Gateway Officials Mull Overnight Pier Closure To Vehicles
By Dara Mormile

Metal gate preventing cars from entering Canarsie Pier at night are already in place.

In an effort to thwart littering at the Canarsie Pier parking lot, Gateway officials announced at a Tuesday meeting they are considering closing the park to vehicles at night. The meeting at Floyd Bennett Field focused on when the closure hours will be implemented.

"The idea is to keep the pier clean," said Gateway District Park Ranger John Daskalakis. "People in the community have expressed to us that there's transient activity at night - visitors are parking and leaving bottles and trash behind. By closing the gates at night, it will improve conditions for those who come to the park in the morning. We want to avoid as much of the mess as we can."

According to Daskalakis, the pier will be closed to vehicles from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. in the summer and from 6 p.m. to 7 a.m. the rest of the year. But, he said, "The pier will still be open during those hours for pedestrians and those who want to go fishing."

Gateway officials say keeping cars off pier at night will help deter an obvious litter problem.

Some residents who attended the meeting said they want an increase in personnel to clean the pier and others said the gates should be closed later than the proposed designated hours.

Tuesday night's meeting was sparsely attended. However, the park ranger said he expects a larger crowd at tomorrow's 7 p.m. meeting at the Ryan Visitor Center at Floyd Bennett Field.

Daskalakis said Gateway is also looking into holding a future meeting at a location more convenient to community residents.

Charles Rogers

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