The Makulu will set sail next month on a two-and-a-half-year journey around the world. Classrooms throughout New York City, aided by volunteer graduate students from Columbia Universitys Teachers College, will join the Makulu crew virtually on their adventure via the Reach the World website, www.reachtheworld.org.

Upon arriving at the Boat Basin, the participants received a lesson in nautical knot tying and had their questions about all things nautical answered by the Makulu crewHeather, Sebastian, Hannah and Barrettas well as Parks & Recreation Chief Dockmaster Gregory P. Smith. Each participant was then invited on board the Makulu to explore both the upper and lower decks of this well-equipped vessel.

On the upper deck, while seated around the ships compass and captains wheel, the young adventurers received a lesson in nautical navigation. Finally, the kids descended the ships wooden ladder to examine the crews living quarterscomplete with kitchen, lounge, bedrooms and bathroom.

Jamila Jones, Coordinator of the Jackie Robinson Recreation Center Afterschool Program, was thrilled with the trip. "When the children returned they were extremely excited and shared their enthusiasm with everyone."

This will be the Makulus third expedition around the world. The Makulu first set sail in 1997 and completed its global tour two years later. The second expedition departed from the Parks & Recreation Boat Basin in November 2001 and returned to home port in May 2004. Aboard ship, four expedition crewmembers serve as the eyes and ears for students and teachers. Together, teachers, the crew and students develop resources that supplement the curriculum and make learning come alive.

Reach the World currently supports a network of 25 partner classrooms in severely under-funded public school districts in Harlem, the Bronx, Queens and Brooklyn. Schools are recruited with the help of partner organizations. Partner classrooms receive, free of charge, the opportunity to use their curricula to drive the Voyage of Makulu; graduate student interns from Columbias Teachers College, who assist teachers as they learn to teach with technology; tech support from the Institute for Learning Technologies at Teachers College; and field trips and public speaking opportunities for students.

Since the launch of the 2001 Voyage of Makulu, Reach the World has served 60 teachers and technology coordinators and their 1,800+ students in 19 New York City school sites, at grade levels ranging from 1^st to 12^th. The Reach the World web site is a free resource for all users and receives approximately 5,000 hits per day.

Reach the Worlds vision is that one day, every classroom in every community will have the training and resources necessary to incorporate real-world, real-time materials into the learning process, sparking childrens natural curiosities and connecting them to a global community.

Over cups of hot chocolate, served before the kids were to head back to their recreation center, several participants said they would jump at the opportunity to travel the world aboard a sailboat. Others, however, felt they were better suited for dryer modes of transportation.

"Books are like imprisoned souls till someone takes them down
from a shelf and frees them."

Samuel Butler
(1835-1902)

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.

Parks & Recreations team was organized by Riverside Park Administrator KC Sahl, with help from Sylvia Weeks. KC plans to bring together another championship team next yearstart training now!

The Bronx beat Manhattan in the Parks & Recreation softball league championship in a thrilling 8-7, extra-inning game, thanks to a bases loaded "walk-off" smash by Playground Associate Ray Combest. This was Park & Recreations first softball championship played at beautiful Keyspan Park, home of the Mets minor-league affiliate Brooklyn Cyclones.

The champion Bronx Renegades finished the season a perfect 11-0. The Renegades were led by Hugo Chance, team manager and Bronx Director of Sports Activities, with four hits in five times at bat. Chance sparked the Bronx rally from two runs down in the bottom of the 7^th inning with a triple. Dwayne Weston, St. James Recreation Center Playground Associate hit a scorcher to right field to bring in the tying run and extend the game to the climatic 9^th inning.

From Donald Barthelmes essay, "Not-Knowing." Here, we meet "Alphonse, a hypothetical parks employee.

"Alphonse, like so many toilers in this great city, is not as simple as he seems. Like those waiters who are really actors and those cab drivers who are really composers of electronic music, Alphonse is sunlighting as a Parks Department employee although he is, in reality, a literary critic. We find him writing a letter to his friend Gaston, also a literary critic although masquerading pro tem as a guard at the Whitney Museum."

"The New Frontier of which I speak is not a set of promises

it is a set of challenges.

It sums up not what I intend to offer American people,

but what I intend to ask of them."

(1917-1963)

Sitting next to a big dirt field, everyone gathered was imagining what the area will look like early next year. What was an asphalt ballfield is to be converted into a new multipurpose turf field, designed by Parks & Recreations Allan Scholl. Some of the fields future patrons, children from the West Side Little League, joined in the festivities.

"With the installation of this field, this playground will become an even greater resource for the communitythese fields are more durable than regular fields and can support constant play," said Commissioner Benepe. "We are lucky to live in a city where the Mayor and City Council value open space and public recreation. Because of their generous support of parkseven in tough economic timesweve been able to transform windy dust bowls into green, lush, state of the art fields."

Artificial turf fields, once considered uncomfortable and unsightly, are now being used increasingly in parks thanks to the revolutionary technological advances made in the material. The first artificial turf field used by Parks & Recreation was a carpet-style field in Manhattans Chelsea Park and 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.

The playgrounds namesake, Frederick Douglass was born in 1817 in Tuckahoe, Maryland. The son of a slave named Harriet Bailey, Frederick spent his early years on Aaron Anthonys plantation. Following his masters death, Frederick was sent to Anthonys son-in-law Hugh Auld, who lived in Baltimore, Maryland. While in Baltimore, Frederick was introduced to reading and writing by other slaves. Although literacy among slaves was illegal, Frederick developed a passion for the written word and educated himself by reading abolitionist literature. In 1834, Auld sold Frederick to a rural farmer in Talbot County, Maryland, who was a notorious "slave-breaker." After four years of abuse and one unsuccessful escape attempt, Frederick managed to run away to New York City during 1838. Frederick viewed his escape as a rebirth and so changed his last name from Bailey to Douglass.

In 1838, Douglass married Anna Murray and the couple settled in New Bedford, Massachusetts, where he became involved in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Within the congregation, Douglass preached abolitionism. In 1841, the renowned abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison witnessed Douglass deliver a riveting, heartfelt anti-slavery speech in Nantucket, Massachusetts. Garrison immediately enlisted Douglass as an abolitionist lecturer. By 1843 Douglass had become well known throughout the Northern United States for his fiery and credible oratory.

At Garrisons urging, Douglass wrote an autobiography entitled Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass that was published in 1845. The publication proved to be a mixed blessing. Douglass continued to use writing as a way of spreading abolitionist messages. In 1847, he served as publisher for the abolitionist periodical North Star. Eight years later, he completed his second biography entitled My Bondage and My Freedom. During the 1850s, Douglass supported John Browns raid at Harpers Ferry, Virginia, and backed Abraham Lincolns presidential bid. In 1872 he moved to Washington, D.C. Douglass completed his final work, The Life and Times of Frederick Douglass in 1892 and died in 1895.

"Ive taken my fun where Ive found it."

(1865-1936)

The following individuals were awarded Employee of the Month for July at a breakfast held on Monday, August 4.

The Commissioners Employee of the Month is Thomas A. Paulo, Borough Commissioner of Staten Island. Before joining Parks, Tom was a Senior Planner with City Planning, an Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture, and practiced law. He has a Masters in Landscape Architecture from SUNY Forestry, and an AB and JD from NYU. Tom Paulo began with Parks & Recreation on December 10, 1984 as the Administrator of the Greenbelt. Since 1993, he has served as the Borough Commissioner for his hometown borough, overseeing a staff of 500 and over 8,000 acres of parkland. His leadership has been felt across the board. Staten Island has maintained the highest overall ratings of any borough. Tom has helped spearhead and navigate a number of high profile and complex development projects. He is administering a parks system that is growing in acreage and in usage dramatically. An enormous wealth of experience, skill and dedication to New York Citys green spaces, Tom is a rare treasure and we are lucky to have him.

Vijittri Marbumrung is the Capital Projects Employee of the Month. Vijittri is a Resident Engineer in the Requirements Contracts Unit and has been with Parks & Recreation since January 11, 1999. Vijittri started out inspecting construction projects for Queens and the Bronx. Currently, she oversees construction sites in Manhattan such as the foundation and base for the $50,000 Nobel Monument at Columbus Avenue and 80^th Street. This project was commissioned by the Swedish government and will list all of the Nobel Prize winners from the United States on an obelisk structure. Vijittris completed projects include major Greenstreets such as Donnellan Square and Dorrence Brook, renovation of the 110^th Street Playground in Riverside Park, and the Colonel Young Baseball Fields in Harlem. A native of Thailand, Vijittri is a conscientious employee who applies herself every day. For her achievements, she was nominated by Director of Requirements Contracts, Michael Hubartt.

Mark Feinstein is Managements Employee of the Month. Mark is the Assistant Director of Revenue and has been with Parks & Recreation since October 11, 1988. As Assistant Director, Mark is responsible for the supervision of Revenues project managers, concession inspectors, and administrative personnel. He monitors the outlay of over $60 million in capital expenditures at over 50 Parks facilities. A key part of the revenue team, he has helped Parks expand revenue from $14.2 million in FY 88 to over $60 million in the last two fiscal years, an increase of more than 333%. Mark ensures that the staff is well-trained, projects are issued on time, and capital improvements are completed. Due to his dedication and outstanding performance, Mark was nominated by Revenue Director Ron Lieberman and Comptroller David Stark.

Pablo E. Oliver is an Operations Employee of the Month. Pablo Oliver began with Parks & Recreation on May 14, 2001 and works as an automotive service worker at 5-Boro. Pablo helps repair the thousands of pieces of horticultural equipment that are critical to our field operations. Pablo helps quickly turn around weedwackers, chain saws, lawn mowers, water tanks and leaf blowers. Pablo also readies and repairs all pool pumps for our outdoor pools. A former taxicab driver, Pablo has done extensive driving of Parks vehicles in two years without an accident. A very diligent, productive, and focused new employee, Pablo is an important addition to our mechanical team. He was nominated by SOME George McLoughlin and SPMO Frank Garcia.

Jennie Boone-Douglas is an Operations Employee of the Month. Jennie is a CPW in Staten Island District 1 and began with Parks & Recreation on May 11, 2002. As a Work Experience Program Crew Chief, Jennie is responsible for the staff of CSAs and WEPs that maintains Silver Lake Park and Hero Park. Her mobile crew is responsible for cutting grass, weed whacking, painting, and general cleanup. Jennie learned how to use and take care of motorized equipment quickly after joining Parks. She is knowledgeable and well-liked. Jennies hard work helped her district achieve a 98% cleanliness rating and 97% overall rating in 2002. Jennie was nominated by Parks and Recreation Manager Michael Schmiedel.

Vernetta Diggs is Public Programs Employee of the Month. Vernetta is the Center Manager at Sunset Recreation Center and has been with Parks since July 1, 1981. When Vernetta took over at Sunset in 1999, center inspection ratings were unacceptable, usage and membership were low, and programming was suspended for three months of each year. Vernetta has reached out to all members of the community by hiring multilingual staff; visiting schools, civic groups and faith-based organizations; and hosting open houses. Vernetta also revamped the staffing to keep Sunset running all year. Under Vernettas leadership, Health Plus HMO contributes generous funding, and programming has grown from a sports-only orientation to a full range of programs for children, teens, and adults such as cheerleading, an after-school program attended by over 200 children every day, dance workshops, computer classes, arts & crafts, Karate, and boxing. A major contributor and stalwart of recreation at Parks, Vernetta was nominated by Chief of Brooklyn Recreation Michael Dockett.

"Living well is the best revenge."

(1593-1633)

Written by Eric Adolfsen

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

"Work and pray, live on hay,
You'll get pie in the sky when you die."

Joe Hill
(1879-1915)

"Under Mayor Bloomberg's leadership the City continues to reclaim Manhattans waterfronts, and we encourage all New Yorkers to come experience the beauty of the Hudson at the Liberty International Dragon Boat Festival," said Commissioner Benepe.

The Liberty International Dragon Boat Race Festival is considered the most competitive annual dragon boat race in the country. Over 1,000 competitors from all over the world will compete on Saturday, August 2nd and Sunday, August 3rd from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The event is expected to draw thousands of spectators.

"Dragon Boat racing is an important part of Asian history and culture, and its easy to see why its popularity has spread to hundreds of countries around the world," Borough President Fields said.

The ancient Chinese sport of Dragon Boat Racing commemorates the life and death of Qu Yuan. According to event organizers, Qu Yuan lived thousands of years ago in the 3rd century B.C. and was a minister who advocated for reforms in his home state of Chu. The King refused to listen to Qu Yuan's advice and banished him from the state. In exile, Qu Yuan wrote poetry expressing his concern for his country and people.

In 278, when Qu Yuan heard that his home had been invaded, he drowned himself in the Mi Lo River. Local fishermen rushed out in boats attempting to save Qu Yuan and prevent his body from being eaten by fish. The fishermen beat drums, thrashed the water with paddles and threw rice dumplings known as zung-ze in the river to lure the fish away from the minister's body and to appease the water dragons. Since that time, dragon boats are raced on rivers in China and people throw zung-ze into the river to honor the memory of Qu Yuan.

At the festival launch ceremony, a colorful dragon's head and tail were attached to the slender racing boat. Commissioner Benepe and Borough President Fields each took a turn painting a black mark in the center of eye of the dragon. According to legend, dotting the eye awakens the dragon, wishing the boat and its racers good-luck on the upcoming competition. Commissioner Benepe experienced the incredible speed of the mythological creature firsthand as he joined the experienced rowers for a practice run along the Hudson.

In August, top teams from all over Canada and Great Britain will travel to New York City to match oars against the USA National Team. The Philadelphia Police Department, the Ottawa Police Department and others will test their endurance in the law enforcement division. Along with these teams, the race will also have the largest contingent of Breast Cancer Survivors of any Dragon Boat Race in the country. Over 150 Survivors are expected to participate in the event to raise awareness for breast cancer.

The Liberty International Dragon Boat Race Festival promises to be a fun-filled day for the whole family. In addition to the races along the water, martial arts demonstrations, children's activities, traditional dragon and lion dances, musical and Taiko Drum performances, folk dances and a feast of international foods will take place on dry land. Visit www.nyc.gov/parks or www.libertydragonboat.org for more information.

"Wit is the only wall

Between us and the dark."

(1894-1972)

The following individuals were awarded Employee of the Month on Friday, July 18, 2003.

The Commissioners Employee of the Month for June is Javier A. Rodriguez. Javier is the Chief Lifeguard at Rockaway Beach and has been with Parks & Recreation since June 21, 1979. In his 24 years, Javier has helped safeguard the millions of New Yorkers who use and enjoy our beaches each summer. As a Chief Lifeguard, Javier trains and evaluates new lifeguards including a number of lifeguards who have come to New York from overseas. Most importantly, he keeps daily watch over the beach, making sure that patrons behave cautiously in the water and respond quickly, with his lifeguard teams, to life threatening situations. City beaches are among New York Citys most important recreational assets, and Javier, along with all our lifeguards, keep them safe and fun. For his efforts, Javier was nominated by Deputy Commissioner Liam Kavanagh.

Vicki Ann Lombardi is the Capital Projects Employee of the Month for June. Vicki is a Construction Project Manager for the Staten Island Team and has been with Parks & Recreation since July 19, 1999. Vicki oversees a number of complex projects such as the $1.8 million Juniper Valley Park ballfield renovations and the Cunningham Park Ponderosa soccer fields. Both projects involved active and vocal community involvement. Vicki has also been instrumental in improving the citys golf courses. She coordinated $8 million of work in Staten Island and $12 million in the Bronx to provide added irrigation, rebuild golf tees, reconstruct paths, and upgrade course facilities. Vicki juggles many tasks at once, works well with the borough offices, and ensures that contractors are doing what is expected of them. For her effective service, Vicki was nominated by Deputy Commissioner Amy Freitag.

Michael G. Michajlo is Managements Employee of the Month for June. Michael has been with Parks & Recreation since September, 6, 2000 and was recently appointed Senior Inspector at Operations and Management Planning. As an inspector, Michael has performed 2,295 site inspections at Parks properties throughout the five boroughs. Michaels trained eye assesses the cleanliness, structural and horticultural conditions of our parks, and alerts borough management to immediate safety hazards. He also tests out our drinking fountains and comfort stations to ensure we are providing needed amenities to the public. Michael has played a key role in the continued success of our Parks Inspection Program (PIP) and will now take the lead in supervising the inspection team. A wealth of knowledge about Parks & Recreation, Michael was nominated by OMP Director Laura Sullivan and Assistant Director Ben Delisle.

Marlon St. Hill is an Operations Employee of the Month for June. Marlon is a CPW in Riverside Park in Manhattan and has been with Parks & Recreation since May 22, 2001. Marlon performs a variety of duties for Riverside Park including turf work, horticulture, tree pruning and removal, and storm damage clean-up. Marlon can use a chipper, chainsaw, and other pieces of heavy equipment, and he updates the small equipment inventory for the district. Marlon has assisted with major projects relating to the park including the rebuilding of the sand volleyball court at 105^th Street, clean-up of the Amtrak Tunnel entrance at West 72^nd Street, and emergency pruning during the spring rains. His efforts helped District 14 achieve 99% cleanliness ratings in 2002. For his flexibility and diligence, Marlon was nominated by Riverside Park Administrator KC Sahl and Parks & Recreation Manager Jibrail Nor.

Shalini Rao is Public Programs Employee of the Month for June. Shalini is a Clerical Associate with the Urban Park Rangers and has been with Parks & Recreation since June 19, 2001. Shalini handles all of the administrative tasks for the Rangers and coordinates major special events. Recently Shalini worked with the Mayors Alliance of NYCs Animals to put on a pet adoption event and organized an Arsenal Book Reading with the Chairman of Battery Park City, James Gill. Shalini also oversees the safe transport of animals to the State Department of Environmental Conservation medical examiner. A role model at Urban Park Service, Shalini is responsible and reliable with everything she works on. Shalini was nominated by UPR Director Sara Hobel and Deputy Director Matt Symons.

John M. Leon is an Operations Employee of the Month for May. John is an Associate Park Service Worker in Queens District 6 and has been with Parks & Recreation since April 15, 1985. As the mobile crew Supervisor for the district, John and his team are responsible for keeping over 30 properties, including Worlds Fair Playground, Real Good Park, and MacDonald Park in top condition. The district achieved a 92% cleanliness rating thanks to Johns efforts. This summer, he has been named a pool supervisor. John is knowledgeable and dependable and takes close care of his equipment. John is also accident free. For his hard work, John was nominated by Supervisor of Parks Maintenance and Operations John Dwyer.

Marivel Gonzalez, Executive Assistant to Deputy Commissioner Kavanagh and her husband, Alex Gonzalez are the proud new parents of Jonathan Alexander. Jason was born on Thursday, July 17 and weighs 7 lbs. 5 oz. Mother and baby are both doing well.

"The universe is not hostile, nor yet is it friendly. It is simply indifferent."

(1879-1964)

"This is the future of soccer fields," declared Commissioner Benepe. "It plays like real grass, and it feels like real grass." Indeed, artificial turf fields, once considered uncomfortable and unsightly, are now being used increasingly in parks thanks to the revolutionary technological advances made in the material. The first artificial turf field used by Parks & Recreation was a carpet-style field in Manhattans Chelsea Park and the second was in Riverside Park. Recent parks to receive similar artificial turf fields include the Fort Hamilton Athletic Field in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn and East River Park in Manhattan.

"We dont want to build a field that would be torn up weeks or months later," said Council Member Oddo. "This is not your fathers astroturf. This is state of the art." To prove his dedication to the new materials, Council Member Oddo also announced a plan to allocate an additional $2.5 million towards construction of artificial turf fields in nearby Bath Beach Park.

Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz was also thrilled with the completed project. "Im honored that your enthusiasm and dedication to make this possible for generations to enjoy. This park is open to all, and its utilized by all," he said.

Dyker Beach Park was assembled from eight pieces of land over the course of forty years. In 1895, the City of Brooklyn purchased the first parcel from the Dyker Meadow Land Improvement Company for a park. The landscape architecture firm of Olmsted, Olmsted & Eliot planned a 50-acre saltwater lagoon, childrens playgrounds, bathhouses, lawns, and drives along the shore. The 1896 Annual Report of the Brooklyn Parks Department claimed that Dyker would be the "finest seaside park in the world."

"Everything has an end."

What a team! said Team Captain Sahl. This is the best finish a Parks & Recreation team has ever had. We couldn't have done it without Meredith. She's a great athlete.

It helped that we had a really fast runner that brought our total time down, said Jacykewycz, who recently became a Parkie after a stint at Interview magazine. The races were really inspiring.

The second of the races, held June 3, marked the highest Parkie attendance. In spite of the rain, 41 participants from all five boroughs, including the divisions of Forestry, NRG, Olmsted and 5-Boro came out. Parks & Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe also participated, and ran the second fastest time on the team. To celebrate the race, the Arsenal hosted a BBQ party.

The corporate race trilogy came to a close on Wednesday, June 25 when eight participants, including the Arsenals unstoppable Chris Osgood, represented Parks & Recreation.

Special thanks to the team support volunteers Sylvia Weeks and Sony Onishi. Everyone is encouraged to participate next year.

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

Mad, bad, and dangerous to know.

Lady Caroline Lamb
(1785-1828)

On June 13, Commissioner Benepe, along with City Council Member Gale Brewer, joined kayakers, boaters, the Urban Park Rangers canoe team, the Parks and Fire Department Marine Divisions, and over a hundred others for Launch 2003, an open marina day at the Boat Basin.

While captaining a Parks canoe, Commissioner Benepe cut the ribbon for our first kayak and canoe launch at the Boat Basin. He also kicked off open public hours on the 370 foot pier at A-Dock. As the ribbon was cut, the Fire Department Fireboat wowed the crowd with a red, white and blue water display. There were rubber sailing boats for kids, water safety instruction from the Auxiliary Coast Guard, and free boat rides for all.

Designed to be the "Recreational Boating Gateway to New York City" in 1937, the Boat Basin in Riverside Park has been home to New York City boaters. For many years, a limited number of boats held year round access to the Boat Basin, limiting access for seasonal and recreational boating.

The Boat Basin is now returning to its original mission. Since 1990, no additional year round permits were issued, and 70% of the marinas 170 slips and moorings are used by seasonal recreational boaters. This summer, a new pile arrangement project will introduce four additional seasonal slips. As the availability of private marinas decreases, the Citys public marinas will serve an even more important role in supporting the boating community and life on the water. Of special importance is kayaking which has grown tremendously in popularity in the last decade.

The Boat Basin also plays host to many recreational events including the first National Dragon Boat Competition on the Hudson on August 2 and 3, and the NYC Triathlon on August 10.

The Flushing Meadows Park Worlds Fair Marina is also experiencing a rebirth. Abandoned by a contractor in 1999, the Marina is now thriving under the care of Parks Marine Division, a part of 5-Boro Operations. Profitable and growing, Worlds Fair support almost 300 boats with plans to expand its services.

Parks & Recreation thanks the Fire Department Marine Division, NY Kayak, Downtown Boathouse, Ed and Regina Bacon, Michael Glass, and Women in Canoes for their support of this event. The efforts of Dan Froehlich, Greg Smith, Susan Friedman, and the Manhattan Special Events team contributed to a great day of festivities.

"It is hard for an empty bag to stand upright."

(1706-1790)

This $8.5 million installment of the park is part of a planned $60 million park connecting Riverside and Hudson River Park. Hudson Waterfront Associates, a partnership of several Hong Kong investors and Mr. Trump, constructed and paid for this park addition as part of the Riverside South project, a residential and commercial development over looking the Hudson. Hudson Waterfront Associates is building Riverside Park South in seven phases -- each phase triggered by the construction of particular buildings. Upon completion, each segment of the park will be transferred to Parks & Recreation. The developers will pay for the parks maintenance in perpetuity by an assessment on each apartment. With almost 11-acres of parkland created, Riverside Park South is more than one-third complete.

A Thomas Balsley Associates team, led by Mr. Balsley and Steven Tupu, designed the parkland of Phase 2 to complement the promenade and bikeway already in place along the river. The beautiful 3-acre waterfront park is characterized by meandering wooden walkways, a river overlook, and natural coastal marsh grasses.

Parks & Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe kicked off the event, thanking Donald Trump and the Riverside South Planning Corporation for their support of the project. "Opening up all of the City's waterfronts is one of Mayor Bloomberg's top priorities, and the completion of Phase 2 of Riverside Park South brings us one step closer to that goal," declared Commissioner Benepe. "When all 29 acres of Riverside Park South are complete," the Commissioner added, "the pristine greenway will connect Riverside and the Hudson River Park, creating a seamless transition between Manhattan's two great parks along the Hudson."

Donald Trump remarked, "Working with our partners the Riverside South Planning Corporation and the City of New York we have taken a former industrial wasteland and transformed it into an exciting waterfront parkland of unique and unprecedented beauty."

Other speakers included Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection Christopher O. Ward, Riverside South Planning Corporation Chair Philip K. Howard, and City Council Member Gale Brewer. All of the speakers expressed their excitement about the completion of the newest park addition and are looking forward to seeing the completion of the ultimate goal of 29 acres of "pristine greenway."

This new park will surely serve to connect Westsiders to the Hudson, as locals have already begun to incorporate the park into their lives, regularly walking their dogs, exercising, or just taking a breather from the bustle of the city by escaping to the serene atmosphere of the boardwalk. "Riverside Park South, once only a dream, has become a very real and integral part of this Westside Community indeed, of the entire City," said Philip Howard with great pride.

The greatly anticipated crab race, clearly the most important event of the day, marked the end of the ribbon cutting. Commissioner Benepe's crab exhibited sub-par speed, while Donald Trump's crab took the lead. Despite defeat, Commissioner Benepe graciously exclaimed, "Donald Trump picks a winner again!"

"Nothing that I can do will change the structure of the universe."

But maybe, by raising my voice I can help the greatest of all causes goodwill among men and peace on earth."

(1879-1955)

New York Cares could not resist his enthusiasm, so yes, SPMO Joe Reyes did "get the part." Sara D. Roosevelt was one of the 38 parks and gardens across the city where more than 3,000 New York Cares volunteers cleaned and greened on Saturday, May 3^rd.

Parks & Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe spoke at Morningside Park, one of the sites for the 9^th Annual New York Cares Spring Clean Up Day. He stated "New York Cares volunteers will use 392 gallons of paint, 1130 paintbrushes, 247 rakes, 379 trowels, 146 paint rollers, 28,000 square feet of drop cloths and thousands of pounds of soil, mulch and woodchips, as they work to clean and revitalize our citys green spaces. Last year, New York Cares put more than 5,400 volunteers to work with $40,000 in donated supplies, in parks and community gardens across the city."

New York Cares mission is to unite and enable caring New Yorkers to help people in need and improve our city through volunteer service and creative giving. Teams on Spring Clean Up Day come from a variety of organizations including alumni associations, foundations, corporations, environmental groups and individuals.

At Astoria Park in Queens, volunteers completed their projects so quickly, cleaning leaves and debris out of the pool and painting pipe railing along Shore Boulevard, that Parks & Recreation Manager (PRM) David Bentham had to quickly create new projects. Volunteers at Isham Park in Northern Manhattan would not even pause long enough to listen to Parkies thanking them for their hard work, as they were too busy raking and pruning trees.

But even the best volunteer projects can have their drawbacks for some. "Theres lines!" exclaimed a group of boys at Aqueduct Walk Park in the Bronx, seeing the newly painted game lines on the basketball courts. "Now we have to play by the rules!" The paint barely had enough time to dry, before the courts were filled with young children and teenagers playing basketball.

Happy with another successful Spring Clean Up Day, Peter Crumlish, Director of Partnerships for Parks, stated "New York Cares consistently recruits energetic, eager volunteers for this day every spring. Partnerships tries to direct them to parks in neighborhoods that could use their energy, and works with the borough operations to design extraordinary projects that might not otherwise get done. Its great to drive around the city that day and see the hordes of volunteers at various sites toiling away and having fun. By the end of the day the volunteers have usually fallen in love with a park they never knew existed."

Please stay tuned, as the volunteer season has just begun. Close to 5,000 people will beautify and celebrate in over 200 parks across the city, on Saturday, May 17, for the annual "Its My Park!" Day. Coordinated by Partnerships for Parks, Parkies from the Natural Resources Group to Maintenance and Operations, from Recreation to the Urban Park Rangers and more, all are doing their part to make this day a huge success. To learn about projects happening in your district or neighborhood park, visit the Partnerships for Parks website at www.itsmypark.org.

"A poet can survive everything but a misprint."

(1854-1900)

To properly honor Ellison, Parks & Recreation worked with the Riverside Park Fund, the Ralph Ellison Memorial Committee, and local residents to design the memorial. A panel of art experts, advised by a broad-based group of community members, guided the selection process. Distinguished artist Elizabeth Catlett, whose works are in the permanent collections of several institutions, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., was selected to build a bronze monument. This is her first public commission in New York City. The project, including both the monument and the park renovation, broke ground in November 2001.

Hundreds of community members and supporters of the project, including Ellisons wife, actors Bill Cosby and Ruby Dee, and sculptor Elizabeth Catlett, attended the ceremony to pay tribute to the author of Invisible Man. The sculpture was entirely funded by private monies, raised by the Riverside Park Fund and the Ralph Ellison Memorial Committee. The Committees Chair, John T. Reddick, said the "project rose from Mr. Ellison's neighbors. They have kept it true to his spirit, and their efforts have brought special significance to this tribute." James T. Dowell, President of the Riverside Park Fund also found special meaning in the project saying, "of all of Riverside Park Funds projects to maintain and improve Riverside Park, none has been more satisfying. We've created a new treasure for the City and for all those who have been touched by Mr. Ellisons work." Attendees also celebrated the completion of Parks & Recreations $750,000 renovation of the parkland which surrounds the sculpture. Funding for the work was allocated by former Council Member Michels. The renovation included the creation of new pathways, fencing, benches, lighting and landscaping. Benches in the park were named for former Council Member Stanley E. Michels and the late husband of Ms. Catlett.

Among the ceremonys most notable moments were a booming reading about yams from Invisible Man by stage actress Ruby Dee and several anecdotes about Ellison and his neighborhood shared by Professor John F. Callahan. As the event progressed, sunlight broke through the gray skies and the beautiful notes from Joey Marant's trumpet echoed off the Beaumont and other buildings along Riverside Drive. When, at the close of the ceremonies, the veil was finally lifted nothing could prepare one for the sculpture's magnificence. Blossoming trees and passersby animated the monument's negative space, and offered an infinite number of vantage points for appreciating the work.

"Education ishanging around until youve caught on."

(1874-1963)

The Memorial honors the struggles of Warsaws Jews, who were confined to a ghetto in November 1940 and kept in a state of near-starvation until they were deported to concentration camps in 1942. In the spring of 1943, after news of an impending round of deportations, those who had survived decided to fight rather than submit. With smuggled weapons, they rose up against the Nazis. Superbly organized into roughly 50 combat groups, the Jews managed to hold off the Schutzstaffel (S.S). from April 19 to May 16. The Germans regained control only by burning the Ghetto to near ruin. Some 15,000 of the 56,000 Jews who fought were killed and another 40,000 deported to concentration camps. Historians estimate that 300 Nazis were killed and another 1,000 wounded in the uprising.

As part of Mondays ceremony, three children recounted the events of the Ghetto Uprising to the assembled audience. Although everyone in attendance knew the story well, the re-telling was powerful. The children expressed gratitude for their peaceful, prosperous lives and sadness over what had happened in the past. Their presence was a reminder of all the children that have lived during wartime and of the thousands of children that died in the Warsaw Ghettos. Their knowledge of the past also reminded everyone of the importance of remembrance, and of teaching history to new generations so that the mistakes of the past are not repeated.

The Memorial itself is a modest plaque, originally intended to serve as a cornerstone for a larger memorial. Buried beneath the plaque are two boxes containing soil from Terezin and Sered, two concentration camps in Czechoslovakia, and a scroll describing the defense of the Warsaw Ghetto, in both Hebrew and English, composed by the Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem. There have been several proposals for larger memorials. Over the years, the plaque itself has become the monument. In the 1990s, the plaza was cleaned and restored with the help of the efforts of the community. David Goldstick designed and planted perimeter gardens. In 2001, the entire area was restored and improved through a partnership between the Riverside Park Fund and the City of New York. The site is now one of most beautifully designed and maintained memorials in the city, and has become, for many people, a place of genuine meaning and remembrance.

...to Parkies born on April 24: SPMO Melvin Beverhoudt; Construction Program Manager Intern Dwayne Flowers; Recreation Director Dennis Miller; Playground Associates Germell Anderson and James Brooks; Community Associate Carla Gonzalez; City Seasonal Aide Lynn Foxworth;and City Park Workers Domingo Forte, Kevin Jenkins, Gregorio Mojica, William Oertel and Charles Tusa.

"I decided to devote my life to telling the story because I felt

that having survived I owe something to the dead..

.and anyone who does not remember betrays them again."

(b. 1928)

Manhattan Borough 47

Arsenal 27

Central Park Conservancy 19

Arsenal West 11

Arsenal North 7

Visitors 2

Olmsted 1

Wildlife Conservation Society 1

The New York Blood Center sites the following reasons why donating blood is both important and crucial:

Blood donations provide life supporting treatment to victims of accidents, to surgical patients, and those who need special blood components and derivatives during treatment for cancer and other diseases.

Cancer treatment now requires vast quantities of platelets and other blood components.

Treatment of hemophiliacs will continue to increase in proportion to the increase in their life expectancy.

The number of sophisticated surgical procedures like open-heart surgery and organ transplants has increased dramatically.

Recent studies point to possible breakthroughs in cancer research through the use of materials made from blood products.

To donate blood, please call the New York Blood Center at (800) 933-2566. Parkies can donate blood at other blood drives and still be given credit as a Parks & Recreation employee by using the Group #1325. Donors must be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds and not have donated blood within the last 56 days.

This excerpt comes from a book of essays by Daniel Drennan called The New York Diaries, available in the Arsenal Library.

"There is a woman in Riverside Park who walks around bent over looking at weedspoking, prodding, picking weeds, looking at them, and then eating themand who makes a ponderous face as she chews, as if wondering whether that is the weed she thinks it is. I think perhaps this is one of the authors of the book about identifying and harvesting edible and medicinal plants, whose coauthor was arrested for eating dandelions in Central Park."

"For the first time, the first, I laid my heart open to the benign indifference

of the universe. To feel it so like myself, indeed, so brotherly,

made me realize that Id been happy, and that I was happy still."

(1913-1993)

"We are excited to welcome the work of Piet Oudolf to such a prominent City park and are grateful for the efforts of Warrie Price and The Battery Conservancy to bring Mr. Oudolf here," said Parks & Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe. "The Gardens of Remembrance will provide a place for reflection for New Yorkers and visitors, and will be an important contribution to the many innovative gardens, landscapes, and groves being developed in parks across the city."

Oudolf, whose work is based in the small Netherlands town of Hummelo, will bring a fresh perspective to the bustling City park, which receives over 4 million visitors and 14 million commuters each year. Speaking publicly for the first time ever on the east coast, he presented his plans and answered questions from audience members. Among the issues addressed, Oudolf explained that in planting the Gardens of Remembrance, he will employ both native and non-native plant species. According to the gardener, such a variety will bring brilliant colors and smells to the park and promote contemplation and relaxation. Because he will use perennials, Oudolfs plantings will dazzle visitors every season year after year.

"We are following in the great footsteps of the Citys flagship parks which have worked hard to create wonderful plantings," said Warrie Price. "With Oudolfs commission and the many other developments we plan to announce in coming months and years, The Battery will once again help to inspire and catalyze a renaissance in Lower Manhattan."

"I am honored to accept this important commission from The Battery Conservancy and to contribute to the future of such a remarkable and meaningful place," said Oudolf. "My work is devoted to the ever-evolving relationship between people and nature, and Lower Manhattan presents an extraordinary opportunity to further explore and pay tribute to that relationship at the beginning of a new century."

The Gardens of Remembrance and the horticultural master plan for The Battery are made possible by a $400, 000 grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and a $1 million grant from the Verizon Foundation to establish an endowment fund for the gardens. The Battery Conservancy has launched a campaign to raise an additional $3 million required to fully endow the Gardens of Remembrance. The evenings lecture was also made possible by the Consulate General of the Netherlands.

Last week, on Tuesday, January 14, Jeff Speich, SPMO, and Curtis Peterson, CPW, caught a thief in Riverside Park. Speich and Peterson found the man, late in the afternoon in the 79^th Street garage. It was the end of a long days work and the two men had decided to stop by the garage. Upon entering the building, they saw something peculiar: "We walked into the garage and saw a personnot a Parks employeetaking supplies and putting them into his vehicle," said Speich. Peterson and Speich confronted the man, and he immediately admitted to stealing grass seed and mulch from the garage. Parks Enforcement and NYPD were called and the man was arrested.

Riverside Park Administrator KC Sahl said he was proud of Speich and Peterson. "They caught that man after hours, during their volunteer hours. They saved the Park money and made it a safer place." Speich was less impressed with himself: "It was simple situation. No bravery involved."

Sahl and Speich said they are looking for ways to improve security at Riversides 79^th Street garage.

"The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today.

Let us move forward with strong and active faith."

(January 30, 18821945)

Cold weather permitting, each "safe-skating" site is open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., seven days a week. Signs have been clearly posted to show that these areas are safe for winter sports. Thanks to the recent frigid temperatures, Operations and Recreation staff members have been busy around the clock keeping the ice frozen and the kids warm. Ultimately, as many as 19 sites will be open to the public, but currently the following seven safe skating locations are fully operational.

Classic Playground, Riverside Park (74^th St. and Riverside Drive, Manhattan)

Conservatory Water, Central Park (74^th St. between East Drive and Fifth Ave., Manhattan)

Highbridge Park (173^rd St. and Amsterdam Avenue, Manhattan)

Dry Harbor Playground (80^th St. and Myrtle Avenue, Queens)

Pomonok Playground (Kissena Blvd. and 65^th Avenue, Queens)

Martlings Pond (Martling Ave. and Clove Road in Clove Lakes Park, Staten Island)

Allison Pond (Brentwood Ave. and Prospect Ave and North Randall Ave, Staten Island)

Call 1-800-201-PARK or visit www.nyc.gov/parks for the latest information on "safe-skating" sites and for information on other fun winter activities for you and your family. Have a great time this winter, and remember to stay off the ice on ponds and lakes that do not have official signs saying the ice is safe for skating.

Written by Jocelyn Aframe

Preserve History and Clean your office at the same time!

The Parks Library is expanding the program it began last year that sought to increase the catalog by asking members of the public and former Parkies to donate park-related materials. Realizing that many current Parkies have books and reports in their offices that are not used day to day, the Parks Library invites you clean up by contributing.

Primary documents provide the foundation of good scholarly research. Raw information, reports, brochures, maps etc., could convey a great deal about how a park looked or functioned at a certain time. These documents, which might be written, submitted and overlooked today, could someday present a extensive record of what the Parks Department was doing at the beginning of the 21st Century. In short, youre making history whether you like it or not. Please interoffice small items to John Mattera at the Parks Library in the Arsenal. If you have a lot of materials please call 212-360-8240 or e-mail Library@parks.nyc.gov to arrange for a pickup.

"The backbone of surprise is fusing speed with secrecy."

(1780-1831)

"Because this new field and track are made of synthetic materials, they will last longer and withstand year-round play," said Parks & Recreation Commissioner Benepe. "Everyone should play a sport, and this new track and field will make Thomas Jefferson Park a place for children from all over to come and play."

Artificial turf fields, once considered uncomfortable and unsightly, are now being used increasingly in parks thanks to the revolutionary technological advances made in the material. The first artificial turf field was a carpet-style fields in Chelsea Park and the second was in Riverside Park.

The field being constructed in Thomas Jefferson Park is an "in-fill"-type field and will be comprised of 2-3 inch realistic looking artificial grass that has sand and crumb rubber swept into it (looks like dirt), leaving 1 inch of grass showing. The result is a springy playing field that provides cushion and feels like real grass. This new field will require less maintenance than grass turf because it does not require cutting, watering, or reseeding. Cleaning is done with a vacuum, and damaged areas can be repaired by splicing and weaving in new turf.

The track and field was designed by Parks & Recreations Landscape Architects Shirley Kindler-Penzi and Andrew Penzi, who are husband and wife and who first met at Parks & Recreation. Together, they conceived of a functional way to "wed" the track and field: an inline channel drainage system that will collect water run-off and create an aesthetically-pleasing link between the two areas. Work also includes reconstruction of the iron picket fencing and the landscaped areas, and the installation of new gates.

At the event, fifth-graders from P.S. 102 (The Jacques Cartier School) and high school soccer and track athletes from the Choir Academy of Harlem learned about how a major project moves forward, how officials transform tax dollars into construction dollars and how the imaginative drawings of Parks Designers become actual facilities for all to use.

This project was funded with $1.12 million allocated by Councilman Philip Reed and $300,000 by Borough President C. Virginia Fields. The new track and field will be located at 113^th Street and 1^st Avenue.

Written by Eric Adolfsen

"You got to be careful if you don't know where you're going,

because you might not get there."

(b. May 12, 1925)

Lost Battalion Hall is one of the busiest recreation centers in Queens, yet it consistently receives the best ratings. Since 1998, Lost Battalion Hall has been rated as a "model" center in five of its six inspections. (Only about 20% of all recreation centers rank as "models" on any given round).

Commissioner Murphy gives Joann Ciorciari all the credit for the centers success saying, "She has a clean thingwindows have to be clean, floors have to be clean; everything has to be organized and everyone has to be alert. All the programs are run in a very precise manner. When you walk into that building you respect it almost immediately because of the ambience there; you think to yourself, I better not drop litter here because Joann will be on me. Shes a great motivator that way."

Located on Queens Boulevard, about 15,000 people visit Lost Battalion Hall every month. The center is host to a number of unique programs that attract people of all ages. One of the most popular programs is called "Learning Can Be Fun." In this program, public school teachers can bring their classes to use the facilities at the recreation centerfacilities that they dont have access to in their overcrowded schools. Lost Battalion is also home to the Citys only Olympic weights platform.

Commissioner Murphy has called Lost Battalion "an extension of Joanns home." Its obvious that Joann Ciorciari and her staff take a lot of pride in their recreation centerthe ratings and thousands of satisfied New Yorkers dont lie."

Written by Hannah Gersen

Riverside Park recently received a boost from Parks staff all over Manhattan in a much needed 5x5 maintenance blitz. From November 12^th to 15^th, maintenance workers and gardeners from every district helped to clear away masses of invasive trees and shrubs on the slope near 87^th Street. Manhattan Forestry and the Arborist Apprentices lent a hand. The work improved sightlines, restoring views of the Hudson River and George Washington Bridge. "Weve been wanting to clear out this area for a long time," said Riverside Park Administrator KC Sahl. "Not only does this improve the view, it also makes the park safer."

After the slope was cleared, the crews planted 5,000 daffodil bulbs. Nearby, on a slope along 116^th Street, volunteers recently planted 4,000 bulbs. Both slopes were planted as part of The Daffodil Project 2002. When spring comes, commuters and pedestrians alike will be treated to two fields of golden daffodils. Jibrail Nor, Riverside Park Manager, and supervisor of the 5x5, was pleased with the results. "This work could not have been done without massive support from every district in Manhattan, as well as Manhattan Forestry and the Arborist Apprentices. I appreciate everyones hard work."

"Our country is the worldour countrymen are all mankind. "

(December 12, 18051879)

Written by Jonathan Ells

THIRTEEN YEARS AGO IN THE PLANT
(Tuesday, September 26, 1989)
TOUGH RIDE FOR CAR DUMPERS

This summer the night spot of choice for Parks attorneys has been Small Claims Court, where the Legal division pursued and won eight cases against owners of vehicles abandoned on parkland.

Parks first began to pursue litigation against car dumpers approximately two years ago. "We went to court to get reimbursement for the cost of removing the cars and any damage to the park itself," said Counsel Sidney Nowell.

Vehicles found abandoned in parks are traced back to the owners by the Vehicle Identification Number found on the car. If the car is not reported stolen, the owner is held legally responsible for the dumping. Summonses are issued and defendants are then required to appear in Small Claims Court. A legal representative from Parks attends the court's evening sessions to state the charges.

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY
''Kick out the gloom,
Kick out the blues,
Tear out the pages with all the bad news.
The Cure, ''Doing the Unstuck''
1993

For the 8^th straight year, Beach Volleyball invaded the five boroughs bringing competitors from as far as the Dominican Republic, Canada, Los Angeles, and Florida to complete with the best players from New York and the rest of the Northeast. Made possible through the work of the Parks Department and the East End Volleyball Association, this years tournament was composed of 148 teams throughout 5 divisions.

Mens open matches concluded after over 6 hours of hard fought action on the beach. Winning the mens championship, and the $1,000 prize, was a team from Los Angeles, comprised of Morgan Chapman and Amaury Velasco. Their two match defeat of Elvis Rodriguez and Jose Infante capped off a day that was full of close matches and hard fought victories. The amateur winning team, Sean Symanski and Stephen Kiefer, will be able to stay in shape for next years tournament with a victory prize of a year long membership to Ballys Fitness Club.

Nanette Banzon and Jane Linn deftly handled all of their competitors on the road to a 15-11 defeat of Rewa Chan and Beth Kennedy in the womens open finals. With that victory, Banzon and Linn, representing New York City, won their fifth Citywide Beach Volleyball Tournament and took home the $1,000 purse. The womens amateur division was won by Brooklyns own Masha Mosenzhnik and Olga Roudovski, 15-10.

In what are perhaps the most fast past and exciting games of this tournament, the amateur quads division was won by the team of Hassan, Hadj, Vettenranta, and Guzman. Working up to a frenzy, this great quad team won their final match 15-8 over the Binchu, Hernandez, Titus, and Sosa squad.

With the success of this years tournament behind them, many of the local beach volleyball players look to next year almost immediately. With giveaways and music provided by WKTU, water from Le-Natures Water, Prizes from Bally Total Fitness, promotions from Viacom Outdoor, and the support of Cingular Wireless, even in the hot weather this years tournament was one of the coolest ever.

The volunteers in Riverside Park that dedicate their free time to making Riverside a better and cleaner park will soon have a place to call home. A Volunteer House is being built in Riverside Park at 107^th Street. The $1.3 million project broke ground on Thursday, August 1, and will be completed in spring 2003.

The project involves restoring a 100-year-old building that will provide space for meetings, storage, and plant propagation. A second floor will be added that will be accessible by a new staircase and an upper bridge path. A stone retaining wall will be stabilized and pavement will be replaced. The project is privatrly funded and the building will be named in honor of Peter Jay Sharp (1930-1992).

Sharp, a lifelong New Yorkers, was dedicated to philanthropy and the arts and in 1984 he established the Peter Jay Sharp Foundation, the main funder of the volunteer house project. Sharp served on many boards during his lifetime, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, City Center, and the International Center for the Disabled.

The Riverside Park Funds Grassroots Volunteer Program will be housed in this new building. Working in partnership with Parks, 2,700 individuals donated over 31,000 hours last year, The Riverside Park Fund is a not-for-profit umbrella support organization that works to preserve and improve New Yorks classic waterfront green space.

Commissioner Adrian Benepe attended the event in support of the project, as did Executive Director of the Riverside Park Fund Jim Dowell, and Vice Chair of the Riverside Park Fund Pat Sapinsley. Robert J. Epstein, from the Funds Board of Directors gave a few words along with Council Member Gail A. Brewer. Commissioner Benepe said at the ground breaking ceremong "Riverside Park is one of New Yorks premier parks. The efforts of volunteers here, and throughout the citys park, make an enormous impact. This new volunteer house will allow better work to be done for Riverside Park."

"I love power. But it is as an artist that I love it. I love it as a musician loves his violin, to draw out its sounds and chords and harmonies."

(August 15, 17691821)

The restored walkway runs from 135^th Street along Riverside Drive to 138^th Street. Parks has expanded the flower beds and planted new shrubs. Harlem residents will be able to enjoy five new benches and new water fountains. For extra shade Linden trees join the Elms, London planetrees and Norway maples that are already in the park.

Parks has improved the walkways irrigation system. Before the reconstruction, Parkies had to carry buckets to water this green space. The new water tap makes it easier to keep the plants happy and healthy. In addition, the Fairway Stairway is looking better than ever. Parks has restored the large monumental stone steps that lead visitors from the lower level of Riverside Park up to the walkway. The almost seven story climb is well worth the effort.

Former Council Member Stanley Michels provided $761,000 to fund the restoration of Riverside Walkway. Parks Landscape Architect Lawrence Mauro oversaw the design, and Saratoga Associates offered the design vision for the project. Parks Resident Engineer Vicki Lombardi oversaw the construction, working with PMS Construction Management and the contractor, Viaggio & Sons Inc.

During the ceremony, Commissioner Benepe thanked the Riverside Park Fund for their dedication to the project and for all of their contributions to Riverside Park. The Commissioner extended a special acknowledgement to Jenny Benitez for all of her hard work. Jenny started out working with the Riverside Park Fund as a volunteer and has moved up to be the Outreach Coordinator for the Fund.

Bill Castro, Manhattan Borough Commissioner, Ed Lewis, Assistant Commissioner for Community Affairs, James Dowell, Executive Director of the Riverside Park Fund, Carolyn Kent, Parks Committee Chair of Community Board 9, George Goodwill, Chair of Community Board 9, K.C. Sahl, Administrator of Riverside Park and Lieutenant Julian Harper of the 30^th Precinct were also on hand for the event. Be sure to "Come On Over" and take a stroll on the newly restored Riverside Walkway.

(Thursday, July 27, 1989)

When it rains on "Wildman" Steve Brills parade, he loves it. Brill, who leads wild food foraging tours in city parks, knows that the recent heavy rainstorms yield an abundance of mushrooms in parks. This year, Brill has been finding mushrooms on his wild food tours that he has not seen before.

On a stroll through Pelham Bay Park in the Bronx in June, walker Sharon Volumuth found a stand of mushrooms of the genus Amanita. This group contains some of the most beautiful fungi in the world, according to Brill. It also has some of the deadliest species. Brill identified the species as Amanita cecilae, which is so rare that it is not included in any of the popular mushroom field guides. No one has ever been foolhardy enough the try eating it, so Amanita cecilae is listed as "edibility unknown," although it may very well be poisonous.

"Housework can't kill you, but why take a chance?"

(b. July 17, 1917)

Deonarine (Lennie) Peters is Management's Employee of the Month for June. Lennie joined Parks on October 14, 1988 and currently works as the Supervisor for the Purchasing Unit. From pens and post-its to paint and petrol, Peters procures the products pivotal to Parks programs. He and his team handle approximately 5,000 purchase requests a year totaling over $10 million. If its a rush order, Lennie is the person to call. This year Lennie was instrumental in making sure all orders were completed in time for delivery by the end of the Fiscal Year in midst of the Arsenal West move. Balanced and poised, Lennie has been a stalwart at Purchasing. He was nominated by Chief of Management Services Parmod Tripathi .

Divina joined Parks on July 1, 1993 as a seasonal CSA in Staten Island, and became a full-time CSA in Riverside Park in 1993. It was there in 1996, that Divina was spotted on her break by Manhattan recreation staff helping a group of children at the arts and crafts table. Her true vocation revealed, Divina joined Manhattan Recreation and in 1999 assumed her current position as Manhattan Borough After-School Coordinator. As such, Divina runs 11 full-service afterschool programs for over 800 children. She focuses on improved community outreach and enhanced cultural arts programming. Since 2000 Divina has also served as Manhattan Summer Fun Coordinator, Summer Festival Coordinator and Mobile Unit coordinator. Dutiful, dedicated and devoted, Divina was nominated by Chief of Recreation Chris Carapola and Chief of Staff Elizabeth Ripatola.

Cindy joined Parks on July 5, 2000 as a JAC Queens employment counselor. Cindy took on many of the responsibilities of a center coordinator, and was promoted to Assistant Coordinator and finally Coordinator of Queens JAC in June of 2001. Currently Cindy handles a caseload of over 300 workfare participants. Cindy has worked closely with Dress for Success and Career Gear to secure free interview clothing for over 500 participants. She has also developed a lasting partnership with Progressive Home Care that helps non-English speakers obtain home health aide jobs. In addition Cindy volunteers her free time to help support the Teens at Parks Program. For helping make our vital workfare programs a success, Cindy was nominated by JAC Director Nora Ferguson.

Theresa T. Hentz is Staten Islands Employee of the Month for June. Theresa joined Parks on May 7, 2001 and currently works as Playground Associate at Cromwell- Recreation Center. Theresa instructs center members on fitness and exercise. She develops workout programs and trains members in the proper use of machines and equipment. Her friendly and professional demeanor make even the most intimidating exercise equipment seem accessible, and keeps visitors coming back to the newly reopened center. Theresa also steps up for special events, helping out at both the Rootin Tootin Valentines Square Dance and the Easter Bunny Hop. For keeping Staten Islanders fit and happy, Theresa was nominated by Director of Recreation Mary Cali.

(Tuesday, July 18, 1989)

The Alice Austen House Museum on Staten Island recalls the world of an exceptional woman, photographer Alice Austen. Austens quaint, Victorian cottage-style home, with a magnificent view of New York Harbor, displays prints from the large glass negative collection of her work which depict life on rural turn-of-the-century Staten Island.

The original house, one of the citys oldest, dates to the 1690s. Once part of a farm near the scenic Narrows, the property was bought in 1844 by John H. Austen, Alices grandfather. Austen expanded the small, one-and-a-half story farmhouse, named it "Clear Comfort," and gave it a romantic Gothic Revival face-lift that included steeply peaked dormer windows and flourishes of "gingerbread" wood trim. The parlor is being restored to look as it did in the 1890s with a "Victorian clutter" to ornate period furniture, rugs, Delft fireplace tiles and Oriental vases.

"The gem cannot be polished without friction,
nor man perfected without trials."

Chinese Proverb

Pinkster Carnival- Saturday, June 1
Time: 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Place: Pieter Claesen Wycoff House, Brooklyn
Come join a celebration of Dutch and West Indian Heritage. Enjoy Caribbean food, music and dance, and a traditional egg eating contest. For information call (718) 629-5400.

Family Day- Saturday, June 1
Time: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Place: Crotona Park, Bronx
A fun-filled day of music, entertainment, games, and food for all families. For information call (718) 378- 2061.

YAI Central Park Challenge & Family Fun Day- Saturday, June 1
Time: 8:15 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Place: Central Park
Established in 1957, YAI was originally called the Young Adult Institute because its work was focused on adolescents and young adults. Today, YAI is know as the National Institute for People with Disabilities and assists people of all ages with mental retardation and developmental & learning disabilities throughout the New York metropolitan area. For information call 212-273-6526.

Governor's Island Flotilla- Sunday, June 2
Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Place: Battery Park, Manhattan
Hundreds of boats sail down the Hudson and East Rivers, converging in New York Harbor to celebrate the return of Governors Island to New York. Free festivities include food, contemporary and patriotic music, and boat rides. Free. For information call (212) 935-9831.

A Hands-On Look at Public Art- Sunday, June 2
Time: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Place: Robert F. Wagner Park in Battery Park City
Join contemporary art historian Dorothea Basile and artist/teacher Elise Engler in an exploration of Battery Park City's excellent 20th century public art collection, followed by a hands-on workshop. For information call (212) 528-2733.

"PLANT PROFILE"
William Walsh

William Walsh has been the Director of Brooklyn Construction for the last eight years. During that time he has overseen more than $130 million worth of projects throughout the borough. Bill has been with Parks since 1984 and supervises a staff of fifteen people.

Bill has two other great loves besides Parks and they are fishing and music. He performs and records with two a cappella doo-wop groups called the "Ribitones" and the "Revisions." He also holds a U.S. Coast Guard license for charter fishing. To see Bill in action, go to his next gig on June 8 at Molloy College, Hayes Theater at 8:00pm for a great time.

THIRTEEN YEARS AGO IN THE PLANT
(Friday, June 9, 1989)

The Second River Lovers Supper, cosponsored by Parks and the New York City Friends of the Clearwater, a 106-foot slope launched 20 years ago to raise environmental consciousness, attracted over 100 environmentalists, city planners and government officials, as well as Commissioner Stern and folk singer and activist Pete Seeger.

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY