Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Parks & Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe today announced that the northern end City Hall Park will re-open to the public beginning tomorrow morning. The park will be open daily from 6:00 am to 1:00 am which will allow the public to walk through it during the morning and evening rush hours, as well as to enjoy the use of the two lawns on the parks northwest and northeast corners, along with paths, benches, and tables for chess and checkers. There will be entrances to the park on Centre Street, Broadway, and Chambers Street.

The seat of City government is surrounded by a beautiful park, and todays announcement furthers our goal of opening green spaces in the City for public enjoyment, and of being a good neighbor to the Lower Manhattan community, said Mayor Bloomberg.

We are pleased to reopen this section of City Hall Park as another oasis for recreation and relaxation, said Commissioner Benepe. This historic town green will again be a welcome respite for New Yorkers.

To accommodate student needs at the Ross Global Academy, which is housed at the Department of Educations headquarters at the Tweed Courthouse, the parks northeast corner lawn, and the entrance on Chambers Street will be open at times when school is not in session, including evenings and weekends, save for two Saturday mornings each month and school breaks and holidays. The northwest entrance on Chambers Street will be unaffected. As with other parks in the City, the lawns may be closed periodically for maintenance and during the winter when the grass is dormant and fragile.

City Hall Park has played a key role in New York civic life for centuries, from its Colonial beginnings as a rebel outpost to its current function as the seat of City government. In 1999 a $39.2 million project fully restored the park, adding a central walkway and gardens and replacing pavement with grass and trees. The northern section of the park, between Murray Street and Chambers Street, was first closed in 2000 when the Tweed Courthouse was under reconstruction. Heightened security concerns after the September 11 attacks and the shooting death of Council Member James Davis at City Hall in 2003 kept this section of the park closed. Those concerns have been addressed in the plan to re-open this section of the park. To meet security requirements and maintain the aesthetic consistency of City Hall Park, a new interior perimeter fence was constructed in the same style as the fences in other parts of the park.

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The dignified repose of the sculpture masks the tumultuous assault against it that occurred 135 years ago yesterday, just prior to the statues unveiling. The following verbatim account, recently unearthed, appeared in the Illustrated Police News on January 25, 1872:

An exciting scene occurred in Printing-House Square, New York, at half-past 12 oclock on the 15th January. A person, supposed to be crazy, rushed down Chatham Street with a huge knife in his hand, and climbing upon the large pedestal on which the Statue of Franklin is placed, proceeded to tear the flag off and to hack the Statue with the knife.

A large crowd gathered around, and various means were resorted to in order to get the man down. The police rushed to the place and endeavored to reach the man with their clubs, but he was too quick. Stones, sticks, missiles and various things were hurled at the man, without any effect.

He continued for several minutes cutting and tearing the flag, till at last his foot slipped and he fell to the ground. The police seized him, but he fought terribly, and the police had to use their clubs, which excited the wrath of the crowd to such a degree that the police stopped their clubbing for fear the crowd would attack them. He was taken to the station-house, followed by a large crowd.

He gave his name as Diedrich Barr, thirty-seven years of age, of German birth, and a sailor by occupation. He stated that he was passing by and desired to know who was concealed beneath the covering of the flag, and that he meant no harm.

He laughed heartily over the matter, being rather slightly intoxicated and full of mischief. He was dressed in a black suit, very neatly, with a slouched hat.

You cant make this stuff up

Written by Jonathan Kuhn

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

A boy without mischief is like a bowling ball without a liquid center.

Homer Simpson

In keeping with this columns mission, we will present the facts of this matter. Most fundamentally, history assures us that if you went back in time to New York 230 years ago today, you would find Nathan Hale working as a spy. And if you were to go back 230 years ago tomorrow, you would find Nathan Hale dead.

Young Hale, a 21-year-old captain from Connecticut, had been on a spy mission for General Washington on Long Island (i.e. Brooklyn / Queens). Disguised as a Dutch schoolteacher, Hale attempted to infiltrate New Yorks British ranks to gather intelligence on the enemys Long Island military installations. The young man was captured, however, on the night of September 21, 1776, and brought to General William Howes quarters in Manhattan, which history tells us stood roughly in the East 40s. The general interrogated the prisoner, Hale confessed, and Howe ordered him hanged the next morning without a trial.

Lieutenant Frederick MacKenzie of the Royal Welsh Fusileers recorded in his diary that Hale was hanged at 11 oclock in front of the Park of Artillery. William Kelby, a librarian working at the New York Historical Society in the 1890s, determined that the British artillery was massed at the highest point south of Harlem on the Post Road (a key colonial route largely eliminated in Manhattan by the grid plan). The nearest modern-day intersection for this location is Third Avenue and East 66th Street. In other words, this spot was about five miles north of the settled city at that time, and therefore just as far from City Hall Park.

As for the famous quote, an American officer reported years later that he heard them a few hours after the hanging from a British officer who was present. Regardless of their historic faithfulness, that famous quote certainly reflects Hales sentiment and bravery at the moment of his death. Lieutenant MacKenzies diary describes the scene: He behaved with great composure and resolution

Academically speaking, the veracity of the quote almost does not matter. In the greater scope of history, Hale is a symbol of the American Revolution, like George Washingtons white horse, which was actually gray, and the Battle of Bunker Hill, which took place on Breeds Hill.

Oftentimes, the myths and symbols of history have their root in some work of art. In this case the artist is Frederick Macmonnies (1863-1937) whose Nathan Hale has stood in City Hall Park since 1893. Since no life portraits of the patriot spy exist, the bronze statue offers a romantic interpretation of Hale shackled and bound on the morning of his execution.

Written by John Mattera

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

Most of the trouble in the world is caused by people wanting to be important.

T.S. Eliot
(1888-1965)

"We are honored to host this exhibition of modern master Alexander Calders sculptures and welcome the Public Art Funds fourth show to City Hall Park," said Mayor Bloomberg. "We have had a tremendous response to the first three shows and expect that our latest collaboration will complement our Citys thriving public art program, which exists throughout the City. Whether you are looking at Calders Untitled in the historic rotunda of City Hall or Jerusalem Stabile set against the majestic backdrop of the Brooklyn Bridge, it is our hope that this exhibition will inspire New Yorkers and visitors alike."

"We are thrilled to be able to return to City Hall Park with this exhibition of works by Alexander Calder," said Susan K. Freedman, President of the Public Art Fund. "It is an honor and a pleasure to collaborate with the Mayor to present examples of the greatest art of our time to the public in this beautiful location in New York City."

Alexander Calder is one of the 20^th centurys most inventive and influential artists, and his mobiles (hanging sculptures) and monumental stabiles (freestanding sculptures) are among the most beloved and iconic works of American art. Throughout his illustrious career, Alexander Calder (1898-1976) explored issues of color, form, anthropomorphism, abstraction and scale, all of which can be seen at play in the selection of works in this exhibition. Calder was an engineer by training, and his large stabiles epitomize his technical mastery of industrial materials; but they also demonstrate his joyful imagination and sense of harmony and balance. Made between 1957 and 1976, a period when he had devoted himself to making outdoor sculpture on a grand scale from bolted sheet steel, the works in "Alexander Calder in New York" include Seven-Legged Beast (1957), The Arches (1959), The Cocks Comb (1960), La chien en trois couleurs (Three-Colored Dog) (1973), Jerusalem Stabile (1:3 intermediate maquette) (1976) and the mobile Untitled (1976).

"Stabile" is the term coined by artist Jean Arp that Calder used throughout his life to describe his freestanding, nonmoving sculptures.

Between 1957 and 1959, Calder began to work on an increasingly monumental scale. He perfected the sculptural technique of welding and bolting that he continued to use throughout his career; Seven-Legged Beast (1957) is one the first pieces he made in this manner. The Arches (1959) and The Cocks Comb (1960), two black sheet metal constructions, further illustrate his ongoing exploration of abstract forms in space. The dynamic black, red, and blue stabile La chien en trois couleurs (1973) exemplifies his interest in color.

The centerpiece of the exhibition is a vibrant red sculpture, Jerusalem Stabile (1:3 intermediate maquette) (1976), a one-third scale version of one of Calders last major commissions, a permanent work in Jerusalem, Israel. Spanning 24 feet, this steel maquette is monumental in its own right. From its position on the sidewalk on the eastern side of City Hall Park, Jerusalem Stabile will be visible from the Brooklyn Bridge. In delicate counterpoint to this monumental work, Untitled (1976), one of the last hanging mobiles the artist made before his death, will be installed in the rotunda of City Hall.

"The monumental sculptures of Alexander Calder are important modernist works from the mid-20th century, but their bright colors and lively shapes still delight audiences today," said Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe. "We are proud to feature this exhibition as part of the public art programs in City parks."

"This spectacular exhibit affords New Yorkers and visitors the opportunity to enjoy the work of one of Americas most renowned sculptors as they stroll through City Hall Park," said Cultural Affairs Commissioner Kate Levin. "It also underscores this Administrations enthusiasm for and commitment to public art whether through monumental temporary projects like The Gates in Central Park orthrough the hundreds of permanent artworks at sites in all five boroughs commissioned by the Percent for Art program. Thanks to Mayor Bloombergs leadership, New York City is today more beautiful, inviting, and inspiring than ever before."

In addition to the works on view in this temporary exhibition, there are a number of stabiles and mobiles by Alexander Calder that are on permanent or long-term public display in New York City. Nearest to the City Hall exhibition is Object in Five Planes (1965) at 26 Federal Plaza near Worth and Lafayette Streets. Calders monumental mobile .125, commissioned in 1957 for Idlewild Airport (now named John F. Kennedy International Airport), remains on view in International Terminal 4, and another mobile, Untitled (1959), hangs in the Chase bank branch at 410 Park Avenue between 54th and 55th Streets (open Monday Friday 8 AM - 6 PM). Saurien (1975) is in front of the 590 Madison Building at 57th Street, and Le Guichet (The Ticket Window) (1963) is at Lincoln Center outside of Avery Fisher Hall. His Cirque Calder (1926-30) is on view at the Whitney Museum of American Art. And WTC Stabile (Bent Propeller), a 1971 commission for the World Trade Center, was destroyed in the attacks of September 11, 2001.

Born in Philadelphia in 1898, Alexander Calder was the second child of artist parents. His father, sculptor Alexander Stirling Calder, received a number of public commissions and so, throughout Calders childhood, the family traveled often. Calder studied to become an engineer, but in his early twenties decided to pursue a career as an artist. He began by developing a new method of sculpting: by bending and twisting wire, he essentially "drew" three-dimensional figures in space. He lived in Paris from 1926 to 1933, where he created his famous Cirque Calder and had his first solo gallery shows. In 1933, Calder and his wife, Louisa, moved to Roxbury, Connecticut,

where he continued to live and work for the rest of his life. His shift toward abstraction, inspired by a visit to Piet Mondrians studio in 1930, resulted in his invention of mobiles and stabiles, two bodies of work that he continued to develop in scale. Calders many permanent public sculptures in Chicago, Paris, Mexico City, Montreal, Jerusalem, and other cities all over the world are some of the most beloved and important works of the 20th century.

"Alexander Calder in New York" is free and open to the public. Reservations are required for tours of City Hall; to make a reservation or for more information about the exhibition, call 311 or log onto www.nyc.gov. City Hall and City Hall Park are located in Lower Manhattan, and bordered by Broadway, Chambers Street, Centre Street, and Park Row. The nearest subway stations are A, C, E to Chambers Street; 4, 5,6, J, M, Z to Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall; N, R to City Hall; 2, 3 to Park Place.

"Alexander Calder in New York" is the fourth temporary exhibition that the Public Art Fund has organized in City Hall Park since 2003. "Julian Opie: Animals, Buildings, Cars and People" opened in October 2004; "Roy Lichtenstein at City Hall" opened in November 2003; and "MetroSpective," a group exhibition with works by Art Domantay, Brian Tolle, Walter Martin & Paloma Muz, Peter Rostovsky, Do-Ho Suh, and Ken Landauer, opened in January 2003. The works in the current exhibition are lent courtesy the Calder Foundation, New York, and by the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York.

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Brooklyn:
George Washington at Valley Forge, Continental Army Plaza (at Williamsburg Bridge)
This striking equestrian work was sculpted by Henry Mervin Shrady, a life-long New Yorker. It depicts Washington during the six-month period from December 1777 to June 1778 when the Continental Army was encamped at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. Shradys image in bronze portrays Washington in a vulnerable pose of contemplation, shrouded in a cloak to protect him from the severe weather.

Abraham Lincoln Statue, Prospect Park Concert Grove
This larger-than-life bronze by Henry Kirke Brown was dedicated in 1869. It is quite similar to a sculpture of Lincoln in Union Square, also by Brown, finished a year earlier but not dedicated until a year afterwards. This statue thus became the first of Lincoln erected in the Union.

Abraham Lincoln Relief, Sailors and Soldiers Arch, Grand Army Plaza
Installed in 1895, this reliefalong with one of Ulysses Grantwere created by Thomas Eakins and William ODonovan. Eakins sculpted the two horses, and ODonovan created the figures.

Manhattan:
George Washington Statue, Union Square Park
This impressive bronze equestrian portrait of Washington is the oldest sculpture in Parks collection. It was modeled by Henry Kirke Brown and dedicated in 1865. The moment Brown depicts is that of Evacuation Day, November 25, 1783, when Washington reclaimed New York City from the British. His outstretched hand echoes many ancient sculptures, including the Marcus Aurelius statue in Rome.

Abraham Lincoln Statue, Union Square Park
This larger-than-life bronze by Henry Kirke Brown stands vigil on a busy crossroad at the north end of Union Square Park. It was dedicated in 1870 and conserved in 1992.

George Washington Sculptures at Washington Square Arch, Washington Square Park
Designed by architect Stanford White, the Arch was dedicated in 1895. Washington as Commander-in-Chief, Accompanied by Fame and Valor was designed by Hermon Atkins MacNeil and was installed in 1916. Washington as President, Accompanied by Wisdom and Justice was designed by Alexander Stirling Calder and installed in 1918. A major restoration of the arch was completed in December 2004.

George Washington Sculpture, inside City Hall
This likeness of Washington by the eminent sculptor Jean Antoine Houdon once stood at Riverside Park at 89^th Street. It now greets visitors to City Hall.

Lafayette and Washington Statues, Lafayette Square (114^th Street and Morningside Avenue)
After completing the Statue of Liberty, French sculptor Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi was commissioned by publisher Joseph Pulitzer to design this bronze statue depicting Washington and his esteemed Major General Bartholdi completed the original in Paris, and department store owner Charles Broadway Rouss bequeathed a fine replica to New York.

Queens:
George Washington Statue, Flushing Meadows Corona Park (near Fountain of the Fairs)
This sculpture is a cast of an original Donald Delue sculpture that was displayed at the 1964 Worlds Fair. When it was repaired and conserved in 1999, new cherry trees were planted in recognition of the childhood tale in which Washingtons honesty was confirmed through his confession of chopping down a cherry tree.

Presidents Day, celebrated on the third Monday of February, was established as a national holiday in 1968. It combined holidays marking the anniversary of Washingtons and Lincolns birthdays (February 22 and February 12, respectively) but officially honors all past presidents.

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

"Defining myself, as opposed to being defined by others,
is one of the most difficult challenges."

Carol Moseley-Braun
(born 1947)

Dwayne Saunders also happens to be blind.

Dwayne, who is 39, suffers from a degenerative retinal condition that has rendered him virtually sightless, but his condition has hardly curbed his enthusiasm for taking on challenges, and it has not been an impediment to his service as a dedicated part of the gardening staff at City Hall Park. Dwaynes service at Parks & Recreation is an object lesson in the capabilities among the disabled that are present but not always used.

His journey to working as a gardener began nearly a year ago. That is when he and associates at the Helen Keller Services for the Blind considered how an existing program designed to bring the homebound disabled out and about could be revised to offer access to previously unavailable jobs in public and private organizations. Using support from the New York State Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Dwayne presented Manhattan Chief of Operations Nam Yoon with an attractive package: free labor for 13 weeks, with the costs of benefits and training offset by Helen Keller Services.

Dwayne began working at City Hall Park on July 12 under the tutelage of Gardener Richard Haughland. According to Haughland, he adapted quickly to the work in this highly visible park. "Dwayne has been one of our most enthusiastic workers," Park Manager Dan Mercado said recently. "His visual impairment has not been a factor at all. Wed take ten Dwayne Saunderses if we could get them."

"Ive developed kind of a proprietary feeling for City Hall Park," said Dwayne during a visit to Chief Yoon at the Manhattan Borough Office. "Richard and the staff have been really supportive, and they have taught me a lot. I cant wait to come back in the spring and see how all the bulbs weve planted and the spring-flowering shrubs and perennials will turn out."

If Dwayne can say, unselfconsciously, that he cant wait to "see" the City Hall Park gardens in the spring, his listeners also quickly lose any consciousness of his visual impairment. On a recent visit to the park, Dwayne pointed to sleek planting beds that he had groomed and mulched. While his condition has left him with no vision in his right eye, surgery in 1979 helped to restore a fraction of sight in his left eye, sight that Dwayne makes the most of.

"Its not a matter of what I cant see, like print in a newspaper," he says. "I think about what I can see, and everything I see is cool."

Dwayne, who celebrated his eighth wedding anniversary on October 26, recently moved to the Midwood section of Brooklyn, after living in Manhattan for many years. He commutes by subway to his work at City Hall Park.

Dwayne will be taking classes in horticulture at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, paid for by the program he helped to expand at Helen Keller Services. He hopes eventually to find a more permanent position at Parks & Recreation. "Look at it this way," he says. "Where can you get a dedicated gardener whose training and benefits are fully paid by a non-profit organization, costing the city taxpayers nothing?" Manhattan Operations apparently agrees; Dwaynes internship line was recently extended for another year.

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

"It is only when you start a garden probably after age fifty
that you realize something important happens every day."

Geoffrey B. Charlesworth

Sculpture Being Moved to Make Way for Construction of British Memorial Garden

On Friday, October 30, 2004, at 9 a.m., the statue of Abraham De Peyster, the first mayor of New Amsterdam, was removed from Hanover Square in Lower Manhattan. The statue of De Peyster will first go to Randalls Island for conservation and refurbishment and then to a new home in City Hall Park.

This impressive bronze portrait statue, created by American sculptor George Edwin Bissell (1839-1920), depicts Mayor Abraham De Peyster (16571728). Born in New Amsterdam (now known as "Manhattan"), De Peyster came from a prosperous mercantile family. In his youth he spent nine years working on the family farm in the Netherlands, before returning in 1684 to New Amsterdam. He quickly ascended the Citys political ladder, occupying almost all of the important colonial offices, including alderman, mayor, member of the kings council, and acting governor. De Peyster amassed great wealth, and by the end of his life he is said to have been one of the citys richest merchants.

The bronze statue was created by American sculptor George Edwin Bissell. Originally, the sculpture was placed in Bowling Green Park in 1898. It was relocated to Hanover Square in 1976. Its relocation makes way for a monumental granite sculpture by British artist Anish Kapoor, dedicated to the unity between the United States and the United Kingdom, that will be the centerpiece of the British Memorial Garden at Hanover Square.

"De Peyster, a former Mayor, will be back at the seat of government," said Manhattan Parks Borough Commissioner William Castro. "That makes the move the longest comeback on record."

The British Memorial Garden Trust is building a very British garden to commemorate the British victims of the World Trade Center attacks and to celebrate the historic links between the two countries. The garden is being designed by Julian and Isabel Bannerman, noted British landscape architects, with local support from Matthews Nielsen. The project is being overseen by John Kinnear, AIA, in conjunction with the British Memorial Garden Trust. All of the stone and iron work in the topiary garden is coming from Great Britain, representing England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Construction at the site will begin in the spring of 2005.

For additional information, visit www.britishmemorialgarden.org

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

"Life is too important to be taken seriously."

Oscar Wilde
(1854-1900)

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)

The "Fountain Gardens" project provides the opportunity for a company or non-profit organization to create a horticultural exhibit in a park fountain. The fountains in Manhattans City Hall Park, Brooklyns Columbus Park, and the Bronx s Joyce Kilmer Park were recently decorated with winter plantings and have became destinations in their own right.

Most of the year, park fountains lie dormant. This project makes use of that open space by putting plantings directly into the fountains. The two-tiered fountain in Court Square Park is decorated with a winter arrangement, and when the weather warms up a bit, spring plantings will be added so that colorful flowers bloom in the spring. The plantings currently in the fountain include, Prunus, Juniperus, Viburnum, Forsythia, and Cornus sericea, which Commissioner Benepe translated into English for the audience.

"Our Fountain Gardens project is part of Parks & Recreations horticulture renaissance and one of the many ways were striving to make New York City known as Flower City," said Commissioner Benepe. "Id like to thank Citigroup for working with us to improve the quality of life for all New Yorkers. I hope many other corporate partners take their lead."

After the speaking program, a few brave souls left the warmth of the Citigroup building to visit the horticulture display across the street. The plantings looked beautiful with the layer of fresh snow. The scene was also a reminder that though spring is now upon us, it will be a little longer before we see blooming flowers.

Written by Margaret Johnson

Along with the Police and Fire Departments, the Department of Parks & Recreation is the most visible of New York City agencies. The citys eight million residents use over 28,000 acres of city parkland year-round. The department maintains hundreds of miles of paths and roadways, four stadia, thirty-five recreation centers and countless playgrounds and pools. Commissioner Adrian Benepe arrives each day in sight of a watchful public armed with monies he once quantified as "equal to a small rounding error in the annual city budget." The department must do very much with very little, while always attempting to improve its services.

Toward that end, the department has exceeded all expectations. It offers several socially oriented programs that mix recreation, jobs and education to promote growth in people young and old. Parks AfterSchool provides positive experiences for school children through mentors and activities at facilities citywide. The Parks Opportunity Program offers people on public assistance the opportunity to work for Parks & Recreation and receive valuable on-the-job training as well as job placement assistance. Commissioner Benepe and his staff push Parks & Recreation to help people from all walks of life.

City parks are managed and built to reflect the needs of those who use them. Playgrounds are designed to match their locales, athletic fields are strategically placed to attract the most use, and appropriate materials, such as synthetic turf, are employed to guarantee premium quality and longevity. To achieve these goals, the Commissioner must manage the budget wisely and enlist the help of elected city officials to fund Parks & Recreation projects in their respective districts. Reminding Council Members that parks benefit everyone and improve physical and mental health helps guarantee continued care for the citys green spaces.

As an intern with Commissioner Benepe, I spent over 50 hours a week either shadowing him or working in one of several offices within the department, most often the Operations and Government Relations offices. Through these experiences, I was able to see both the face of Parks & Recreation and its internal support system. The Commissioner and his staff know that the work they do daily is beneficial to all. Having to choose which neighborhood gets which improvements can be difficult, but at the end of the day, a community is better off because of the work done by the department.

Before arriving at Parks & Recreation, I was curious to see how an Economics and Geography major would fit into a government internship. Economics easily falls into the mix, as many of the choices made in planning parks depend on financial matters and cost/benefit analyses. After a couple weeks, I came to realize that geography also plays a large role in everyday life at the agency. Building projects must complement the landscapes of the communities where they are to be located, afterschool services are needed in some areas more than in others, and population shifts within the city vary the stresses put on facilities. Most importantly, I found that analytical skills developed in courses at Middlebury College put graduates in a strong position to approach situations in a rational and effective manner and make decisions accordingly.

Directing an agency in a politically charged city cannot be easy. However, I did find that on a daily basis, the Commissioner, and all who work for Parks & Recreation, can go home knowing that they provide the people of New York with great facilities, excellent social services and, most importantly, an improved quality of life. As I begin my search for a career after college, I remind myself that working in government is rewarding and the satisfaction of helping people outweighs the sacrifices made to do so.

Written by James Nicholson, Middlebury College Intern, January 2004

Target donated $35,000 to sponsor the holiday decorations in City Hall Park as well as in Joyce Kilmer Park in the Bronx and Cadman Plaza in Brooklyn, which will be in place through February. Parks & Recreation designed the festive display of plantings in the Mould Fountain of City Hall Park. New Yorkers will enjoy a selection of winter plants decorating the fountain, with greenery including red dogwood, juniper, boxwood, spruce (known as Christmas trees), and white birch. Over 450 ornaments will hang from the display, created by students from downtown schools P.S. 1, P.S. 42, P.S. 234, and by children participating in free after school programs at Alfred E. Smith Recreation Center, Carmine Recreation Center, Hamilton Fish Recreation Center, 59^th Street Recreation Center, Morningside Park Recreation Center, Thomas Jefferson Recreation Center, and Highbridge Recreation Center. White lights will brighten up the display and boughs will adorn light poles and the entrance to City Hall. Many thanks to all the Parkies and the Mayors Office of Special Events that helped with this years display and celebration. Thousands of New Yorkers pass through City Hall Park each day and will be dazzled by the trees and plants.

Though it was cold, attendees were warmed during the program with hot chocolate and donuts, generously donated by the Riese Organization. In addition to the singing, there were four elves, clad in bright tights and point hats, to entertain the audience. These New Yorkers took part in a long-standing tradition that began on December 24, 1913, when then acting Mayor Ardolph Kline invited a young boy to help him light the first Christmas tree at City Hall.

City Hall Park has played a key role in New York civic life for centuries from its Colonial beginnings as a rebel outpost to its current function as the seat of City government. In 1999 a $39.2 million project fully restored the park, adding a central walkway and gardens and replacing pavement with grass and trees. The Mould Fountain with its original granite base was returned to the park with a reconstructed centerpiece and lighting fixtures and a circular tablet at the southern end of the park was added to educate visitors about the history of the site.

"Without hope we live in desire."

(1265-1321)

Ah, young tree, you have asked a truly great question! With a few exceptions, Parks & Recreation primarily uses six different types of benches in its parks. They are as follows: (1) the "1939 Worlds Fair Bench" (also called "Type A"); (2) the "Christie Forsythe Bench" (a.k.a. "Type B"); (3) the "1964 Worlds Fair Bench"; (4) the "Type C" bench; (5) the "Bernie Bench" (a.k.a. "Type D"); and (6) the "Hoof Bench."

Types A and B were both developed in the 1930s and are both based on turn-of-the-century design. Type A has a more Victorian look and can be seen in many parks, including Central Park. Type B was a favorite of Robert Moses era park design, and they were often placed together in very long rows of connecting benches. Type C, which has a black steel frame and large wooden slats, was developed in the 1980s to sustain high use and is primarily used today in sports areas. Type D, or the "Bernie Bench" is a modern design and uses plastic slats. This bench is used along boardwalks, partly because it is able to better withstand the salty air. The final bench, the "Hoof Bench" can be seen in City Hall Park and is based on an historical design.

Parks & Recreation purchases these benches from several different vendors, and they all cost relatively the same amount. Most of these benches cost about $100 per linear foot. Most benches are constructed to be between six and eight feet in length, and they can be put together in rows depending on the landscape of the park.

As you can see, benches are like birds, trees, or that new-fangled Pokemon toy my great-great-great grandchildren are always chirping about. There is such an interesting variety of bencheseach with unique characteristicsand there are even some specially designed benches that arent so common. I suggest all my readers take a tour of the Citys parks and try to "catch them all."

"A useless life is an early death."

(1749-1832)

At the same time as City Hall Parks fountain was turned on, a parks fountain in each borough was also turned on. In the Bronx, Parks & Recreation Commissioner Dorothy Lewandowski turned on the Heinrich Heine Memorial Fountain in Joyce Kilmer Park. In Brooklyns Columbus Park, Borough President Marty Markowitz joined Brooklyn Parks & Recreation Commissioner Julius Spiegel, children from the Innovative Learning Center and the Brownsville Recreation Center Ed-u-tots program, and other community members to turn on its fountain. Queens Borough President Helen Marshall teamed up with Council Member James Genarro, Queens Parks & Recreation Commissioner Richard Murphy, Flushing Meadows Corona Park Administrator Estelle Cooper, and students from P.S. 150 to turn on the Unisphere. In Staten Island, Deputy Borough President Dan Donovan, Staten Island Parks & Recreation Commissioner Thomas Paulo, local students, and elected officials joined Neptune and his mermaid sidekick to turn on the South Beach Dolphin Fountain. Finally, in Manhattan, (in addition to the City Hall Park fountain), Central Parks Bethesda fountain was brought to life, while, nearby Parks & Recreation Special Events staff readied the terrace for this weekends Starburst Jellybeans Easter Eggstravaganza celebration.

Yesterdays simultaneous events were not without historical precedent. In 1842, fountains at City Hall Park and Union Square were simultaneously turned on to celebrate the completion of the Croton Aqueduct. One excited on-looker, Lydia Maria Child (who later penned the sleighing verse "over the river and through the woods") wrote, of the event, "I shall never forget my sensations when I first looked upon the Fountains. My soul jumped, and clapped its hands, rejoicing in the exceeding beautythose accustomed to the splendid displays of France and Italy say the world offers nothing to equal the magnificence of the New-York jets." Commissioner Benepe expressed a similar fondness for fountains when he described the beauty of fountains to the crowds gathered at City Hall Park, saying, "Fountains cool the air by humidifying it, add beauty to our citys landscape, and relax passersby with a white noise that is the most tranquil sound in nature."

Last summer, New Yorks fountains were turned off during the Citys drought restrictions. Although most of Parks fountains recycle water by recirculating it, the fountains were turned off as a symbolic gesture, to remind New Yorkers to conserve water. This season, no such reminders are necessary and over the next week, ornamental fountains in parks all over the city will spring back to life, once again giving New Yorkers spectacular backdrops for their photographs and cool, soothing places to sit on hot summer days.

"Wit is the only wall
Between us and the dark."

Mark Van Doren
(1894-1972)

Laura Gili is the Commissioners Employee of the Month. Laura has been with Parks since May 15, 1984. She started her career with the Urban Park Rangers with whom she worked for six years. She joined Queens recreation in 1990 and has been Chief of Recreation for nearly ten years. As such, she supervises 51 staff who together manage 6 major recreation centers, 6 satellite centers, ballfields, special events, and programs such as playschool and afterschoool. Laura has spearheaded a number of exciting recent initiatives such as the Outdoor Adventure Program in Alley Pond Park, and the Girls Sports Experience at Springfield Park. Laura is also spearheading facility improvements and fitness equipment upgrades at all the centers, and has helped keep Lost Battalion Hall our most highly rated center. Greatly committed to youth and sports, Laura has been a long time leader in bringing fun and fitness to Queens. A terrific part of the Parks family, she was nominated by Deputy Commissioner Jeffrey and Borough Commissioner Murphy.

Shridat Nehall is the Capital Projects Employee of the Month. Shridat is a Construction Project Manager Intern and has been with Parks since May 22, 2001. He works as a resident engineer in the Requirement Contracts Unit where he monitors playground construction projects. He is currently supervising 3 Queens contracts totaling over $4 million. Sites which he is helping to restore include East Elmhurst Playground, Hallets Cove Playground, Castlewood Playground, and Utopia Malls. Recently, Shridat also helped to successfully monitor one of Parks largest requirement programs at William T. Glenn Playground. A skilled and effective new project manager, Shridat is a strong addition to our capital team. He was nominated by Michael Hubartt.

Michelle L. Van Broekhoven is Managements Employee of the Month. Michelle is a GIS, Geographic Information Systems, site administrator at MIS and has been with Parks since May 31, 2000. Michelle is leading the way to develop our new Parks Intranet mapping capabilities. She has used our new ArcIMS server, which provides a web link for all GIS data, and visual-basic to create exciting new projects. These include maps for the citywide Daffodil Project and for our extensive Greenstreets program. Michelle also was called to duty after 9/11 to help prepare and reproduce maps at the OEM Emergency Mapping Center. GIS opens countless new customer service and analytical opportunities for Parks and Michelle is helping us navigate this new horizon. Skilled, smart and organized, she was nominated by Director of MIS Martin Brenner.

Christopher L. Carroll is an Operations Employee of the Month. Christopher is a CPW and has been with Parks since September 25, 1995. As a skate guard at Kate Wollman Rink, Chris is responsible for enforcing all of the rules and regulations on the ice to ensure a fun and safe environment for all patrons. Chris assists with the maintenance of the building, small equipment, and the front desk and is the main zamboni driver for the Kate Wollman Rink. This winter, Chris has constantly varied his hours to keep the rink open despite the various snowstorms. During the warmer months, Chris works on the turf crew in Prospect Park, helping to keep our lawns in tip top condition. A strong and reliable contributor in Brooklyn, Chris was nominated by SPMO Karen Leriche.

Luis A. Quirindongo is an Operations Employee of the Month. Luis is a CPW and has been with Parks since October 28, 1999. Luis maintains the grounds at the high profile and newly restored City Hall Park. Luis is a "take charge" guy who accepts and completes any assignment without complaint. He has helped maintain the park in tip top condition, passing every inspection in the last year. During the recent snowstorm on Presidents Day, Luis spent 16 hours shoveling snow at the park on his scheduled day off. He reported to work again the next day at 5 a.m., to shovel for another 14 hours. For his dedication and hard work in this key assignment, Luis was nominated by Manhattan Chief of Operations Nam Yoon.

Wanda Mojica is Public Programs Employee of the Month. Wanda is a Recreation Specialist and has been with Parks since June 1, 1997. Wandas involvement at Parks started when she was 14 years old as a volunteer with the Summer Youth Program at St. Marys Recreation Center. Wanda moved up from summer seasonal in the Bronx to Recreation Specialist, and now full-time Coordinator of the very successful Jackie Robinson Turn 2 After-school Program. Adopted by Derek Jeter, Turn 2 serves over 100 youth with art, drama, dance and literacy classes. Wanda has brought imagination and energy to the program and has made this a model for City recreation. In addition, Wanda does extensive community outreach, often on her own time, to neighborhood organizations, parents, and schools. For bringing her many talents to public programs, Wanda was nominated by Deputy Commissioner Jeffrey.

"I am an invisible manI am a man of substance, of flesh and bone,

fiber and liquidsand I might even be said to possess a mind.

I am invisible, understand, simply because people refuse to see me."

(March 11, 1914-1994)

Some parks have been built on land that has always been used for fun and leisure. Bellaire Playground was once known as "Interstate Park" and was the home of a shooting gallery and casino. Owned by the National Pigeon Shooters Association, the park proudly hosted the largest annual trapshooting competition until 1902, when live target practice fell out of favor. Oriental Boulevard Malls run through an area known for its entertainment. At the turn of the 20th century, this section of Brooklyn was a remote vacation spot with three nearby racetracks. Oriental Boulevard Malls were named after the Oriental Hotel that once stood at the eastern portion of Coney Island. There were also once racetracks in Rochdale Park and Loreto Playground. The Luna Park Houses stand on the site of an amusement park of the same name, and there was a bowling alley and catering hall in Joe Holzka Community Garden. Not surprisingly, many public parks were once private parks. Fort Hamilton Athletic Field was the site of the Crescent Athletic Club and Walker Park was once the Staten Island Cricket and Tennis Club.

Other parks were once used for more practical purposes. Liotti-Ikefugi Playground was a reservoir, as was Strong Street Playground and Central Parks Great Lawn. Driscoll Tucker Place was built on top of a sewer pipe, and Underhill Playground, in Kissena Corridor Park, was built over a storm sewer. A police station once stood on the land the site that is now known as Ramon Aponte Playground. (Legend has it that Mae West was brought to that police station when arrested for her 1926 play, Sex.) Skyline Park was built where P.S. 17 used to stand, and the Dreier-Offerman Home for unwed mothers and their children once stood on a portion of Calvert Vaux Park. Frontera Park was home to the Maspeth Bus Garage, and Playground 96 famously contained a massive car barn, which held the cars of the Second Avenue Railway.

Because we live in New York, one of the oldest cities in the country, almost all of our parks have a colorful past. So, the next time you sit on a park bench, or take a walk through a city-owned garden, consult the historical sign or find it online and consider all the things that might have happened on that very same spot over the past three hundred years-- a man might have lost his life savings gambling on a horse; a bumper crop of corn might have saved a farmer from bankruptcy; a woman might have given up her baby for adoption; or a child might have learned how to do long division. If youre curious about the years before New York was a city, or even a sparkle in the eyes of European settlers, youll have to wait for the second installment of "Previous Lives" of parks, when we consult the natural history of parks: the very firstand wildestlives.

"There is history in all mens lives."

(1564-1616)

"The Staten Island waterfront is a key natural resource that must be preserved for future generations to enjoy," said New York Governor George E. Pataki. "Working side-by-side with environmental groups, we are identifying and working to preserve key tracts of land that will either improve access to the waterfront or preserve ecologically sensitive areas."

"Improving public access to the waterfront and creating new parks and natural areas is a priority of Mayor Bloomberg," said Parks & Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe. "Parks & Recreation looks forward to working with the Port Authority, the Trust for Public Land, Borough President Molinaro and Council Member McMahon to provide new parks for the people of Staten Island's North Shore and wildlife refuges for our animal inhabitants."

"The growth of Staten Islands North Shore has been phenomenal during the past decade," said Port Authority Vice Chairman Charles Gargano. "It serves as home to a new minor league ballpark, a major marine terminal, numerous cultural organizations and steady residential growth. We must ensure that we balance this rapid rate of development with the need to preserve critical parcels of land along the waterfront to greatly enhance the quality of life for residents who live and work there."

This property is one of several such properties that will be acquired under a $60 million Port Authority program. The properties under consideration are required to provide public waterfront access, preserve important natural resource areas, and serve as buffer zones around existing Port Authority facilities.

Danny Mercado was recently named the new Parks & Recreation Manager for Manhattans Districts 1 and 2, which is comprised of over 50 parks and playgrounds, including Washington Square Park, Battery Park and City Hall Park.

"Danny is a great example of someone who embraces new challenges for an opportunity to move forward," said Commissioner Benepe. "His background in park management has prepared him well to oversee two of the Citys most historic and varied districts."

"Dan comes to his new positions with a lot of experience in a very busy district in northern Manhattan," said Manhattan Borough Commissioner William Castro. "He is a manager who very much enjoys working with the community and helping volunteer groups achieve their goals in local parks."

Mercado joined Parks & Recreation in 1985 and until a few weeks ago, he was the Park & Recreation Manager for Manhattans District 12 and prior to that he was the Park Supervisor of Highbridge Park in upper Manhattan for three years. From 1993 to 1996 he was the Employment Unit Chief for Parks & Recreation Personnel and his first job with Parks & Recreation was as a Payroll Supervisor. Mercado is a resident of the Bronx and attended New York Institute of Technology.

"As always, victory finds a hundred fathers but defeat is an orphan."

(1903-1944)

Born in New Castle, Indiana, in 1928 as Robert Clark, Robert Indiana trained academically as an artist before moving to New York City in the mid-1950s. His images, which often involve letters and numbers, reflect his intuitive gift for color palettes and his fascination with street signs and advertisements. "There are more signs than trees in America," Indiana said in an interview published this past December in The New York Times Magazine. "There are more signs than leaves. So I think of myself as a painter of American landscape." Following Indiana's logic, then, the installation of his colorful numbers along Park Avenue creates a fusion of two landscapes. It also helps introduce children to counting, as many parents walking their children along Park Avenue have been seen doing.

"One Through Zero" comprises ten brightly colored numerals standing 6-feet-tall made of polychromed aluminum. They refer to the stages of life. The series begins at one, when a person is in their infancy. As the numbers increase, the colors do as well. The last of the numbers, a colorless zero, signifies death.

Of the current installation, Indiana has said, "It is always the fulfillment of an artist's dream to present his work to a greatly varied and diverse audience, and there is no better showcase for sculpture in the City of New York than Park Avenue. I greatly admire The Fund for Park Avenue's work on behalf of the arts, as well as that of the Department of Parks & Recreation, and I'm enormously pleased to have One Through Zero installed during the time of my return-to-New York gallery exhibitions in February. It is the icing on the cake." In fact, the icing might also be the snow drifts that have settled on the numbers during the recent snow storms and created yet another way of viewing the works.

"Robert Indiana is an artist of world renown who lived in New York City for many years, and his sculpture is a perfect fit for the Park Avenue malls," says Parks & Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe. "Parks & Recreation is committed to bringing art to its open green spaces for all to enjoy." Indeed, another piece of temporary public art, Tom Otterness' Free Money, currently stands also on Park Avenue at 57th Street courtesy of the Marlborough Gallery. Six works by different artists are also on view now in City Hall Park for MetroSpective sponsored by the Public Art Fund.

One Through Zero will run through May 3, 2003.

"All I need to make a comedy is a park, a policeman, and a pretty girl."

(1889-1977)

The Mayor, standing in front of Brian Tolles Witch Catcher, explained that no witch would ever venture down a twisting chimney, like the work, although he added that according to his reliable sources, Santa Clause would not be hindered by such a chimney.

"We are very grateful that this administration is supportive of the arts," said Public Art Fund President Freedman. "Even during these tough economic times, this administration has sent a clear message to artists that they are not forgotten."

The exhibition features seven local artists whose works cover numerous subjects including nature, public memorials, and childhood experience. The works chosen for "MetroSpective" were Art Domantays Balsa Wood Airplane: The Land That Time Forgot, a 15-foot replica of a balsa wood airplane; Ken Landauers Picnic Tables, two super-sized versions of a picnic table with appropriately sized nuts, bolts, and benches; Walter Martin and Paloma Muzs 9 to 5, a sculpture installed on two of the parks trees, featuring beautiful bronze pears that appear to emerge from faucets and drop into awaiting buckets below; Peter Rostovskys Monument, which depicts a human figure standing alone at the edge of a daunting jutting mountain; Do-Ho Suhs Maquette for Public Figures, a pedestal supported by miniature anonymous male and female figures; and Brian Tolles Witch Catcher, a large-scale installation of the architectural vestiges of a 17th Century New England home, featuring a brick chimney twisting 25 feet into the air and surrounded by the perimeter of the houses foundation. Tolles Irish Hunger Memorial was recently added to New York Citys permanent art collection and stands in Battery Park City.

The works in "MetroSpective" complement other recent installations of contemporary art displayed in City Hall and on the front lawn of Gracie Mansion. Mayor Bloomberg, a public art enthusiast, believes that "MetroSpective" will bring many art lovers to Lower Manhattan. "Thanks to the Public Art Fund, the MetroSpective exhibit contains a bold and imaginative spirit representative of the Citys talented artists and invaluable public arts programs," said the Mayor.

"This show underscores the significant improvements made to City Hall Park in recent years," said Commissioner Benepe. "Since the 17^th Century, the land where this artwork stands has been an essential site of public gathering, and it contains significant sculptures of the 19^th Century."

After the announcement, Public Art Fund Director Tom Eccles and the artists led a tour of the individual pieces. At each stop, the artists took a few minutes to describe the inspiration behind their works.

"MetroSpective" is now part of the Parks Departments long tradition of exhibiting public art. Since 1967, collaborations with arts organizations and artists have produced hundreds of art projects on parkland throughout the City. The Public Art Fund is New Yorks leading presenter of artists projects, new commissions, installations, and exhibitions in public spaces. For the past twenty-five years, the Public Art Fund has identified, coordinated, and realized a diversity of major projects by both established and emerging artists throughout New York City. By bringing artworks outside the traditional context of museums and galleries, Parks and the Public Art Fund provide the public with spontaneous and unusual encounters with art.

"Go West, young man, and grow up with the country."

(February 3, 18111872)

"Winter is a season filled with exciting activities and time-honored traditions, and the lighting of the holiday tree in City Hall Park is one of them," said Mayor Bloomberg. "This year there is a renewed energy downtown as we continue to rebuild our City and revitalize its spirit. Happy holidays to you and yours."

Parks & Recreation provided a spectacular new centerpiece for the holiday celebration using the City Hall Park Fountain. Deputy Commissioner for Operations Liam Kavanagh proposed the idea to bring life to the empty granite fountain in the cold months by filling it with a festive display of plantings. Parks Landscape Architect Gail Wittwer-Laird, Manhattan Forestry Director William Steyer, City Hall Park Gardener Richard Haughland and others worked collaboratively to create the holiday arrangement, which consists of tiers of balsam firs, crabapple trees, boxwood, and winterberry and evergreen holly. The trees were adorned with hand-made ornaments made by students from PS 1, PS 42 and PS 217. Parks will change the display after the holidays but plantings will remain in the fountain until April when the water is turned on again. All of the plantings will be replanted in parks throughout the five boroughs.

Though The Daily Plant is usually the first to bring you Parks news, The New York Times featured the genius of Commissioner Kavanagh. Reporter Jennifer Steinhauer wrote, "It is a horticultural pleasure that even a city in a fiscal crisis can enjoy." She also noted Commissioner Benepes enthusiasm for the projects success and his commitment to do the same in each of the citys four borough hall fountains next winter.

During the tree lighting ceremony, attendees sipped hot chocolate to keep warm and ate donuts (unfortunately frozen from the frigid temperature), while the New York City Housing Authority Youth Choir provided musical entertainment and the New York Goofs thrilled the crowd with their antics and comedic tricks. Afterwards, Parks "Broadway Shooting Stars" trolleys transported everyone to three Lower Manhattan locations to shop and dine. Many joined the festivities at The Battery, where a holiday tree lighting occurred simultaneously with City Halls, and was followed by carolers that entertained the crowd.

City Hall Park has played a key role in New York for centuries from its Colonial beginnings as a rebel outpost to its current function as the seat of City government. In 1999 a $39.2 million project fully restored the park, adding a central walkway and gardens and replacing pavement with grass and trees. The fountain, designed by Jacob Wrey Mould in 1871, was returned to the park with a reconstructed centerpiece and lighting fixtures and a circular tablet at the southern end of the park was added to educate visitors about the history of the site.

"The fountain project is not only a treat for everyone who visits City Hall Park, it gives our very talented gardening staff a chance to show off their talents."

"It is always incomprehensible to a man that a woman

should ever refuse an offer of marriage."

Jane Austen

(December 16, 1775-1817)

Kelly has been with Parks since July 1, 1997, starting as a Playground Associate in Queens. She has since been promoted to Analyst in Central Recreation. Kelly coordinates the PA program citywide. In recent weeks, she has worked closely with DC Jeffrey to establish a program to survey organizations throughout the City that work with youth. Additionally, Kelly helped coordinate two major citywide events this month. In partnership with the New York Jets, New York Giants, and the NFL, she organized the Citywide Flag Football Festival at Van Cortlandt Stadium. She also spearheaded the Citywide Flag Football Championship in which 18 teams from all five boroughs competed. Kelly has made a positive contribution to Recreation programs throughout the city. She's cagey and spirited, and was nominated by DC Jeffrey and Director of Central Recreation Emily Brennan.

Annika has been with Parks since December 29, 1999 and is currently an Assistant Director of JAC, Job Assistance Centers. Annika served in many capacities as the JAC initiative took off, including Queens JAC Coordinator and Brooklyn Coordinator at Brownsville Recreation Center. She took on citywide responsibilities in June, 2001. Annika has organized a number of large-scale job fairs for workfare participants, helps supervise 14 staff, and developed a partnership with the Board of Education to provide free GED and ESL classes for POPs and WEPs citywide. A super help to our vital workfare program, Annika was nominated by WEP Director Samara Epstein.

Edwin is a CPW and has been with Parks since July 19, 1998. Edwin Gonzalez began in the Work Experience Program. Within the same year, he was hired as a City Seasonal Aide to work in District 1, City Hall Park. Edwin's hard work and dedication is readily apparent to hundreds of visitors who enjoy the park on a daily basis. He pays meticulous attention to every detail- from the sparkling glass panes on the "antique" lanterns to the litter-free pavement. This summer, Edwin was promoted to City Park Worker and was assigned to monitor the filtration system at Lasker Pool. With summertime attendance topping over 71,000 visitors, Edwin made sure the pool was open every day during the long, hot summer. For setting an example, Edwin was nominated by SPMO Frank Mazzuca.

Imtaz is a CPW and has been with Parks since March 12, 2001. Imtaz has an array of skills which are very helpful to District 13, including the safe handling of various types of equipment such as a tractor and a dump truck. District 13 achieved 91% cleanliness ratings this year. Imtaz is a versatile employee who fills in for the WEP Crew Chief when needed and assists the Queens Greenhouse with lawn maintenance and fertilization projects. A new Parkie, Imtaz's initial public offerings have been promising. He was nominated by Borough Commissioner Rich Murphy.

Steve is a Supervisor of Mechanics and has been with Parks since April 1, 1985. On December 16, 2001 Steve assumed oversight of Staten Island's trades after having served as a sheet metal worker in the Bronx for many years. As such, he deploys and monitors a diverse trades staff including carpenters, plumbers and blacksmiths. On the Shop Scorecard, Staten Island consistently performs at a level well above the goal for the borough. The borough has also achieved its water fountain goals. Steve is adept at quickly assessing problems and making vital decisions while on the go. He was nominated by Chief of Operations Gerry Lawless.

Isaac Mungalsingh, Arsenal Food Concession

Since 1996, Arsenalites and visitors to Central Park have been greeted and served by the helpful and friendly Isaac. Originally from Trinidad, Isaac worked at a radio shop and a Parks concession at 110th Street before joining the extended Parks family. Each day, Isaac lines up everyone's favorite meal and snack items: from the morning coffee or diet coke, to lunch time sandwiches, and afternoon sugar breaks. Known by name, he treats his customers the same way, and his friendly manner is appreciated by all (especially those who remember his predecessors.) On his spare time, Isaac is a cricket devotee and plays softball in the Parks league.

"Trust dies but mistrust blossoms."

(497406/5 B.C.)

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)

THIRTEEN YEARS AGO IN THE PLANT
(Tuesday, September 19, 2002)
NOAH'S ART OPENS AMID FLOOD OF ENTHUSIASM

It could have been a Cecil B. DeMille set for "The Story of Noah." As if on cue, rain poured from the heavens and a menagerie of sculpted birds, fish, bears, tigers, and other species roamed the southern end of Central Park.

Today's stormy weather provided the perfect backdrop for the opening of "Noah's Art," Central Park's first free outdoor exhibit of animal sculptures. Organized by Park's Art & Antiquities division. Noah's Art features contemporary sculptures of animals, created by a wide variety of well-established and emerging artists.

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY
''Look not mournfully into the past. It comes not back again. Wisely improve the present. It is thine. Go forth to meet the shadowy future, without fear.''
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

McMorris journey through Parks started and finished in Central Park. As a maintenance worker in the North Meadow in 1962, his mission was to keep the park green and clean. Just a few months into his time with Parks he stood out as a leader and a dedicated employee. Shea Stadium, home to the New York Mets, was built in 1964 and Al left Central Park for Flushing Meadows-Corona Park and there he worked on Stadium operations, eventually becoming foreman. Shea became a concession a few years later and McMorris requested to be transferred back to Central Park, considering it his true Parks home.

Back in Central Park for good, McMorris managed Heckscher Ballfields and Playgrounds and established positive relations with user groups, even managing to get equipment donated. Upon his recent retirement, McMorris served as night manager of the 79^th Street Yard.

McMorris experienced the emergence of the Central Park Conservancy from the first row in the 1980s. "When others viewed the Conservancy with trepidation, Al was one of the first the recognize the benefits of the historic partnership that was to develop," said Doug Blonsky, Central Park Administrator. His dedication to parks, and especially Central Park, makes McMorris a great example for all of us. The Daily Plant congratulates him on a job well done for forty years.

On Saturday, March 30, 2002 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Easter Eggstravaganza will welcome guests to Central Park for the 56^th time. Sponsored by Pathmark and M&M's, this FREE spring festival is one of Parks longest running traditions. Children will enjoy the Jelly Belly Build Your Own Basket station, a petting zoo, a puppet show, egg dyeing, and of course, the Citys largest Easter egg hunt at Bethesda Terrace. A variety of street performers and musicians will be on hand to entertain. Visitors of all ages can participate in the Urban Park Rangers ecology tours throughout the day. The lower forty acres of Central Park will be transformed into this splendid springtime scene. Dont miss the fun at this free family event!

(Tuesday, April 4, 1989)

When youre in the health business you can tell someone to go take a walkand get away with it. So Parks and the New York Times Good Health Magazine are asking all New Yorkers to join the Second Annual Good Health Walk, a 3.2-mile stroll that will take place on Sunday, April 16 with music, balloons and health clinics galore.

The Health Walk will wind down Broadway from Times Square to City Hall Park, where strollers will listen to music, watch theater performances and participate in clinics on golf, tennis and volleyball. The walk will be conducted by the New York Road Runners Club; the clinics will be produced by Parks Recreation Division.

(March 26, 1874-1963)

This years Speak Up, called "Resources for Parks and Green Spaces," focused on grass roots organizing. In her key note address entitled "Strengthening the Root in Grass Roots," Karen Argenti, Founding Member of the Friends of Jerome Park Reservoir and the Jerome Park Conservancy, used the history of the Friends of Jerome Park Reservoir to outline key steps to grass roots action. Ms. Argenti stressed the importance of building alliance, identifying the issue, and offering solutions to avoid the "not in my backyard" (NIMBY) attitude. Pat Logan, Director of Policy & Planning for the Fordham Bedford Housing Corporation, and Keith Fairey, Community Development Manager for Mount Hope Housing Company, Inc. gave a Power Point presentation illustrating why green spaces are essential to the revitalization of a neighborhood and how housing corporations can partner with Parks to achieve their goals. Jen St. John, the Government Liaison for the Prospect Park Alliance, and Dick Dadey, the Director for New Yorker for Parks, summarized their efforts to affect the City Budget.

An important feature of the Speak Up is the concurrent Break-Out sessions. This year, Speak Up attendees chose between three sessions. Mark Caserta, Director of the New York League of Conservation Voters, led "How to Impact the City Budget." The group developed a list of priorities that included continuing the fight for 1% of the city budget and reminding elected officials of the Coalitions platform. Edie Stone, Director of Green Thumb, led "Where to Go when You Need Things Done," which focused on learning about resources available to help organizations work with city agencies. Finally, Charlotte Kaiser, Partnership for Parks Technical Assistant and Grant Coordinator, led the workshop on "Where to Find Additional Resources." Ms. Kaiser presented the group with a list of Dos and Donts when requesting funding and gave a list of places that give grants and in-kind donations.

Many elected officials and Parkies attended the Speak Up, including Commissioner Adrian Benepe and Bronx Borough Commissioner Dottie Lewandowski. Adolpho Carrion, Jr., the Bronx Borough President, who spoke of his plan to develop the land along the Harlem River into a waterfront park. Majority Leader of the City Council, Council Member Joel Rivera of the 15^th Council District, promised to fight in the Council for parks and pledged 80% of his capital budget to rehabilitating and creating new parks in his district.

Anthony Modafferi has been working in Parks since December 9, 1963. Among his many positions, he served as acting Principal Park Supervisor of District #1 which included City Hall Park, Battery Park, and Washington Square Park. A noteworthy accomplishment during that time was the enormous cleanup of lower Manhattan during the Bicentennial of 1976, which included the landing of Queen Elizabeth at Battery Park right after the event. Tony has fond memories of City Hall Park particularly during the Koch administration. He also remembers Marijuana Day in Washington Square Park, held on the first Saturday in May, and the extreme amount of garbage produced on that particular day each year. He was proud of the team effort to restore these parks after these major events. In 1993, Tony assumed his current position as Director of Staten Island Forestry.

Tony is a devoted son, a husband to Jacqueline for 36 years, and a proud father of two children, Karen and Victor. He thanks his supervisors for teaching him two crucial lessons- always get to work before your staff and treat everyone with respect and people will respect you in return. Because of Tonys long career in Parks and his knowledge of Parks, Commissioner Paulo has appointed him Staten Islands Park Historian.

While the Mets and Yankees sweat themselves into shape in the Grapefruit League, Parks Stadia unit is also hard at work preparing Yankee and Shea stadia for the 1989 baseball season.

Private contractors and regular and seasonal stadia crews are now refurbishing the two City-owned stadia. Workers from Bronx and Queens parks and crews from Five-Borough Shops are participating in the preparation, which includes restripping parking lots, various painting projects, repairing seats and the electrical, air conditioning, lighting and plumbing systems.

"Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die,

life is a broken winged bird that cannot fly."

Langston Hughes
(1902-1967)

Parks is pulling out all the stops this year to hire at least 1,000 lifeguards. For the first time ever, Lifeguard Training courses are being offered in all five boroughs. The course, aimed at recruiting new lifeguards, is offered to anyone over the age of 16 who can swim 50 yards in 35 seconds or less and has adequate vision. After completing the 40-hour course and fulfilling other requirements, participants qualify to become a lifeguard at one of seven beaches and fifty-three outdoor pools in New York City.

In addition to training courses in all five boroughs, a new addition to this years recruitment is an expansion of outreach to select schools around the city. By directly contacting guidance counselors, a better relationship can be formed with those schools and it can be assured that important promotional materials are being received and distributed.

Other noteworthy recruitment tactics that Parkies might notice in their own neighborhoods are advertising on NYC Transit buses and "Lifeguards Wanted" signs on designated Park vehicles. According to Jake Cooper, Director of Field Operations, a long-time goal of the program has been to hire 1,200, a number thats possible through these exciting new recruiting efforts and training options. In addition to these efforts, Parks is looking forward to working with the Board of Education to offer school credit to student lifeguards that complete training in first aid, water safety, and CPR.

The first major attempt to recruit lifeguards for the citys beaches and pools occurred in 1943. This summers lifeguards would be joining thousands of fellow New Yorkers who have spent their summer keeping people safe. There are over 10 million visitors to beaches and outdoor pools every yeara very popular summer recreation destination! Anyone interested in enrolling in a training course in any of the boroughs should call (212) 830-7880 for further information.

(Thursday, February 16, 1989)

Marking Womens History Month, Parks will honor outstanding women landscape architects and sculptors with an exhibit, "Designing Women: Workers by Landscape Architects and Sculptors in New York City." The exhibit will be on display at the Tweed Gallery, 52 Chambers Street at City Hall Park from March 2 to March 29. Mayor Koch and Commissioner Stern will preside at an opening reception on March 2 at 6 P.M.

Using photographs, drawings and plans from the Parks Department historic archive, "Designing Women" brings to light the achievements of 12 trailblazers whose work is still visible in New York City parks.

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams.
Live the life you have imagined."

Henry David Thoreau
(1817-1862)

Mayor Rudolph (Eagle) Giuliani and Commissioner Stern also announced on Friday that Millennium Park, a new park adjacent to City Hall Park and born at the time of its restoration, will be distinguished with a statue of Theodore Roosevelt, a New York Police Commissioner who rose to the countrys highest office. The figure of Roosevelt, the worlds first recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, will stand on a granite base within view of Broadways crowds of commuters and visitors, invoking peace in lower Manhattan. The City Hall Park Conservancy will oversee the installation of this statue in addition to the care of City Hall Parks many monuments and historic tablets.

At 57.5 acres, East River Park is one of Manhattans best-used parks. With views of the East River and the Manhattan and Williamsburg Bridges, it is also one of Manhattans most promising parks. This season, East River Park has been blessed with attention. Challenge America, an ABC pilot program, tells the true story of a resurrection of the parks amphitheater and regulation soccer field. Sandwiched between the privately funded projects, is a $5.6 million reconstruction funded by Mayor Giuliani. In all, improvements in East River Park stretch more than a mile. At his State of the City address in January 2001, Mayor Rudolph (Eagle) Giuliani announced his intention to rename East River Park for Mayor John V. Lindsay. At a dedication ceremony on Friday, December 21, he made good on that promise. The public and privately funded improvements to the park ensure that Mayor Lindsays name will be associated with a beautiful place to play.

On Thursday, December 20, Charging Bull turned twelve. Commissioner Henry J. (StarQuest) Stern; Art (Peppercorn) Piccolo, Chairman of the Bowling Green Association, students from P.S. 126, and passersby feted the bull with food, music, and candles. Dawn Rella carved ice sculptures. The Big Apple Circus performed. Windy Maples Farms donated wreaths and garlands. Baker and Sons brightened the day with candles, and Creative Cakes fashioned a bull-shaped cake. Bowling Green, Charging Bulls abode, was decorated with evergreens and lights in anticipation of the next day, the winter solstice.

Yes, we know. Tucked between "Lose 15 pounds" and "Run the New York City Marathon" in your New Years resolutions, is your vow to take advantage of all those free self-improvement courses offered to employees by Parks.

To help you get on the ball before your spirit falters, the parks Training Academy has issued its fourth catalog listing a variety of courses offered by the Academy instructors and private consultants. The courses range from advanced writing for managers to getting and stay organized.

"If A is success in life, then A equals x plus y plus z.
Work is x; y is play; and z is keeping your mouth shut."

Albert Einstein (1879-1955)