In addition to confirming that the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation ("Parks") has eliminated tropical hardwoods from the specifications for new park benches, an article printed today in the New York Post has confirmed that Parks is exploring using recycled plastic lumber for upcoming boardwalk renovations in Coney Island.

So far, Parks has been the most responsive agency in the city addressing the use of tropical hardwoods, which as been a 13-year campaign on the part of Rainforest Relief. Parks was the first agency we targeted and, as the agency using more tropical wood than any other, has been the main focus of the campaign over the years. But the recent administration of Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe has been much more responsive than the former, under Commissioner Henry Stern.

To download the article as a PDF for printing, click here.


WOOD-FREE BOARDWALK

By RICH CALDER

http://www.nypost.com/seven/02272008/news/regionalnews/wood_free_boardwalk_99484.htm

February 27, 2008 - Get set for a plastic fantastic Coney Island boardwalk.

The city plans to replace existing timber planks on the most treacherous part of the dilapidated beachfront walkway with a synthetic material that looks like wood, The Post has learned.

It is part of a pilot program set for West 12th to West 15th streets in the heart of the amusement district, and also calls for replacing the existing timber foundation underneath with cement, said Parks Department spokesman Philip Abramson. The city is expected to begin soliciting bids for the job Friday, and if the pilot program is a success, the entire three-mile boardwalk - which officials estimate would cost $200 million to fix - could become plastic.

The original timber comes from the Amazon rainforest, and with the entire boardwalk needing an overhaul the idea of using the artificial wood is part of Mayor Bloomberg's goal to reduce the city's use of tropical hardwoods by 20 percent.