Even New Yorks newer citizens know about the African burial ground that has been preserved just a little north of City Hall in Downtown Manhattan, and most know that Washington Square Park was once a cemetery; the clever ones even tell tall tales about the "hangmens elm." What few people realize is that New York City, especially Manhattan, was once riddled with cemeteries in what were originally far-off locations, distant from the downtown city core, but which were quickly overrun by development. Many of these burial grounds were potters fields, meaning people who did not have enough money to afford a private burial were interred there.

Originally, the City chose to make these potters fields "out of town," but New York expanded so quickly that the town ended up engulfing all the land in Manhattan aside from these old cemeteries. When these burgeoning neighborhoods sought open spaces for recreation, all they had left were the old burial grounds. Since there were no headstones on these paupers fields, nineteenth-century New Yorkers turned their heads and turned burial grounds into parade grounds. They were (in north-south order) James J. Walker Park, Washington Square, Union Square, Madison Sqaure, and Bryant Park.

In order to avoid the need for any future ghoulish land conversions, in 1847 New York State enacted the Rural Cemetery Act to encourage the building of cemeteries in unpopulated areas adjacent to urban areas (i.e., the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens). It was this act that closed the door to Manhattan burials and spurred a citywide interest in large, green, landscaped land preserves. Ironically, the creation of expansive, landscaped cemeteries in places like Brooklyn and Queens led the people in Manhattan to want green space of their own and thus began the movement to make Central Park.

Just about the same thing that happened in Manhattan in the 1820s through 1840s happened in the outer boroughs at the turn of the twentieth century. Apparently, the city fathers of Queens and Staten Island didnt study their Manhattan history. Once again, when neighborhoods became crowded and the people needed parks, there was no place to turn but the cemeteries, and not just potters fields.

As early as 1730, the site of Newtown Playground in Queens at 92^nd Street and 56^th Avenue was used as a cemetery. Some of Newtowns most prominent residents were buried there, and later it was used as a potters field on and off until about 1880. Although many of the famous and well-to-do were disinterred and buried elsewhere, this public space was transferred to the Queens Department of Parks in 1917. The 1927-28 Queens Parks Annual Report notes that "All the old headstones [one historian estimated as many as 86], which stuck up like eyesores, were laid flat and covered with soil." At that time, a "playground apparatus" and drinking fountain were installed, though it is not clear whether these were placed on or adjacent to the former cemetery site. The property was more fully developed as a playground in 1934-35, the dawn of the Moses era.

All told, there are more than 20 cemeteries within land that is now parks. Some of them, like Friends Cemetery in Prospect Park, remain untouched to this day; others are adjacent to our historic houses for all to see; but, in many cases, the clues of the past lie deep underfoot.

-written by John Mattera

"The man who has no imagination has no wings."

Muhammad Ali
(born 1942)

Broadway appears on the earliest maps of Manhattan. It was the stalk that sprung from a seedling settlement on the southern tip of New Amsterdam. The locus of activity at that time was the Battery, a fortified position with small cannons, that the Dutch settlers built to protect their trading outpost. The area near the Battery became a natural place of congregating; people came there to trade, to socialize, even to recreate. As the City progressed, the Dutch employed their formidable experience in canal building and landfill, and extended the tip of Manhattan further south. A new battery was built on that new land, but the popular public square that evolved next to the original Battery remained. With the defensive component shifted south, all that remained was the social, commercial, and recreational function. And in 1686 that land became New York Citys official public park: Bowling Green.

When Bowling Green became the Citys first park, the City itself still stood almost completely south of Wall Street. This was due to the fact that the wall for which the street is named was still in place. It was built in 1653 when the Dutch and British were at war and New Amsterdam feared an invasion from its northern neighbor, New England. The British, of course, did succeed in taking the land from the Dutch in 1664, and by 1699, development pressure led to the removal of the wall.

During the time the wall stood, the area east of Broadway, west of the Boston Post Road (now Park Row), and south of the collect pond (now Foley Square) was known as the Commons. This public field was meant for the grazing of animals, but buckling under the pressures of development, civic buildings began popping up. In 1736, an almshouse was built on the present site of City Hall. In 1757 a debtors prison was built to the east of the almshouse, and later a barracks was built in the approximate location of Tweed Courthouse.

It wasnt until after the end of the American Revolution and the construction of the present day City Hall, that the thought of designating the Commons as a park came about. When City Hall opened in 1812, some New York citizens said it was too far north of the center of the City. In fact, since City Hall truly did stand at the northern end of the City, the north side of the building was not clad with the same white marble as the frontit was assumed that few people would ever approach it from the north.

But the dawn of the 19th century was a time of great expansion for New York. It was a time when the mercantile cities of the east coast, Philadelphia, New York, Boston, Baltimore, locked in battle to control trade. The city with the best waterway access and infrastructure would reign supreme. By 1807 New York had set in motion what would effectively be the endgame of their master plan, the construction of the Erie Canal and the grid plan for Manhattan. The two worked hand in hand. One brought people and money together, and the other provided a framework for them to grow on, and although more changed about New York than stayed the same, Broadway remained ever-present, a lyrical line through the lattice of Manhattan.

Written by John Mattera
Parks & Recreation Librarian

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

"True ornament is not a matter of prettifying externals. It is organic with the structure it adorns, whether a person, a building, or a park."

Frank Lloyd Wright
(1867-1959)

"New York Citys first park has been given a new look, and this is just one of the over a dozen new and revitalized parks and green spaces downtown, with six to debut in the upcoming weeks," said Rampe.

"Our Citys planners broke the mold after they made Bowling Green Parkthey literally stopped building parks downtown," said Benepe. "Were working with the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation and a huge variety of public and private partners to bring green downtown."

The revival of the park is the second of 13 green spaces in Lower Manhattan scheduled to get a facelift, said Benepe. The Lower Manhattan Development Corporation awarded downtown parks more than $37 million after the events of September 11. "Weve recreated lower Manhattan, and were in a better place than weve ever been," said Richard Kennedy.

Allan Scholl was the Project Designer and Charles Tesler was the Project Manager/Resident Engineer for the renovation, which included the reconstruction of the perimeter bluestone sidewalks and the interior paths within the park. New landscaping and plantings and the re-sodding of the lawn within the oval were among some of the beautification improvements made to give the park a modern vernacular, said Benepe.

Antique-style gas lamps and hoof benches were also placed in the park, with the addition of a new irrigation system for the parks fountain. The historic iron fence encompassing the green was perhaps most in need of renovation. The fence was constructed in 1771 and later torn down after irate citizens hacked up a statue of King George III and ornaments on the surrounding fence to use as ammunition against the British. After the revolution, the fence was rebuilt and lamps were added.

The historic park dates back to 1626, when Dutch Governor Peter Miniut bought Manhattan Island for a mere $26 worth of merchandise. The green had been the final post of the Indian Trail and was used as a Lenape Indian Council Ground. The park was later used for herds of cattle and city parades until the City Council established it as an official park on March 12, 1733. The parks fountain and central lawn area were removed in 1938 for New York Citys hosting of the World Fair. The fountain and pathway were returned in 1976, when the subway exit was relocated between the park and the U.S Customs House. Today, the green maintains its cultural heritage as it lies in front of the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian.

Bowling Green remains a lunchtime haven for employees and a historical site for visitors and residents alike. For this old park, looks really do improve with age.

On May 27, Mayor Bloomberg announced that the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation (LMDC) allocated $25 million for over a dozen high-impact projects to create new green spaces and improve parks throughout Lower Manhattan. Joined by Interim LMDC President Kevin Rampe, Deputy Mayor for Economic Development & Rebuilding Daniel Doctoroff, Deputy Mayor for Administration Patricia Harris and Parks & Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe, the Mayor announced the news at the Battery, a site whose plans for renovation are already underway. The Mayor also revealed Parks & Recreations preliminary renovation plans for the new and improved green spaces throughout downtown Manhattan.

"Great cities are defined as much by their parks and open spaces as they are by their architecture," said Mayor Bloomberg. "The plans proposed by the Department of Parks & Recreation create a beautiful and dynamic network of parks and open spaces that will become a worldwide destination and tangible symbol of the rebirth of the downtown area."

Working with various city agencies and LMDC staff, Parks & Recreation has formulated an aggressive timetable for creating parks and revitalizing existing open spaces throughout Lower Manhattan. Work will begin immediately on at least 13 sites, 8 of which will be substantially completed within 12 months; 4 others will be completed within 18 months; and the final project will be completed within 24 months. Sites include green spaces along the East RiverCoenties Slip, Old Slip, and Wall Street Triangle; neighborhood parksAl Smith Playground, Brooklyn Bridge/Drumgoole Plaza, Tribeca Park, Washington Market Park; and "gateway" parksthe Bosque at the Battery, Bowling Green Park, Columbus Park, Sara D. Roosevelt Park, the East River Park Ballfields, and Canal, Varick & Laight Streets.

The projects focus on reconstructing sitting areas, public plazas and playgrounds south of Canal Street. Through coordination with the Department of Transportation, the plan takes advantage of opportunities within the downtown street network to create new public spaces such as greenstreets and enhanced pedestrian corridors. Every site will also be rejuvenated with new horticultural elements as well as new benches, lighting and decorative paving. Two of the sites, Canal Street and Battery Park, may also include decorative fountains once design plans are finalized.

The project will also restore critical "gateway" parks up to Houston Street. These regional parks contain the athletic fields and wide-open green spaces that serve downtown residents and schools. At these locations, Parks & Recreation will rebuild and re-program existing athletic fields in order to maximize recreational opportunities. At Sara D. Roosevelt and Columbus Parks, asphalt will be replaced with the latest technology in synthetic turf, creating a vastly improved playing surface. At East River Park, four existing dirt ballfields at Houston Street will be reconstructed with either synthetic turf or natural grass.

"Lower Manhattan is where New York City was born but it historically did not share in the growth of the park system," said Commissioner Benepe. "Repairing and enhancing these open spaces, as well as creating new parks, is critical to the future of the downtown area. Our plans will infuse downtown with green space that will serve as an oasis for workers, tourists, and the growing residential community."

This project is being overseen by Deputy Commissioner Amy Freitag, Nancy Barthold, Joshua Laird, Mike Bolger, and Jesse Brackenbury.

"An artist is his own fault."

(1905-1970)

It was very interesting to attend a parade that commemorated two centuries of freedom from an oppressive regime, while U.S. and British troops are currently attempting to liberate Iraq from a similar situation. Furthermore, there is a frequent plea for the removal of the forced Turkish military occupation from Cyprus, and this year was no different. The plea now seems more urgent than ever before, and hopefully there will soon be a resolution to this 30-year old problem.

As a Greek-Cypriot-American, it instilled great pride to see Greek flags prominently displayed along Fifth Avenue, accompanied by marching bands playing the Greek National Anthem and people conversing in the mother tongue. According to Harry Kalas, the Parade Coordinator for the Federation of Hellenic Societies for Greater New York, "the parade was very successful." The crowd estimates were upwards of 70,000 people, and the parade itself was composed of 107 groups (parishes, schools, and civic groups), 43 motorized floats, and 25 marching bands. Although the majority of groups were from the tri-state area, some groups made the trek to Fifth Avenue from as far away as Boston and North Carolina. This was the 68^th Greek Independence parade in New York City, and it is by far the largest celebration for such an important day to the Greek ethos outside of Athens. "Zito Ee Ellada!" (Long Live Greece!)

"... we'll go to Greenwich, where modern men itch to be free and

Bowling Green you'll see with me, we'll bathe at Brighton the fish you'll

frighten when you're in your bathing suit so thin... I'd like a sail on

Jamaica Bay with you and fair Canarsie's Lakes we'll view..."

Rodgers & Hart, "Garrick Gaiety"

"His own imagewas no longer the reflection

of a clumsy, dirty, gray bird, ugly and offensive.

He himself was a swan! Being born in a duck yard

does not matter, if only you are hatched from a swans egg."

(April 2, 1805-1987)

This award honors the best district operations within each borough. Parks staff who work in district operations are the direct providers of daily services that keep the parks clean and safe. The quality of a districts maintenance and operations can "make or break" a park. Each district faces different maintenance challenges, depending on its size, its natural terrain, and the age and popularity of the parks it contains. The winning districts were nominated by the Deputy and Borough Commissioners and were chosen in consideration of many factors, including ratings improvement, capital investment, acreage, and number of vehicle accidents. Since this is the first year Parks awarded the best district in each borough, in some cases, the award is in recognition of several years of high achievement.

Congratulations to District 1, notably SPMO Philip S. Lombardi, APSW Frank Mazzuca, MW Gary J. Gaddist, APSW Adem Hot, APSW Clayton Othiossinir, CPW Larry Stedley, CPW Tyrone P. McSweeney, CPW Johnnie L. Hopson, CPW Stephen Becchino, CPW Edwin Gonzalez, CPW Luis A. Quirindongo, CPW Arnold Beatty, Gardener Herman Matos, Gardener Richard Haugland, AG Darrel Stephens, and SPWO Gary Cutler.

District 1, which occupies the southern tip of Manhattan and includes many well-known parks including City Hall Park, Bowling Green, and Battery Park was chosen for its exemplary ratings and for the contributions parks workers made to the re-building of Lower Manhattan. District 1 has 23 ratable sites and 20 ratable acres. In fiscal year 2002, District 1 received a rating of 97% in both the overall and cleanliness categories, up 12% from the previous year.

"The staff of District 1 have performed under the most difficult of circumstances," said Manhattan Borough Commissioner Bill Castro. "Theyve had to deal with many issues this year from the September 11 attacks and the immediate aftermath. They kept the district in shape despite many special events and the large number of visitors. I cant thank the managersBill Tai, Gary Cutler, Phil Lombardi, and Frank Mazzucaenough for their fine work." Bill Tai, the former District 1 manager said that he was "very proud to be the inaugural recipient of the Best of the Borough awards," and added that, "the Parks workers in District 1 really deserve an extra measure of praise for working in such a harsh environment for so long."

Congratulations District 9, notably APSW John Maher, APSW Diane L. Nelson, APSW Tommy D. Lee, CPW Joseph Bellamy, CPW Kathleen Scullion, CPW Hernan Torres, and CPW Anthony R. Gallego.

Queens Borough Commissioner Richard Murphy claims that District 9 is a textbook example of the way that one person can make a difference. For the past three years, John Maher, APSW, has been motivating his staff to care about the ratings and to keep them high. His efforts have led District 9 to achieve an astonishing 100% overall and cleanliness ratings for the past three years. Only one other district in the city has accomplished these ratings, and that is a district with only five sites; District 9 has 24 ratable sites.

"John Maher, the crew chief, has made the difference between night and day," said Commissioner Murphy. "Though the SPMOs have been revolving; the one thing that was constant was John and his ability to motivate people."

Congratulations District 3, notably PRM Anthony Arcamone, SPMO Robert Parrella, APSW Steven Ferrara, APSW Edward Herbst, WEP Crew Chief Teresa Valore, CPW Frank J. Baran, CPW Vyacheslav M. Bovtko, CPW Vladimir Biba, CPW Joanne Soto, CPW and Lashonda Hicks.

"District 3 is the best district in the city," said Staten Island Borough Commissioner Thomas Paulo. Hes biased, but its true that District 3 contains some of the loveliest spots in the city, including Conference House Park, Lemon Creek Park, and Wolfe's Pond Park. With 975 ratable acres and 62 ratable sites, the maintenance and operations crews have their work cut out for them. Their current ratings are a whopping 98.8%. District 3 has had the top Staten Island ratings for the last three years. District 3 has achieved this despite less capital investment than the boroughs other two districts.

"I am proud of the work they have done to maintain those ratings," said Commissioner Paolo.

"The world will never starve for want of wonders, but for want of wander."

G.K. Chesterton

(1874-1936)

PARKS HELPS FIGHT BREAST CANCER
Diep Dang

Breast Cancer isn't just a women's issue. It could affect any one of us - or our mothers, sisters, or friends. American Cancer Society researchers are studying vaccines, genes, and the environment in search for answers. Our team from Parks & Recreation will join the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk on Sunday, October 20, 2002 in Central Park. Join our team as a walker or contributor, and help support the lifesaving work of the American Cancer Society. Call or e-mail Rajinder Garcha at (212) 830-7852 for details.

THIRTEEN YEARS AGO IN THE PLANT
(Tuesday, October 10, 1989)
EVERYTHING'S COMING UP TREES

The streets if New York City are about to receive the biggest infusion of greenery in the last four decades. Parks contractors will plant close to 12,500 street trees in Fiscal Year 1990 as a cost of $6 million, the largest year-long planting since the 1930s.

From October 15 to December 15, 1989, the Street Tree division plans to plant 4,000 new trees. Another 8,000 to 9,000 will be planted during the spring planting season between March 15 and May 15, 1990.

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY
''Somewhere 'out there,' beyond the walls of the courthouse,
run currents and tides of public opinion which lap at the courtroom door.''
William Rehquist
(b. October 24, 1924)

Washington Irving used this Anglo-Saxon word meaning "goat town" satirically in his 1807 series "Salmagundi: or, the Whim-whams and Opinions of Launcelot Langstaff and Others." He was satirizing the habits of New Yorkers by comparing them to the residents of Gotham, a village in Nottinghamshire, England. According to an old English folk tale published in the 16th century, the people of the town wanted to discourage King John and his entourage from taking up residence in the town. They did this by feigning madness, engaging in crazy tasks like drowning eels and building fences around bushes to trap birds. Their plan worked, and the town was spared the expense of a royal visit. When he named New York "Gotham," Irving likening the eccentricities of the citys residents to an organized strategy to have outsiders leave them alone.

Stretching along a waterway called the Arthur Kill, Fresh Kills encompasses more than 2000 acres, over two and one half times the size of Central Park, it has four garbage mounds that reach from 90 to 225 feet above sea level. The landfill contains diverse terrain, habitats and vegetation; roughly half of the site has never been filled with garbage or was filled more than twenty years ago. The Citys Department of Sanitation is working with the State to ensure environmentally sound closure of the landfill sections and to prepare long-term environmental monitoring and control systems.

According to tradition, Bowling Green was the site of the legendary sale of Manhattan to Peter Minuit in 1626. The Dutch colonists called the area "the Plain" and used it for several purposes. It was the beginning of Heere Straat (High Street, now Broadway)a trade route which extended north through Manhattan and the Bronx. It was also a parade ground, meeting place, and cattle market. In 1686, the site became public property, when the City Charter put all "waste, vacant, unpatented and unappropriated lands" under municipal domain. Bowling Green was first designated as a park in 1733.

In 1970, the first New York City Marathon was held and consisted of four-plus laps around Central Park. The race had 55 finishers and a total budget of $1,000. In 1976, to celebrate the U.S. bicentennial, the marathon moved from Central Park to the streets of New York Citys five boroughs.

Of the 800 species of birds found in North America, you can find 275 of them in Central Park. Species include Red Tailed Hawks, Long Eared & Screech Owls, Peregrine Falcons, Cerulean, a variety of Warblers (including golden, orange-crowned, blue winged, and yellow throated), Black-crowned Night Herons, Rusty Blackbirds, Scarlet Tanagers, Yellow-breasted Chats, Ruddy Ducks, Horned Grebes, Common Loons, as well as an amalgamation of Sparrows, Finches, and Pigeons.

Jack Webb as Detective Joe Friday on Dragnet

Parkies, former Parkies, family and friends came to the National Museum of the American Indian Smithsonian Institution at the U.S. Custom House that sits at the foot of New York Citys oldest park, Bowling Green, on Wednesday, February 27, to celebrate the incredible accomplishments of former Parks Commissioner Henry J. (StarQuest) Stern and former First Deputy Commissioner Alan M. (Northside) Moss. The party kicked off at the U.S. Custom House at 6:00 p.m. Over 600 people came to toast the men who have worked for a total of 80 years to make the city a better place.

Commissioner Adrian (A-Train) Benepe gave the opening remarks. "StarQuest and Northside, as the leaders of the Emerald Empire for 15 years, your accomplishments are unparalleled. I have had the privilege to learn from the best," said A-Train. He congratulated StarQuest on adding over 2,000 acres of new parkland, the largest increase of City parkland since the Wagner Administration. He also spoke of the success of the Greenstreet and the Partnerships for Parks programs. Park Names were mentioned, the Nom count has reached over 10,000 names. A-Train then congratulated Northside for improving overall conditions ratings by 120%. "In 1994, the overall conditions ratings were 39% acceptable, but by the end of 2001 the ratings had soared to 86%." Cleanliness ratings have also increased from 76% to 92%. Thanks to Northsides leadership, "we have multiplied our annual Capital Commitment by almost five times, committing over $1 billion to capital projects." A-Train also praised the requirements contract program.

After A-Train, Northside and StarQuest each took a turn at the mike. Both honorees family members were on hand to help celebrate. Northsides grandchildren, Ian (Offspring) and Meghan, came to cheer on their grandfather. At one point during the evening, StarQuest recommended "Shh! monitors" to compensate for the rooms acoustic challenges. Other speakers included Queen Bee, Chanticlear, Forest, and Garden. At the end of the speaking program, party-goers participated in several rousing renditions of the poem "Trees," by Joyce Kilmer.

Large posters were available for people to sign. Individuals offered their congratulations and wished StarQuest and Northside good-luck on their next adventure, New York Civic. As Co-Founders of NYCivic, StarQuest and Northside will draw on their years of government experience to identify important issues that affect all New Yorkers. Their new organization will use the Internet, press events, commentaries and public testimonies to effect change.

Mark Fahrer Caterers provided a nature-inspired feast and the New York Restaurant School whipped up their 4-foot apple pie, a Parks classic. Thanks to the National Museum of the American Indian Smithsonian Institution and the U.S. General Services Administration for their assistance, and thank you to everyone who helped to make this terrific night possible.

In Thursdays Plant, we incorrectly said that RCC stands for Ranger Conservancy Corps. It actually stands for Ranger Conservation Corps.

In Fridays Plant, we gave Dottie Lewandowski the title of Bronx Borough President when shes actually our Bronx Borough Commissioner.

(Monday, March 13, 1989)

A Parks worker rescued two toddlers who fell onto the train tracks at the 145^th Street IND station in upper Manhattan on Friday.

APSW Johnny Mathis, a night watchman at the Central Park Childrens Zoo, was heading home after completing his midnight to 8 A.M. shift when the accident unfolded before his eyes. As the Parkie was exiting his northbound train to make a transfer, he saw Doreen Smith, 19, momentarily turn away from her two children to help an elderly woman. Her two-year-old son, Devon, pushed a stroller, with his year-old brother Ceasare George inside, toward the train track.

"To err is human; to forgive, divine."

(1688-1744)