 2013 http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news/lifestyle&id=8809250
  44. ↑ "Public Mapping Mission - Newtown Creek" Public Lab, December 2, 2013, Retrieved April 10, 2014 http://publiclab.org/notes/nicholas/12-02-2013/public-mapping-mission-newtown-creek
  45. ↑ "Bringing Community, and Nature, Back to the Banks of Newtown Creek" Curbed, April 16, 2015, Retrieved May 16, 2015 http://ny.curbed.com/archives/2015/04/16/bringing_community_and_nature_back_to_the_banks_of_newtown_creek.php
  46. ↑ "'Living dock' seeks to aid struggling species" News 12 Brooklyn, May 6, 2015, Retrieved May 16, 2015 http://brooklyn.news12.com/news/greenpoint-s-living-dock-seeks-to-aid-struggling-species-in-newtown-creek-1.10398005
  47. ↑ Newtown Nets http://newtown-nets.tumblr.com/
  48. ↑ "First round of Exxon money handed out in Greenpoint" Queens Ledger March 12, 2014, Retrieved May 5, 2014 http://www.queensledger.com/view/full_story/24726241/article-First-round-of-Exxon-money-handed-out-in-Greenpoint
  49. ↑ "Opening reception at the Greenpoint Film Festival" Queens Ledger September 25, 2013, Retrieved September 28, 2013 http://www.queensledger.com/view/full_story/23684219/article-Opening-reception-at-the-Greenpoint-Film-Festival
  50. ↑ "Greenpoint Film Festival Returns Next Week" Greenpoint Gazette September 13, 2013, Retrieved September 28, 2013 http://www.greenpointnews.com/entertainment/5658/greenpoint-film-festival-returns-next-week
  51. ↑ "New York Live Arts & Emily Johnson/Catalyst to Present SHORE Installation of Dance, Volunteerism and More, 4/19-26" Broadway World, February 23, 2015, Retrieved May 16, 2015 http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/New-York-Live-Arts-Emily-JohnsonCatalyst-to-Present-SHORE-Installation-of-Dance-Volunteerism-and-More-419-26-20150223
  52. ↑ "Artists Paddle Around Manhattan for Environmental Justice" Hyperallergic September 15, 2014, Retrieved May 16, 2015 http://hyperallergic.com/148979/artists-paddle-around-manhattan-for-environmental-justice/
  53. ↑ "Summer Solstice with the North Brooklyn Boat Club" OTBKB, June 16, 2012, Retrieved June 28, 2013 http://onlytheblogknowsbrooklyn.com/2012/06/16/summer-solstice-with-the-north-brooklyn-boat-club/
  54. ↑ "Come On In, Paddlers, the Water’s Just Fine. Don’t Mind the Sewage." New York Times August 29, 2013, Retrieved September 10, 2013 http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/30/nyregion/in-water-they-wouldnt-dare-drink-paddlers-find-a-home.html?_r=0&pagewanted=all

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