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Parks & Public Spaces
NYC Parks & Recreation - presentation of proposed signage for Central and Bryant Parks about the history of the Old Croton Aqueduct
WHEREAS, New York City Department of Parks and Recreation has submitted an application to install signage in Central Park and Bryant Park which will provide history on the old Croton Aqueduct; and
WHEREAS, Such signage will be part of a comprehensive series of thirteen signs which will be placed at historic points along the path of the old Croton Aqueduct from Van Cortlandt Park through Bryant Park; and
WHEREAS, Three signs are proposed for parks within Community Board Five, two of which will be located in Central Park and one of which will be located in Bryant Park; and
WHEREAS, The Central Park signs will be located (1) near the 85th Street walk, commemorating the site of the Croton Reservoir (now known as the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir), and (2) near the Delacorte Theater commemorating the Receiving Reservoir and replacing an existing interpretative sign; and
WHEREAS, The Central Park Conservancy has been involved in discussions related to the Central Park signs; and
WHEREAS, The Bryant Park sign location will be determined soon in consultation with Bryant Park Corporation and the applicant has agreed to provide the exact location to Community Board Five once it is known; and
WHEREAS, Each sign will include three green acrylic panels, one of which will give the history of the Croton Aqueduct, one of which will provide a map of the Croton Aqueduct, and one of which will provide details of the significant historic feature commemorated by the sign; and
WHEREAS, The signs will be supported by concrete footings and the acrylic panels are fade-resistant, vandal-resistant (paint does not adhere to the material), and can be easily-cleaned; and
WHEREAS, Landmarks Preservation Commission approval will be required for the Central Park and Bryant Park signs; and
WHEREAS, The signs will be installed within a year of receiving all of the required approvals; and
WHEREAS, Community Board Five finds that the signs will be minimally intrusive on the historic and other landscape features of the parks, will occupy only a minimal amount of public park space, and will provide important educational and historical information to the public; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That Community Board Five recommends approval of the application by New York City Department of Parks and Recreation to install Croton Aqueduct signage in Central Park and Bryant Park, subject to Community Board Five's subsequent approval of the exact location of the Bryant Park sign.
The above resolution passed by a vote of 32 in favor; 0 opposed; 2 abstaining.