BHPOA Beach Cleanup Is Great Success

On Saturday, May 2, the Belle Harbor Property Owners Association (BHPOA) had perhaps its most successful beach cleanup in the 38-year history of this annual event. More than 60 volunteers participated, including a large contingent from the PS 114 Student Council.

“It was not just the quantity of participation but the quality and variety of beautification activities that made the cleanup a success,” BHPOA President Paul King said. Armed by the NYC Parks Department with shovels, rakes, pickers, paint, brushes, printers and hand tools, the group made a variety of improvements between Beach 130th Street and Beach 141st Street. The event was managed by BHPOA Executive Vice Presidents Linda Benigno and Wayne Miller.

Numerous bags of garbage were collected. The refuse included jagged wood from broken fences, fishing line, all kinds of plastic, and empty bottles and cans. Sand screens and metal poles that had been engulfed by sand on the dunes were dug up and safely removed.

The supplies provided by Parks enabled the volunteers to go beyond cleaning. The bollards on Beach 134th and Beach 130th were scraped and repainted. Bushes were pruned and weeds removed in the flower boxes near beach entrances. Sand was swept off the Mobi-mats.

This year’s participation and energy was bolstered by the PS 114 Student Council. The Council is the student government. Since the 2021–2022 school year, it has given students a voice in school decisions and encouraged community involvement both at school and in the broader community.

Gina Machado, the teacher who advises the Student Council said, “[The] members truly enjoyed being part of the beach clean-up and appreciated the opportunity to make a positive impact on our community. We look forward to participating again next year.”

BHPOA looks forward to the Student Council participating in the NYS Assembly Democratic Candidates Forum that will take place during its May 19 meeting at PS 114. The Council will submit questions to which candidates Pesach Osina and Mike Scala will respond.