Riverside Park

On June 27, Parks joined Going Coastal, a non-profit organization, at a Clean Boating / Clean Marina event at the West 79^th Street Boat Basin in Riverside Park. Just in time for summer, Going Coastal is launching the Green Marina Campaign in cooperation with Parks & Recreation, NYC Department of Environmental Protection, NYS Environmental Facilities Corporation, NY-NJ Harbor Estuary Program, NY Marine Trades Association, and Domestic Sanitation Systems. The campaign is designed to educate hundreds of marina operators and thousands of recreational boaters about what they can do in their day-to-day activities to help protect water quality in the NY-NJ Harbor Estuary ecosystem.

The Green Marina Campaign is an education and outreach program to encourage marinas, boating clubs and boatyards to use simple strategies to help prevent or reduce pollutants coming from their facilities. A poster promoting environmentally responsible marina and boating practices will be distributed to marine facilities throughout New York Harbor along with information about how marine facilities can benefit from grants and technical assistance from the New York State Facilities Corporation.

"The initiative we are announcing today is the result of several agencies, boaters and marine businesses working together to safeguard our waters and waterfront environment. It would not have been possible without support from our funders," said Barbara La Rocco, President of Going Coastal, Inc.

The campaign’s Clean Boating Map is an effective vehicle for getting marina patrons and transient boaters to actively participate in protecting water quality in the Harbor Estuary. The handy postcard-sized map informs recreational boaters about marine sanitation rules, No Discharge Zones and No Wake Areas in the Estuary. A pump-out safely removes sewage from a vessel’s holding tank. Marinas and boating clubs are giving out 15,000 Clean Boating Maps this summer.

The Marina Division, represented by First Deputy Commissioner Liam Kavanagh, Chief of Operations Keith Kerman, Director Nate Grove and Chief Dockmaster Gregory Smith was honored with the first-ever Clean Marina Award. It was presented by Going Coastal, Inc. to recognize the 79^th Street Boat Basin’s achievement in going above-and-beyond the required environmental regulations in its commitment to clean water, improving operations and boater education. The award acknowledges the efforts of the Parks Department’s Marina Division to prevent pollution and encourage clean and safe boating in New York City’s waterways.

"Parks & Recreation is committed to keeping our City’s environment clean," said Commissioner Kavanagh. "The Clean Boating / Green Marina Campaign will educate boaters on what they can do to help improve water quality in our City’s waterways. We salute the 79^th Street Boat Basin in their efforts on this front." Parks was also honored with a Proclamation from District Council Member Gale Brewer, recognizing the marina’s excellence in encouraging responsible boating.

Parks manages 15 marinas and boat clubs throughout the City. The Boat Basin, World's Fair Marina in Queens and Sheepshead Bay in Brooklyn are operated by our internal Marinas Division, while the others are managed by Revenue through concession agreements. In total, Parks generates almost $3 million per year from revenues while serving over 3,500 boaters. Parks is also working actively to promote boating safety. We distributed notices to thousands of boaters regarding the new No Wake Laws on the Harlem River and are posting signage to discourage wakes. The Marinas and Boating section of the Parks website (www.nyc.gov/parks) is also becoming a resource for all recreational boaters.