*High Water Line* - Mill Basin to Ocean Parkway
Summering at the beach
This New Yorker was taking advantage of his family's house out on Coney Island. He was spending the summer living at the beach.
We already see the value!
These families were great! They stopped to talk to me on their way to a family day at the beach (thanks for taking the time!) Most of the kids knew what climate change was all about - they had studied it in school. One of the moms, as reading through the action pack said, "We already do some of this to save money! It just makes sense!"
This guy was funny
This guy was really annoyed at what I was doing. First he asked what I was doing, I explained, then he said "Do you have permission to do this" I explained that I did, I had met with his Community Board who supported the project, and they had notified the local police precinct. He was still bothered by me and thought I should be arrested for polluting. Here's the irony, the chalk is extraordinarily low in toxicity (its meant for little league fields), and even more important, we were standing at the intersection of the Belt Parkway and the 6-lane Ocean Parkway. The real polluters? All the cars speeding past us...
Surprisingly quiet neighborhood
I really like Gerritsen Beach
I think Gerritsen may have been my favorite neighborhood along the project route. There was something really unique about the area - small closely packed houses on little streets. Its the kind of area where neighbors can't help but be in each others business. I met a gentleman on one corner who grew up in Gerritsen, his aunt's house was a block away, grandma a few blocks on. He had since left for Staten Island, but his brother bought a house in the area. He said there were lots of extended families in Gerritsen. Two blocks later, sure enough, we met his brother.
Salt Marsh Nature Center
Salt Marsh Nature Center is a restored salt marsh, and it is really beautiful. The nice thing is that it is very functional too, wetlands can help reduce the impacts of floods.