New Views 2009 Greenway Party to be held June 18th in Red Hook

Brooklyn Greenway Initiative (BGI) will hold New Views 2009, its 4^th annual benefit for the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway, on Thursday, June 18^th, 6:00-9:00PM at IKEA Brooklyn’s Erie Basin Park. Join BGI’s Board, Host Committee and Greenway supporters for a Swedish smorgasbord, drinks and music along the first privately funded and maintained section of the planned 14-mile Greenway. The party will be held under a restored gantry crane, surrounded by water on three sides.

IKEA Brooklyn and Mike Baker, Store Manager will be honored as BGI’s Corporate Partner of the Year for providing public access along the Erie Basin waterfront with the implementation of a divided 18-foot path, part of the planned route for the Greenway. Over 9,000 plants and 558 trees line the 6.5 acre Erie Basin Park, which was designed by Lee Weintraub and opened just a year ago.

Christopher O. Ward, Executive Director of The Port Authority of NY & NJ, will be honored as BGI’s Government Partner of the Year, recognizing the Port Authority’s commitment to providing right-of-way for the Greenway around the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal. Transportation Alternatives will receive BGI’s Community Partner of the Year award, for their outstanding advocacy and outreach.

BGI along with its partners and supporters have a great deal to celebrate this year, most importantly the commitment by the New York City Department of Transportation to develop a master plan for the full 14-mile Greenway route, which will then qualify it as a city capital project. Both the Erie Basin Park segment and the Columbia Street segments of the Greenway opened within the past year, and in April of this year, BGI announced an additional $2.5 million in federal funding secured for capital construction.

New Views 2009 is Brooklyn Greenway Initiative’s principal opportunity to expand public awareness and raise the operating funds necessary to support the Greenway. Please join Brooklyn Greenway Initiative and keep the momentum going!

Tickets start at $60 and are available at www.brooklyngreenway.org . Brooklyn Greenway Initiative is a 501c3 non-profit organization. Please contact Brian McCormick at bmccormick@brooklyngreenway.org or 718.522.0193 with any questions. Sponsor deadline is Friday, June 12 for logo inclusion in event program and materials.