Morningside Park

Parks And New York Junior League Celebrate Flower Power At Morningside Park

IMMEDIATE
Saturday, June 6, 2009
No. 51
http://www.nyc.gov/parks

Today, Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe, New York Junior League President Gena Lovett, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, State Senator Bill Perkins and Jacquie Connors of Friends of Morningside Park cut the ribbon and plant a tree in honor of renovations to Morningside Park thanks to more than a thousand New York Junior League (NYJL) volunteers.

“It’s morning again in Morningside Park where its latest restorations were made possible thanks to the 1,000 New York Junior League volunteers who came out ready to work in April and May,” said Parks Commissioner Benepe. “They beautified the park with more than 2,000 perennials, more than 250 shrubs and 10 trees. The playground has fresh coats of paint and the recreation center now features beautiful murals, a brand new kitchen, lockers, bookshelves and more, thanks to the generosity of the Junior League and their president, Gena Lovett.”

Throughout April and May, the NYJL’s Playground Improvement Committee teamed up with volunteers to refurbish the playground and recreation center in the north side of Morningside Park. The NYJL volunteers worked with corporate volunteers and neighborhood residents to convert overgrown areas into beautiful greeting gardens in the park.

Poetic and musical performances were provided by the East Harlem School at Exodus House and Analogue Transit. Free activities during the event included flower planting, face painting, dancing and more.

For 17 years, the New York Junior League has worked in partnership with Parks & Recreation to revitalize playgrounds and parks in many neighborhoods around Manhattan. Last year, NYJL volunteers beautified J.J. Walker Park and Tony Dapolito Recreation Center.

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CONTACT: Jama Adams/Trish Bertuccio (212) 360-1311