Gerritsen Beachers will soon have a spiffy new pedestrian pathway along the neighborhood’s namesake avenue.
The Parks Department plans to lay down asphalt along Gerritsen Avenue between Florence and Channel avenues — just next to the ball fields — by next fall. It will be a serious improvement over the existing sidewalk, and people are bound it enjoy it — once the weather warms up, according to the vice president of local do-gooder group Gerritsen Beach Cares.
“I think it’s a lovely idea. It is set back, so people can walk and enjoy the parkland without being right on the sidewalk, which is a mess,” said Mary Douglas. “Right now, in this time of year, I don’t see anyone walking on it right now — I’m sure people will make use of any improvement.”
The Parks Department plans to finish up the first part of the path between Seba and Florence avenues by August. The second leg of the project — which Community Board 18 unanimously approved during a Jan. 11 meeting — will run form Florence Avenue to the entrance of PS 277, providing a direct connection to the baseball fields.
The city also plans to spruce up the park with new benches and freshly planted trees and shrubs, according to information from the Parks Department.
State Sen. Marty Golden (R–Gerritsen Beach) is providing the $500,000 necessary for the project, according to information from the Parks Department.
The new path will benefit everyone who lives nearby, said the chairwoman of Community Board 18’s parks committee.
“The Parks Department has really come up with some really spectacular plans for the parks, and it’s always a struggle trying to find money to put in,” said Nancy Walby. “And our elected officials in our area in particular have been really great supporters of the parks projects.”
