What's happening
This bill requires the state to use eminent domain to acquire 237 Maple Street in Brooklyn for a state park and community garden.
Why it matters
Sets a legal precedent for using eminent domain to create publicly accessible green space. this could influence future decisions on how urban land is acquired for parks and community projects.
Directs management of the new park and garden to local volunteers under the GreenThumb program. , which could empower the community, foster local engagement, and ensure the space meets neighborhood needs.
May impact current property owners and residents at 237 Maple Street. , highlighting the ongoing tension between private property rights and public benefit in urban development.
Represents a commitment to expanding green space in Brooklyn. , which can improve environmental quality, offer recreational opportunities, and potentially increase neighborhood property values.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Create Park, Community Garden
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to cultural affairs, tourism, parks and recreation
- Referred to cultural affairs, tourism, parks and recreation
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2453
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 13, 2017
Introduced by Sen. HAMILTON -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks and Recreation
AN ACT requiring the commissioner of parks, recreation and historic preservation to take a parcel of land through the eminent domain procedure for a state park and community garden
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The legislature hereby finds that it is necessary for a public purpose to procure certain property within the city of New York. To that extent, the commissioner of parks, recreation and historic preservation is hereby directed to take, through the use of the eminent domain procedure as established under the eminent domain procedure law, the parcel in the borough of Brooklyn known as 237 Maple Street, Brooklyn, Block 5030 Lot 72, for a state park and community garden to be managed by neighborhood volunteers through the New York City parks department green thumb program.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00739-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act requiring the commissioner of parks, recreation and historic preservation to take a parcel of land through the eminent domain procedure for a state park and community garden
Purpose
This bill would require the State Commissioner of Park, Recreation and Historic Preservation to acquire the 237 Maple Street in Brooklyn by eminent domain for the purpose of creating a state park and continued community garden
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1: Legislative findings, Location of site Section 2: Effective Date
Existing law
No current law dealing with property located at 237 Maple Street in Brooklyn
Justification
This property stood vacant and filled with trash from 1999 until 2012, when neighbors banded together to clean it up. The next year the community created a garden for vegetables and flowers, put in raised beds, and planted food crops with the help of local high-school students and many neighbors. The garden is the only entirely open, multi-use green space in the neighborhood, except for Prospect Park, three long blocks and nearly a mile away.
In 2014, the farmers installed a system of rain-barrels to divert water from the city's storm-drain system. They initiated a composting program, building three bins and inviting neighbors to bring us their vegetable scraps. That program has succeeded so well that three bins have now been emptied, yielding over 200 cubic feet of finished compost for their beds, and are filling again with food waste diverted from landfill (since there is no food-scrap pickup in the area).
The community built a garden storage shed from donated materials, with a grant for the labor, which was guided by a master carpenter instructing apprentices from around the city. This year with beds, filled with clean, organic soil and fertilized with our own compost, are producing an array of vegetables, herbs, strawberries, and other edibles. As the produce ripens, they harvest it and offer it to anyone who wants it. Every Sunday gardeners gather to plant, weed, water, build, repair, or turn compost, and during the week other come in to keep the beds moist and the compost cooking. They host regular parties, barbecues, and a pumpkin smash after Halloween, to get those jack-o-lanterns into the compost. Our gardeners range from children to seniors, a diverse group, as the accompanying scrapbook will testify.
The Maple Street Community Garden has no gate. It is open to anyone at any time. Many others use it besides the gardeners. Neighbors drop by with food scraps. Children come in to play or swing from a rope on our lovely old willow. They have chairs and benches in sun and shade; on a nice day it's a delightful place to come relax and enjoy some green. The garden is the only entirely open, multi-use green space in the neighborhood, except for Prospect Park, three long blocks and nearly a mile away.
Legislative history
S. 6073 of 2015-16 Session
Fiscal implications
Fiscal Impact to the State to be determined by land acquisition cost as well as there will be future costs to operate and maintain the newly created park.
Local fiscal implications
None
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.