Meet your Neighbors: Matthew J. LeBow

Meet your neighbor interview:

Name: Matthew J. LeBow

Neighborhood: Eltingville

Age: 42

Schools attended:PS55, IS7, Tottenville

Born here? Yes

Work on Staten Island? Occasionally

Link you would like to add: NYARA.org – the New York Adventure Racing Association.

Can you sum up why you live on Staten Island?

ML: I am a third generation Staten Island Resident with many family members and friends here.

What do you love about Staten Island?

ML:  I love running in the Greenbelt and Mountain biking in and around Wolfe’s Pond Park.  A great paddle in the kayak from Lemon Creek always makes for a beautiful day trip.

What is your favorite hangout on Staten Island?

ML: I love to visit Lee’s Tavern for their truly outstanding pizza and often bring friends from out of town in for a bite. Sangria and dinner at Coles Dock Side is always a good experience.

Where is your favorite place on the North/South Shore?

ML:  My favorite place on the North Shore has to be Silver Lake and Clove Lake Parks.  On the South Shore, The Woods of Wolfe’s Pond, Long Pond Parks.

What do you do for Staten Island?

ML: Promote our great Parks thru sporting events including the Ladder 5, Highrock Challenge, Cold Feat, Fall Flat and new this year the “The Two if by Land One if by Sea” adventure race

As part of the New York Adventure Racing Association I believe in supporting our parks by getting people out in them.  Utilizing passive recreation such as running, Mountain biking and Kayaking we can keep Staten Island Green while keeping Staten Islanders and visitors healthy and entertained thru these adventurous physical activities.

Tell us something that you miss on Staten Island?  

ML: I miss the rides on Sand lane and the ability to ride my bike from one side of the island to the other safely.

What is your wish for Staten Island?

ML: To make the Boro of Parks a truly recreational community.  With the right people behind the idea I believe Staten Island can be one of the best outdoor living communities in the country.  We have the acres in Parks and are surrounded by water.  I recently visited the city of Ithaca which was one of the top 10 outdoor recreational cities in the country.  The woods where beautiful but nothing we can’t compare to.  I actually found the SI Greenbelt to be cleaner.  Also many years ago had visitors from Boulder Colorado here as part of the International Mountain Bike Association who stated for a mountain bike equivalent to what is possible in the boro of Staten Island from Boulder Colorado they would have to travel two hours.