Save the Sound was disappointed today when, in a span of less than 16 hours, the New York State Senate and Assembly passed parkland alienation legislation that would discontinue the use of at least 19 acres of public parkland in Ferry Point Park in the Bronx. The purpose of the alienation is to make way for the construction of a 3.1 million square foot casino complex, proposed for the site by the Bally’s Corporation.
“Public parkland is a valuable resource for communities everywhere across New York State, but especially so when you’re talking about waterfront parkland in New York City,” said David Ansel, vice president of Save the Sound’s Center for Water Protection. “The community has made it clear they do not want the Bally’s casino project on this site, as evidenced by the local Community Board’s vote not to support the project. We believe it is inappropriate for the legislature to pass a bill that causes this community to lose a significant portion of irreplaceable parkland.”
Last month, Save the Sound filed comments to the Mayor’s Office of Environmental Coordination (MOEC) in response to the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) submitted by the Bally’s Corporation. The comments expressed concern over insufficient analysis regarding the management of, and water pollution risks associated with, increased stormwater runoff and wastewater generated by a project bordered by Westchester Creek and the upper East River, two impaired waterways in the western narrows of Long Island Sound. Those comments also raised concerns about the impact of increased traffic on air quality and potential exposure to hazardous materials when piercing the cap of the landfill on top of which the complex would be built, among other concerns.
Some of those concerns were addressed in Bally’s Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS), issued earlier this month. However, additional questions remain unanswered: among them, a plan for the replacement parkland required to offset the loss of those 19+ acres in Ferry Point Park. No potential replacement parkland has yet been identified.
“I’m disappointed the Legislature passed this bill without having all the information available needed to make the right decision,” said Ansel. “It’s a missed opportunity to protect public parkland from private development.”
On Monday, Save the Sound will submit comments regarding the FEIS to the MOEC. It will then monitor the Wednesday morning City Planning Commission (CPC) meeting, at which Bally’s application for various land use changes to enable the construction of the casino may be approved and advanced to the City Council. It could also be disapproved, and the application process would end there. If both the CPC and the City Council approve, Bally’s has until June 27 to submit to the State Gaming Commission its application for one of the three gaming licenses available for downstate casinos, to be awarded before the end of the year.
See Save the Sound’s comments on the Bally’s DEIS.
Read more about parkland alienation on Save the Sound’s blog: Part 1, Part 2