July 20, 2010: Vol. 33, No. 30

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July 20, 2010 / Brooklyn news / Brooklyn Heights / Cinema / Brooklyn Bridge ‘Park’

Heights residents complain of noise from Park movie series

By Andy Campbell

The Brooklyn Paper

Even a park is too loud for Brooklyn Heights residents!

After the July 8 screening of “Annie Hall,” the first of Brooklyn Bridge Park’s “Movies With a View” series this year, and the July 15 screening of “Monsters vs. Aliens,” complaints started flooding in.

Brooklyn Conservatory

“There were swift and numerous complaints after the first event,” said Rob Perris, district manager of Community Board 2. “I think what we have to find out is how the sound travels, and how it is best contained.”

The key, apparently, was the new location for the popular film series, which has been in the adjacent Empire-Fulton Ferry State Park for 10 years. It moved to Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Pier 1, at the foot of Old Fulton Street, this year.

Park officials responded swiftly to the complaints — in the form of a letter.

And there was no apology, but merely notification that there will be plenty more amplified events in the park’s two areas this summer, including a spoken word and music series, a recital by the Metropolitan Opera, and of course, movies every Thursday night.

BoroDeal

“We have done our best to minimize noise spillover outside the park’s boundaries,” said Brooklyn Bridge Park President Regina Myer in the letter. “However, we ask for your patience, and your feedback, as we fine-tune the presentation.”

Officials also said that they’re trying to appease the party-poopers by turning the speakers toward the East River, but admitted that the film series — which attracts up to 4,500 people every week — may need some “alternative speakers” that do a better job at amplifying the noise away from the Heights.

All the events take place in the evening, starting between 8:30 and 9 pm. The job, Perris said, is balancing how to keep everyone happy.

“The park should be an active park,” Perris said. “That said, the park should not be a burden.”

Which way will it go? Well, this Thursday’s screening is “The Big Lebowski,” and bowling pins can get loud.

“The Big Lebowski” in Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Pier 1 [foot of Old Fulton Street in DUMBO, (718) 802-0603], July 23, 8:30 pm.

Updated 11:25 am, July, 20 2010: Updated to fix a horrific error by the reporter this time, not the editor.

←Mean Streets: Call it ‘Fulton Mess’ as city begins major repairs

→Gowanus: ‘Whole’ lotta indecision! Clean-up done, but Whole Foods isn’t sure about Gowanus site

Reader Feedback

Sid from Boerum hill says:

My teenage son used to complain that I breathe too loud....sometimes its the hearer who needs to adjust.

July 20, 2010, 12:23 am

Dave from Clinton Hill says:

Sorry, time to deal, you live in a city!

July 20, 2010, 1:32 am

Rock Hard from Bensonhurst says:

I hope the helicopters buzz by the park just to piss these idiots off.

July 20, 2010, 2:21 am

Steve Nitwitt from Metro Tech says:

CB2 district manager will be featured in new movie:
Perris Bueller's Year Off. What a clown.

July 20, 2010, 2:24 am

Big T from CG says:

Ha Ha hahah.. "Heights residents complain of noise from Park movie series" That's the funniest thing I've heard in a while.

July 20, 2010, 8:15 am

sam from brighotn beach says:

Well is that interesting. When we residents & congregants at the 2 synagogues in Brighton Beach have BP Marty Markowitz's Summer Seaside Concerts & over 5000 people attend with enormous traffic problems & noise issues from the entertainers , I didn't hear anyone from the heights support us in our struggle.
This is your karma.What comes around goes around. Wait till the producers get the music going. We told you it's our neighborhood now that's being abused by the BP Marty Markowitz, next it's yours but no one would listen.
Marty Markowitz would call you people in the Heights NIMBY's. He's a YIMBY & supports what's going on the Brooklyn Bridge Park.

July 20, 2010, 10:26 am

Dathan from Brooklyn Heights says:

To those of you who think we complain too much - you have NO idea what you're talking about. (Actually I have much stronger words in mind, but can't print them here.) The neighborhood used to be quiet - now it's not. It's that simple. You would be bothered too if you lived here. Why can't a park just be a park? Why do we feel the need to amplify every green space in the city? This is probably affecting hundreds of residents - not just a handful. Community leaders really need to listen, so to speak.

July 20, 2010, 10:27 am

sam from brighton beach says:

@Dathan : Where were you & your friends when the residents of Brighton Beach needed your support ( over 13,000 signatures against the $70 million Amphitheater) ? BP Marty Markowitz was in violation of the 500 foot rule for over 19 years (NO SOUND PERMIT) that he presented the Concerts. He, the Mayor & the City Council did an end round the law & made up a new law.
This Amphitheater will effect over 50,000 residents of Brighton Beach.
The problem is that the political elective don't give a s--t about anybody or anything but themselves. They will lie, cheat, thwart any effort that is contrary to their agenda.
We want our Seaside Park to remain a Park too & not a PNC or Jones Beach- like music venue, with our 8000 seats, with 4-5 days of concerts 4-5 months a year & even that could be extended to year round.
Perhaps Dathan & her friends would like to join forces to combat what is happenning to our parks. Email : SaveSeasidePark@ aol.com & Let's fight this abuse by our elective officials.

July 20, 2010, 11:43 am

big T from CG says:

hold on I can't stop
hahahahah haha ha ha ha.. I can't breathe.. oh wait that's all the exhaust from the BQE!
I can't believe people are complaining about a few movies!! oh good lord I needed a laugh.

July 20, 2010, 1:43 pm

moviewatcher from Prospect Lefferts Gardens says:

Actually, I was in the crowd watching "Annie Hall". The speakers were cranked up SO LOUDLY that audience members kept yelling to turn the sound DOWN. It was deafening and unpleasant to the viewers gathered there -- there is no reason to have sound levels turned up so high!!

Unfortunately repeated requests from the audience were ignored... No surprise that neighbors were also offended.

July 20, 2010, 1:51 pm

native nyer from bh says:

to sam, dathan etcetera ... as dave said, you live in a city; deal with it. those events dont happen year round or every day. the parks arent our private backyards. our neighborhoods arent gated communities. we dont own a public space just because we live near it. if that applied, vocal locals could shut down pretty much every outdoor event and activity in nyc.
sam, if you believe in karma you know its nonselective, so it will get every one of us, yourself included.

July 20, 2010, 2:04 pm

sam from brighton beach says:

@native nyer bh.. Let's re-visit this issue when they are blaring Heavy Metal Concerts in Brooklyn Bridge Park in the near future.

July 20, 2010, 2:56 pm

Rob Perris from CB2 says:

Steve! What's the problem? Call me; we can work this out.

July 20, 2010, 3:58 pm

Sid from Boerum Hill says:

anyone want to trade the Gowanus for the noise?
It reminds me of the old joke....why does NY have all the lawyers and NJ the toxic waste dumps?
NJ had first choice....ta dum dum...

July 20, 2010, 4:07 pm

sylvia from brooklyn heights says:

so... i just moved to brooklyn heights, and while i love the neighborhood and it's residents, it does sort of seem like a certain few people complain about EVERYTHING.

that being said, i can see how loud movie noise could potentially be annoying, but with these movies starting at 8:30, they are indefinitely over by 11. that seems like plenty of time to get a good night's sleep.

why don't you complainers go watch the movie? it wouldn't be annoying then!

July 20, 2010, 4:21 pm

native nyer from bh says:

sam from bb ... i have lived in every borough and, i swear, on every parade route, formation or float disassembly site, near outdoor music venues, even near schools that 'treated' kids and the area to loud music. over time ive been wedged in the middle of ever replicating street-avenue-religious-cultural-food fetes and athletic events, all busy busy noisy, even when the neighborhoods didnt start out that way.
and so what. thats city life, the stuff is seasonal and its short, not all year, every day or all day. if i chased people off 'my' lawn it would be nervy of me to enjoy events and facilities on 'their' lawns - since theyre helping to pay for my 'lawn' (parks, streets, upkeep), and the things i like probably inconvenience them.

July 20, 2010, 6:11 pm

Jon from South Brooklyn says:

They just started a wonderful movie series two block from my home in Red Hook. I don't think audio was loud enough!! Let's face it, in Goonies you can clearly see that Sean Astin was destine for greatness.

http://redhookfilms.org/movie_schedule/

July 20, 2010, 6:14 pm

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