City of Water Day Expands to Four Fabulous Waterfront Locations for 2010

City of Water Day, that marvelous, annual citywide celebration of the water that surrounds us, will take place Saturday, July 24. Last year's event drew a record crowd to Governors Island and presented participating MWA Partners with a picturesque setting in which to publicize their programs.

This year, City of Water Day expands to four locations: Governors Island, Liberty State Park, Brooklyn Bridge Park and -- just signed on last week -- PortSide New York in Red Hook.

PortSide New York is a maritime organization centered around the historic tanker Mary A. Whalen, a retired ship that functions as an event and education space. Click here to see a video of an Open House NY tour of the Whalen.

PortSide founder and director Carolina Salguero tells WaterWire that after years of negotiation, she will oversee the important move of the Whalen this week from Pier 9B at the Red Hook Container Port -- where the vessel has enjoyed free electricity, labor, storage and a berth courtesy of American Stevedoring but, at the same time, severe public access restrictions -- to Pier 11 in Atlantic Basin. The relocation comes just in time for PortSide's big 4th of July fundraiser weekend: the Big BlueBQ funraiser on July 3 at PortSide NY and a limited number of tickets to the North River fireworks party at Pier 66 Maritime on July 4. While the Whalen's presence in Atlantic Basin will be on a temporary permit from the Economic Development Corporation, Ms. Salguero is optimistic that a permanent lease will be negotiated.

"This summer will be the first time PortSide has a place to run programs on more than a special-event basis," Ms. Salguero says. "At last, we will fulfill our original vision to be a place that the Mary Whalen is a part of. Looking to the future, our plan is to create a maritime hub and cultural center at Pier 11. We will have interior and exterior space, 600 feet of pier to program and be able to provide a landing for workboats, historic vessels, charter and excursion boats and ferries."

In 2007, PortSide NY co-produced a Puccini opera on the Mary Whalen at the Red Hook Container Port. See a video of the event. This photo and the one above of Dutch flat-bottom boats at PortSide NY by Carolina Salguero.

Here's what you'll find at PortSide NY, safely berthed at its new roomy pier in Atlantic Basin, on City of Water Day, July 24: