The 3.5-acre park is one of the last remaining links in a continuous Hudson River Greenway and was once the site of the New York Central Railroads 60th Street yard. The ribbon cutting connects Riverside Park with Hudson River Park in the same way the railroads connected the nations two coasts and creates a continuous greenway from Battery Park to 83rd Street

Like the earlier phases of Riverside Park South, the design of Phase IV celebrates this sites crucial role in the history of New York City. As a former rail yard, goods arrived by train and by barge from across the country. This vital link was known as the lifeline of the City because much of New Yorks milk, grain, and vegetables were shipped here by barge from New Jersey or by rail from the north.

In addition to new walkways and landscaping, the parks grandest feature is a 60-year old, 95-ton, retired locomotive. This unique artifact is a reminder of the sites industrial past as a rail yard, and as a sure-fire kid magnet is sure to spike the imaginations of all who visit our newest waterfront oasis.

Locomotive 8625, a 660-horsepower American Locomotive Company switching engine built in 1946, is identical to those that moved freight cars here from the 1940s to the 1970s. This particular engine served for decades in similar service in Brooklyn on the Cross Harbor Railroad before it was retired, restored and shipped by barge to Riverside South in 2006. Visitors, especially children, are invited to climb aboard this massive piece of machinery and contemplate its place in New York history.

Riverside Park South is a public/private partnership between the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, the Riverside South Planning Corporation, and Riverside South developer Hudson Waterfront Associates. Phase IV was constructed by Hudson Waterfront Associates at a cost of $10.9 million and is being deeded to the City of New York at no cost as part of the requirements of the Citys 1992 approval of the Riverside South development. The Riverside South developer is required to spend more than $62 million on park construction, and the 27.5 acre park is expected to be completed within the next decade as construction of Riverside South is finished.

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

The odds are five to six that the light at the end of the tunnel
is the headlight of an oncoming train.

Paul Dickson

District 14 stretches across six miles of Manhattans West Side, covering 400 acres of waterfront, woodlands, playgrounds, and athletic fields. The Hudson River Greenway cuts through it, bringing visitors from around the region, while some 200,000 people live a short walk from the park and consider it their backyard.

The district includes Riverside Park South, Riverside Park, and the busier half of Fort Washington Park, and is home to Grants Tomb, the Little Red Lighthouse, the Soldiers & Sailors Monument, the Firemens Memorial, and many other City Beautiful Era monuments. A summer-long series of programs and special events and three popular caf help attract millions of visitors.

October marked the 70th anniversary of the parks expansion under Commissioner Robert Moses and, in the spirit of Moses, there is currently $40 million in capital construction underway, and an astounding $140 million more is expected over the next six years.

The Cleanest District Award is for daily maintenance. Despite its heavy use, the district achieved 100% cleanliness ratings in the last year. The district is divided into three sectors, each the responsibility of a park supervisor. These sectors are subdivided into zones, and cared for by a combination of fixed post and mobile staff who have responsibility for all aspects of year-round park maintenance.

District-wide staff complete two daily packer runs one early, one late and also battle the nightly onslaught of graffiti. Maintenance workers and gardeners help keep the park in good repair and attractive. Sector supervisors have raised the bar with daily on-the-ground inspections and rapid response, and encouraging pride of ownership among the staff. They have defeated a number of seemingly intractable problems such as homeless encampments, vandalism, and graffiti through strategic blitz operations and maintaining a persistent presence to establish and retain control.

This summer, a roving late crew and night supervisors carried on the work of the day shift and addressed conditions that arose during the parks hours of heaviest use. This extra capacity contributed directly to the parks high cleanliness ratings this year.

The effort is supported by the Riverside Park Fund, whose volunteers last year performed 38,000 hours of horticulture and other work. The Fund also provides extra supplies, equipment and strategic support to enable the districts hard working and dedicated staff to go the extra mile.

Congratulations to:
Park Administrator: John Herrold
PRMs: Crista Carmody and Paul Evans
Landscape Architect: Margaret Bracken
Director of Programming: Robin Schatell
Park Supervisors: Christopher Lange, Jesus Castro, Hugo Chance, Duvall Drummond, Vernon Gowdy, Patricia OSullivan, Ismael Rivera, Ivan Zuniga, Henry Reyes
Associate Park Service Workers: Thomas Drayton, Charles Joseph, Curtis Peterson, Lionel Valentine
Gardener: Carlos Yrizzary
Assistant Gardeners: Carol Durverne, Ben Lopez, Gizella Meszaros, Bill Sinderbrand
Maintenance Workers: Alberto Garcia, Robert Renis
City Park Workers: Oneal Bradberry, Louis Burgess, Earl Carroll, Martin Collado, Lisa Gilbert, Tammy Hale, Bobby Hopkins, Mervyn Missigher, Kevin OBrien, Raul Ortiz, Antoinette Royal, Jose Ribot, Claudio Sencion City Seasonal Aide: Ezequiel Cordero

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.

Marie Curie
(1867 - 1934)

Each project recalls the addition of 132 acres and amenities like playgrounds and the 79th Street Boat Basin in 1937 by Mayor Fiorello H. La Guardia and Parks Commissioner Robert Moses, while heralding another era of great park improvements.

In 1875, Frederick Law Olmsted completed a schematic design for Riverside Park and the first sections of the park opened five years later. In 1935, Landscape Architect Gilmore Clarke designed the area of Riverside Park to the west of the newly constructed Henry Hudson Parkway. His design, completed under the supervision of Commissioner Moses, created an area of landfill to the west of the New York Central Railroad line, beyond the Olmsted-era footprint of Riverside Park. This extension provided an area adjacent to the water for active recreation extending from West 72nd Street to 155th Street along the Hudson River. In 1937 a waterfront esplanade was created from West 72nd Street to 83rd Street.

The Soldiers and Sailors Monument Plaza reconstruction will add new pavement, curbs, fencing, park benches, park security lighting and plantings to the area. The existing pavement will be replaced with hex block pavement, new granite block tree pits, and bluestone curbs. In addition, a new steel panel fence will be installed along the eastern perimeter of the plaza and new wood and metal "hoof" benches will line the site. The $1 million project is made possible thanks to $710,000 allocated by Council Member Brewer and $378,000 in Mayoral funds.

The $1.68 million reconstruction of Riverside Park's Serpentine Promenade removed the existing deteriorated concrete pavement and replaced it with asphalt. New benches, curbs and fencing were installed. Bluestone pavement and asphalt hex block pavement were also added to the octagonal plaza. The project has been funded by allocations of $1.5 million from Council Member Brewer and $180,000 from the Mayor.

Construction of a $13.3 million over-water path, or Riverwalk, will connect the Hudson River Esplanade from West 83rd to West 91st Streets, creating unbroken waterfront access from 59th Street to 133rd Street. The Mayor allocated over $13 million towards the project, with the remainder contributed through the Federal Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act.

This year, during the month of October, the Riverside Park Fund and the Parks Department are presenting Riverside Alive! : 70 Years after Robert Moses, a festival featuring free events for the community celebrating Riverside Park's progress.

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

East side, West side
All around the town
Were building parks and playgrounds
Getting shovels in the ground.
East side, West side
Riding throughout the parks
Well bike the brand new greenways
Having fun till it gets dark

Adrian Benepe
-Adapted from Sidewalks of New York,
by James Blake and Charles Lawlor

Over 300 people received guided tours of the popular boating site where they were able to learn about some of the exciting challenges that go into operating and maintaining a marina on the Hudson River. Visitors were able to examine the myriad components that go into construction of a floating dock while receiving a first-hand description of the process from a Parks dockbuilder. Poster-sized photographs dating back to 1937 gave guests a visual tour of the sites history, capturing many of the changes Parks continues to introduce to the location.

More hands-on activities included clinics on how to tie a range of different boating knots as well as the proper procedure to secure a vessel to the docks. Urban Park Rangers were on site with games and puzzles offering a wealth of facts and information on the Hudson River and the organisms with which it is inhabited. Visitors to the Rangers table were also able to learn about the many adventures in our parks, other free programs for kids, and receive a copy of the Rangers quarterly newspaper and calendar, Outdoors in NYC.

Other highlights of the day included a FDNY fireboat water display just off of A-dock. A stentorian blast of the vessels horn drew all eyes waterside as the over 150-foot long vessel powered up its six large fire-extinguishing hoses spraying arches of the rivers water high into the air. In addition to each visitor receiving maps and brochures of Parks boating resources and marinas, as well as their very own Parks & Recreation squeaking rubber-ducky tugboat, several lucky guests had their name selected from a free raffle to win their very own 79th Street Boat Basin plastic routed sign.

Finally, for those feeling that a day at the marina would not be complete without some actual time spent out on the open water, free charters aboard a 42-foot sailing sloop departed from the marina each hour for a 40-minute excursion to the George Washington Bridge before returning to homeport at the 79th Street Boat Basin. After the days events, it was clear that many of our first-time visitors would be returning to the Boat Basin and stopping by some of our other water-based sites soon.

Written by Nate Grove

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

Learn to value yourself, which means: to fight for your happiness.

Ayn Rand
(1905 1982)

Bronx

Get crafty with the family this weekend at Wave Hill. Create your own custom-made sunglasses and have visions of lush gardens and river scenery seen through rose, blue, green, or purple-colored lenses. Join us at Kerlin Learning Center (675 West 252nd Street), Saturday through Monday, 1:00 4:00 p.m. For more information, call 718-549-3200.

This Saturday in Brooklyn, CityParks presents Camille A. Brown and Washington Reflections, a celebration of modern dance. Camille A. Brown is one of New Yorks most exciting young choreographers. The New York Times observed: "Ms. Brown presents the dancing body as a vehicle for overt religious celebration[mixing] modern dance techniques with West African dance elements." Washington Reflections was founded by Dance Theater Of Harlem alum Fabian Barnes. Washington Reflections thus brings a distinctly urban, inner city perspective to the modern dance world. The New York Times has praised the company, noting that Washington Reflections dancers "perform Olympian solos with marvelous precision."

The performances will begin at 3:00 p.m. at Herbert Von King Park.

Keep missing out on Shakespeare in Central Park? Fear not. This weekend and next, the Hudson Warehouse presents "The Other Free Shakespeare in the Park." Enjoy outdoor performances of As You Like It at Riverside Park, at the North Patio of the Soldiers and Sailors Monument.

Performances are Thursday through Sunday at 6:30 p.m. For more information, call 212-560-6579.

This weekend, have fun with history! Enjoy an afternoon of 18th and 19th century games at King Manor Museum in Rufus King Park, including hoop and stick, graces, and historic board games. Participation costs 50 cents. Let the games begin! Saturday and Sunday, 1:00 p.m. 4:00 p.m. For more information, call 718-206-0545.

At Historic Richmond Town this Saturday, experience a traditional dinner, with spit-roasted meat, oven-baked bread, hand-churned butter, seasonal vegetables, salads and fruit pies. Enjoy the meal with live music and historical vignettes. $45 ($40 for members of the Staten Island Historical Society). Historic Richmond Town is located at 441 Clarke Avenue. For more information, call 718-351-1611.

"And this, our life, exempt from public haunt, finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, sermons in stones, and good in everything."

William Shakespeare
(1564-1616)

"As we begin to develop a NYC Water Trail, we are thrilled to have the first park sites added to the States Water Trail and to greet participants as they finish the Great Hudson River Paddle here in New York City," said Commissioner Benepe. "Throughout the city, parks along the shoreline are being built and renovated to reconnect the public with the waterBaretto Point Park, Brooklyn Bridge Park, Hudson River Park, Fort Totten Park and Fresh Kills Park to name just a few. Among the amenities available at these parks, many have or plan to have canoe and kayak launches."

The Great Hudson River Paddle celebrates the improvement of public access along the Hudson River and, as a result of Parks efforts, the New York States Hudson River Greenway Water Trail has added the first NYC park sitesInwood Hill Parks Dyckman Marina and the 72nd Street and 79th Street Boat Basin in Riverside Park. Three additional NYC sites have also been added to the Water TrailPiers 66, 84 and 96 in Hudson River Park.

"One of the most exciting portions of the Annual Great Hudson River Paddle is the arrival in New York City," said Mary Mangione, Executive Director of the Hudson River Valley Greenway. "An important aspect of the Greenways mission is to increase public access to the Hudson River, so that all New Yorkers can experience this treasured resource. With assistance from NYC Parks Commissioner Benepe and Hudson River Park Trust President Connie Fishman, I am so pleased to add three New York City Parks sites and three Hudson River Park sites to the Hudson River Greenway Water Trail."

Parks & Recreation is also currently creating a NYC Water Trail, which will provide information on safe and legal access to the waters surrounding all five boroughs of New York City. The project will identify park launch sites, as well as connect those to non-park launch sites. The guide will also provide recreational, educational and scenic opportunities along the waterfront.

The New York State Hudson River Greenway Water Trail begins at the Erie Canal and is 156 miles long. Participants in the Great Hudson River Paddle began in Albany and traveled 145 miles of the Water Trail to Pier 96 in New York City.

- 30 -

On May 4, Parks showcased a new addition to its green fleet: the citys first solar powered vehicle. BP America donated two Solar Utility Vehicles (SUVs) to Parks. BP Solar Technology uses a photovoltaic cell, which converts light energy into electrical energy that powers the vehicles battery. These SUVs are extremely environmentally friendly, as they do not use any fossil fuels. Even an electric GEM cart creates some pollution from the electrical power that charged its batteries. Since these solar powered units do not need to be charged from the electric grid, they will be true zero pollution vehicles. These utility vehicles will be used to assist with maintenance in Flushing Meadows Corona Park and Riverside Park.

Parks is actively involved with Mayor Bloombergs PlaNYC initiative to clean the Citys air and is dedicated to "cleaning our fleet." Parks is the first City agency to use biodiesel agency-wideall 650 of our trucks that used diesel fuel now use 20 % biodiesel (B20). B20 is a blend of 20% biodiesel made from

soybeans and 80% ultra low sulfur diesel. Parks will pilot B50 in one borough this summer. We are also installing emission reduction equipment such as diesel oxidation catalysts and diesel particulate filters on many of our vehicles. The diesel particulate filters will remove up to 95% of harmful particulate matter that contributes to asthma.

By the end of 2007, we will operate 487 alternative light duty vehicles, including 128 hybrid sedans and utilities. In addition, in partnership with the Department of Transportation, new Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) fueling sites will soon be operational at our Central Park and Flushing Meadows Corona Park

garages. To take advantage of this new capacity, Parks recently purchased 20 CNG Honda Civics, recognized as the cleanest car in America according to the EPA. We will also procure a CNG tram for Fort Totten Park and two CNG street sweepers as part of our effort to green our work vehicles.

If youd like to see these and other new types of equipment, including a solar powered lawn mower, join us on May 22, 2007 as Parks hosts its 19th Annual Vehicle and Equipment Show on Randalls Island. Over 130 vendors will present the latest in light and heavy-duty vehicles, including clean and alternative fuel technologies.

Yesterday, Commissioner Benepe and his wife, Charlotte Glasser, were honored at 1 Police Plaza by Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly with civilian commendations for their actions in helping police to stop a crime in progress. Last Saturday night, at 7:30 p.m., a woman walking on West 97th Street near Riverside Drive was pushed to the ground and her handbag containing a purse was stolen. She began chasing the suspect and screaming for help. Commissioner Benepe and Charlotte Glasser were on the park side of Riverside Drive, exiting the 97th Street Playground. Charlotte called 911 and went to the woman's assistance while Commissioner Benepe ran a pursuit of the man, who was running south on Riverside Drive with a handbag in his hands. He chased him onto West 95th Street, and was able to apprehend and detain the suspect until police arrived minutes later. In the meantime, other passersby had helped gather the woman's belongings, apparently dropped by the suspect during his flight. Officers from the 24th Precinct arrived within minutes to arrest the suspect.

Commissioner Benepe thanked Commissioner Kelly for the honor, praising the men and women of the Police Department for reducing crime to historic lows across the City and in its parks. He also said, "the Police could do their job more effectively if more New Yorkers got involved by calling 911 to report crimes in progress and by otherwise assisting Police and other law enforcement officials," though he cautioned that citizens should always use their best judgment and maintain their own safety.

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

Ask yourself whether you are happy and you cease to be so.

John Stuart Mill
(1806 1873)

On October 31, Manhattan Borough Commissioner William Castro joined City Council Member Gale Brewer, Riverside Park Fund President Jim Dowell, members of The Hippo Playground Project, and a parade of neighborhood children dressed in Halloween costumes to celebrate recent renovations to the Parks Hippo Playground.

Hippo Playground was upgraded with a more challenging play unit to meet the needs of the communitys children. Parks replaced the existing piece of toddler equipment with a larger play unit to better accommodate the 5-12 year age group that primarily uses the site. New asphalt pavement and safety surface was installed around the new unit, and the existing swing set was repainted.

The renovations to Hippo Playground were made possible with $15,000 allocated by Mayor Bloomberg and $236,000 allocated by City Council Member Gale Brewer. The funding package also paid for renovation work at Dinosaur Playground at 97th street in Riverside Park.

The Hippo Playground property on 91st Street was acquired in 1937 as part of the Riverside Park expansion. The playground was built later that year, and was known as the 91st Street Playground until 1993, when the Playground Project raised $120,000 to fund the construction of hippopotamus art in the middle of the playground, and the playground was most appropriately renamed.

Less than one week later, on November 6, Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe joined Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, City Council Member Gale Brewer, State Assembly Member Linda Rosenthal, District Manager of Community Board 7 Penny Ryan, and Riverside Park Fund President Jim Dowell to break ground on the reconstruction of the Serpentine Promenade at Riverside Park, extending from West 83rd Street to West 91st Street.

With an allocation of $1.5 million from Council Member Brewer and $178,000 from Mayor Bloomberg, Parks is removing all of the existing deteriorated concrete pavement and replacing it with asphalt. New benches, curbs and a western fence will be installed. Views of the Hudson River will be enhanced. Bluestone pavement and asphalt hex block pavement will be installed at the octagonal plaza.

This is the first reconstruction of the Serpentine Promenade since it was originally built in 1937. At that time, under the leadership of Parks Commissioner Robert Moses, designers Gilmore D. Clarke and Clinton Lloyd extended the Park to the Hudson River, spanning both sides of the newly created Henry Hudson Parkway. The Promenade was constructed directly on top of the New York Central Railway tunnel and took advantage of the views of the Manhattan waterfront.

In conceiving this redesign, Parks Designer Margaret Bracken incorporates several elements included in Clarke and Lloyds original 1937 design drawings, such as the asphalt and bluestone pavements.

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

Save the cheerleader. Save the world.

Hiro Nakamura
Heroes

With an allocation of $1.5 million from Council Member Brewer and $178,000 from Mayor Bloomberg, Parks is removing all of the existing deteriorated concrete pavement and replacing it with asphalt. New benches, curbs and a western fence will be installed. Views of the Hudson River will be enhanced. Bluestone pavement and asphalt hex block pavement will be installed at the octagonal plaza.

"The Serpentine Promenade at Riverside Park was originally constructed during the Moses-era of expansion. Now that we have embarked on another citywide era of park expansion, it is appropriate that the Promenade from West 83rd Street to West 91st Street is being reconstructed," said Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe. "Park visitors will soon enjoy improved surfaces, new benches and restored views of the Hudson River. I am grateful to Mayor Bloomberg and Council Member Brewer for generously allocating $1.68 million for this important renovation."

This is the first reconstruction of the Serpentine Promenade since it was originally built in 1937. At that time, under the leadership of Parks Commissioner Robert Moses, designers Gilmore D. Clarke and Clinton Lloyd extended the Park to the Hudson River, spanning both sides of the newly created Henry Hudson Parkway. The Promenade was constructed directly on top of the New York Central Railway tunnel and took advantage of the views of the Manhattan waterfront.

In conceiving this redesign, Parks Designer Margaret Bracken incorporates several elements included in Clarke and Lloyds original 1937 design drawings, such as the asphalt and bluestone pavements.

Hippo Playground was upgraded with a more challenging play unit to meet the needs of the communitys children. Parks replaced the existing piece of toddler equipment with a larger play unit to better accommodate the 5-12 year age group that primarily uses the site. New asphalt pavement and safety surface was installed around the new unit, and the existing swing set was repainted.

The new play unit caters to the recreational and fitness needs of children in this community, with an eye to fun and safety, said Parks and Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe. Thanks to Mayor Bloomberg and City Council Member Gale Brewer, these children can now delight in a custom-designed playground and continue to flock to this favorite spot in Riverside Park.

The renovations to Hippo Playground were made possible with $15,000 allocated by Mayor Bloomberg and $236,000 allocated by City Council Member Gale Brewer. The funding package also paid for renovation work at Dinosaur Playground at 97th street in Riverside Park.

The Hippo Playground property on 91st Street was acquired in 1937 as part of the Riverside Park expansion. The playground was built later that year, and was known as the 91st Street Playground until 1993, when the Playground Project raised $120,000 to fund the construction of hippopotamus art in the middle of the playground, and the playground was most appropriately renamed.

Over the past five years, Parks & Recreation has spent more than $152 million for Manhattan park improvements, including new waterfront parks, bike paths, and greenways. Currently, Parks is in the midst of a major initiative to improve parks throughout Manhattan, with 42 projects costing $187 million under construction, and another 53 projects costing $41 million currently in design or procurement.

"The playing fields of Riverside Park, first opened in 1937, were the incubators of generations of baseball, football and soccer players, including me and my children," said Commissioner Benepe. "As sports for girls and youth leagues blossomed in the last two decades, these old fields were trampled into dust bowls. Now, thanks to a model public-private partnership, the Upper West Side finally has a superlative, all-weather sports complex to nurture the next generations of athletes."

The previous natural turf fields, which had eroded and become uneven after years of excessive use, were resurfaced with synthetic turf and the surrounding area regraded to improve drainage. A retaining wall was constructed at the base of the fields eastern-bound promenade wall and onsite storm water management structures were installed in both fields to alleviate drainage problems. New fencing, park security lighting, and sports facility accessories were also installed in both fields.

A little league baseball field, a soccer field and a multi-use area were constructed at 103^rd Street while a high school soccer field was installed at 107^th Street. The combined performance space for both playing fields occupy 3.95 acres of Riverside Parks 323 total acreage.

The $3.9 million in funding for this project composed of allocations from Council Member Brewer, Council Member Reed, Borough President Fields, and Mayor Bloomberg, combined with almost $1.25 million in private monies via Riverside Park Fund.

The projects successful completion is owed to the combined efforts of a several neighborhood organizations and community representatives. Riverside Park Fund and Parks & Recreation contracted with the Central Park Conservancy to design and supervise the construction of the fields, while both the West Side Little League and the West Side Soccer League were instrumental both in planning and generating funds for this much-need project.

The first sections of the Riverside Park opened in 1880. At that time New York Central Railroad tracks marked the western boundary of the park, until the 1930s when Parks Commissioner Robert Moses extended it west beyond the railway line. This expansion created new recreational areas between the promenade, the newly created Henry Hudson Parkway and the waterfront esplanade. Landscape architect Gilmore Clarke and architect Clinton Lloyd redesigned the Park in 1937, expanding upon recreation facilities while still maintaining the naturalistic aesthetic of Frederick Law Olmsted along the Parks eastern boundary. The last reconstruction of the playing fields was completed in 1989.

Over 500 paddlers in more than 30 boats took to the water to race in the two-day dragon boat festival, the most competitive dragon boat race in the county. Early Saturday morning, after some brief welcoming remarks, Parks & Recreation First Deputy Commissioner Liam Kavanagh and Council Member Gale Brewer performed the "Awakening of the Dragon" ritual, dotting a dragon boats eyes with red paint and awakening it from its winter hibernation. According to Chinese lore, the eye-dotting ceremony brings luck to the surrounding waters. With that completed, the races began.

"Dragon boat racing is thrilling because of its cultural legacy and intense teamwork and athleticism" said Liberty Racing Association President Ed Lau. "This years race went off without a hitch in one of New York Citys most beautiful parks. I am already looking forward to next years festival."

Dragon boat racing is a team sport. A minimum of 16 and maximum of 20 paddlers propel the boat, which is adorned with a dragons head and tail. The dragon boat team is completed by a steersman and a drummer, who dictates the rhythm of the paddling. This years festival drew athletes from all over Canada and the United States, including the Canadian National Dragon Boat Team, the U.S.A. National Team, a team of breast cancer survivors from Philadelphia called Against the Wind, and the Philadelphia Police Department Team. Other groups were made up of paddlers from the Ottawa Police Department, U.S. Coast Guard, NYPD, Correction Department, and the FBI. For the first time ever, Parks & Recreation organized a team for the event called the Parks Dragons. In addition to racing, festival events included childrens martial arts lessons, traditional dragon and lion dances, and musical performances.

"The Dragon Boat Festival is the largest example, so far, of the Marina Divisions focus on expanding recreational boating and access to New York City waters," said Parks & Recreation Chief of Operations and Parks Dragons paddler Keith Kerman. "We plan an even bigger festival next yearand an aggressive off-season recruitment program for our Parks team."

New York Citys very own Metro Athletic Dragon took home the prize in the 500-meter open division. In the 500-meter womens division, the Canadian National Womens Team raced to first place. The Quebecois 22 Dragons took the mixed division, the Prestige Toyota Red Dragons won the Corporate Challenge, and the Philadelphia Police Department trounced their competition in the law enforcement division.

Dragon boat festivals are celebrated around the globe, particularly in East Asia, although the sport of dragon boat racing is one of the fastest growing team sports in the world. Dragon boat festivals are traditionally celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth moon of the lunar calendar, which corresponds to the solar calendars late May to mid-June. Along with the Chinese New Year and Mid-Autumn Festival, the Dragon Boat Festival is one of the three most important Chinese holidays.

Dragon boat racing dates back to the fourth century B.C.E. According to legend, a popular poet and government minister named Qu Yuan fell out of favor with the emperor and in his dejection, drowned himself in the Mei Lo River. Nearby fishermen raced out in boats to rescue him. Discovering that he was dead, they beat their oars into the water and banged drums to keep fish and water dragons from devouring Qu Yuans body. They also threw balls of rice into the water to nourish Qu Yuans soul. Tsung tzu, balls of rice wrapped in bamboo leaves, are one of the traditional foods eaten during the festival. The dragon boat festival honors both the life of Qu Yuan and the dragons mythical power to cast good luck over bodies of water.

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

"The only devils in this world are those running around in our own hearts,
and that is where all our battles should be fought."

Mahatma Gandhi
(1869-1948)

Sigel was born in Germany in 1824. After leading the unsuccessful revolution of 1848, he fled and settled in 1852 in New York City. Here, he focused his energy on education and journalism, teaching in New York City public schools and writing for the New Yorker Staats-Zeitung and The New York Times. Later, in the Civil War, he attained the rank of major general in the Union Army and inspired throngs of German Americans to fight for the Union Army.

Just after Sigels death, the eminent Austrian-born sculptor Karl Bitter was commissioned to create a commemorative sculpture. Besides the Sigel portait, Bitter crafted monuments of other foreign-born American military heroes, including statues of the Marquis de Lafayette and Baron Von Steuben, as well as the much-loved Pomona sculpture in front of the Plaza Hotel. Sigels bronze effigy was unveiled in 1907 and stands at the apex of a monumental granite pedestal.

When the recent conservation began, the sculpture exhibited the effects of decades of acid rain exposure that had corroded and streaked the bronze surface, rendering its fine modeling illegible. Sigels sword, the victim of attempted theft, was salvaged by the Parks Monuments Crew in 1941 and consigned to storage for more than six decades.

The project conservation team removed surface soiling, corrosion, and remnants of previous wax treatments from the statue itself. Based on historical research, the conservation technicians recreated the original color, known as patina, through a series of chemical applications. Protective lacquer and wax coatings were then applied to the bronze surface to ensure the longevity of this treatment. Parks & Recreation blacksmith Larry Hagberg reattached the sword with threaded rods and welds, and the attachments and sword were brazed and patinated to match the rest of the sculpture. The granite pedestal and base were also cleaned, and the masonry joints raked of failed mortar and repointed.

Under the direction of Arts & Antiquities Director Jonathan Kuhn, Monuments Conservation Technicians Martha Seelenberger and Michael Gallagher led the conservation team. Four preservation interns, Sandy Chung and Alison Greenberg of Columbia University, Kelvin Abrego of the Fashion Institute of Technology, and Orit Soffer of the Israeli Antiquities Authority, also worked on the project. Christina Bialek, an intern from New York University, was project coordinator.

As is often the case during conservation projects, the crew was peppered with comments and questions from the local community, and the response was favorable. Leon Auerbach, former head of Friends of Straus Park and long active in the West 106^th Street Block Association, brought the crew breakfast on at least one occasion.

"This project marked the culmination of a series of bronze sculpture treatments along Riverside Drive in recent years, including General Butterfield, Lajos Kossuth, and Samuel Tilden, that have helped reverse the long-term deterioration of the statues along this magnificent urban boulevard," commented Jonathan Kuhn. "Besides helping to recover the beauty, structural integrity, and meaning of these commemorative artworks, these conservations have served as catalysts for landscaping and other park improvements. I am very proud of our talented in-house conservators, and the trainees working under their direction. We are also enormously grateful to the private funders who made this project and the broader program possible."

The Citywide Monuments Conservation Program has received preservation awards from the New York Landmarks Conservancy (2003) and the New York City Art Commission (2002) for past conservation projects. Theproject received major support from National Architectural Trust, the Karen-Weiss Foundation, the Samuel H. Kress Foundation, and the Riverside Park Fund.

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

"We live amid surfaces, and the
true art of life is to skate well on them."

Ralph Waldo Emerson
(18031882)

The Socrates Sculpture Parks On the Waterfront Festival will screen international films on Wednesday evenings, July 21 to August 25. This festival, sponsored by the American Museum of the Moving Image, Partnerships for Parks, and Socrates Sculpture Park, will also feature musicians, dancers, and regional cuisine.

The August 4 screening of Federico Fellinis classic La Strada is a highlight of the festival. This Italian cinematic feat emphasizes both romance and realism in the story of a love affair that develops between a circus wrestler and his young female servant. The film is remarkable for its cinematography alone, and, for that reason, it fits in perfectly with the short film that will be shown before it. This, That, and Other Minor Misunderstandings is a personal film about the journeys of New Yorker Edin Velez. These screenings highlight the intersection between todays New York film avant-garde and their international cinematic and cultural influences.

The Brooklyn Bridge Park Summer Film Series at Empire-Fulton Ferry State Park will show both a feature and a short film every Thursday from July 8 through August 12 at 8:45 p.m. In addition to the films, which are free and open to all, attendees will be able to purchase refreshments, rent beach chairs, and enter raffles. The series, sponsored by the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy, the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation, and the Brooklyn Bridge Park Development Corporation, offers a wide variety of films that are all related to Brooklyn.

The East River may not be home to the great white sharks that terrorize the New England coastline in Jaws, but Brooklyn is the birthplace of the films star, Richard Dreyfuss. Though the August 12 screening of Jaws probably will not inspire any trips to nearby Coney Island, no movie is more appropriate to watch outside in summer months. The screening is paired with the short film, Hic!, which follows a young Brooklyn girl through her neighborhood as she tries to cure a case of the hiccups. These films show the diversity of the Brooklyn experience from the perspective of both a child and a seasoned actor.

The Third Annual Historic Harlem Parks Film Festival: Through African Eyes presents films Wednesdays, July 7 through 28 at 7:30 p.m. Each screening will be held in a different Harlem park and will highlight both films and musical performances focused on people of African ancestry all over the world. This film festival celebrates the diversity of African experience through a variety of art forms. Harlem historically has served as a center of African American arts, and this festival highlights the variety of influences on the African American experience.

Next Wednesday, July 14, the festival comes to the 150th Street and Bradhurst Avenue basketball courts in Jackie Robinson Park for a performance by the Brazilian dance group Kurimbata Samba and the Congolese film, Pies D'Identit/Identity Cards. The film, a modern day fable complete with a king, his beautiful daughter, her Prince Charming, and even a dragon, is much more than a fairy tale. It deals with the complex issues of identity that face members of the growing African Diaspora not just in the Congo, but also in places like Brazil and New York City.

Riverside Parks Reely New York Series, presented by the Young Riversiders, offers a more light-hearted variety of comic films shot in New York City every Wednesday, July 14 to August 18 at 8:30 p.m. The films will be shown at 103rd Street on the Promenade.

In Ghostbusters, showing August 4, Dan Aykroyd and Bill Murray save the day by cleaning out the Big Apples ghost population. They may not be PEP officers, but these crazy parapsychology professors turned crime fighters are just as committed to keeping the city safe for New Yorkers to engage in everyday activities like, for example, attending film festivals.

Written by Rebecca Silverstein

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

"A grass-blades no easier to make than an oak."

James Russell Lowell
Poet, editor, and diplomat (1819-1891)

This summer, free film festivals will take place in five locations in New York Citys parks. The HBO Bryant Park Film Festival has screenings every Monday evening through August 23. Riverside Park South Cinema will show films at the 70^th Street Pier Thursdays through September 2. Also on Thursdays, July 15 through August 5, Celebrate Brooklyn! will present a unique movie-going experience at Prospect Park with the Music and Movies series. Audiences will be treated to the score of each film performed live by artists ranging from Pere Ubu to the Alloy Orchestra. Finally, audiences at the Hudson River Park Trusts Riverflicks will be able to catch both thrillersWednesdays at Pier 54and family filmsFridays at Pier 25while munching on complimentary popcorn. All screenings are free and start at dusk (between 8 and 9 p.m.).

With nearly 40 films playing in New York Citys parks this summer, even the most dedicated Parkie would have a tough time making it out to each and every movie! Thats why The Daily Plant decided to make the decision process a bit easier for our readers. Below is just a sampling of Parkie favorites. For a complete list of films, check the Special Events Calendar online at www.nyc.gov/parks.

Kenny Harper, the Arsenal Mail Clerk, loves Beetlejuice, which is showing July 30 in Hudson River Park at Pier 25. "Its really scary!" Harper explained. Theres no question that only the daring kids will go home and repeat the word "Beetlejuice" three times after seeing this movie, but the thing that makes Beetlejuice an 80s classic is the humorous way it treats its supernatural subject matter. After all, Beetlejuice is "the ghost with the most!"

Dyanne Norris, Community Relations Administrative Assistant, goes wild for Breakfast at Tiffanys, playing at Riverside Park South on July 15. "Before I saw it, I couldnt figure out just how you could have breakfast at Tiffanys," Norris remembered with a laugh. When Audrey Hepburn first appeared on screen nibbling on a pastry in front of those famous jewelry store windows, it all made sense to Norris. This light comic film provides a classic look at New York City society, but what really stands out is Hepburns iconic performance as Holly Golightly.

Melanie Karasick, Parks Opportunity Program Intern, suggests Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, showing August 6 at Pier 25 in Hudson River Park. "It brings me back to my childhood," Karasick said. From the singing Oompa Loompas to the Chocolate River, the film creates a world of wonder that can be enjoyed by both the young and the young at heart. After seeing Willie Wonka, one cannot help but wonder why there is no candy wallpaper or truly everlasting Gobstoppers in real life.

Bill Castro, Manhattan Borough Commissioner, recommends Casablanca, showing August 19 at Riverside Park South. Castro describes the film as "one of the most entertaining movies ever made. Its very human and upliftinga real crowd-pleaser." Casablanca is a movie to experience with others, laughing and crying together. Dont be afraid to cry during Casablanca: "It brings tears to my eyes every time," Castro admitted. As Humphrey Bogarts adventures and misadventures in the deserts of Morroco unfold on the screen, you may notice the Hudson River itself take on the exotic qualities of the films world.

The movies have always provided a chance to escape, to see new places, and to feel new emotions. Parks, as a relief from fast-paced city life, are the perfect places to escape into the movies this summer.

Writtenby Rebecca Silverstein

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

"Some people think they are worth a lot of money just because they have it."

Fannie Hurst
Writer, (1889-1968)

The ribbon on the new equipment was cut by professional aerialists who actually swung through the ribbon. Parks & Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe was on hand to celebrate, along with Riverside Park Administrator KC Sahl and Dorlene Kaplan, Publisher of ShawGuides, which donated the rings to the park.

These are the first adult traveling rings on the East Coast. New Yorkers can enjoy this new recreational activity while overlooking the Hudson River. The traveling rings are located at 105^th Street off Riverside Drive, adjacent to Hudson Beach Caf

The sun is shining. Our fields are ready for action. Its time for the tenth season of Parks Softball. Last year, the Parks League took an interesting turn when the Bronx team ended a string of three straight championships by beating Manhattan with a thrilling, extra-innings championship game. Once dominant Manhattan and Brooklyn will be looking to regain their lost championship forms, while the rest of the league will be trying to claim that elusive first banner.

As usual, competition will begin in the first week of June. All games are at 6 p.m. sharp, Mondays, Tuesday or Wednesdays, at either field 6 or field 13 on Randalls Island. The season schedule will be ready by May 19. All interested boroughs and divisions should e-mail or call Mahanth Joishy at 212-360-8295 by Friday, May 14 to enter a team. The league is co-ed, slow pitch and open to all full-time and active seasonal employees. Hope to see you there!

Past Champions
1995 Brooklyn
1996 Brooklyn
1997 Bronx
1998 Manhattan
1999 Bronx
2000 Manhattan
2001 Manhattan
2002 Manhattan
2003 Bronx

First Deputy Commissioner Liam Kavanagh and Staten Island Borough Commissioner Thomas Paulo are pleased to announce the selection of Hector Aponte as the new Chief of Operations for Staten Island. Hector joined Parks & Recreation on May 22, 1995. Hector worked as Borough Requirements Contract Director and Park & Recreation Manager for Districts 4 and 5 in Manhattan. Before Hector came to work in City government, he was Assistant Regional Director for New York State Parks & Recreation. In this capacity he oversaw the development of Riverbank State Park. Prior to that, Hector worked with numerous non-profits. He has been active in many local community organizations during his time in Manhattan. In his spare time, Hector enjoys camping, running and photography. Please join us in welcoming Hector to his new position.

Tell me, is the rose naked
or is that her only dress?

Why do trees conceal
the splendor of their roots?

Who hears the regrets
of the thieving automobile?

Is there anything in the world sadder
than a train standing in the rain?

Pablo Neruda
From The Book of Questions

Crabapple trees have a long and colorful history. Unlike the heavy, succulent apples that have become integral to American cuisine, the crabapple fruit is less than two inches in diameter and will pucker the mouth with its sourness. There is a dizzying array of crabapple and apple tree species, but all domesticated apples are believed to derive from a wild apple found in the mountainous terrain of what is now Kazakhstan. The Silk Road ran through these mountains and introduced Western Europe to products of the Orient, including the apple. The modern traveler of the Silk Road will find the path overgrown with forests of apple trees.

Early American settlers continued the westward trajectory of the apple tree, carrying seeds and seedlings to the New World. The European arrivals were eager to have Old World comforts. With the apple, settlers could cultivate their land with familiar trees, grow apples for traditional dishes, and perhaps most importantly, brew cider (the alcoholic kind). By the mid 1600s, there were over 60 documented varieties of domesticated apples, and probably thousands more in the wild. John Chapman, the legendary Johnny Appleseed, is responsible for creating many of the orchards in the United States. During the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, Chapman capitalized on the popularity of cider and made his fortune traveling West from Massachusetts to Ohio, stopping at frontier posts to plant orchards and sell trees to settlers.

The rise of the temperance movement and the increasing popularity of other fruits and liquors led to a decline in the planting of new orchards. Apple trees only became a high commodity again in the twentieth century, when landscape architects recognized the beauty of the crabapple and began using it as an adornment in their landscape designs.

In the first decades of the twentieth century, landscape architects planted crabapple trees across the country, including in New York Citys parks. In 1935, the Federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) sponsored the creation of new parks, playgrounds, and the site for the 1939-1940 New York Worlds Fair in Flushing Meadows. Ornamental crabapples were often used in these projects, many of which were designed by Robert Mosess consulting landscape architect, Gilmore Clark. Riverside Park and Central Parks Conservatory Garden still house some of the most glorious stands of crabapple trees.

Although the crabapple is one of the most long-lived ornamental trees, many of the crabapples planted in the early years of the twentieth century have succumbed to old age and disease. The loveliest hybrids of crabapples are often the most prone to fireblight, cedar apple rust, apple scab, mildew, and leaf spot. The International Ornamental Crabapple Society has been rating crabapples for their susceptibility to disease as part of their National Crabapple Evaluation Program, so that new orchards of crabapples will last longer than their predecessors. Meanwhile, Parks & Recreation has begun propagating crabapple whips in the Arthur Ross Nursery in Van Cortlandt Park, and is searching for a grant to help fund the return of the crabapple.

Under the leadership of Commissioner Benepe, Fiona Watt, Parks & Recreation Chief of Forestry and Horticulture, has been the powerhouse behind the effort to bring the multi-stemmed crabapple back to New York City. "The crabapple groves of Riverside Park and the all of the Conservatory Gardens in Central Park are astoundingly beautiful in all seasons of the year," she said. "To stand amongst the fallen blossoms is almost a religious experience."

Written by Dana Rubinstein

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

Cling, swing,
Spring, sing,
Swing up into the apple tree.

T.S. Eliot
(18881965)

One proposed waterway stop is Riverside Souths historic gantry, a long pier-like structure, located on the Hudson River at West 69^th Street. Once used to transfer train cars from the west side to rail yards in New Jersey, the gantry is also called the West 69^th Central Transfer Bridge. The gantrys unique designit has a pair of hinged bridge decks that function something like motorized canal locksearned it a place on the National Register for Historic Places in June. During last years renovations of Riverside Park South, the gantry was stabilizedfor aesthetic and practical purposesbut not restored. With the support of the Riverside South Planning Corporation, a nonprofit organization formed to design Riverside Park South, Parks & Recreation is hoping to renovate the gantry, so that it once again becomes a working pier, used by commuter ferries and water taxis. Such a plan will not only provide Westsiders with an alternative to the subway; it will also preserve the gantrys historic character. "The gantry wont just be a point of transportation, it will also be an historic interpretation of a working waterfront," said KC Sahl, Riverside Parks Administrator.

Although its too early to estimate when well see stockbrokers zipping down the Hudson on their way to work, the gantrys restoration is already underway. Parks & Recreation is currently drawing up a Request For Proposals (RFP) for its design and the Riverside South Planning Corporation has already raised significant funds for the project. A million dollars in funding was awarded through the Transportation Enhancement Program, which is a federal reimbursement program. The Corporation also procured monies from the State Department of Transportation, through the T-21 Transportation Act and the Port Authority has committed to the project, providing soundings and soil studies. Because the gantry is an historic structure, Parks & Recreation is also eligible for grant money from the Environmental Protection Agency. The Riverside South Planning Corporation hopes to raise enough money to restore the gantry, as well as the two small "finger piers" attached to it.

The float bridge will have to undergo significant renovations to become safe, accessible, and useful. Riverside South Planning Corporations restoration plan includes repairing the float bridges pilings, bracing the bridge girders, stabilizing the housing which holds the bridge decks, adding new walkways and, for historic accuracy, replacing missing rail road tracks. When completed, a working gantry will be both a return to the past, when Manhattans waterfronts were busy, bustling places, and part of New Yorks modern, post-industrial waterfront, designed to make New Yorkers their every day lives more convenient.

"Time cools, time clarifies; no mood can be maintained quite unaltered through the course of hours."

(1875-1955)

"It was a dream of mine as Manhattan Borough Commissioner to reopen this field to the community," said Parks & Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe. "One of the best ways the City can help fight obesity is by creating beautiful parks and facilities that communities will be inspired to use." Without capital funding, however, reopening the field was impossible.

Thanks to the generous allocation of $1,120,000 from City Council Member Phillip Reed, and an additional $300,000 allocated by Manhattan Borough President C. Virginia Fields, Parks & Recreation removed the boulders and constructed a brand-new artificial turf field and track in their place. Yesterday, Council Member Phillip Reed, Community Board 11 Chair David E. Givens, Manhattan Borough President Office representative Carlos Rodriguez, MetroStars Forward John Wolyniec, City Parks Foundation Executive Director David Rivel and Parks & Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe joined young local athletes, community leaders, and residents to celebrate the completion of the new facilities. The new space features a blue rubber track, a modern artificial turf soccer field, reconstructed iron picket fencing and landscaped areas, a newly-installed drainage and water system, and new gates.

"We have to protect our parks," said Council Member Reed. Looking around, he said "we see that we have a very good thing." Reed, who himself played soccer growing up, was hopeful that the new field would create an influx of new children interested in soccer and other field sports.

Also during the festivities, MetroStars forward John Wolyniec gave away autographed soccer balls and playing cards to young soccer hopefuls in attendance, including students and athletes from the Technical Institute of Multicultural Education (P.S. 117), the Jacques Cartier School, the Club Deportivo El Barrio, and the Choir Academy.

"I grew up in Staten Island and played on a lot of Parks & Recreation fields," said Wolyniec. "I would have loved to play on a field like this when I was growing up."

Work on the project began in January 2003. The project was designed by Parks & Recreation landscape architects Shirley Kindler-Penzi and Andrew Penzi and work was overseen by Ahamad Baksh and Vincent Macluso. Construction was performed by D. Gangi Contracting Corporation.

By the end of next year, five new artificial turf fields will have been completed in Harlem. Artificial turf fields, once considered uncomfortable and unsightly, are now being used increasingly in parks thanks to technological advances made in the material. The first artificial turf field used by Parks & Recreation was a carpet-style field in Manhattans Chelsea Park; the second was in Riverside Park. Recent parks to receive similar artificial turf fields include the Dyker Beach Park in Brooklyn and East River Park in Manhattan.

Now, for the first time, children playing on this parks new brand artificial turf field will be able to enjoy a game of soccer without creating the huge amount of dust that once disturbed neighboring residents. City Parks Foundation, in its ongoing role of creating quality programs in New York City parks, will be among those to utilize the new track at Thomas Jefferson Park for CityParks Track & Field program. This free instructional program for young New Yorkers, now in its third year, will benefit from ING's new ING Run for Something Better, which will support the program.

Wild turkey populations live in various parks across New York City, including Van Cortlandt Park and Pelham Bay Park in the Bronx, Inwood Hill Park in Manhattan, the Greenbelt in Staten Island. Recently, a single wild turkey has been spotted in Manhattans Riverside Park and Battery Park. Its unclear whether its the same bird, but either way, it is making friends with its new neighbors.

Based on research conducted by the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, wild turkeys were abundant in the 1600s. Wild turkeys generally live in large flocks, sometimes as large as 70. The male wild turkey, also called a gobbler, has bright feathers that can change color, while the female has brown feathers. The male turkey also has a beard that hangs down from its breast that can be as long as 16 inches. Female wild turkeys, or hens, weigh between 8 and 12 pounds, while the gobbler can weigh as much as 22 pounds.

Interestingly, the "gobble" noise commonly associated with turkeys is just one of 28 different calls. Other calls include the yelp, cluck, puff, and kee-kee. Wild turkeys are also impressive movers. They can fly as fast as 55 mph and run as fast as 12 mph.

As Thanksgiving approaches and we feast on turkey, everyone should keep their eyes out from the spotted turkey in Riverside Park, suspected to be a female. New York City is filled with animal and plant wildlife and there is lots to see and learn from in our parks.

Weekday closings of Central Park drives will be suspended starting Monday, November 24, 2003 through Wednesday, December 31, 2003. The Central Park drives will remain open all day on weekdays during this period. The Central Park drives will be closed on weekends and legal New York City holidays during this period, as usual: the drives close on Fridays at 7:00 p.m. and open at 6:00 a.m. Monday morning. On legal NYC holidays, the drives close at 7:00 p.m. the night before the holiday and re-open at 6:00 a.m. the morning after the holiday.

Weekday closings of Prospect Park drives will be suspended starting Monday, November 24, 2003 through Friday, January 16, 2004. The Prospect Park drives will remain open all day on weekdays during this period from 7:00 a.m. Mondays until 7:00 p.m. Fridays. The Prospect Park drives will be closed on weekends and legal New York City holidays during this period with the following schedule: the drives close on Fridays at 7:00 p.m. and open at 7:00 a.m. Monday morning. On legal NYC holidays, the drives close at 7:00 p.m. the night before the holiday and re-open at 7:00 a.m. the morning after the holiday.

"There be none of Beautys daughters

With a magic like thee;

And like music on the waters

Is thy sweet voice to me."

(1788-1824)