On February 11, Future Hudson and the Urban Design Program at Columbia University invites members of the Hudson community to develop a vision for the waterfront.
The following is quoted from the announcement for the event:
The workshop is part of Columbia University's pedagogy to train the next generation of urbanists in community engagement and an opportunity for residents of Hudson to share their thoughts, ideas and aspirations for their waterfront.
The results of these conversations as well as the research and design ideas that students will produce between February and April can serve as a platform for continued conversation about Hudson's waterfront.
We are particularly interested in hearing from residents about their ideas for climate action and racial justice and how the waterfront might be a place to innovate.
We hope to build on previous conversations and therefore would like [to] hear from all those who have been engaged in discussions about Hudson's waterfront in the past.
The workshop will take place online on Thursday, February 11, at 6:00 p.m. Click here to register for the event.
Is this the same Columbia University group from a few years ago that got lots of us excited about improvements at Oakdale? HA! More "continued conversations" about improving a public park that WILL LIKELY BE A WASTE OF TIME AND BREATH. No thanks.
ReplyDeleteThe work we all did on Oakdale has already translated into a $100,000 water quality assessment and remediation strategy grant, plus a $14,000 grant allowing multiple shade structures. It continues to be used to get funding for its recommendations. So I would say it was a pretty good investment of time and excitement. It was never going to all happen immediately. But since those sessions, there have been annual improvements based on the visioning. If the same could happen at the waterfront, that would be great!
Delete@bb, nobody's twisting your arm. If you don't want to be part of the process, not showing up works just fine.
DeleteIt's unfortunate when they don't tell you the platform used. Zoom probably? That one doesn't work for me. I guess I'll have to register to find out.
ReplyDeleteAnd I have to say, to follow up on my previous comment, I'm pretty confused about how a complete map of the Oakdale watershed plus a full water quality program, plus public outreach and information about water quality and environmental remediation could possibly feel like "a waste of time and breath." Like: what would you expect your commitment of time and breath to produce if not great information about the quality of our swimming water, the surrounding land, a full understanding of where pollutants--if they exist--come from, and ideas about what to do about it, which can be used to secure further funding. Time and breath ideally would produce results. We have results. I wonder about your calculus, bb.
ReplyDeleteAnd yet, garbage cans aren't emptied regularly at Oakdale, often overflowing (as one is NOW at the back entrance), piles of metal and other trash pile up in the parking lot then make their way to the beach, in the lake and elsewhere. Your plastic water jugs bobbing in the water for months. Still no sign at the entrance to the park. Dangerous portions of the trail full of tree roots. Bathhouse with no gutters or downspouts. Need I continue? How much more discussion will it take to get these issues solved? Sorry, Tamar, but I don't remember testing the water as something the public felt was a priority. Doesn't the county test it already and say it is the cleanest water around? B Huston
DeleteThe county tests for two things--e coli and fecal coliform. Questions of nutrient loading, which could cause algal blooms, and any effects of pollution in the watershed have never been found or addressed, nor has bathymetry or topography ever been done. It was, indeed, one of the priorities, and has its own number on the design concept, in a slide titled "Clean Water." The next step will be public information, remediation recommendations, and future fundraising. You'll also recall that we sought design input, and aren't an organization that has ever claimed to be able to resolve issues of city budgets. The plastic water jug has no deleterious effect and is, in fact, a buoy used for testing. There's no reason to use a fancier buoy, and we need a marker for the testing sites. We do not have the capacity to create a workforce, but will continue to work on physical, ecological, infrastructural, and other improvements to the park. Some good news: my 4 year old started an anti-litter campaign with Perfect 10 before cases began to rise again. They will be placing beautiful and charming handmade signs in strategic locations around the city, with the DPW's approval and commitment not to move, and also be picking up garbage themselves. Lots of the signs are already made. I'm so impressed with the kids working on it. So: look out for continued, slow, incremental, improvements.
ReplyDeleteThank Tamar, your good work is much appreciated.
ReplyDelete