Red Hook beautification project showcases student art from Justice Center

November 17, 2022 Brooklyn Eagle Staff

The Red Hook Beautification Project’s student photography exhibit. Photo courtesy NYC Emergency Management

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RED HOOK — The New York City Emergency Management Department and the Red Hook Community Justice Center on Wednesday announced the completion of the Red Hook Beautification Project for the Atlantic Basin temporary flood measures.

The project places photography by students of the Red Hook Community Justice Center, on banners that were placed on the Interim Flood Protection Measures (IFPM) which were installed last year, until the permanent coastal resiliency design is completed.

Ten local young artists who participated in the center’s “Just Arts Photography” program in Spring 2022, created several works of art to showcase their talent and give back to the Red Hook community. The 12-week program encourages students to explore their artistic self-expression, build job readiness and life skills.

The IFPM program was created in 2016 to protect critical facilities, infrastructure, and low-lying areas in New York City from flooding caused by hurricanes. NYC Emergency Management First Deputy Commissioner Christina Farrell, and IFPM Manager Suzan Rosen were on-hand to visit the site and deliver remarks.

A long shot of the photography exhibit. Photo courtesy NYC Emergency Management

“We are thrilled to partner with the Red Hook Community Justice Center to showcase the photography of these extremely talented young students,” said NYC Emergency Management Commissioner Zach Iscol. “Ten years ago, the Red Hook community was severely impacted by Hurricane Sandy, and I am so proud of these youth for using their artistic abilities to illustrate the resiliency of our city, while educating themselves and others about the mitigation measures New York City uses to protect our communities from future storm surges.”

Zach Iscol. Photo: NYC Emergency Management.

The Atlantic Basin IFPM was designed with the goal of protecting the area from the impacts of storm surge. The IFPM site is 4,505 linear feet of protection and includes HESCO barriers and Tiger Dams that would be deployed before a storm. NYC Emergency Management led the project, with support from the New York City Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice the Department of Design and Construction. The project team also includes the NYC Department of Transportation, Department of Environmental Protection, New York City Economic Development Corporation, and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

Marcus Scurry. Photo: Red Hook Community Justice Center

“The Red Hook community was devastated when Hurricane Sandy ravaged the state of New York and our respective communities. To this end, the Red Hook Community Justice Center was honored to support NYC Emergency Management with our participation in their community beautification project, as an effort to acknowledge our resilience since Sandy and the impact of unity and community healing,” said Deputy Director of Red Hook Community Justice Center Marcus Scurry.

The Red Hook Community Justice Center is the nation’s first multi-jurisdictional community court. The center seeks to solve neighborhood problems such as drug, crimes, domestic violence, and landlord-tenant disputes. A single judge hears neighborhood cases that under ordinary circumstances would go to three different courts: Civil, Family and Criminal court. The goal is to offer a coordinated, rather than piecemeal, approach to people’s problems. Beyond the courtroom, the Justice Center offers an array of unconventional programs that work to improve both public safety and trust in justice.

Heather Roiter. Photo: NYC Emergency Management

“In partnership with the Red Hook Community Justice Center, we were able to complete the beautification project and provide young local artists with the opportunity to share their gifts, learn life skills and give back to the community, ” said NYC Emergency Management Assistant Commissioner of Recovery and Risk Reduction Heather Roiter.

Through a comprehensive risk assessment process, Red Hook was identified as a priority site to receive flood protection through the Interim Flood Protection Measures program. The Atlantic Basin IFPM design includes a combination of semi-permanent barriers with various openings that allow for normal site operations. These storm openings are then closed when storm surge from a coastal storm is forecast using just-in-time, deployable protection measures. Interim flood protection measures provide a short-term level of protection while permanent mitigation is planned at the site. City agencies worked with engineering consultants and other agencies to evaluate flood risks, perform site visits and feasibility assessments, and determined what measures to install to reduce flood risk at each IFPM location. The Atlantic Basin site will receive permanent protection from the Red Hook Coastal Resiliency (RHCR) project.