Assembly Bill A301A

                            
                    S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                 301--A

                       2015-2016 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                               (PREFILED)

                             January 7, 2015
                               ___________

Introduced by M. of A. DINOWITZ -- read once and referred to the Commit-
  tee  on  Tourism, Parks, Arts and Sports Development -- recommitted to
  the Committee on  Tourism,  Parks,  Arts  and  Sports  Development  in
  accordance  with Assembly Rule 3, sec. 2 -- committee discharged, bill
  amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said  commit-
  tee

AN  ACT to dedicate and designate Jerome Park as parkland of the city of
  New York, and to establish a working group for such  park  to  enhance
  use thereof

  THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1. Legislative  intent.  The  legislature  hereby  finds  that
Jerome  Park,  located around the Jerome Park reservoir, that is located
in the borough of the Bronx in the city of New York, has been  used  for
numerous  outdoor recreational and open space purposes for over a centu-
ry. Furthermore, such park has the potential to  incorporate  additional
urban  wildlife  sanctuary, outdoor recreational and open space uses for
the betterment of the local community. Through the  auspices  of  master
plans  authorized and approved by the parks and recreation department of
the city of New York and work by community groups  such  as  the  Jerome
Park  Conservancy  and  the Friends of Jerome Park, it is a sound public
policy and community benefit to advance the increased use of Jerome Park
for additional outdoor recreational and open space uses and to integrate
such park functions with the adjacently located Fort Independence  Park.
Going forward, key elements of the future design of the park should help
to  preserve its historic essence, reveal its potential as public space,
and link places and events with the park to the  surrounding  community.
Finally,  such future development of Jerome Park should frame the beauty
of the reservoir with a new layer of landscape and purpose.

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD02285-03-6
              

A. 301--A                           2

  S 2. To achieve the legislative intent articulated in section  one  of
this act, all lands that are contained in Jerome Park, which are located
in  or adjacent to block 3246, section 12 of the land map of the borough
of the Bronx, city of New York,  excluding  those  lands  that  are  the
reservoir  itself and lands bordering such reservoir shore line that are
a distance of ten feet from the outside border of such  reservoir  shore
line  shall  be  dedicated and designated as parkland of the city of New
York.
  S 3. The borough president of the borough of the Bronx may  assist  in
convening a working group for Jerome Park that shall consist of communi-
ty  stakeholders  to  establish  an  action plan for Jerome Park to help
foster increased outdoor recreational  uses,  such  as  hiking,  biking,
nature  studies,  bird  watching  and  other  outdoor recreational uses;
enhance community enjoyment of such park; and to  preserve  and  enhance
open  spaces contained within the park.  The working group may identify,
recommend the design of and financing of capital projects to advance the
increased use of Jerome Park for increased outdoor recreational uses and
to enhance open spaces. Such capital projects may include, but  are  not
limited  to,  walking  and  bicycle  pathways; athletic fields and play-
grounds; basketball and  handball  courts;  table,  seating  and  picnic
areas; establishment of vista seating and viewing areas; related parking
areas  for bicycles; and nature trails. Membership of such working group
shall consist of representatives of local civic and community  organiza-
tions,  Lehman College, local high schools, the state senator, member of
assembly and city councilman  representing  senate,  assembly  and  city
council  districts  in  which such park is located, the parks and recre-
ation department of the city of New York,  the  department  of  environ-
mental  protection  of the city of New York, and other community leaders
and stakeholders such as youth, parent and senior citizen organizations.
  S 4. The working group for Jerome Park shall issue, on or before Janu-
ary 1, 2018, a report and findings to satisfy its charge to establish an
action plan for Jerome Park to help foster increased outdoor recreation-
al uses and community enjoyment of such park and to preserve and enhance
open spaces contained within the park. Such report and findings shall be
submitted to the Bronx borough president, the mayor of the city  of  New
York,  the  parks and recreation department of the city of New York, and
the department of environmental protection of the city of New  York  and
to the state senator and member of assembly who represent the senate and
assembly districts within which such park is located.
  S  5.  After  the  issuance  of such report and findings, such working
group shall remain in existence until January 1, 2023 to help  implement
such  action plan.   During this period of time, the working group shall
work with the state and city agencies to implement such action plan.
  S 6. This act shall take effect immediately, except that  section  two
of this act shall take effect January 1, 2021.