Postponed! Ft. Greene Park makeover pushed back after community demands more time to consider

Originally published in The Brooklyn Paper

They put it in park.

The Department of Parks and Recreation postponed a controversial plan to revamp a section of Fort Greene Park until September after locals and pols demanded the community board delay voting on the proposal until more people, particularly those in nearby public housing complexes, can offer their suggestions — a move that will hopefully result in a plan that works for everyone, said residents who fought for more community engagement in the process.

“We hope to have an authentic process where people, especially the public housing residents, have a real honest chance to talk about this plaza,” said Fort Greene resident Sandy Reiburn. “I feel like this is an exception to the rule as far as the community having a real buy-in with the community board — it’s a rare, but I’m grateful for it.”

“I respectfully request that we would like more time before your vote to have an opportunity to weigh in,” said state Sen. Velmanette Montgomery (D–Fort Greene). “I would like you to be able to hear from the community what their concerns are.”

To read the full story, visit http://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories/40/27/dtg-cb2-fort-greene-park-redesign-vote-2017-06-30-bk.html

To learn more about Senator Montgomery's efforts to keep Fort Greene Park accessible to all constituents and to read her letter to the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, visit https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/articles/velmanette-montgomery/senator-montgomery-fights-keep-fort-greene-park-accessible

UPDATE: To read the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation response letter, visit https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/articles/velmanette-montgomery/nyc-department-parks-and-recreation-responds-senator