Happy blustery Saturday. Thank you to the many of you who donated to the GAP upgrade project. Many on this distribution list contributed and we are incredibly grateful for the support. The deadline to participate is this Wednesday, September 30.

Quick update. As of 2:00 PM Saturday, 52 neighbors have donated to this initiative, which is a great response. Without the trade war we would have achieved our goal; as it stands we are only $8,000 away. We have been approached by a very generous donor who is offering to match every gift dollar for dollar until the end of the raise on Wednesday 9/30, to ensure that we can get this over the finish line.

If you have been on the sidelines or uncertain, now is the time to jump in. Learn more and give here. Your gift is 100% tax deductible. If you want to pay by check or DAF/trust, please contact Will Suarez at wsuarez@prospectpark.org so that the funds will be matched and attributed to the campaign.

This matching opportunity is huge. Anything you can do to help us is incredibly appreciated and doubled in impact. The call to action now is gifts of any size, and getting the message out peer to peer to all our neighbors on Plaza Street.

A reminder of what we are looking to do

We all know the limitations of the existing barrel cans and the inadequacy of bin coverage around Grand Army Plaza and the Fountain. After a PPA review, only 5 of the existing bins met their standards. This project will bring 23 new bins across the entire plaza, from Plaza Street West to East, through the fountain and arch, meeting the plaza’s real needs. Beyond a consistency of design, these cans feature:

• A narrow top to limit rain and illegal dumping

• A rodent-resistant construction that is easier for Sanitation to clear

• Fixed locations to prevent unauthorized movement and tipping

Enhancing our neighborhood and Grand Army Plaza is good for our community. Thank you for your consideration and for sharing with neighbors and friends.

How you can help PSBA and Grand Army Plaza

I am often asked what folks can do to help. I welcome help in all forms. Here are a few suggestions.

Spread the word. I would like to build up our distribution list again. If you live in a large building on Plaza Street East or West, St. John’s, Butler and nearby, please share this note with your building list or building link.

Focus where your interest lies. We advocate for GAP across multiple police precincts, numerous elected officials, community boards and neighborhood organizations. There are also always opportunities to get your hands dirty and help clean up. If you have a particular interest, or relationships you want to use on the plaza’s behalf, let me know.

Join a few lists. These groups are good at communicating what is going on in the neighborhood: Park Slope Civic Council, PHNDC, Community Board 8, Council Member Crystal Hudson’s mailing list, Council District 39 and the Prospect Park Alliance.