Crotona Park

NYC PARKS ADDS THREE NEW BARBECUE AREAS TO BUSY MCCARREN PARK IN BROOKLYN

Barbecue areas and additional waste disposal units part of larger trash management effort to keep the park clean this summer

Just in time for spring and summer, NYC Parks has created three new barbecue areas in McCarren Park. Park-goers will now see nine double-headed grills, 18 new picnic tables, and three large charcoal bins in three locations near Vincent Abate Playground, across from the softball fields in the grassy area next to Driggs Ave, and on the other side of Driggs across from the soccer field,.
“McCarren Park is a heavily used resource for many North Brooklynites, and we’re excited to bring even more amenities to the park,” said NYC Parks Brooklyn Commissioner Martin Maher. “We’re looking forward to another busy summer season, and we remind all visitors to Brooklyn parks to pitch in and help keep them clean and litter-free.”
The new barbecues, picnic tables, charcoal bins and waste bins were installed by Parks over the last two weeks, and have already seen lots of use. New Yorkers are reminded to be cautious and courteous when barbecuing in designated areas within parks.
In addition to the new barbecue areas, Parks is launching a larger program to manage litter across the park with more than 50 three-receptacle waste disposal units placed strategically throughout McCarren. These welcome additions to one of Brooklyn’s most well-used parks will encourage visitors to clean up after themselves and to recycle, especially during the busy spring and summer months.
As part of this targeted maintenance, Parks’ staff is also using small electronic vehicles to collect trash, eliminating large vehicles from the park. Staff is also using rechargeable electric equipment such as leaf blowers and weed whackers to manage litter within the park and clean horticultural areas. Additionally, three large trash collection pens are located along the park perimeter, allowing for a trash collection route that avoids travel on the paths of McCarren Park. This is a new management plan that will also be implemented at Brooklyn’s Fort Greene Park, and has already proven successful at Crotona Park in the Bronx.
Each summer day, Parks picks up about 120 tons of garbage left behind at our beaches, ballfields, picnic areas and other properties, and that number becomes quite higher after a sunny weekend. Our maintenance crews work hard cleaning our parks in the mornings, afternoons and early evenings. We encourage all New Yorkers to help us keep this and all parks beautiful by properly disposing of their trash.
Last year, 2059 special events permits were issued for Brooklyn parks between Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends. New Yorkers are reminded that events involving more than 20 people require a special events permit. For more information on how to apply for a permit and where to barbecue in New York City’s parks, visit nyc.gov/parks.