There’s one heck of a pool of water in Riverside Park near the Peter Jay Sharp Volunteer House at 107th Street, as seen in these photos posted on Twitter by Justin Davidson.
Yo, Donald, drain this. pic.twitter.com/rdoMDQK0kh
— Justin Davidson (@JDavidsonNYC) April 4, 2017
— Justin Davidson (@JDavidsonNYC) April 4, 2017
Flooding is a regular occurrence at that spot, notes Ernie Fritz, a regular West Side Rag contributor. “It usually floods all along there roughly between 116 and 99th. The reason is that there is a low spot between the higher landscape and the train tunnel running underground around that area. Consequently, there is no place for the water to go except to puddle right along the eastern side of the train track wall. Matter of fact, many of the trees along this area have been affected by too much water. Most of the trees in the area are London planes.”
We’ve reached out to the parks department to see if this is a problem or just nature being nature.
Ernie says he’s seen people ice skating on the flooded area during the winter before.
Here’s a shot Ernie took after a previous flood.
Stop the presses !!!
In that lead photo…isn’t that a cousin of Nessie*, The Dreaded Tessie** ?!?
*Nessie, as in The Loch Ness Monster
**Tessie, as in the scourge of every UWS Mah-Jongg group.
I can’t bring myself to say this is a problem. Its not frequent. The water will eventually evaporate or sink down. The “pond” is only usable by waterfowl and frolicking dogs (and ice skaters and those people in waders). Probably not good for turf and whatever turf there is is going to get chewed up by anyone playing in the muddy aftermath. It could certainly be fixed by digging deep trenches where possible and filling with gravel. But doing so costs money. Must weigh lost turf, trees, loss of playing area against the cost of digging a trench and filling it with gravel. Maybe Parks can get Amtrak to pay for it. Their tunnel has to benefit from having a dryer ceiling.
“Maybe Parks can get Amtrak to pay for it. Their tunnel has to benefit from having a dryer ceiling.”
Interesting idea. Have you, perhaps, considered suggesting it to the powers-that-be?
They could pay for it if the lights in that stretch of the park didn’t stay on 24/7. Aren’t there park supervisors that should notice such things and make sure they don’t burn all day?
By the way, Mr. Woody, are you even sure that “the lights in that stretch of the park” do, in fact, “stay on 24/7”? If you were assuming that they do based on their being on in the photo for this story on the WSR home page, I would not make such an assumption. Why? It would seem more-than-likely to me that these lights are automatically powered-on and off by light-sensors. Assuming this is the case, then wouldn’t their being on in the photo more-than-likely be accounted for by the relatively dark conditions (apparently overcast skies and possibly even near dusk) that are evident in said photo?
Come to think of it, I was in that area of the park on an overcast morning several weeks ago and while I cannot say with certainty, I do seem to recall noticing the lights there being on then as well. Perhaps someone will read this who will be certain of the relevant information and will be kind enough to share it with us.
Have you tried reporting the light situation?
311 complaint form:
https://www1.nyc.gov/311/index.page
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I am also concerned about the standing water becoming a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
Riverside Park north of 99th st is an eyesore. Routine flooding, cracked and heaved walkways. And the pavers along RSD are cracked, compromised and need a total renovation.
De Blasio could be doing something about this. Instead he’s devising ways to close a perfectly good prison and tie up city resources fighting the feds on immigration enforcement. The guy’s just a clueless left-wing hack.
if I was drawing up a list of national priorities to effectively address increased local flooding, I probably wouldn’t have “deportations” in the top ten. Can you think of any other policies that could deal with flooding?
I must say, it is not a perfectly decent prison – and many of the people there have been convicted of nothing.
And are you really saying that you would support a dictatorship if it led to nice parks? I get rhetoric, but that’s going a little far!
Oh dear, the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes, ugg.
“De Blasio could be doing something about this. Instead he’s devising ways to close a perfectly good prison and tie up city resources fighting the feds on immigration enforcement. The guy’s just a clueless left-wing hack.”
What a hateful person you seem to be – and what a warped sense of priorities! “De Blasio should quit protecting members of our community from being deported, and get on with fixing this puddle!”
I’m sure you would have loved Mussolini.
Well if Mussolini liked well-maintained parks with proper landscaping and grading, then I guess I’m Il Duce. And I don’t count people here illegally who commit serious additional crimes as legit members of our community in need of “protection.” I guess you do.
You refer to serious “additional” crimes. Contrary to what you and other fascist right-wing propagandists like to suggest, there is no such thing as an “illegal immigrant.” A person present in this country without documentation has committed a civil violation, not a crime. This is why people are deported, rather than being tried and sentenced.
So according to Andrew, civil violations are not coterminous with “illegal.” Hope you’re never my attorney Andrew! (Actually I doubt you could pass any bar exam)
At least he didn’t invoke another historical villain…
Be thankful for the small graces.
As to our beloved Mayor, protecting invaders is much more preen-able than dealing with mundane problems of the type you mentioned.
(I don’t know enough about Rikers matter to comment on it.)
“I don’t count people here illegally who commit serious additional crimes as legit members of our community in need of “protection.””
Not protection from being deported, that’s for sure. All persons here illegally have the right to a speedy and humane deportation.
Some photos of the area under different conditions:
https://www.amazon.com/photos/share/uCsXG1DRAyd9uhIZxDp5Dkzgejt8YHuJq49zZgTntWO