Greetings!
We all need good news these days; so as inspiration for the official holiday of thanking, I am sharing some reasons PortSide is thankful in these times:
TWO THIRDS of all comments submitted to the Department of City Planning Comprehensive Waterfront Plan related to PortSide and our request for right-sized space and more reasonable terms on site!
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, the Mayor Elect, gave us an “Everyday Covid Heroes” award for creating PortSide Park!
9 year-old Aiden Jenkins was inspired by that award, wrote the fan letter above, and donated $10 with his little sister. His letter speaks for many children, parents, nannies and singles who enjoy the park, including the 45,000 riders of the Governors Island Ferry who came through here this year.
Ports America, opertors of the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, let us use the space that is PortSide Park, including their guard house which is now a free library with hundreds of free books for kids 24/7!
Education heroes on the Reicon construction barges encapsulating pilings in Brooklyn Bridge Park stayed late to help us teach water quality issues to 4th and 5th graders from PS 676!
The ad agency Atlantic New York joined the PortSide family! They're creating campaigns for us and donated money to cover major restoration of the wheelhouse which now gleams, and they use it as a popup now and again. Here's Chiclet's take on all this.
The Red Hook Container Terminal is storing the vintage engine we got from wonderful people in Kennett, Missouri. This inspired lots of planning for engine restoration. Stay tuned!
Thanks to all our volunteers, old and new, for helping this place run.
YES, inspiration is a theme, and if you feel inspired, you can support us by making a donation here.
May you have a happy Thanksgiving however you celebrate!
Best,
