In 1941, an amphitheater was built in the park, along with an adjacent limestone recreational building, as part of an urban renewal project for the Lower East Side. During the 1950s, the amphitheater was the site of frequent free Evening-in-the-Park concerts. Joseph Papp (1921-1991), founder of Shakespeare in the Park and the Public Theater, staged Julius Caesar there in 1956. Local schools held their graduation ceremonies there, and the Group of Ancient Drama staged free-of-charge performances of classic Greek plays...
Friday, December 24, 2021
The end of the East River amphitheater
Friday, December 17, 2021
A rally in support of the East Side Coastal Resiliency Project; activists lose appeal
ESCR is one of many critical life-saving infrastructure projects needed to protect NYC residents from the devastating impacts of climate change. Without the completion of ESCR to provide flood protection, a resilient park, and improved drainage systems, Lower East Side including NYCHA's infrastructure will remain susceptible to deterioration, putting the future of residents at great risk of loss of life, evacuation, and potential loss of homes.
Frontline Communities Coalition refutes the misinformation campaign specifically targeted to play into the fears of people of color and the residents of public housing. ESCR is about saving lives and in doing so it will also save the homes and East River Park itself for future generations.
This morning, the rally takes place at 11 on Sixth Street at FDR Drive between the Jacob Riis and Lillian Wald Houses.
2) Yesterday, the state Court of Appeals denied activists' bid to hear their case.
In a terse, 20-word ruling, the court rejected allegations that the city side-stepped state law by not seeking a vote approving the plan in the state legislature. Judges in earlier phases of the suit had already ruled in the city’s favor twice.
The court also rejected the activists' motion to hold the city in contempt of court, after the city continued to cut down trees in the park following a judge's order in the case, issued last week that appeared to require the city to pause construction.
This is truly a sad day, not only for us but for all parkland. This decision sets a terrible precedent for all parkland... All they have to do now is tack on some park-related excuse to whatever they're doing and it will not need to go through alienation or state oversight. They could put a building in a park and say it's for environmental research for the park and it will be ok. Thank you for your support. We are in mourning.
Tuesday, December 14, 2021
[UPDATED] Activists: Even with new court order city continues demolition of East River Park
Updated 7 p.m.Come to @CarlinaRivera’s office now. We are blocking the street and calling for her removal from office. 4th and B @ERPAction #SaveEastRiverPark pic.twitter.com/GxQGkeaqaQ
— a thousand people a thousand trees (@1000treesNYC) December 14, 2021
Sunday, December 12, 2021
'Pretty evil' — city is working around the clock this weekend to cut down trees in East River Park
Demonstrations continued yesterday south of the East Houston Street entrance... (photos below by Stacie Joy)... During a rally/press conference, Assemblywoman Yuh-Line Niou, who represents the Lower East Side, called on Mayor Bill de Blasio to immediately stop the tree-cutting.🚩Important Change🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩Destruction of Amphitheater is imminent. Instead of meeting at Houston St at 2pm we are meeting at Amphitheater. Access at Corlears Hook Overpass. @1000treesNYC pic.twitter.com/PY2AhJ2rzX
— Our Park (@ERPAction) December 12, 2021
More pointed comments were directed toward the outgoing mayor, dubbed "Bulldozer Bill." "It's fairly unusual that orders of the court are disobeyed," said Arthur Schwartz, one of the pro-bono attorneys working on behalf of the activists. As The Village Sun quoted: "Bill de Blasio wants to just get this done and in the ground before Eric Adams is mayor. He wants to make sure Eric Adams doesn't have any way to deal with it."
I sent the East River Park contract back due to serious unresolved issues, yet the City moved ahead. I'm still concerned that the community isn't being heard, and actions like today's don't help.
— Scott M. Stringer (@NYCComptroller) December 10, 2021
⁰https://t.co/b7Jwn3Nsi9
Saturday, December 11, 2021
Witnesses: City continues to cut down trees this morning in East River Park
Capt. Luis E. Barcia, Commander of the 7th Precinct was on-site where construction workers entered at 6:30 this morning. Park Activist Tommy Loeb said that Barcia acknowledged that he has a copy of the court order that should stay the work. It's from the Appeals Court, the highest court in the state.However, according to Loeb, "He has been told by higher ups that he's supposed to let the construction workers in.” Protesters have been unable to stop the work. Harriet Hirshorn and Alice O'Malley were arrested yesterday trying to deliver the Temporary Restraining Order to supervisors of the demolition inside the construction fence.Attorney Kathryn Freed said that the document the police were using to allow the demolition to proceed was "an internal memo" from the Department of Design and Construction. "They're taking that as more important as the highest court in the state."Activists, who have been protesting as work proceeds, say that the city is trying to demolish as much as they can before Monday, when the Court of Appeals will act on the contempt citation East River Park Action attorneys sent to Albany.
In a statement, the city said that the order from appeals court Judge Rowan D. Wilson on Wednesday did not amount to an order to halt work at the park pending a final ruling.
"The City has reviewed the Court's written order and we do not believe it prevents us from continuing work on this vital resiliency project," Ian Michaels, the head of public information for the Department of Design and Construction, which is overseeing the project, said.
Activists scheduled a press conference today at 1 p.m. at the Houston Street entrance to the park.
EVG contributor Stacie Joy shared this photo from yesterday... where there was an active construction site.
Friday, December 10, 2021
Report: City continues cutting down trees in East River Park despite Temporary Restraining Order
Top photo by @jeremoss