NYC Gazette

New York, NY – Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) requested $4,600,000 in the Fiscal Year 2024 budget forthe interior renovation of the Fireboat House at East River Park. These renovations will expand the volunteer program of East River Park and increase access to the educational programs provided to the community’s low-income families. This project would focus on the adaptive reuse of the historic structure with an emphasis on sustainability and preservation. The funds would be used to install building cooling and heating features, improve restroom accessibility, repair damaged walls and ceilings, and restore historic features.

“The Fireboat House is a historic community center and the hub of vibrant volunteer efforts on the Lower East Side,” Congressman Dan Goldman said. “Our historic buildings make New York City unique, and through the adaptive reuse of these structures, we can preserve our history while serving our communities. I am thankful to the City of New York and LES Ecology Center for their work in making sure this community center serves the Lower East Side. I am proud to support the Fireboat House renovation in their efforts to connect the past to the present.”

The Fireboat House is a community center that is home to the LES Ecology Center, since 1998.  The LES Ecology Center and NYC Department of Parks and Recreation have served the Lower East Side through year-round educational programming and workshops. The educational programming is crucial in supplementing local schools with science-based, hands-on learning experiences. The center prioritizes low-income families for their free programming, providing an invaluable learning opportunity for low-income families. The Ecology Center oversees a stewardship program to assist the Parks Department in the maintenance of the East River Park.

Christine Datz-Romero, Executive Director of the Lower East Side Ecology Center said, "The Lower East Side Ecology Center is excited for being included in the FY24 Community Project Funding Requests to upgrade the historic Fire Boat House in East River Park.  The funding will create a welcoming, ADA compliant building, to allow access for all people regardless of their physical ability to this environmental learning facility.  Additionally, the Fire Boat House will be better prepared to play a crucial role in anchoring the rebuild East River Park, allowing the Lower East Side Ecology Center to offer educational programs addressing the impacts of climate change. We like to express our gratitude to Congressman Dan Goldman for his leadership on of this issue that has deeply affected our community.”

The Fireboat House also serves as a hub for the volunteer program at East River Park. The program engages more than 950 volunteers annually, contributing over 2,850 hours of volunteer time to East River Park’s maintenance and to the improved experience of the 1.5 million visitors to the park every year. Renovations would allow for an expansion of the robust volunteer program.

The funds would be used to install building cooling and heating features, improve restroom accessibility, repair damaged walls and ceilings, and restore historic features.

Proposed renovations include improvements to meeting spaces, offices, and storage areas for the site’s educational materials, as well as updates to the bathrooms which include bringing the first-floor bathroom to ADA compliance. Additionally, the worn-out floors will be replaced with new terrazzo floors on the ground and second floors, and the water-damaged walls and ceilings, some of which are collapsing, will be replaced.

Historic features, such as the lockers on the second floor and the firefighters’ pole, will be restored.

Fireboat House will also be updated to be more sustainable and energy efficient. The building’s exterior will be weather-proofed, and out of date windows will be replaced. In addition to the exterior weatherproofing, the electrical and heating systems will be upgraded. 

Original source can be found here.