Hurricane Sandy - All Parks, Playgrounds & Beaches Close Today At 5 p.m.

Central Park 4:34pm -  Engineers' Gate entrance - Fifth Avenue and 90th Street.  (Photos: Geoffrey Croft/NYC Park Advocates) Click on images to enlarge.



 Park users stream in despite the posted signs.

Ruppert Playground -  4:47 pm. E. 90th Street & 2nd Avenue. The Parks Department began locking up playgrounds throughout the city this afternoon in preparation of Hurricane Sandy.

FEMA money is also being used for park enforcement to pay for overtime.  

The Parks Department issued the following alert.

Important Parks Service Information Regarding Hurricane Sandy
In preparation for Hurricane Sandy, the Parks Department will close all parks, playgrounds and beaches at 5 p.m.on Sunday, October 28, 2012. All events are cancelled after 2 p.m. on Sunday, October 28, 2012. Surfing is prohibited at all beaches throughout the course of the storm. These facilities are closed until further notice. For more information on the hurricane and ways to be prepared, please visit www.nyc.gov/severeweather.

We urge people to stay out of parks and proceed with caution on tree-lined sidewalks in the event of falling trees or branches. To report downed trees or branches, please call 311. In case of emergency, please call 911.

The following facilities are closed as of 5 p.m. Sunday, October 28. This information will be updated as it is available:

• All City Parks
• All City Playgrounds
• All City Beaches - Surfing is prohibited at all beaches throughout the course of the storm.
• All Recreation Centers
• All Nature Centers in parks
• Greenmarkets, citywide

All events are cancelled after 2 p.m. Sunday, October 28.

A man surfs at Rockaway Beach in Queens.  City officials tried to get people out of the closed beaches  and waters today as Hurricane Sandy approached on Sunday.

Wildlife deserted Orchard Beach in the Bronx, but people went to take a look.

Community/Electeds Demand Related's Co's Ruppert Playground Building Project Go Through ULURP

Ruppert Park. Residents and elected officials are pressing the City Planning Commission to require the Related Co.'s plan to build a 35 story building on a popular playground in Yorkville go through the City U

niform Land Use Review Procedure (

ULURP.)

The 1 acre public park, built with a Federal Community Development Block Grant, opened in 1978. In 1983 the park and the parcel across the street, were sold by HPD for $ 10 million dollars to the Related Companies in a behind closed door deal orchestrated by a former HPD commissioner.

Manhattan's Community Board 8 has the least amount of publicly accessible park space in the city while the Upper East Side has the highest density. (Photo: Geoffrey Croft/NYC Park Advocates)

Manhattan

UPPER EAST SIDE — A developer's plan to replace a popular playground with a 35-story residential tower and cancer treatment center has incurred the wrath of Yorkville residents.

Now, the Related Companies' project could face an even bigger hurdle, according to DNAinfo.

City Council Speaker Christine Quinn wrote a letter Wednesday to Community Board 8 calling its plans for Ruppert Playground a "major land use decision" that requires a full public review.

"I will strongly oppose any efforts to bypass the ULURP [uniform land use review procedure] process if Related ends up moving forward with its plans," Quinn wrote.

Public scrutiny could call into question the fate of the 32,000-square-foot project slated for the open space at 222 E. 93rd St.

Under the deal Related struck with the city in 1983, the developer was only required to keep the space open to the public for 25 years. After that agreement expired in 2008, the company began gearing up to build. It closed the playground in September 2011.

But advocates from the group Save Ruppert Playground believe they recently uncovered a wrench in Related's plans. They claim that nothing can be developed on the playground without a land use change.

If the building is considered a "minor modification" to the site, it would simply be handled by the City Planning Commission without public input. But if it's deemed a "major modification," then the City Council must review the project and hear community input. Many elected officials are pressing for the public review.

"With its basketball, tennis, handball courts, a tot lot and sitting areas, Ruppert Playground was cherished by this community," Councilwoman Jessica Lappin, who represents the area, told Community Board 8 members Wednesday.

She, too, wrote a letter to City Planning calling for a full public review, and City Councilman Dan Garodnick spoke in support of it, too.

"I think we have some good momentum to our fight," Lappin added. "I can't really imagine a bigger change in public space use. It deserves a ULURP [uniform land use review procedure] hearing and for the community to have a say."

Geoffrey Croft, of NYC Park Advocates claimed that Related had misrepresented the project initially as one that would not need a land use change.

"The evidence strongly supports that City Planning should determine that a change of this magnitude is subject to ULURP," he said.

"The decision to remove a heavily used public playground in a community board that ranks dead last in the amount of publicly accessible open space in the entire city and has the highest density is clearly a major land use decision," he added.

Many residents, including Gillian Begelman, have lamented the park's closure. The mother, whose son is one of 75 tots in a daycare center at the nearby Ruppert Towers, told CB8 members, "Now these children don't have a safe place to play."

Neighbors also worry about the potential traffic and construction concerns that a big tower with a medical center could bring.

"Our plan will bring an important cancer research and treatment center to New York City," a Related spokeswoman said Thursday.

"Not only will we be able to offer a first-of-its-kind facility in the region, enhancing New York City’s reputation as the leading destination for cancer care, but we will also create hundreds of jobs and critical affordable housing," she added.

The spokeswoman did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding the land use requirements.

Community Board 8 voted to approve the plan be subject to the land use review process.

Read More:

Developers' Plan for 35-Story Tower at Ruppert Playground Hits Snag

DNAinfo - January 19, 2012 - By Amy Zimmer

Related Closes Ruppert Playground - Guards Posted 24/7

A Walk In The Park - September 14, 2011 - By Geoffrey Croft

Community Rallies To Save Ruppert Playground

Walk In The Park - September 11, 2011 - By Geoffrey Croft

Related Closes Ruppert Playground - Guards Posted 24/7

Private security hired by The Related Company showed up Monday morning to guard Ruppert Playground twenty-four hours a day. In 1983 the City sold the playground to The Related Company in a behind-close door deal against the community's wishes. The deal was orchestrated by a former HPD official who went to work for Related. The community is demanding the real estate giant abandon plans to erect a 49 story building and that the city negotiate a deal to acquire the land back. The community that ranks dead last in the amount of parks and open space in the entire city and has the highest density. (Photos: Geoffrey Croft/NYC Park Advocates) Click on images to enlarge.

Manhattan

As promised the Related Company closed Ruppert Playground on Monday. The real estate giant hired three guards from Globe Security to patrol the 1 acre park twenty-four hours a day.

According to a witness, a teen climbed over the fence to play basketball on Monday afternoon and was chased away by two security guards.

Locked and Secured. A guard watches the south side of the park.

On Monday afternoon a portable bathroom and a security booth were delivered to the site.

Over the weekend a representative from Related informed City Council member Dan Garodnick that the company agreed to a limited period to explore alternatives and would not immediately remove structures inside the park. The company would not say for how long.

It has also been learned that Related had apparently asked the Bloomberg administration for a tax incentive to keep the park open but were turned down.

Over the last two years the public has rallied to save the popular park, located 0n 92nd St. between 2nd and 3rd Ave on Manhattan's Upper East Side from development. On Saturday more than one hundred and fifty people came out to protest the Related Company's planned seizure of Ruppert Playground on Monday.

September 10, 2011. Rally in the park.

For more than 30 years the park has played a vital role in the lives of countless people.

The community is demanding the real estate giant abandon plans to erect a 49 story building in a community that ranks dead last in the amount of parks and open space in the entire city! The neighborhood is demanding the city negotiate a deal to acquire the land back that never should have been sold in the first place.

In 1983 the City sold the land to The Related Company in a behind-close door deal against the community's wishes. The deal was orchestrated by a former HPD official who went to work for Related. On June 30th, 2008, the 1983 Land Disposition Agreement between the Department of Housing Preservation & Development (HPD) and Carnegie Park Associates (The Related Companies) expired. The end of this agreement allowed Related Companies to develop the park. - Geoffrey Croft

Read More:

Fight To Keep Park From Closing

WPIX News - September 15, 2011 - By Erica Pitzi

As Playground Closes, Residents Rally With Hope

Our Town - September 15, 2011 - By Laura Shin

Residents Gird to Keep Park

Upper East Siders Rally as Plans for 49-Story Residential Tower Progress

The Wall Street Journal - September 12, 2011 - By Maura Webber Sadovi

Community Rallies To Save Ruppert Playground

Walk In The Park - September 11, 2011 - By Geoffrey Croft

Community Rallies To Save Ruppert Playground

Neighbohood residents site poor planning on the city's part that allowed The Related Company to buy two parcels of land in 1983 for $ 10 million dollars in a community board that ranks dead last in publicly accessible open space. (Photos: Geoffrey Croft/NYC Park Advocates) Click on images to enlarge.

Manhattan

By Geoffrey Croft

Chanting, "Save our park, save our Community. Stop Related," more than 150 people came out on Saturday to protest the Related Company's planned seizure of Ruppert Park. The community is demanding the real estate giant abandon plans to close a popular park on Monday, September 12th in order to to erect a 49 story building in a community that ranks dead last in the amount of parks and open space in the entire city! Participants are demanding the city negotiate a deal to acquire the land back that never should have been sold in the first place.

Children, parents and seniors were joined by City Council Members Daniel Garodnick, Jessica Lappin, and State Senator José M. Serrano and Liz Krueger for the rally.

City Council Member Daniel Garodnick addresses the crowd.

For more than 30 years the park has played a vital role in the lives of countless people. In 1983 the City sold the land to The Related Company in a behind-close door deal against the community's wishes. The deal was orchestrated by a former HPD official who went to work for Related. On June 30th, 2008, the 1983 Land Disposition Agreement between the Department of Housing Preservation & Development (HPD) and Carnegie Park Associates (The Related Companies) expired. The end of this agreement allowed Related Companies to develop the park.

The original 1968 Ruppert Urban Renewal Project Plan and subsequent revisions recognized the severe lack of park and open space which said contributed to "unsatisfactory living conditions" in the neighborhood. It also noted that "inadequate recreational and community facilities” were contributing to the “unsatisfactory living conditions to the immediate area and in general neighborhood." The plan was deeply flawed however as it fell significantly short in adequately addressing the community’s needs. Since the original Renewal Plan was created the need for parks and open space in the community has only grown worse. Density has increased dramatically as numerous high-rise buildings have been built in the immediate area. The Plan did not adequately factor in future development in the area nor its impacts.

The Related Company is one of the country's most successful and politically connected developers. They are very friendly with the Bloomberg administration and are involved with many projects that involve the City. One possibility is for the City to swap another piece of land in exchange for the Ruppert Playground property. This is done all the time.

Last Tuesday, The Related Company put up signs announcing its plans to close Ruppert Park on September 12th. (Photos: Geoffrey Croft/NYC Park Advocates) Click on images to enlarge.

Read More:

Residents Gird to Keep Park

Upper East Siders Rally as Plans for 49-Story Residential Tower Progress

The Wall Street Journal - September 12, 2011 - By Maura Webber Sadovi

Related closes UES playground to begin residential development

The Real Deal - September 12, 2011

Message for the Mayor

Our Town - August 19, 2009 - By David Schlegel

‘No’ to Tax Break Push for Related to keep Ruppert Park

Our Town - June 24, 2009 - By Zara Kessler

In a Dense District, a Park in Peril
New York Times - May 2, 2009 - By Saki Knafo

Protestors speak out against development

Upper East Side residents band together to save Ruppert Park

NYC Pavement Pieces - Spring 2009 - By Rachel Wise

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UES Protest Proposed High-Rise In Local Park Space
The Epoch Times - April 27, 2009 - By Catherine Yang

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Ruppert Rally Illustrated
Curbed - April 27, 2009

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Developers May Raze UES Playground for Another Bad Creation
gothamist - April 27, 2009 - Billy Parker

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Upper East Side Playground May Sprout 40-Story Tower
Curbed - April 27, 2009

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East Side Park Fury
New York Post - April 27, 2009 - by Edmund Demarche

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1010 WINS News Radio
April 26, 2009

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Protestors target Related Cos. park project
Crains newyork business - April 24, 2009 - by Daniel Massey

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SAVING RUPPERT PLAYGROUND
Our Town - May 7, 2009

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Report From The Community: District 8
Office of Manhattan BP - May 5, 2009 - By Dan Benjoya

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Protestors want playground to stay
Metro NY - April 27, 2009 - By Patrick Arden

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Upper East Side playground May Sprout 40-story Tower
USA Today - April 27, 2009