Who needs the big new ice center in Prospect Park? There’s a makeshift one in Thomas Greene Park in Gowanus that doesn’t cost a penny. During the summer this part of the park floods. During the winter, it floods, but it turns into an ice rink. We call the park toxic, by the way, because it’s built on the site of an old Manufactured Gas Plant and there are poisonously toxic substances under it. Of course, the park mainly serves residents of the Gowanus Houses, so cleaning it up may not be Item Number One on the city’s priority list. This summer they were drilling test wells to try to figure out what the hell is down there. Not to worry, though. Everyone insists it’s all underground and no harm to anyone unless its dug up. Eventually the site has to be detoxed by National Grid. We’re figuring all will be well by 2075ish.