THE ROCKAWAY PENINSULA, nicknamed Rocapulco, or simply the Rock, is an 11-mile ribbon of land that just out from the southern tip of Queens. Its coastline is girdled with prime beachfront, including a pristine section that is part of the Gateway National Recreation Area, home to a maritime forest, marshy dunes and nesting grounds for migrating birds. I live in the ROCKAWAY PENINSULA and my community is under attack from development. Due to years of city neglect and shifting demographics much of the area have become dilapidated and worn down over time, and now there are many vacant lots ready for development. The city now proposes to develop retail space and manufacturing to boost the local economy. In my opinion that is how we arrived here in the first place; the city incentives retailers and manufactures build their businesses with subsidies and tax breaks. Then the economy takes a down turn, subsidies run out, and tax breaks are no longer viable both the retail and manufactures pack up and leave. The community is left with vacant and depleted lots/buildings; right back where we started. Not this time I plan to save my community. That is why we are occupying a space to show that retail and/or manufacturing is not a sustainable business model for our community; sustainable business models encompasses community, people, and nature. The Rockaways Beer Garden project does just that, we will build a Modern urban garden environment mixed with outdoor bar and food service technology (concession stations); tents; outdoor speakers; jungle gym; games (billiard, Chess etc.). Beautifying the community while providing a platform to educate, socialize, explore and come together.
