Historian David Herlihy Speaks on Bikes and Coney Island

Posted on October 20, 2015 by Jeremiah Cox

The historian, David Herlihy, came to the Brooklyn Waterfront Research Center on October 8. 2015 to present his recent research on the biking craze that hit Coney Island in the 1880s and lasted into the 1930s.  His presentation touched upon the first organized bike ride to Coney Island and the building of America’s first bicycle path which was built along Ocean Parkway and led to Coney Island.  He also recounted the exploits of racers in Coney Island’s velodromes and the Boardwalk act of “Bikers in a Basket.”

For his presentation, Mr. Herlihy was presented with a framed photograph of the Coney Island Boardwalk at dawn, shot by the BWRC staff photographer, Professor Robin Michals.

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Riding and Racing: Bikes at Coney Island (1880-1930)

Posted on September 24, 2015 by Jeremiah Cox
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Courtesy of the Pryor Dodge Collection

Cycling along the Boardwalk at Coney Island is not new. In the 1880s, Coney Island was a frequent destination for club-oriented, high-wheel riders from New York City. During the great bicycle boom of the 1890s, Coney Island hosted numerous amateur and professional races. A velodrome (a type of bicycle race track) continued to flourish there into the 1930s. At about that time, adult recreational cycling enjoyed a major comeback, and Coney Island once again became a haven for recreational cyclists. Come learn about this fantastic period in Brooklyn history!
Come learn about this fantastic period in Brooklyn history!

RSVP here. Free!

Friday, October 9, 2015. 8:30am
New York City College of Technology
300 Jay St – Namm 119

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Adding Resiliency to the Brooklyn Greenways

Posted on May 14, 2015 by Jeremiah Cox

We’d like to thank Milton Puryear for a great Breakfast talk to close out our Spring semester. 

His informative presentation on Capturing Stormwater Runoff Along the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway can be downloaded.

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BWRC Breakfast Talk on Stormwater Infrastructure on the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway is May 8

Posted on April 28, 2015 by Jeremiah Cox

The next BWRC Breakfast Talk will be on Friday, May 8th from 8:30am to 10:00am with Milton Puryear speaking about:

Capturing Stormwater Runoff Along the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway

  • Can resiliency and recreation mix?
  • Can the new Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway help protect Brooklyn from the next Sandy?
  • Can the new greenway contribute to a cleaner harbor?

The answer to each is yes! Come learn about the recently released The Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway Stormwater Management Plan that details how the building of stormwater infrastructure during the construction of the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway can contribute to protecting the waterfront from coastal flooding as occured during Superstorm Sandy.

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Speaking will be Milton Puryear co-founder of the Brooklyn Greenway Initiative.

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Spaces and Places: Art Along the Brooklyn Waterfront Conference a Success!

Posted on April 2, 2015 by Jeremiah Cox

Thanks to all who came to the Spaces & Places: Art Along the Brooklyn Waterfront Conference. The Keynote Speaker Commissioner Tom Finkelpearl began the conference by discussing his New York City Department of Cultural Affairs Initiatives on diversity in the arts and housing for artists. A panel of artists followed, explaining the role of the waterfront in creating their art. They also recounted their experiences finding affordable rents in DUMBO in the 1980s and mentioned current projects such as building a temporary floating bridge to Governors Island and bioswales for the Brooklyn waterfront.

After a networking break, two final panels mixed artists, gallery owners, and developers to discuss how art will continue being made along the waterfront.

Photos below are by Andie Lessa, City Tech Faculty Commons Design Team and the BWRC’s Jeremiah Cox:

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Speakers Announced for “Spaces & Places: Art Along the Brooklyn Waterfront” Conference

Posted on March 17, 2015 by Jeremiah Cox

The BWRC is proud to announce the confirmed speakers for the Spaces & Places: Art Along the Brooklyn Waterfront Conference Friday, March 27 at Brooklyn’s Borough Hall.

Eventbrite - Spaces & Places: Art Along the Brooklyn Waterfront Conference

Welcomes:

Keynote Address: Commissioner, Thomas Finkelpearl, New York City Department of Cultural Affairs

Panel One: Artists

Panel Two: Places for Making, Displaying, and Selling Art I

Panel Three: Places for Making, Displaying, and Selling Art II

Eventbrite - Spaces & Places: Art Along the Brooklyn Waterfront Conference

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Registration for Spaces and Places: Art on the Brooklyn Waterfront is now Open!

Posted on March 5, 2015 by Jeremiah Cox

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Registration for the BWRC’s 2015 Conference on Spaces and Places: Art Along the Brooklyn Waterfront on March 27, 2015 from 8:30am to 12:30pm at Brooklyn’s Borough Hall is now open. The conference will tell an interesting and important story about how and where art is made, displayed and sold along the Brooklyn Waterfront. Commissioner Tom Finkelpearl of the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs will be the Keynote Speaker.
Eventbrite - Spaces & Places: Art Along the Brooklyn Waterfront Conference

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Eymund Diegel Discusses CSI on the Gowanus Canal

Posted on March 5, 2015 by Jeremiah Cox

On February 27, 2015 urban planner and citizen scientist Eymund Diegel of the Public Lab gave an insightful breakfast talk on the various CSI techniques and tools he’s used to map and record the environmental history of his neighborhood including the Gowanus Canal. Diegel showed the various rudimentary tools he uses in his research from inexpensive cameras mounted on kites and balloons to using microphones to listen to the sounds of New York City sewer’s and sense where former steams once ran. The data he’s collected has been used to map a range of features from underground and still bubbling springs in and near the canal to finding the sources of various creeks who’s headwaters are in the canal and finding their sources in Prospect Park. Overall Eymund showcased the important work the Public Lab is doing to help the efforts to understand the ecological history of the Gowanus Canal.

If you missed his talk, download his Presentation with insightful notes on what he discussed. (Warning: Large PowerPoint File).

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Breakfast Talk (2/27) CSI on the Waterfront

Posted on February 5, 2015 by Jeremiah Cox

The first BWRC Breakfast Talk of 2015 is with Eymund Diegel on Friday, February 27 at Citytech in A632 from 8:30am to 10:00am:

Citizen
Science
Investigations
on the Waterfront

Urban planner and citizen-scientist Eymund Diegel has used kites, helium-filled balloons, and inexpensive cameras for the aerial photography that has helped him chart the environmental history of the land and the people of his neighborhood along the Brooklyn waterfront.

Diegel is a board member of the Public Laboratory for Open Technology and Science (Public Lab), a loosely organized community that practices “civic science.” He will speak about some of his discoveries, the tools that were employed to make them, and the way these discoveries can be used to improve the environmental conditions of his Gowanus neighborhood.

Support provided by Title V: A Living Laboratory

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Upcoming: Breakfast Talk (Feb 27th) and Art Conference (March 27th)

Posted on January 22, 2015 by Jeremiah Cox
  • February 27, 2015 – Breakfast Talk: CSI along the Waterfront
  • March 27, 2015 – Conference: Spaces and Places: Art along the Brooklyn Waterfront
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