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The commissioner, notwithstanding the provisions of section 15.09 of the parks, recreation and historic preservation law, may enter into an agreement with the Staten Island Institute of Arts and Sciences, for a period of not more than ten years, for the maintenance and operation of a nature conservation center on premises known as High Rock Park. Such agreement shall become effective only upon approval by the mayor. Said agreement shall include a clause providing for its termination if the institute ceases to be a non-profit membership corporation, no part of the net earnings of which inures to the benefit of any member thereof. The conservation center shall serve the entertainment, recreational and educational needs of the people, and necessary incidental and informational services may be rendered. All references in this section to the Staten Island Institute of Arts and Sciences shall be deemed to refer to the corporation under its present name or under any name which shall hereafter be used by it.
a. Legislative intent. The city council hereby declares that a drastically high number of adults and children are annually killed and injured by motor vehicles while operating bicycles and tricycles in the streets of our city and countless pedestrians have been injured by the operation of bicycles and tricycles on sidewalks and pedestrian walks in parks. Although the riding of bicycles and tricycles is healthy and wholesome and a normal activity for developing youngsters, the streets and sidewalks of the city of New York are highly congested and, in most areas, dangerous. The safety of the children of New York city requires that a maximum number of off-street areas be developed for the operation of bicycles and tricycles in local communities, and it is impossible to adequately meet this problem except by a large centralized riding area in each borough. It is the intent of the council to assure the broad development of such a program by this legislation.
b. Designation areas.
1. The commissioner shall cause to be created and maintained, in all parks whose total area exceeds five acres, adequate areas appropriately designed for the use of bicycles and of tricycles.
2. Such areas shall be designed and constructed in accordance with plans and specifications approved by the commissioner.
3. For purposes of this section, the word "areas" shall mean and include "bicycle paths" at least one mile long in parks whose area is greater than twenty-five acres, "bicycle tracks" at least one-quarter of a mile long in parks whose area is greater than five acres, and "tricycle circles" located close to adequate seating space for adults.
The commissioner of cultural affairs may enter into an agreement with the Brooklyn Children's Museum, Inc. for the maintenance and operation by the Brooklyn Children's Museum, Inc. of the Brooklyn Children's Museum situated in Brower Park, in the borough of Brooklyn, as the same is presently constructed and established, and as it may be enlarged and improved. Such agreement shall become effective only upon approval by the mayor. Upon the making of such contract, the city may, in its discretion, annually appropriate to the Brooklyn Children's Museum, Inc. such sum or sums of money as it may determine are needed for the maintenance and support of the said Brooklyn Children's Museum and the activities of the Brooklyn Children's Museum, Inc. in connection therewith.
The commissioner, subject to the approval of the mayor, may enter into an agreement with a nonprofit corporation or association, organized or to be organized for the purpose of establishing, operating and maintaining an art museum, for the occupation, operation and maintenance by such corporation or association of an art museum in any existing building or buildings or part thereof or in any building or buildings or part thereof hereafter to be constructed in Flushing Meadow park, in the borough of Queens and for the adequate keeping, maintenance, extension, preservation, management and operation of such art museum, for the collection and exhibition of objects of art, the advancement of knowledge concerning art, the prosecution of original researches relating to art and kindred subjects, for affording instruction in the same and for the entertainment, recreation and instruction of the people. Such agreement may provide, in addition to other terms and conditions, for membership on the board of directors or board of trustees of such corporation or association of the mayor and the commissioner and the president of the borough of Queens, and their successors in office. Upon the making of such agreement, the city of New York may annually, in its discretion, appropriate to the corporation or association maintaining such art museum such sum or sums as it may determine for the maintenance and support thereof and the activities in connection therewith.
The commissioner shall set aside as a haven and preserve for wildlife, four sections of park lands in the northwestern portion of Pelham Bay Park designated on the official maps of the department as proposed sanitation landfill areas II, III, IV and VI, broadly described as follows:
1. Area II, an irregularly-shaped parcel bounded on the north and northeast by the Hutchinson river parkway and Rock uplands, on the east by the Split Rock golf course, on the south by the New York, New Haven and Hartford railroad tracks and on the west by Bartow road, and running through the center thereof, a substantial portion of Goose creek.
2. Area III, an irregularly-shaped parcel bounded on the north by an area of land south of the Hutchinson parkway and the Bartow road exit from said parkway, on the east by a land area west of Bartow road, on the south by the tracks of the New York, New Haven and Hartford railroad tracks and on the west by the center line of the Hutchinson river, but to include Goose island.
3. Area IV, an irregularly-shaped parcel of land bounded on the north by the New England thruway, on the east by the Hutchinson parkway, and on the south and on the west by the center line of the Hutchinson river.
4. Area VI an irregularly-shaped parcel of land bounded on the north and west by the Hutchinson river, on the east and south by Shore road, said land being known as Tallapoosa west. Excluding, however, Tallapoosa east in said park lands which has been designated as a landfill area for use by the department of sanitation. The commissioner may enter into an agreement with a nonprofit organization for the operation and maintenance by such organization of the areas hereinabove referred to for the adequate keeping, maintenance, management, operation and preservation by such organization of the animals, aquatic animals, migratory and resident fowl and songbirds, fish and other flora and fauna indigenous to the area, to establish collections of specimens and provide interested nature lovers and educational institutions with opportunities for study and research in the areas. Upon the making of such agreement, the city may annually, in its discretion, appropriate to the operating organization such sum or sums as it may determine for the maintenance and support of the Thomas Pell Wildlife Refuge and Sanctuary and the activities of the operating organization in connection therewith. The failure of the commissioner to enter into such an agreement shall in no way alter the status of the above described areas as wildlife sanctuaries.
The commissioner shall set aside as a zoological and geological haven and preserve, the section of park lands and lands under water in the northeastern portion of Pelham Bay park designated on the official maps of the department as proposed sanitation land fill area V broadly described as follows: Area V, an irregular N-shaped area of marsh lands and lands under water running from a point where the sand of Orchard beach terminate in Long Island sound at the extreme northern tip of the beach, thence northwesterly to the eastern shore of Hunter island, thence northeast along the high water mark line of the eastern shore of Hunter island to that point of the island which still faces east into Long Island sound, thence in a wide arc going easterly and southerly, through the waters of Long Island sound, including within the arc the islands known as Cat Briars island or One Tree island, and Twin islands, back to the point of beginning. The commissioner may enter into an agreement with a nonprofit organization for the operation and maintenance by such organization of the areas hereinabove referred to for the adequate keeping, maintenance, management, operation and preservation by such organization of the animals, aquatic animals, migratory and resident fowl and songbirds, fish and other glacial or post glacial flora and fauna indigenous to the area, to establish collections of specimens and provide interested individual nature lovers and educational institutions with opportunities for study and research in the areas. Upon the making of such agreement, the city may annually, in its discretion, appropriate to the operating organization such sum as it may determine for the maintenance and support of the Hunter Island Marine Zoology and Geology Sanctuary and the activities of the operating organization in connection therewith. The failure of the commissioner to enter into such an agreement shall in no way alter the status of the above described areas as a marine zoology and geology sanctuary.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the commissioner may enter into agreements with the New York Zoological Society for the planning, maintenance and operation by such society of zoos and zoological parks on the premises known as the Flushing Meadow Zoo, the Prospect Park Zoo and/or the Central Park Zoo, for the transfer of the animal collections and equipment at such zoos to such society and for purposes and programs incidental and related thereto. Such agreements shall become effective upon approval by the board of estimate.
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