Summary:
NYC Parks plans to close Pier 1 near Citi Field, impacting the annual Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival and approximately 80 dragon boat teams.
The closure is due to significant deterioration of the pier's wooden structure.
Dragon boaters express concerns about the loss of community and insufficient notice from the city.
NYC Parks cites budgetary constraints as the reason for not fully restoring the pier.
The future of dragon boat racing in Flushing Bay remains uncertain.
NYC Dragon Boat Festival Docks Face Closure
The future of dragon boat racing in Flushing Bay, Queens, is uncertain. NYC Parks plans to close Pier 1 near Citi Field due to significant deterioration of the aging wood structure. This closure threatens the annual Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival, one of the largest in the U.S., and impacts around 80 clubs and teams that use the pier.
Community Concerns and the City's Response
Dragon boaters express deep concern. "It's very community-based for me," said Marygrace Tabing, "Having this disappearing is going to hurt my soul." Many paddlers highlight the strong sense of community and shared effort involved in the sport. NYC Parks has offered a list of 36 alternative marinas, but some locations are remote and insufficient notice was given, leaving teams scrambling to find suitable alternatives.
NYC Parks stated that due to budgetary limitations, they cannot currently afford to fully restore the pier.
The Future of Dragon Boat Racing in NYC
The situation underscores the precarious balance between preserving NYC's recreational spaces and the needs of its active communities. The short notice and lack of readily available alternative docking spaces raise concerns about the sport's long-term viability in the area. The closure of Pier 1 could permanently alter the landscape of dragon boat racing in New York City.
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