S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  254--A
 
                        2017-2018 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                              January 5, 2017
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by M. of A. DINOWITZ -- read once and referred to the Commit-
   tee  on  Tourism, Parks, Arts and Sports Development -- recommitted to
   the Committee on  Tourism,  Parks,  Arts  and  Sports  Development  in
   accordance  with Assembly Rule 3, sec. 2 -- committee discharged, bill
   amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said  commit-
   tee
 
 AN  ACT to dedicate and designate Jerome Park as parkland of the city of
   New York, and to establish a working group for such  park  to  enhance
   use thereof
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Legislative  intent.  The  legislature  hereby  finds  that
 Jerome  Park,  located around the Jerome Park reservoir, that is located
 in the borough of the Bronx in the city of New York, has been  used  for
 numerous  outdoor recreational and open space purposes for over a centu-
 ry. Furthermore, such park has the potential to  incorporate  additional
 urban  wildlife  sanctuary, outdoor recreational and open space uses for
 the betterment of the local community. Through the  auspices  of  master
 plans  authorized and approved by the parks and recreation department of
 the city of New York and work by community groups  such  as  the  Jerome
 Park  Conservancy  and  the Friends of Jerome Park, it is a sound public
 policy and community benefit to advance the increased use of Jerome Park
 for additional outdoor recreational and open space uses and to integrate
 such park functions with the adjacently located Fort Independence  Park.
 Going forward, key elements of the future design of the park should help
 to  preserve its historic essence, reveal its potential as public space,
 and link places and events with the park to the  surrounding  community.
 Finally,  such future development of Jerome Park should frame the beauty
 of the reservoir with a new layer of landscape and purpose.
   § 2. To achieve the legislative intent articulated in section  one  of
 this act, all lands that are contained in Jerome Park, which are located

  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD03437-03-8

 A. 254--A                           2
 
 in  or adjacent to block 3246, section 12 of the land map of the borough
 of the Bronx, city of New York,  excluding  those  lands  that  are  the
 reservoir  itself and lands bordering such reservoir shore line that are
 a  distance  of ten feet from the outside border of such reservoir shore
 line shall be dedicated and designated as parkland of the  city  of  New
 York.
   §  3.  The borough president of the borough of the Bronx may assist in
 convening a working group for Jerome Park that shall consist of communi-
 ty stakeholders to establish an action plan  for  Jerome  Park  to  help
 foster  increased  outdoor  recreational  uses,  such as hiking, biking,
 nature studies, bird  watching  and  other  outdoor  recreational  uses;
 enhance  community  enjoyment  of such park; and to preserve and enhance
 open spaces contained within the park.  The working group may  identify,
 recommend the design of and financing of capital projects to advance the
 increased use of Jerome Park for increased outdoor recreational uses and
 to  enhance  open spaces. Such capital projects may include, but are not
 limited to, walking and bicycle  pathways;  athletic  fields  and  play-
 grounds;  basketball  and  handball  courts;  table,  seating and picnic
 areas; establishment of vista seating and viewing areas; related parking
 areas for bicycles; and nature trails. Membership of such working  group
 shall  consist of representatives of local civic and community organiza-
 tions, Lehman College, local high schools, the state senator, member  of
 assembly  and  city  councilman  representing  senate, assembly and city
 council districts in which such park is located, the  parks  and  recre-
 ation  department  of  the  city of New York, the department of environ-
 mental protection of the city of New York, and other  community  leaders
 and stakeholders such as youth, parent and senior citizen organizations.
   § 4. The working group for Jerome Park shall issue, on or before Janu-
 ary 1, 2020, a report and findings to satisfy its charge to establish an
 action plan for Jerome Park to help foster increased outdoor recreation-
 al uses and community enjoyment of such park and to preserve and enhance
 open spaces contained within the park. Such report and findings shall be
 submitted  to  the Bronx borough president, the mayor of the city of New
 York, the parks and recreation department of the city of New  York,  and
 the  department  of environmental protection of the city of New York and
 to the state senator and member of assembly who represent the senate and
 assembly districts within which such park is located.
   § 5. After the issuance of such  report  and  findings,  such  working
 group  shall remain in existence until January 1, 2025 to help implement
 such action plan.  During this period of time, the working  group  shall
 work with the state and city agencies to implement such action plan.
   §  6.  This act shall take effect immediately, except that section two
 of this act shall take effect January 1, 2023.