This Thursday, at the Bay Ridge Library (7223 Ridge Boulevard), the Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance will co-host a community meeting with Councilmember Vincent Gentile and Borough President Marty Markowitz to present and solicit ideas for the 69th Street Eco Dock.

The 69th Street Pier was selected as the location of the Eco Dock in 2009, with the help of $300,000 in funding from Gentile. The dock is expected to be constructed this summer by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation.

The Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance – a coalition of over 600 regional waterway-oriented organizations – is reaching out to the community to plan programs and operations at the new dock. The dock can support a wide variety of program opportunities including historic and educational vessel programming, kayaking, community events and environmental education projects. The purpose of Thursday’s meeting is to begin working on possible programs at the dock with the Bay Ridge community.

The design of the dock is the result of a two-year-long process which incorporated feedback from the hand-powered boating community and large vessel operators.

The meeting will run this Thursday, April 26, from 6pm to 8pm. Those interested in attending should contact Becky Schneider at bschneider@waterfrontalliance.org to RSVP.