Press Release: 5th graders at P.S. 306 in East New York speak about their vision for NYC’s waterfront - DCP

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For Immediate Release
February 28, 2020

Contacts:
Melissa Grace, Joe Marvilli – press@planning.nyc.gov (212) 720-3471

5th graders at P.S. 306 in East New York speak to DCP Director Lago about their vision for NYC’s waterfront

Student ideas will inspire the upcoming Comprehensive Waterfront Plan

Photos available for the public and press here

NEW YORK - Department of City Planning (DCP) Director Marisa Lago today released photographs taken during a special waterfront planning and educational class at P.S. 306 in East New York, Brooklyn. The event – done in conjunction with the non-profit youth development organization Brooklyn Boatworks and Council Member Inez Barron – is part of DCP’s public outreach for the next edition of the Comprehensive Waterfront Plan, a report which will provide a vision for the city’s waterfront for the next decade and beyond.

“What a treat to visit P.S. 306 and learn from these young scholars sharing their knowledge and creativity. Their ideas about the waterfront that they will one day inherit is an essential part of our public outreach. Thanks to Brooklyn Boatworks, Council Member Barron, the P.S. 306 teachers and administrators, and most especially the students for their dedication and valuable contributions to the Comprehensive Waterfront Plan,” said DCP Director Marisa Lago.

The photos are from a class of 5th graders that took place on Feb. 26 at P.S. 306 in East New York, Brooklyn. The 24 students worked together to create a collage poster that showed their vision for the future of the waterfront, showing their concept to Director Lago, DCP staff, Brooklyn Boatworks and Council Member Barron.

Throughout January and February, DCP worked with 60 school children (5th to 8th graders in three classes in different schools) in the public participation process for the upcoming Comprehensive Waterfront Plan. The other two participating schools were MS 88 in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, and Growing Up Green LIC in Long Island City, Queens. This week’s events at the three schools provided an opportunity for the students to share their ideas and what they’ve learned through the program.

For these classes, DCP partnered with Brooklyn Boatworks, an educational youth development organization that uses boat building and on-water experiences to inspire young people to uncover the confidence, skills and courage to chart pathways to their own success in and outside of the classroom.

“As an organization that uses boat building and maritime-centered exploration as a means of building young peoples’ STEM skills and life skills, we were thrilled to have Commissioner Lago and Council Member Barron join the Brooklyn Boatworks classroom, where, after four weeks of planning, fifth grade students shared their hopes and dreams for the future of the New York City waterfront. We see this as just the beginning of our students’ civic engagement,” said Brooklyn Boatworks Executive Director Marjorie R. Schulman.

Working together, each class in each school crafted their own poster of what they want their waterfront to look like. The P.S. 306 class’ poster included more green space, a skate park, camp sites, oyster restoration and more. The students then shared the inspiration behind their ideas to the class. Each student also received a Waterfront Ambassador pin to celebrate their work.

Ideas from the student posters will be incorporated into the Comprehensive Waterfront Plan, due out at the end of 2020.

DCP is also holding a series of public workshops and events throughout the Spring to get further feedback and input on the plan. A Brooklyn workshop will take place on Wednesday, March 11 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Brooklyn Borough Hall (209 Joralemon Street), followed by workshops in the other four boroughs, with details to come.

In May, DCP will partner with nonprofit arts organizations Culture Push and Works on Water for “Walking the Edge,” a monthlong event to walk all 520 miles of NYC’s waterfront. Additional information will be released in the coming weeks.

Department of City Planning
The Department of City Planning (DCP) plans for the strategic growth and development of the City through ground-up planning with communities, the development of land use policies and zoning regulations applicable citywide, and its contribution to the preparation of the City’s 10-year Capital Strategy. DCP promotes housing production and affordability, fosters economic development and coordinated investments in infrastructure and services, and supports resilient, sustainable communities across the five boroughs for a more equitable New York City.

In addition, DCP supports the City Planning Commission in its annual review of approximately 450 land use applications for a variety of discretionary approvals. The Department also assists both government agencies and the public by advising on strategic and capital planning and providing policy analysis, technical assistance and data relating to housing, transportation, community facilities, demography, zoning, urban design, waterfront areas and public open space.