{"@context":"http://iiif.io/api/presentation/3/context.json","id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/iiif/qf8jd4qr0p/manifest","type":"Manifest","label":{"en":["Alex Zablocki Oral History"]},"logo":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/organizations/logo_images/000/000/010/original/Aviary_QPLlogo_192x192.png?1578574261","metadata":[{"label":{"en":["Description"]},"value":{"en":["\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSummary of Full Interview\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eAlex Zablocki talks about the Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy, its land restoration projects, outreach, public and educational programming, volunteers, team members, and environmental efforts in Jamaica Bay and the Rockaway peninsula. He described how the shorelines and parkland have changed in the area over the last fifty years. He also discusses the effects of sewer outfalls and other pressing environmental concerns such as pollution and climate change. Alex mentions the wildlife and plants that exist in Jamaica Bay and the Rockaway peninsula as well as the role of marshes. Finally, he talks about the conservancy's virtual programming and tools it offers to students and the public.\u003c/p\u003e"]}},{"label":{"en":["Rights Statement"]},"value":{"en":["\u003cp\u003eCC BY-NC-SA Contact digitalarchives@queenslibrary.org for research and reproduction requests.\u003c/p\u003e"]}},{"label":{"en":["Source Metadata URI"]},"value":{"en":["http://digitalarchives.queenslibrary.org/search/browse/38320"]}},{"label":{"en":["Date"]},"value":{"en":["2022-03-03 (created)"]}},{"label":{"en":["Type"]},"value":{"en":["Video"]}},{"label":{"en":["Agent"]},"value":{"en":["Alex Zablocki (Interviewee)","Daniela Trapani (Interviewer)"]}},{"label":{"en":["Source"]},"value":{"en":["This interview was conducted as part of the Hunters Point Environmental Education Center Program."]}},{"label":{"en":["Coverage"]},"value":{"en":["2013-2022 (temporal)","Rockaway Park, Rockaway Beach and Jamaica Bay, Queens, NY (spatial)"]}},{"label":{"en":["Language"]},"value":{"en":["English"]}}],"summary":{"en":["\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSummary of Full Interview\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eAlex Zablocki talks about the Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy, its land restoration projects, outreach, public and educational programming, volunteers, team members, and environmental efforts in Jamaica Bay and the Rockaway peninsula. He described how the shorelines and parkland have changed in the area over the last fifty years. He also discusses the effects of sewer outfalls and other pressing environmental concerns such as pollution and climate change. Alex mentions the wildlife and plants that exist in Jamaica Bay and the Rockaway peninsula as well as the role of marshes. Finally, he talks about the conservancy's virtual programming and tools it offers to students and the public.\u003c/p\u003e"]},"requiredStatement":{"label":{"en":["Attribution"]},"value":{"en":["\u003cp\u003eCC BY-NC-SA Contact digitalarchives@queenslibrary.org for research and reproduction requests.\u003c/p\u003e"]}},"provider":[{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/aboutus","type":"Agent","label":{"en":["Queens Public Library"]},"homepage":[{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/","type":"Text","label":{"en":["Queens Public Library"]},"format":"text/html"}],"logo":[{"id":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/organizations/logo_images/000/000/010/original/Aviary_QPLlogo_192x192.png?1578574261","type":"Image"}]}],"thumbnail":[{"id":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/collection_resource_files/thumbnails/000/160/880/small/Screenshot_%2885%29.png?1654802045","type":"Image","format":"image/png"}],"items":[{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880","type":"Canvas","label":{"en":["Media File 1 of 1 - Zablocki-Alex-20220303-full.mp4"]},"duration":2802.301,"width":640,"height":360,"thumbnail":[{"id":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/collection_resource_files/thumbnails/000/160/880/small/Screenshot_%2885%29.png?1654802045","type":"Image","format":"image/png"}],"items":[{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880/content/1","type":"AnnotationPage","items":[{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880/content/1/annotation/1","type":"Annotation","motivation":"painting","body":{"id":"https://aviary-p-queenslibrary.s3.wasabisys.com/collection_resource_files/resource_files/000/160/880/original/Zablocki-Alex-20220303-full.mp4?1654801976","type":"Video","format":"video/mp4","duration":2802.301,"width":640,"height":360},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880","metadata":[]}]}],"annotations":[{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880/transcript/39928","type":"AnnotationPage","label":{"en":["Full Transcript [Transcript]"]},"items":[{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880/transcript/39928/annotation/1","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Daniela Trapani: Do you agree to the terms and conditions outlined in the Queens Memory informed consent and copyright permission form that I shared with you over email?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880#t=2.0,10.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880/transcript/39928/annotation/2","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Alex Zablocki: Yes.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880#t=10.0,12.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880/transcript/39928/annotation/3","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Daniela Trapani: Great. This is Daniela Trapani with Alex Zablocki. We are recording on March 3rd, 2022 for the Queens Memory Project. Alex, could you say your full name and spell it please?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880#t=12.0,26.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880/transcript/39928/annotation/4","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Alex Zablocki: Sure. My name is Alex Zablocki A L E X, last name Z A B L O C K I","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880#t=26.0,33.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880/transcript/39928/annotation/5","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Daniela Trapani: Great, thank you. Okay. Uh, the first question I wanted to ask you was what got you interested in environmental efforts?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880#t=33.0,42.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880/transcript/39928/annotation/6","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Alex Zablocki: Well, I've been involved in environmental stewardship and enjoying nature, of course, since I'm a kid, I was a boy scout, became an Eagle scout before the age of 18 and always have loved the outdoors and nature. And throughout my career in government and public service I found,, a passion for giving back to community and working within park spaces to make them even better than they are. And I found myself here as executive director of the Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy through that career path.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880#t=42.0,76.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880/transcript/39928/annotation/7","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Daniela Trapani: Awesome. What is your personal personal relationship with Queens?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880#t=76.0,82.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880/transcript/39928/annotation/8","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Alex Zablocki: Well, I work in Queens. I do not live there though. I am a native new Yorker, but I've worked with groups and individuals in Queens for many years. And our office is located in the Rockaway Park section of Queens, right on the Rockaway peninsula, near the Rockaway beach ferry. So my relationship to Queens is through my work at the Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy, where we support over 10,000 acres of federal state and city parkland, all around Jamaica Bay and across the Rockaway peninsula.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880#t=82.0,113.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880/transcript/39928/annotation/9","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Daniela Trapani: Awesome. How did the Conservancy start?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880#t=113.0,117.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880/transcript/39928/annotation/10","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Alex Zablocki: The Conservancy was started in 2013. It was founded as a public private partnership working to support over 10,000 acres of federal state and city Parkland. Along with agencies at the national park service, New York city parks and New York state parks. We work with other nonprofit organizations and community stakeholders. And back in 2013, it was found that all of this varying Parkland needed a steward a private nonprofit organization, help park agencies do their work, help program spaces, help restore natural areas. And that's how we were founded.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880#t=117.0,151.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880/transcript/39928/annotation/11","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Daniela Trapani: Amazing. Um, how did you come to join the Conservancy and how long have you been involved there?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880#t=151.0,159.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880/transcript/39928/annotation/12","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Alex Zablocki: Prior to joining the Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy as executive director, I worked for four years at the state's storm recovery office working on over 100 million dollars in storm recovery projects after super storm Sandy ravaged New York City in 2012. So I did that work through 2017, working on major capital projects in New York City and working with other nonprofit organizations on resiliency and recovery projects. Um, and I joined the Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy as executive director in April, 2017. So I've been with the Conservancy for about five years now.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880#t=159.0,198.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880/transcript/39928/annotation/13","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Daniela Trapani: Oh, that's great. Can you talk about some of the work that you've done with the Conservancy you know, any highlights or, or achievements or anything like that?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880#t=198.0,210.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880/transcript/39928/annotation/14","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Alex Zablocki: Yeah, first I think I have one of the best jobs in the world and we have the greatest team in New York City in terms of supporting Parkland right here in Queens our visitors and residents alike. Um, so I'm lucky in that regard, we started off with a small but mighty team and we continue to be highly productive where right now I'm working to restore natural areas across Jamaica Bay and Rockaway. We engaged volunteers in this work annually. So last year in 2021 we restored our parks and shorelines with over 11,000 native plants and grasses using volunteers. We engaged volunteers. Um, that includes residents from Queens in park stewardship work like cleaning up shorelines and parks. Last year, 17,000 pounds of trash were removed from our shorelines. Uh, through this effort, we work to engage over 2000 public school students from over 30 schools in Brooklyn and Queens in our Jamaica Bay curriculum.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880#t=210.0,268.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880/transcript/39928/annotation/15","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Alex Zablocki: And our team directly facilitates that program with educators and engages them in Jamaica Bay and our natural areas and wildlife and talks about the threats of Marine debris and floatables throughout the year we host a number of free public programs. All of our programs are free like kayaking,bird watching tours, biking tours film festivals, and a bunch of other free programs on our beaches and on our Bayside parks to engage the public and open spaces and provide them access to parks and free programming. Um, and then finally we work with park agencies to help with planning in parks design projects and even construction. Uh, last year we completed our first major capital project. It was a $4 million living shoreline wetland restoration project at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge right here in Queens in Broad Channel. Um, and there we built from May to November nine, new acres of habitatand planted the site with over 200,000 native plants, creating a resilient edge along the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge's west pond. So we not only created all of this new habitat at the bay in the bay, but we also protected a really important place for migrating birds and for visitors who enjoy bird watching.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880#t=268.0,347.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880/transcript/39928/annotation/16","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Daniela Trapani: That's awesome. It's a lot of work.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880#t=347.0,350.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880/transcript/39928/annotation/17","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Alex Zablocki: It is a lot of work and it's a testament to our team that we have and also our, our partners and also the great and wonderful people of Queens that come out and support our work annually.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880#t=350.0,362.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880/transcript/39928/annotation/18","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Daniela Trapani: Yes, yes. You, you had mentioned volunteers. So I wanted to pivot to a question I had about that. Um, as you mentioned, the Conservancy is very heavily community oriented. Um, what is the importance of involving community in, in this activism and work like yours?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880#t=362.0,379.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880/transcript/39928/annotation/19","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Alex Zablocki: Well, it's key and part of our mission is to ensure that our spaces are not only taken care of, but that we create programs around stewardship. And we ensure that there's volunteer efforts within our parks, not only to engage community and make them a part of the work that we do, but also to fill gaps that government agencies can perform all this work on their own. So using volunteer support to help us restore native and natural areas with native plants cleaning up shorelines, we host mural projects where we'll paint artwork within parks. Uh, we may build back decks and birdwatching platforms. Um, maybe even paint interior spaces in some of our parks inside buildings. Um, we're always looking towards volunteers to help us build our capacity and do more within our parks. And it not only supports natural areas right here in Queens and Parkland that so many of us love, but it helps also support all the free public programs and enjoyment of our parks.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880#t=379.0,439.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880/transcript/39928/annotation/20","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Alex Zablocki: Uh, so it's important to have stewards involved and unfortunately within Jamaica Bay, in particular, in the Rockaway peninsula and many local residents and community groups had to stand up and take charge of their natural areas that were often forgotten through government dis-investment over the years or lack thereof of any investment or places that were polluted and local community groups got together to take back spaces and clean them up. And we're an extension of that work where we're, we're building up a volunteer program on the shoulders of those that came before us to really instill this stewardship ethic within all of the work that we do and within the parks that we, that we help support.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880#t=439.0,486.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880/transcript/39928/annotation/21","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Daniela Trapani: Great. Pivoting to talking more about the landscape of Jamaica bay and the Rockaways I wanted to ask you: how do you think the environment in Queens and in a, in a broader sense, New York City has changed over the years?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880#t=486.0,506.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880/transcript/39928/annotation/22","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Alex Zablocki: Well, the city has dramatically changed in terms of its form and size as shorelines have been filled in we industrialized much of New York City's waterfront, that's now being taken back with new access to waterfront part and residential development. So there's been a dramatic change across the city in terms of what our shorelines look like. We have 520 miles of shoreline, much of that shoreline is found right here in the borough of Queens. And if we look at Jamaica bay in particular, in the areas around Howard Beach and Broad Channel, South Ozone Park, Edgemere, and Arverne along the Rockaway peninsula, these are all areas that have been filled in over time and greatly changed. The Rockaway peninsula itself was once a sandbar. The Broad Channel community is really a marsh island. Um, the areas of Howard Beach were filled in to create residential development in the Belt Parkway, by Robert Moses.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880#t=506.0,558.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880/transcript/39928/annotation/23","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Alex Zablocki: So the community itself physically has changed. Um, and what happened with that change as landfills were put into this community and along the shorelines, and it was industrialized with JFK Airport and other highways and commercial development water got polluted through that and sewer systems that were pouring out into Jamaica Bay from the various tributaries on the mainland of Brooklyn and Queens. And it was only over the last 20 to 30 years that we started turning back literally the tide of pollution in Jamaica Bay and starting to see not only clear water but a cleaner water over the past 100 years, we've lost about 2000 acres of marshland in Jamaica Bay due to sea level rise, climate change and pollution. Those marsh islands are now being restored by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Um, thanks to the efforts of local community groups and nonprofits that got together to advocate for, for that funding. So I would say, looking today back to maybe 50 or a hundred years ago, the environment is a cleaner place. Um, we are doing better in terms of combating the issues of sea level rising climate change. There's a lot more work to do. Um, but nature is returning to spaces that were once, once natural themselves, but taken by human development and we're trying to restore as much as we can, and that will make the environment better in the health and lives of New Yorkers better as well.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880#t=558.0,650.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880/transcript/39928/annotation/24","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Daniela Trapani: Great. Um, and I'm not sure if you kind of, this is in the scope of that answer that you gave. Um, but how has the parkland changed or is that, is that all encompassing with the shoreline? Yeah,","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880#t=650.0,666.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880/transcript/39928/annotation/25","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Alex Zablocki: Shoreline Shoreline's changed because they're filled through human action or through the action of things like sea level rise, climate change, and just the natural movement, let's say sediment. Um, and what pollution has done too many of our natural shorelines, like the one in my virtual background behind me, a beautiful marshland in Jamaica Bay, but our physical Parkland found in Queens is some of the most iconic in New York city. And, and it comes from that Robert Moses era of building out parks in outskirts of New York City and into places like Long Island as he did upstate and connecting those parks to major highway networks. So an example right here in Jamaica Bay in Queens is Jacob Riis Park, a Robert Moses era park that has a 9,000 spot parking lot the largest at its time when it was built by Robert Moses. And that was the People's Beach.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880#t=666.0,721.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880/transcript/39928/annotation/26","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Alex Zablocki: That's where New Yorkers could come and escape. Um, the places like the Lower East Side or crowded areas of Brooklyn and try to get away for the day with their family to enjoy the beach. And if we look nearly 80 to a hundred years later after Robert Moses built Jacob Riis Park, which is now part of Gateway National Recreation Area, we still welcome millions of visitors to Jacob Riis Park places like Rockaway beach, New York, city's only surfing beach which has also been around from the same time while the iconic Rockaway beach boardwalk was destroyed by super storm Sandy, it's been replaced with a resilient promenade after, after the storm. So there's new concessions along the boardwalk and new life brought to that area. Um, so those just two physical parks that maybe nature had not changed or did in some cases with super storm Sandy, but remain much the same as they did nearly 80 to a hundred years ago.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880#t=721.0,781.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880/transcript/39928/annotation/27","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Daniela Trapani: Okay, wonderful. Um, my next question for you was you know, in your opinion, what do you think is the most pressing environmental concern for Jamaica bay and the Rockaway peninsula?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880#t=781.0,796.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880/transcript/39928/annotation/28","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Alex Zablocki: So the most pressing environmental concern and actually, let me, let me answer this in two ways. Um, if you had asked someone in my position 20 or 30 years ago, the most pressing issue, would've been the sewer outfalls into Jamaica Bay and nitrogen discharge that was polluting the bay and the need to retrofit those sewer systems on mainland Queens and Brooklyn, and ensure that combined sewer outfalls and other types of pollutants did no longer were no longer a threat to Jamaica Bay. There's been nearly a billion dollars invested in those systems. And as we look forward to the future and learn from on the past, I think our greatest threat is climate change. And as I just mentioned earlier, one of the facts out of the US Army Corps's report for Jamaica Bay marsh islands is that nearly 2000 acres of marsh island was lost since the 1920s in Jamaica Bay.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880#t=796.0,853.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880/transcript/39928/annotation/29","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Alex Zablocki: And there was a period in the 1990s where we were losing 40 acres of marsh island per year, and this is due to extreme weather, sea level rise, climate change and pollution. And as you lose more salt marshes you lose those natural sponges that will take pollutants out of the water. Um, besides that removing nitrogen from the water, they're great carbon sequesters. So they take carbon out of the atmosphere, so they actually lower the risk of climate change. Um, so if we lose more of it, we're losing more of that ability to limit carbon within the atmosphere. And then finally they provide habitat for things like Diamondback terrapins and migrating birds along the Atlantic flyway. And if we don't restore these marsh islands and think about the natural areas we're losing right here in Queens, in Jamaica Bay you could not only lose the landscape, but you lose these important natural areas that do a lot for the environment, but they also do affect humans.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880#t=853.0,913.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880/transcript/39928/annotation/30","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Alex Zablocki: Um, the marsh islands are a first line of defense against extreme weather. They help attenuate wave action. So communities that live along the waterfront and Rockaway Broad Channel and Howard Beach, who are on the forefront of this climate change crisis, when they see something like a Nor'easter or a, a tropical storm, even a hurricane, these marsh islands help break down that wave energy off the shore. And that means less damage to their homes and potentially less flooding. Um, and then finally, this is our Parkland. Um, these are open spaces for us to enjoy, and if we allow it to be eroded and washed away and allow the seas to take it and not think differently about how resilient our shoreline can be and how we have to live with the water and live with nature then that could be the greatest threat to all of these wonderful spaces we have right here in Queens.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880#t=913.0,963.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880/transcript/39928/annotation/31","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Daniela Trapani: Absolutely. Thank you for that answer. Um, you touched upon a little bit the effects of climate change on the environment. Um, could you elaborate more on, you know, the intersection or effects from climate change or anything else you wanna touch on on that topic?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880#t=963.0,980.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880/transcript/39928/annotation/32","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Alex Zablocki: I, I mentioned a few things around erosion, sea level rise and extreme weather, but climate change also affects humans in many different ways and there's reasons for it. So I'll just touch on one of, of the thing that is important to communities in Queens and parks plays a role in helping combat it. It's the heat island effect. Um, Robert Moses' 9,000 spot parking lot creates a great amount of heat because we removed all the natural foliage and replaced it with asphalt or concrete. And as roads were paved and houses were built throughout New York City in particular in Queens, it creates this area that is just warmer than it normally would be in fact, like forest and places that are covered with greenery, like the grasses behind me are much cooler than areas that are just paved over or open concrete and well, what does that, it means that you could get not only more extreme weather, but health effects.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880#t=980.0,1037.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880/transcript/39928/annotation/33","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Alex Zablocki: It, it, it increases rates of asthma and breathing issues in folks. So that's something we need to get a handle on. And what it means is that we could look at these species differently and see what opportunities they provide since we're stuck with them. You know, we're not saying we're getting rid of all the parking lot, so the, the roads or the houses, but what could we do differently? And there was a program to paint roofs, for instance, white, it was called cool roofs. Um, and that could help lower not only energy use within buildings, but maybe help limit the heat island effect. We can look at planting more trees, adding more foliage or cover to these spaces. We can also look at re-imagining these spaces as places that could generate green energy, like solar fields and not just have them be open parking lots or other spaces. So besides just flooding extreme weather, I think also looking at the heat island effect is really key to the climate change crisis and how we respond.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880#t=1037.0,1092.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880/transcript/39928/annotation/34","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Daniela Trapani: Yeah, absolutely. Um, pivoting more to, you know, what you talked about with the Conservancy's work, you talked about your guys' efforts to restore the land. Um, I was wondering how the land restoration for Jamaica Bay and the Rockaway peninsula are changing the Parkland itself.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880#t=1092.0,1115.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880/transcript/39928/annotation/35","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Alex Zablocki: I, I think I gave a, a few examples, but I'll focus on the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. Um, the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge has two freshwater ponds, east pond and west pond. These are Robert Moses' projects, they're fresh water within the salt water estuary, and the reason why they're important. Um, there's two reasons why they're important. Number one, we've lost a lot of our freshwater habitat in New York City, natural freshwater habitat because we filled it in, we, we built houses where there were once ponds and streams, we've put them into pipes. So there's, there's a limit to the amount of freshwater that's available within this great ecosystem. And then secondly, the freshwater ponds because of that reason attract migrating shorebird. So they're really important along the Atlantic flyway, as millions of birds are flying north and south, they land here and Jamaica Bay is this big gas station where they fuel up, they feed they nest and these birds go to these ponds and the water levels in the ponds are lowered.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880#t=1115.0,1179.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880/transcript/39928/annotation/36","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Alex Zablocki: Um, so by the National Park Service so that they create these mud flats around the ponds that birds are attracted to, to feed off of and during super storm Sandy west pond was breached and that freshwater pond became in brackish or partly salt water and then eventually totally inundated. The National Park Service over many years, worked on a project to close up that gap and putting put back the berm in July of 2017. And it also restored the nearly two mile west pond loop trail around the freshwater west pond. That's important for birders and, and educators and visitors to the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. But as we saw after the breach was repaired in 2017 mother nature continues on its path. And that's something that you just cannot change, unfortunately. And we saw continue to see a great deal of erosion outside of the breach area that was repaired.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880#t=1179.0,1234.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880/transcript/39928/annotation/37","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Alex Zablocki: And during a, Nor'easter in 2018, early 2019, we saw a storm coming right up to the trail right up to west pond, and we thought the breach would occur again. And we would lose this pond forever, that there may not be a will to hold back the water anymore. And that's when we got involved in designing with the National Park Service, a living shoreline that I mentioned built out nine new acres of habitat last year restored that space with 200,000 native plants we put in wave attenuators using oyster shells. So there's these oyster bag break water systems that further support the shoreline and break down wave energy. So our park changed because we not only realized this threat head on, but we also responded by creating more habitat and a protective edge, that's using all nature based features. It's 100% green in nature, and it's important we do projects like that back in 2019, the cultural landscapes report called Landslide identified gateway national recreation area as the one of the top 10 public lands in the country that was at risk to being lost to sea level rise. Um, and that's what comes with climate change. So if we don't protect these spaces or learn to live with water or make spaces more resilient then we will unfortunately lose our parks forever. So that's not only the greatest threat, but it's how it's changing the landscape of our parks right here in Queens.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880#t=1234.0,1325.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880/transcript/39928/annotation/38","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Daniela Trapani: Right, right. Absolutely. Um, you mentioned in your answer the birds that are in the area are there other animals or wildlife that are also in the area as well?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880#t=1325.0,1338.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880/transcript/39928/annotation/39","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Alex Zablocki: Yes. Uh, well, Queens has an abundance of wildlife. So we find the Diamondback Terrapin turtle. There's thousands of 'em found in Jamaica Bay. Sometimes they'll cross the runways at JFK Airport and keep the planes from flying. But they're really important in terms of a species found in Jamaica Bay. We of course have the oldest inhabitant of Jamaica Bay, prehistoric horseshoe crab which is also found in abundance in Jamaica Bay. They depend on sandy shorelines to nest during May and other months of the year and the eggs that they lay in terms of the circle of life are a favorite food of many birds, including the endangered red knot that migrates through Jamaica bay. And they fuel up on these billions of eggs that the horseshoe crabs lay along the whole Atlantic coast, and right here in Jamaica Bay, those birds are using that as a fuel source as they migrate north and south.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880#t=1338.0,1394.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880/transcript/39928/annotation/40","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Alex Zablocki: Um, we have other other types of animals that could be found here besides birds could be mice. Um, they're found here, and that's why birds love to also fly through Jamaica Bay because they're field mice and they feed off of them. So our raptors, like the owls love mice and within our water, we have a lot of feeders or, or juvenile fish that act as feeders for other Marine life. So the osprey is an example that flies through Jamaica bay will nest here in June. Their favorite food is menhaden or if you fish it's known as bunker and it's found in the hundreds of thousands in Jamaica Bay, and also seals could be found in Jamaica Bay dolphins off of Rockaway beach and whales have been spotted as well. So an abundance of wildlife, and then even beyond all of the things that we would consider wildlife and animals, we also are home to many important insects. And of course the part of the migration pattern of the Monarch butterfly that comes to Jamaica Bay because they also feed off of, and nest on butterfly, we, and milkweed that is found naturally throughout Jamaica Bay and along the shoreline, as well as seaside goldenrod.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880#t=1394.0,1473.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880/transcript/39928/annotation/41","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Daniela Trapani: Very cool. Lots of animals. Yeah. Um, how do you do you incorporate animals and wildlife into your programming?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880#t=1473.0,1482.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880/transcript/39928/annotation/42","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Alex Zablocki: We, we do, as I mentioned, we have a robust education program and it's part of our Jamaica bay curriculum, where we talk about all these amazing creatures, in fact that curriculum, which is STEAM based that educators use in the classroom, we facilitate a fields trips program as part of that curriculum. Uh, students go through exercises to learn about the threats of things like climate change and Marine debris floatables on our ecosystems. And they pick a mascot or someone that they feel should be the mayor of Jamaica Bay. So you could pick an osprey or an egret or a turtle or horseshoe crab. Um, and then there's exercises around that to engage elementary school students in this election campaign for who will oversee Jamaica Bay. Um, so we definitely talk about it through our school programs and get, get people, get students immersed in that.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880#t=1482.0,1538.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880/transcript/39928/annotation/43","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Alex Zablocki: \nWe also have a number of festivals and free programs throughout the year. Uh, we in partnership with NYC Audubon and the American Littoral Society and Gateway National Recreation Area, co-host the Horseshoe Crab Festival where we go to a shoreline get up close and personal in May and actually pick up horseshoe crabs and show that they're safe that we should treat them with respect. So we get to see them there. Um, we do support turtle research in Jamaica Bay through the Terrapin research project and American Littoral Society. Um, they're doing work around not internal research, but protecting nesting nests of Diamondback terrapins, their eggs are a favorite food of raccoons. So which are also found in Jamaica Bay. We have to protect those nests from being eaten by these other animals. And then we throughout the year, we'll engage people in our Pollinator festival and other types of wildlife that is found in Jamaica bay through all of our programs.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880#t=1538.0,1596.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880/transcript/39928/annotation/44","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Daniela Trapani: That's great. Um, do you have a favorite festival or public program that you guys do?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880#t=1596.0,1603.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880/transcript/39928/annotation/45","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Alex Zablocki: Um, I would say right now it's the Jamaica Bay Festival. It takes place on city of water day. This year will be our fifth year we're doing it. We started it again like five years ago. Uh, and in this year we're going to make it even bigger and better. We work with dozens of groups across Brooklyn and Queens to active our waterfront and get people out on the water for free kayaking, paddle boarding, canoeing, sailing, surfing. Um, so it's a way to experience water and show where there is access show, where there is lack of access. We have free walking tours in the past. We've done walk on, walk off tours of research vessels. Um, we've done other types of public programming. We've worked with arts groups, so the Jamaica Bay Festival might be my favorite and there's information on the festival@jamaicabayfestival.com. And like I said, it gets bigger and bigger every year thanks to the great partners that we have across Brooklyn and Queens.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880#t=1603.0,1657.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880/transcript/39928/annotation/46","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Daniela Trapani: That's amazing. Oh, I would love to go this year. Um, another question, my last, probably question about the environment specifically. Um, could you talk about the role of marshes in Jamaica Bay and the Rockaway peninsula?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880#t=1657.0,1672.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880/transcript/39928/annotation/47","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Alex Zablocki: Sure. And I, I think I, I went over this earlier, but I'll, I'll reiterate the importance of marshes. Why have this photo behind me? Um, salt marshes are really the key to our ecosystem in Jamaica Bay and without our, without our salt marshes and healthy salt marshes so much not only habitat would not exist, but also the wildlife that depends on it would not exist. And we also would not have such a healthy place to live as marshes provide so much benefits or co-benefits to the environment. Um, but marshes play an important role in, especially in an urban setting. Um, often we wouldn't think of marshes being in an urban setting, but since there is so much pollution and runoff, nitrogen discharge from sewage treatment, plants, pollution in the air marshes act as big sponges. Uh, if you could imagine use a sponge to clean a pot or to clean a countertop marshes are doing the same thing and they're locking in those pollutants.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880#t=1672.0,1735.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880/transcript/39928/annotation/48","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Alex Zablocki: \nUm, they maybe use them for food, but they also help store those pollutants and keep them out of the atmosphere and out of the environment in doing so though, and as they thrive, like the grasses in the virtual background behind me it's a place for all these little critters to live. So whether it be Marine life like juvenile fish or crabs the horseshoe crabs, like I said, could depend on these spaces, birds. Uh, you might see there's a little egret also right in the top of my image that I have behind me. So birds are certainly dependent on these spaces and they provide a whole other host of benefits in terms of air quality as well. And then we get to go out as people and also enjoy them and get to look at all of these these amazing creatures that live within marsh islands.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880#t=1735.0,1784.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880/transcript/39928/annotation/49","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Alex Zablocki: \nUm, so it, there it's important that we support our marshes, not only here around Jamaica Bay and Queens, but in areas off of Long Island City, Astoria, Flushing Bay. Um, we're surrounded by these marshes that were lost through industrial development and residential development in fill. Um, much of New York City was filled in wetland. So the area you see behind me is what maybe lower Manhattan looked like 300, 400 years ago. So it's important to remember that we took this out of the ecosystem and it's important to restore it. One interesting note that, that I always find was fascinating about our marsh islands in Jamaica Bay. You find a really good healthy marsh island, right on its edge are rib muscles and rib muscles are finding homes along the edges of salt marshes. And what they're doing is they're keeping together the sand.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880#t=1784.0,1838.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880/transcript/39928/annotation/50","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Alex Zablocki: So that's an erosion control natural erosion control measure by these important mollusks that are found in our bay and are natural to the environment, but they're also amazing filter feeders. So if you go on the shoreline and you're watching this and you say, Hmm, I'm gonna look at that marsh island one day, if it's low tide, take a look at the very edge of the marsh, you'll see probably clumps of muscles. And just imagine how everything is working together, where the water meets the edge of the wetlands. You have these rib muscles they're filtering out pollutants in the water, the marshes are doing the same. The grasses are growing healthy, and they're all keeping the sand together. And then that one marsh is also helping break down wave energy and protect you as a human. So that's why they play such an important role right here in Queens.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880#t=1838.0,1887.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880/transcript/39928/annotation/51","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Daniela Trapani: Great. Oh, amazing. Thank you for going over that again. Um, and I know in, in a previous answer, you talked about this you know, things that people can do to help these marsh lines and become involved with the Conservancy. Um, are there some other things that people can do now to create a better environment in their communities that you might not have touched on yet?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880#t=1887.0,1911.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880/transcript/39928/annotation/52","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Alex Zablocki: Sure. Um, first is, you know, re uh, the three R's it's reuse, recycle oh God, I'm not gonna get the third R.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880#t=1911.0,1921.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880/transcript/39928/annotation/53","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Daniela Trapani: Reduce,","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880#t=1921.0,1922.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880/transcript/39928/annotation/54","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Alex Zablocki: Reduce. Thank you. Um, the three R's, and that's a starting point. So within the Jamaica Bay watershed, what the watershed is, is all of the land. Um, that's capturing water and where does that water go? You know, water goes downhill. So there's a point where the water will go into Jamaica Bay and it's 145 square miles. It runs from Prospect Park, Brooklyn up to Bushwick, Northeast Queens, and into Nassau county. So everything within the Jamaica Bay watershed, if it's going into the street is flowing into either Jamaica Bay at some point or through a treatment plant. Um, and then out into Jamaica Bay. So if you discard a straw on the street or a piece of paper or anything else that's that's gets into our sewer system, or is in the street, it could wind up in our waterways and what we're finding in Jamaica Bay through stewardship work, if any volunteers have come out with us, especially on the bay side, we weigh all our trash.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880#t=1922.0,1980.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880/transcript/39928/annotation/55","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Alex Zablocki: So back in 2021, as I mentioned, we removed 17,000 pounds of trash from our shorelines. A lot of these shorelines are not used by people where they're leaving trash. This is trash, that's floating up on the shoreline, and it's either blowing there or it's coming through the Jamaica Bay watershed. So it's important to reduce, reuse, recycle and then also not discard things into sewers or into the street. I think if you follow a few of those rules, you're already making a huge impact. Um, and then if you want to come out with us, you can see kind of what we're finding. And the next time you're on a shoreline right out here in Queens on the beach. Not only look at the stuff you're seeing, but then think about it in your daily life, which we try to get kids to do. And then also look at the product. So you might notice a green straw, an orange straw on the beach, a certain cap, a label and then think about how that relates to what you might use and also what we're consuming as, as human beings.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880#t=1980.0,2043.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880/transcript/39928/annotation/56","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Daniela Trapani: Right. Um, okay. Uh, pivoting a little bit to a current crisis, recent crisis, current crisis that New York is facing. Um, could you talk about how COVID-19 has affected the Conservancy's environmental efforts, whether positively or negatively?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880#t=2043.0,2062.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880/transcript/39928/annotation/57","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Alex Zablocki: Yeah, no, it's a really good question. And first as we talk about COVID and the impacts it's had on our city, not only in terms of economic impacts, but the health implications of it long term, but also the lives lost it's devastating. So of course the Conservancy's hearts are with anyone affected directly from it, with the loss of a family member, friend, or if they're still facing health effects from the pandemic. It has been a long two years. It's something that we had to strategize around, struggle with. Um, and in many cases, pivot as we thought, things would go one way you're never prepared for a global pandemic. There's no rule book for this Conservancy that we pull off a shelf and we say, this is what we're gonna do next. Um, and I'll speak just about our team for a moment. We have a great team, and I think COVID impacted two particular units within the Conservancy, the most education and stewardship quickly on stewardship, cuz this is the obvious one.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880#t=2062.0,2121.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880/transcript/39928/annotation/58","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Alex Zablocki: Um, we couldn't host public programs like we once did early on in the pandemic. We had to figure out how to navigate things like masking rules or having sanitizer, socially distancing ourselves at some point vaccinations and other types of measures to keep everyone healthy and well, that includes volunteers, park staff and our own staff. Um, so those are things we all navigated and the good news is really inspiring news is that New Yorkers still came out and droves to help take care of our open spaces and it didn't stop the them from wanting to take care of these spaces on the education side though, as we engage thousands of students annually and physical one-on-one interaction within our parks, we obviously lost the ability with virtual learning, where kids were at home, and then even the limited ability in the classroom where there just were no more field trips.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880#t=2121.0,2176.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880/transcript/39928/annotation/59","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Alex Zablocki: So we had to take our in-person curriculum and reinvent that in a way that would create a really robust and important program, an impactful program for students to engage with virtually. We did it very quickly. Um, we provided new Yorkers with a whole host of virtual activities that families could use and engage with. Um, and also students could use, we use this tool called ArcGIS StoryMaps to have interactive programs. We call it our virtual field trips program to immerse students in these spaces. We included more video, we filmed more video, we hired a media specialist and we were able to engage. So when life hands you lemons make lemonade, we were able to engage thousands of more people because we had these tools versus the limited staff we have who wouldn't have been able to do that much. But as many people probably watching this remember is that parks became the one true place that we could unite as New Yorkers.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880#t=2176.0,2232.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880/transcript/39928/annotation/60","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Alex Zablocki: And we found out how essential park spaces were. Um, and that helped us really elevate the importance of a group like Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy, and public private partnerships and individuals who support us and what nonprofits do in New York City and how we could fill gaps in public park agencies and how people respected differently their parks, open spaces and realized, or found once again their local park and how important it was. So we definitely had impacts on the stewardship side and we're back to maybe pre pandemic levels and that's doing well on the education side, we had to reinvent the entire program, but we were able to serve so many more people. And then our parks are essential and people realize that now. And I think that's important for Parkland in New York City and where we were happy to provide some support to people that needed it during this terrible time.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880#t=2232.0,2293.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880/transcript/39928/annotation/61","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Daniela Trapani: Yeah, absolutely. Thank you for that answer. Um, and you touched upon the education. I was gonna ask about that, the virtual learning tools what was the transition to that like for you guys to, to transition to virtual programming?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880#t=2293.0,2309.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880/transcript/39928/annotation/62","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Alex Zablocki: So we have two full time staff members on our education team. One's a manager, one's a coordinator and then an AmeriCorps Vista member. Um, we know Adobe Photoshop, like anyone else might have dabbled in it or some photography or video on our phones. What we did early on in the pandemic in March of 2020 is we realized we might have to do this for the long haul is we immediately started to look at the collateral we had and information that we had collected over the years of building up our education program and saw to bring that together and put it out to the public as virtual learning or digital activities, things like nature journals, where you could print it out and go with your kids to one of our parks and go through our nature journal and identify things that don't belong on a shoreline like trash or find different animals, scavenger hunts.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880#t=2309.0,2362.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880/transcript/39928/annotation/63","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Alex Zablocki: Um, we created an activity or coloring book for Jamaica Bay that featured all of the wildlife that I mentioned earlier in natural spaces that they con color in. And during that time or concurrent to that time, we started to develop ArcGIS StoryMaps, and we created a virtual space to facilitate our Jamaica Bay curriculum directly to students with educators, and then take students on a journey through our parks as if they were there, but doing it through this story map setting. Um, and that meant that staff spent hours of their time developing these things from scratch, using what digital media we had. And we even took some during the pandemic as, as needed. And we were able to build off of that. We created a multitude of story maps. Now they're all available on our website at www.jbrpc.org. Um, you can see all of the educational tools we now offer, so that helped us build up our education program in many respects, like I said, engage so many New Yorkers. And I think as we reset from the pandemic and get back to a more normal life of the new normal, we'll be able to reengage people in the physical space, like the spaces behind me on my virtual background. Um, but then also still will continue to serve people through digital.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880#t=2362.0,2442.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880/transcript/39928/annotation/64","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Daniela Trapani: Okay. Yeah. That's, that's really interesting to hear definitely it's with, with the digital it's you were able to reach way more people than you could in person. So that's a positive look on that. Yeah. Um, yeah. Okay. Um, my, I, second to last question I wanted to ask you was what are some organizations that you recommend learning about with creating positive environmental efforts?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880#t=2442.0,2468.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880/transcript/39928/annotation/65","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Alex Zablocki: One of our closest partners in Jamaica Bay is the Natural Areas Conservancy or known as NAC. They're a partner of New York City Parks supporting all of the natural spaces across five boroughs. They do a lot of work in Jamaica Bay. They're focused on doing things like marsh island restoration trail maintenance, giving access to waterfronts and natural areas within our parks. And they've been our partner for many years. So I highly recommend connecting with the Natural Areas Conservancy. Within Jamaica Bay we've also worked with the American Littoral Society. Uh, Don Riepe is the Jamaica Bay guardian, a very well known birder in Jamaica Bay and naturalist, who's been an advocate for these spaces for decades. He grew up around Jamaica Bay and they do a lot of work around stewardship projects. They have a workforce program. Uh, they support a program with us called Raptor Management, which helps build Osprey nests and barn owl boxes around Jamaica Bay.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880#t=2468.0,2527.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880/transcript/39928/annotation/66","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Alex Zablocki: Um, and we also collect fishing line and recycle that from over 50 fishing line, recycling bins around Jamaica Bay. So we do that in partnership with them and they also do work outside of Jamaica Bay in places like New Jersey. So those are two organizations that I would recommend that do a lot of work right here in Queens. And there's just so many more. Um, so I just don't want to focus on two, but I don't have enough times to go through all of them. Um, but I would recommend going to New York City Parks' website or state parks, or even Gateway National Recreation Area, asking a friend and seeing who's doing what what's out there. There's so many free programs that are available right here in Queens that people can participate in or ways to get involved in our wonderful parks.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880#t=2527.0,2571.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880/transcript/39928/annotation/67","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Daniela Trapani: Awesome. Thank you for that answer. Um, my last question I wanted to ask you was what are your hopes for the future regarding our environment?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880#t=2571.0,2582.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880/transcript/39928/annotation/68","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Alex Zablocki: What are our hopes for the future? Well, first I hope people learn more about our open spaces and also the history of them, you know, how they came to be. Um, because I think it's important to know our past, if we wanna look towards the future. So number one, know your history. Um, the Queens library has done a great job at telling the history of Queens open spaces industrial areas, residential areas, development, et cetera throughout the years through a number of virtual programs. So knowing your past help, help set your path in the future also understanding park spaces come and enjoy them, use them Gateway National Recreation Area and the Wildlife Refuge and other places I mentioned today, this is your Parkland, it's your national park. These are your city parks. You have a great state park in Jamaica Bay, Bayswater Point State Park.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880#t=2582.0,2634.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880/transcript/39928/annotation/69","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Alex Zablocki: Uh, just outside the boundary in Jamaica Bay in Brooklyn is Shirley Chisholm State Park. You can get a free bike there and bike around 10 miles of car free trails, and there's other state parks in Long Island City and along the Queens waterfront as well. So enjoy our parks and my hope for the future is not only education and use. Um, but making sure that there is public investment along with private investment in these spaces. So we can't do it alone privately and government can't do it alone themselves either. And I think it will take something like a public private partnership to ensure that these spaces are supported, restored and here for us to enjoy a hundred years from now. So when someone like me a hundred years from now is in the metaverse and they have some other virtual background, they can show lovely grasses like our behind me and talk about Jamaica Bay's marsh islands, and not the fact that we lost them in 2050.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880#t=2634.0,2689.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880/transcript/39928/annotation/70","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Daniela Trapani: Yeah. One. Um, is there anything any last words you wanna say or give us information about how you know, the the website for the Conservancy or how to follow your guys' work or get involved?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880#t=2689.0,2704.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880/transcript/39928/annotation/71","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Alex Zablocki: Sure. I, I talked a lot about volunteer and stewardship but there's a lot of young people that reach out, Daniela over the years that want internships. They want to do research work. They're interested in breaking into the space, getting into the field. Um, so I think anyone that's watching that wants a career in either environmental stewardship or public programming, nonprofit management one find me, find us on LinkedIn, at Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy. Uh, so network is important. Getting involved is important, understanding the space. We also offer opportunities while we're not always hiring, there's often opportunities that we have available on our website or through different job boards and New York City Parks, New York state parks and Gateway National Recreation Area is always hiring, especially during seasonal times. So if anyone wants to try to break into that space right here in Queens, there are jobs available. Um, so besides volunteer, certainly if you wanna work with us or work in the space, reach out our website is jbrpc.org. So www.jbrpc.org. You can also find us on Instagram at JBRPC Twitter at JBRPC and on Facebook at Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy. And we're, we also have a YouTube channel that does a lot of great videos as part of some series that we did on Jamaica Bay. Come out and visit us.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880#t=2704.0,2791.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880/transcript/39928/annotation/72","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Daniela Trapani: Great. Uh, well, thank you so much, Alex. Um, I will end the recording now. Um, but thank you for your interview today.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880#t=2791.0,2799.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880/transcript/39928/annotation/73","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Alex Zablocki: Daniela, thank you so much. Thanks for having me.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2074/collection_resources/74875/file/160880#t=2799.0,2802.301"}]}]}]}