This spring, New Yorkers can dig in and get involved in greening our city by taking advantage of free tree stewardship workshops, learning about the many benefits of trees, going on a tree identification hike with the Urban Park Rangers, and volunteering to plant trees. Sign up today and join other New Yorkers in planting 20,000 trees at 18 sites across New York City during New York Cares 15th Annual Hands On New York Day on Saturday, April 25. Visit the Hands on New York Day website at http://www.handsonnewyorkday.org for details about registration. For information about other MillionTreesNYC volunteer planting opportunities this spring, visit www.milliontreesnyc.org or call 3-1-1.

Street Games 2009 will take place at Thomas Jefferson Park on Saturday, April 18 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. It will feature old school activities like stick ball, wall ball, skully, yo-yo, hula hooping, pogo sticks, double-dutch, hopscotch, slap & rhyme, lemon twist, roller skating, and skateboarding. For the more serious gamers, Street Games will feature live demonstrations and activities from the New York Emperors Stickball League and the New York Knicks Groove Truck. The event will also feature musical performances of timeless songs from the 60s and 70s.

The worlds top professional riders, including last years champion Eddie Wall, Scotty Lago, Pat Moore and Lukas Magoon competed head-to-head in the northern part of Union Square Park for prize money totaling $30,000.

At this free event, pro snowboarding men and women showed off their skills on a customized urban rail fabricated at Mountain Creek Resorts Jib Lab. New Yorkers watched Union Square Park become an extreme sports block party.

Union Square Street Sessions is the professional element and pre-event to Parks and Recreations Central Park Winter Jam, which took place on Saturday, February 9.

Union Square Street Sessions was sponsored by Jeep, Aura360, Red Bull, Oakley, Burton, Sunday River Resort, and Mountain Creek Resort.

TOM HUGHES APPOINTED DIRECTOR OF NEW MEDIA

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Tom Hughes as the Director of New Media. The New Media Division's primary responsibility is the maintenance and development of the Parks website, one of the largest and most feature-rich municipal websites in the world.

Tom arrived at New Media in July 2006 after 8 years as a professional web designer. Tom was promoted to Deputy Director after 11 months of hard work and dedication, and in this role has helped lead the division through one of the busiest periods of site development.

The New Media division is staffed with talented and experienced team of programmers, designers, and content managers. As Director, Tom will oversee the team's efforts on projects including: creating dynamic and informative homepages for our park and new cutting-edge, interactive maps as well as developing a new website for kids with educational and fun Parks-centric games and creating a fresh vision for the website's homepage.

Tom's accomplishments in New Media include spearheading a web accessibility initiative, implementing a system to provide detailed analysis of the website usage, and developing and successfully launching the Million Trees NYC website in conjunction with DoITT, City Hall, and New York Restoration Project.

Please join us in wishing Tom every success in his new role.

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

The ornament of a house is the friends who frequent it.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
(1803 1882)

At this free event, pro snowboarding men and women showed off their skills on a customized urban rail fabricated at Mountain Creek Resorts Jib Lab. New Yorkers watched Union Square Park become an extreme sports block party.

New York City attracts the best of everything and we brought some of the best professional snowboarders to compete in the Union Square Street Sessions for a second year in a row, Parks & Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe said. This winter, were bringing the mountain to Manhattan with an urban snowboarding jam session in Union Square Park on Thursday and a winter wonderland in Central Park this Saturday.

The Union Square Street Sessions presented by Jeep will transform one of the Citys most storied parks into a winter wonderland, Sports Commissioner Ken Podziba said. The juxtaposition of a 40-foot snowboarding rail surrounded by skyscrapers in the heart of New York City creates a truly unique experience for fans and riders alike. This years event winner will be presented with the first ever Mayors Cup NYC Snowboarding Trophy.

We are thrilled to be able to bring this fantastic event back to Union Square. New York City lends a level of excitement that cannot be reproduced anywhere in the world, said Dan Gacetta, of Aura360.

Union Square Street Sessions is the professional element and pre-event to Parks and Recreations Central Park Winter Jam on Saturday, February 9, 2008. Winter Jam features a pro/amateur rail jam and a free winter carnival with a two-story high, 80-foot long snow flume for sledding, live performances from Kat DeLuna and The White Tie Affair, a warming hut and fresh treats from winter greenmarkets.

This event is sponsored by Jeep, Aura360, Red Bull, Oakley, Burton, Sunday River Resort, and Mountain Creek Resort.

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The force of the collision knocked the lower pedestal stone out of alignment by more than four inches, and the stoic bronze statue of Lincoln, by Henry Kirke Brown, rotated three to four inches. Motor oil gushed from the car over the area, and the driver, much the worse for wear, was taken to the hospital with internal injuries. Before the sun had risen over Union Square Park, and Greenmarket was in full swing, Park Supervisor Barbara Vitagliano was on the scene, joined soon by Manhattan Chief of Operations Nam Yoon and Director of Art & Antiquities Jonathan Kuhn to assess the injuries.

Fortunately, the damage was not as bad as might it might have been. There was no permanent harm to the surface or any loss of stone. The area was cleaned down and protected until three days later, when the Monuments Crew, collaborating with Manhattan Forestry Climbers and Pruners, Thomas Ammirato, Miguel Castro and Christopher Martin, mobilized to reset the monument. The sculpture was first rigged and placed on the ground with a boom-lift. Using wooden braces and a front-end loader provided by Parks' Manhattan Garage, the stones were pushed back into alignmentno mean feat for a pedestal described in the 1860s as one of largest ever quarried in the United States. The sculpture was then reinstalled securely on the top. Monuments Conservation Manager John Saunders helped direct this operation, and later over the next couple of weeks--between intermittent April storms--he was joined by Conservation Manager Christine Djuric, APSW John Zimny and CPW Victor Riddick of the monuments crew, to clean the entire monument, rewax the bronze and repoint the broken masonry joints.

Within a matter of days Honest Abe was looking good again, and unsuspecting park visitors would have no inkling of the violence of the collision and the near carnage which had occurred.

Kudos to all involved in preserving one of New Yorks most venerable monuments in the face of this vehicular assault.

Written by Jonathan Kuhn

Thomas Stofka Award
Joe Bonkowski

Tom Stofka devoted his career to the direct care and maintenance of New York Citys trees. This year's winner of the Thomas Stofka award shares his technical skill, practical knowledge, and longstanding work to keep trees healthy.

Joseph Bonkowski has been at Parks since 1989. He has moved up the ranks with stints as a CPW, APSW, Park Supervisor, Park Manager, and his current position as Queens Director of Landscape Management.

Joe has been managing the Queens Forestry operation since 2002. Queens has the largest population of trees, as well as the largest forestry division. Joe oversees a staff of 59 that are responsible for block pruning, dead tree and stump removal, monitoring contracts, and even weed control.

Over the past few years, Joe's role in Queens has grown. Queens Forestry now handles the chipping of private residential trees, as well as City trees, through the Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB) wood waste program. Beetles arent the only pest Joe is combating. His crews and contractors are participating in larviciding to prevent mosquitoes from spreading the West Nile virus. Joe is licensed in several pesticide categories and serves as a resource to other Queens managers in combating weeds, rodents, and lake algae blooms.

Joe is also advancing our capital efforts in regards to trees. He is helping to ensure that developers do not harm trees by monitoring construction work by other agencies or the private sector. Joe also helped create our new sidewalk repair program, from the early stages of planning, contract writing, and bidding. Currently, over 1,000 sidewalk sites are being repaired by contractors in Queens, overseen by Joe's office.

Thanks to Joes efforts, tree servicing has become more efficient. Joe has encouraged productivity amongst crews by posting on the forestry office wall the number of trees removed by each crew each day. This friendly competition is taken seriously by supervisors and climbers, and has spurred accomplishments. Everyone in the large Queens Forestry division, from top to bottom, is expected to be knowledgeable about tree conditions such as broken limbs, types of pruning, root slicings, and to commit themselves to excellent customer service.

Joe, like Tom Stofka before him, is a model Forestry Director and Parks manager. We are proud of his work and of our professional forestry staff whom he represents. Joe lives in Queens and is an avid motorcyclist who enjoys working on his bike in his spare time.

Written by Kamil Krawczyk

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

Do not fear to be eccentric in opinion,
for every opinion now accepted was once eccentric.

Bertrand Russell
(1872 1970)

Last week, the public space recycling pilot program was announced at the Saint George Staten Island Ferry Terminal. In attendance were Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Deputy Mayor for Administration Edward Skyler, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, City Council Member Michael McMahon, Sanitation Commissioner John Doherty, Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe, Transportation Commissioner Iris Weinshall, and David Hurd, Director of the new Office for Recycling Outreach and Education.

The program will target busy commercial streets, parks, and transportation facilities where significant amounts of recyclable materials, such as paper, plastic, and glass, are being deposited in trash receptacles and entering the waste stream. For the next three months, Sanitation will partner with Parks and Transportation to provide recycling receptacles for bottles and cans, as well as for paper, at key locations. These include parks in all five boroughs and both Staten Island Ferry Terminals. Sanitation hopes to expand the pilot, one of the many new initiatives created by the historic Solid Waste Management Plan (SWMP) adopted last year, to additional locations this summer.

During the pilot, which officially began yesterday, blue and green recycling bins will be placed in and around the Whitehall and Saint George Staten Island Ferry terminals, as well as Poe Park in the Bronx, Columbus Park in Brooklyn, Union Square Park in Manhattan, Hoffman Park in Queens, and Tappen Park and Clove Lakes Park on Staten Island. The blue receptacles will collect bottles and cans and the green receptacles will collect paper. Upon collection, the materials, in addition to being recycled, will be used in a waste characterization study that will determine the effectiveness of the program.

"Last summer, after years of discussion and debate, we adopted a comprehensive, long term plan to deal with our Citys solid waste, and one of the plan's biggest and most important goals was an ambitious expansion of our recycling programs," said Mayor Bloomberg. "Today, we are acting on our commitment to pursue new, innovative initiatives and enhance our recycling efforts. If this pilot program is successful, we hope to expand it to other parts of our City and raise our public space recycling to unprecedented levels. If all of us do our small part, we can make a big difference for our City."

"New Yorkers can act locally to make a 'greener' city by recycling in their local parks, starting with this pilot project," said Commissioner Benepe. "The six parks chosen for this program are important public spaces and offer an excellent opportunity for New Yorkers to continue the practice of recycling outside of their homes and offices. We look forward to working with the Department of Sanitation and Department of Transportation to implement this exciting initiative."

"Liberty means responsibility. That is why most men dread it."

(1856 1950)

Barry Flanagans whimsical rabbit embodies the essence of our public art program, said Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe. As with all of his animal sculptures, Mr. Flanagans work offers a sense of joy and playfulness to passersby. Everyone should hop on over to Union Square to enjoy the hare and visit parks throughout the City to take in our world-famous collection of permanent and temporary outdoor art.

Flanagan, an internationally renowned British sculptor, is best known for his expressive bronze hares modeled in varying poses of dynamic energy. The series of hares, which he began in 1980, are often engaged in human activities such as playing musical instruments or sports, dancing and interacting with technology. They are often rendered in a monumental scale, as is the Large Left Handed Drummer, with its long wiry limbs and ears that capture a playful and jubilant spirit.

Flanagan has been the subject of major retrospectives, most recently, at the Irish Museum of Modern Art and the Dublin City Gallery. He has exhibited in numerous solo, group, and public exhibitions worldwide. His bronze hares have been exhibited in many outdoor venues, most notably on OConnell Street in Dublin, on Park Avenue in New York, and at Grant Park in Chicago.

The project is located in Union Square Parks southeast traffic island and is supported by Parks & Recreation and the Union Square Partnership. Parks temporary public art program has consistently fostered the creation and installation of temporary public art in parks throughout the five boroughs. Since 1967, collaborations with arts organizations and artists have produced hundreds of public art projects in City parks.

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

Dexterously the Drummer was right handed,
there are examples in bronze from that mould
in other locations.

The left handedness of this Drummer
speaks to the other side of the brain,
from the past to the future;
another tune in composure.

Broadway!!
A seed of hope after the conviction.
I would subtitle this piece
I dont want to set the world on fire.

Barry Flanagan

"Barry Flanagans whimsical rabbit embodies the essence of our public art program," said Parks & Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe. "As with all of his animal sculptures, Mr. Flanagans work offers a sense of joy and playfulness to passersby. Everyone should hop on over to Union Square to enjoy the hare and visit parks throughout the City to take in our world-famous collection of permanent and temporary outdoor art."

Flanagan, an internationally renowned British sculptor, is best known for his expressive bronze hares modeled in varying poses of dynamic energy. The series of hares, which he began in 1980, are often engaged in human activities such as playing musical instruments or sports, dancing and interacting with technology. They are often rendered in a monumental scale, as is the Large Left Handed Drummer, with its long wiry limbs and ears that capture a playful and jubilant spirit.

Flanagan has been the subject of major retrospectives, most recently, at the Irish Museum of Modern Art and the Dublin City Gallery. He has exhibited in numerous solo, group, and public exhibitions worldwide. His bronze hares have been exhibited in many outdoor venues, most notably on OConnell Street in Dublin, on Park Avenue in New York, and at Grant Park in Chicago.

Dexterously the Drummer was right handed,

there are examples in bronze from that mould

in other locations.

The left handedness of this Drummer

speaks to the other side of the brain,

from the past to the future,

another tune in composure.

Broadway!!

A seed of hope after the conviction.

I would subtitle this piece

"I dont want to set the world on fire."

-Barry Flanagan

The project is located in Union Square Parks southeast traffic island and is supported by Parks & Recreation and the Union Square Partnership. Parks temporary public art program has consistently fostered the creation and installation of temporary public art in parks throughout the five boroughs. Since 1967, collaborations with arts organizations and artists have produced hundreds of public art projects in City parks.

- 30 -

New York, NY (February 21, 2007) - Parks & Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe and CEO of NYC & Company George Fertitta today joined Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz to kick off the Citys revamped 2007 lifeguard recruitment campaign: "Whistle Worthy." Each year, Parks recruits and trains more than 1,000 summer lifeguards for New York Citys 53 outdoor pools and 14 miles of beaches, including the world-famous Coney Island. This year, NYC & Company will work directly with the Parks & Recreation Department to grow the programs scope and raise participation numbers.

"The best way to beat a hot summer in New York City is with a cool lifeguard job," said Parks & Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe. "Water safety depends on great lifeguards, and while its cold out now, summer will be here before we know it. Municipal lifeguard jobs now pay at least $11.72 an hour to start for a 48-hour week, and I strongly encourage anyone interested in working as a lifeguard this summer to take the first step and take a free swim qualifying test. New York Citys lifeguards are whistle worthy, and you may be, too!"

NYC & Company recently merged with NYC Marketing and NYC Big Events to form the world's leading municipal tourism, marketing, and events organization charged with meeting Mayor Michael R. Bloombergs goal of attracting 50 million visitors annually by the year 2015. With that goal in mind, NYC & Company has designed an advertising campaign that reaches out to international lifeguard candidates as well as those in the New York City area.

"Parks has done a wonderful job with recruitment over the years. It is because of their hard work that NYC & Company can now help turn Whistle Worthy into a campaign that resonates outside New York City as well," said George Fertitta, CEO of NYC & Company. "Were going to involve more countries, which will bring in more recruitsand also more visitors. The message will be clear: You can come here in the summer, go swimming at our beaches, and experience the City in a whole new way."

The marketing campaign will feature "Whistle Worthy" media, including the signs already in place today on New York City buses and bus shelters. NYC & Company will leverage the Citys international presence to communicate that lifeguarding in NYC is a wonderful way to spend your summer vacation. The Citys tourism and marketing organization also sees it as an opportunity to publicize the fact that New York City has 14 miles of beaches.

To further help recruitment in the City, Parks has placed eight, 14-foot-tall, full-size lifeguard chairs in selected parks across the five boroughs, including: Joyce Kilmer Park in the Bronx; Columbus Park and Coney Island (at the Stillwell Avenue subway station) in Brooklyn; Union Square Park and Mitchel Square (168th street between Broadway and St. Nicholas Avenue) in Manhattan; Hoffman Park and Corporal Ruoff Square (near the Rockaway Boulevard subway station) in Queens. A lifeguard chair will also be unveiled in the upcoming weeks at St. George Ferry Terminal in Staten Island.

Lifeguard beach chairs were manned by "whistle worthy" helpers from Parks and Metro who promoted lifeguard recruitment throughout the day. This is the second year in a row Parks has partnered with Metro, a free daily newspaper in New York City, which has provided generous advertising support.

"In Brooklyn, where not everyone goes to the Hamptons and residents like me are proud to summer in Brooklyn, keeping our beaches open as a way to cool off is essential," said Borough President Marty Markowitz. "And with the 10 million annual visitors to Coney Island and Brighton Beach helping make Brooklyn one of the worlds hottest tourist destinations, we rely on lifeguards even more to keep our beaches safe, fun, and relaxing."

The process to become a New York City lifeguard is simple. First, candidates are encouraged to take a free qualifying test. Parks has been hosting qualifying tests since November, and will continue to do so through Mid-April. As part of the qualifying test, successful candidates will:

1. Be able to swim 50 yards in 35 seconds or less with proper form.
2. Have at least 20/30 vision in one eye and 20/40 in the other - without corrective lenses. Glasses and contact lenses are not permitted during the eye exam.
3. Be at least 16 years of age by the start of employment.

Qualifying tests are held twice a day, Monday through Friday, at 4:30pm and 6:30pm at the Parks Lifeguard School at 533 West 59th Street. No appointment is necessary.

Candidates who pass the test may enroll in Parks free Municipal Lifeguard Training Program, which is the only certification accepted for employment as a New York City Lifeguard. The training program consists of 40 hours of instruction in swimming and rescue techniques, first aid, and CPR, and includes a final swim test and a written exam. Candidates who begin working as a lifeguard, will be paid for their time spent in training. First-year lifeguards will earn at least $11.72 an hour and work 48 hours (6 days) a week. If you become a lifeguard, you will be guaranteed a job for the summer at one of the Citys seven beaches or 53 outdoor pools.

Last summer, more than 22.2 million visitors flocked to New York Citys beaches and pools. This summer, beaches are scheduled to open on May 26, and pools are scheduled to open June 29; both will remain open through Labor Day. For more information on the Citys beaches and pools or how to become a lifeguard, call 311 or visit our web site at www.nyc.gov/parks.

To learn more about NYC & Company, click here.

The heroically sized bronze equestrian statue is an early work by sculptor Henry Kirke Brown (1814-1886), who was assisted at his studio in Brooklyn by later eminent sculptor John Quincy Adams Ward. Brown also crafted sculptures of President Abraham Lincoln in Union Square and Prospect Park, while Ward was later responsible for eight sculptures in our parks, including four in Central Park. The statue, cast at the Ames Foundry of Chicopee, Massachusetts, was the second largest casting made in the United States. The elaborate pedestal of Quincy granite was designed by Richard Upjohn, the architect of Trinity Church.

The sculpture was commissioned through a popular subscription campaign under the auspices of the Washington Monument Committee. Of the $50,000 raised, $34,000 was from 68 prominent businessmen and merchants in the vicinity of Union Square, each of whom contributed $500. Other local businesses contributed labor and materials to build the foundation and deliver materials to the site. The gift of the sculpture set the model in New York City for monuments and public art in our parks originating through citizen action and private fundraising.

The sculpture was officially unveiled before thousands of jubilant spectators on July 4, 1856 at the southeast triangle at the union of Broadway and the Bowery (4^th Avenue). In attendance on that day were numerous dignitaries, including Mayor Fernando Wood and State Senator Hamilton Fish.

Browns portrait of Washington was inspired by Houdons famous sculpture of Washington in 1795 (itself modeled after a death mask). The equestrian portrait of Washington represents the moment of Washingtons triumphal return to New York City on November 25, 1783 and the British evacuation. Brown combines a classical pose evoking precedents such as the Roman Marcus Aurelius, with a naturalism that was said to mark a new moment in American art. The Reverend George W. Bethune, keynote speaker at the unveiling commented, "The work is done. Genius, native genius, has nobly achieved the highest duty patriotism could demand of art."

During the renovation of Union Square Park in 1929-30, the sculpture was relocated to its more central and prominent location. This further enhanced its position as an iconic touchstone for New Yorkers, who in all manner and generations have congregated at this spot for the purpose of public assembly and expression. After the attacks of September 11, 2001, thousands again gathered here, this time to mourn.

In 1988, the sculpture was conserved through the Adopt-A-Monument Program and, in 2004, Parks Citywide Monuments Conservation Program again conserved the sculpture. Earlier this year program conservators installed a granite "dutchman" repair in the pedestal, replacing a long-missing piece.

This is the tenth season of the Citywide Monuments Conservation Program, a conservation and training program which provides year-round care to preserve art and monuments throughout the parks system. This years major supporters include the History Channel, the Samuel H. Kress Foundation, the Karan-Weiss Foundation, the David Schwartz Foundation, the American Battle Monuments Commission and the Italian Historical Society in America.

Since the erection of the Washington sculpture, the Parks collection has grown to 1,100 art and monument sites, including 300 major sculptures. More recent examples of commemorative art have included tributes to author Ralph Ellison, composer Antonin Dvorak, and humanitarians Mahatma Gandhi, Benito Juarez and Eleanor Roosevelt. The variety of styles and subject matter has diversified. From Tony Rosenthals geometic Cube (Alamo) in Astor Place to Rafael Ferrers expressionistic Puerto Rican Sun at Fox Street in the South Bronx, to George Segals Gay Liberation at Sheridan Square, our permanent outdoor art has reflected evolving aesthetics and social change.

On July 3, 2006, Parks marked the 150^th anniversary of the George Washington sculpture with a celebration that included Commissioner Adrian Benepe, elevated in a forestry bucket-lift, placing a laurel wreath on the head of Washington. It also featured a display of historic flags created by children in the Afterschool program of the J. Hood Wright Recreation Center in Washington Heights. The crowd was treated to a medley of patriotic songs by the New York University pep band, and a rousing rendition of the National Anthem by Parks own Jackie Rowe-Adams. Special thanks is extended to the staff of the Manhattan Borough Office and Art & Antiquities for organizing the event.

Written by Jonathan Kuhn

"We are so excited to team up with the National Gardening Association to bring NYCGrows to New York City for the first time ever," said Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe. "Spring has arrived in full bloom and the City is blooming with more flowers than at any time in our history. After seven full days of exciting and innovative National Garden Month celebrations, tomorrow's culminating festival will encompass the many greening and gardening concepts highlighted throughout the week."

"Spring has arrived in full bloom and New York City is blooming with more flowers than at any time in our history," said Commissioner Benepe. "As we celebrate National Garden Month, we are grateful to our community partners who have worked to bring parks, playgrounds, Greenstreets and community gardens to life with millions of new flowers, shrubs and trees. Throughout the month we will host numerous workshops and lectures to further educate New Yorkers about the many benefits of horticulture."

Tomorrows NYC Grows festival will feature healthy cooking demonstrations by Les Dames dEscoffiers celebrity chefs, explorations of art in nature by renowned local artists, gardening tips and advice from garden writers, television personalities and radio show hosts. New York Citys native plants will also be available for purchase.

NYC Grows marks the final celebration of a week of garden-related activities, which were held citywide in partnership with National Gardening Association to celebrate National Garden Month. The week of events kicked off on Earth Day, April 22, with planting projects, walking tours, and Earth Day celebrations in all five boroughs. Tours of the some of Citys most breathtaking gardens were offered throughout the week, including the Heather Gardens, Lynden Millers gardens, the Carnegie Library gardens (maintained by Rikers Island inmates), and the unique and eclectic community gardens of the East Village. The Arsenal Gallerys "Garden Paradise" art exhibit, which features artwork interpreting the garden as paradise, also opened this week and will remain on display through May 24th.

- 30 -

"In many neighborhoods, small parks serve as oases of nature for thousands of visitors and as habitat for wildlife," said Parks & Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe. "The willful destruction of trees and shrubs is a crime against nature and the community. We are glad that our PEP officers were able to catch this suspect while he was in the process of committing this senseless crime."

Over the last three weeks, the 3.6-acre Union Square Park has been the site of repeated overnight vandalism to its trees, shrubs, and flowering bushes. The damage, which was concentrated in the southern section of the park and was the result of someone physically ripping apart trees and bushes, amounts to approximately $24,000. It includes damage to a number of trees and bushes, including 23 hydrangea bushes, 12 red-stemmed dogwoods, 10 holly bushes, seven rose of Sharons, three butterfly bushes, a Chinese dogwood, a magnolia tree, and more than 20 street and ornamental trees. The damage is so significant that most items will need to be replaced.

The most recent and significant damage occurred during the night of Sunday, February 19, when an eyewitness spotted an individual vandalizing trees; Parks Enforcement Officers began overnight stakeouts of the area immediately thereafter. Last night, at around 1:30 a.m., two Parks Enforcement Patrol Sergeants apprehended the perpetrator while he was in the process of ripping branches off trees.

Parks & Recreation congratulates PEP Sergeants Edwin Falcon and Derek Walther for their hard work in arresting the perpetrator and for protecting the safety of our parks. Parks also thanks Assistant District Attorney Jeremy Glickman and the NYPD for their assistance in resolving this matter.

The 167-year-old Union Square Park is a gathering place for New Yorkers from all walks of life, and a center for public events, recreation and commerce. Since 1976, the Union Square Greenmarket has served as a local landmark, offering fresh food and plants on the north and west sides of the park (the same spot where a flower market flourished over a century ago). In 1997, the United States Department of the Interior designated Union Square Park a National Historic Landmark. In the fall of 2006, Parks & Recreation plans to break ground on the final phase of reconstruction of Union Square Park, which includes the unification and expansion of two existing playgrounds, a seasonal caf and a decoratively paved plaza for the Greenmarket and public events.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

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

Carol Moseley-Braun
(born 1947)

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

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

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

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

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

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

-written by John Mattera

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

Muhammad Ali
(born 1942)

Christopher Clouden is the Commissioners Employee of the Month. Chris is the Manhattan Chief of Recreation and has been with Parks & Recreation since August 5, 1996. For many years, Chris has led the largest boroughs recreation program. Now, he also spearheads some of our most exciting and important projects. Chris has overseen opening preparations for the $20 million renovation of the Chelsea Recreation Center, which is now ready to burst with activity. The depth and quality of the centers amenities, including state-of-the-art exercise equipment, six floors of activity space, and a new indoor swimming pool, will make it one of Parks & Recreations premier recreation centers. Chris was also instrumental in organizing the successful Mayors Cup Track & Field Championship Meet on April 16 and 17, which brought together over 2,100 young athletes from each of the five boroughs. This historic event in Astoria Park was the first time that New York Citys public, parochial, and independent schools competed with each other in one contest. It will serve as a model for programs to come. One of Parks & Recreations most capable and effective managers, Chris continues to deliver at the highest level for the agency and, most importantly, for the youth of New York City. He was nominated by Deputy Commissioner for Public Programs Kevin Jeffrey.

Renata A. Sokolowski is the Capital Projects Employee of the Month. Renata A. Sokolowski is a Landscape Architect on the Staten Island Team and has been with Parks & Recreation since July 18, 1994. Renata joined Parks from the private firm Thomas Balsley Associates, where she worked on residential design. She quickly made an impact here with her talents for elegant designs, advanced computer programs, and 3D models constructed with wood, cardboard, clay, steel wire, and fabric. Renatas outstanding designs include the $8.5 million Union Square Park project, the $2 million Canal Park project, and the $7.4 million project at Fairview Park. Renata brings a calm and positive demeanor to her projects and helps keep her team focused and productive. For her nearly ten years of skilled service to Parks & Recreation, Renata was nominated by Team Leader Michael Browne and Assistant Commissioner for Capital Projects Nancy Barthold.

Spencer T Tucker is the Management Employee of the Month. Spencer is a Photographer for Parks & Recreation and has been with the department since January 22, 2001. Spencer is a ubiquitous presence at Parks events, helping to capture them for eternity with his keen eye, insight, and sense of humor. His pictures of park scenes are prominent in The Daily Plant, Parks & Recreations Biennial Report, and in all our distributions. Last year, Spencers unique vision of parks was unveiled in a popular Arsenal Gallery exhibit showing the many faces of life and youth in City parks. Hard working, intelligent, and gifted, Spencer was nominated by Director of Public Information Megan Sheekey.

Milton Turner is an Operations Employee of the Month. Milton is an Associate Park Service Worker Crew Chief in Wolfes Pond Park, in Staten Islands District 3. Milton began with Parks & Recreation seasonally in the 1960s and returned full-time on November 3, 1986. Milton began his career with Shops in Brooklyns District 12. He has since transferred to Wolfes Pond Park as Crew Chief, earning responsibility for all of its properties, developed and undeveloped. Thanks to his efforts and the work of his Parks Opportunity Program crews, District 3 achieved 94% overall and 95% cleanliness ratings in 2003. He has also recently taken on major clean-up efforts of undeveloped or neglected park areas. Experienced and dedicated, Milton works hard to impart his work ethic and professionalism to his staff. A stalwart of Parks operations, Milton was nominated by Supervisor of Parks Maintenance and Operations Robert Parella.

Timothy A. Brown is an Operations Employee of the Month. Tim is an Assistant Gardener in Fort Tryon Park in Manhattan and has been with Parks & Recreation since April 23, 2001. Tim works primarily at the Heather Garden, as well as in other parts of Fort Tryon Park and District 12. For the past two years, Tim has been responsible for the planting and care of the woodlands adjacent to the Heather Garden. Tim hauls 400 feet of hose back and forth to ensure the plants are watered in the hot summers. He has pounded hundreds of posts and installed thousands of feet of fencing to protect the annuals, bulbs, trees, and shrubs he has planted throughout Northern Manhattan. He has scaled walls and rockfaces to remove poison ivy and other invasive plants. Tim also mows, weedwacks, and sprays herbicides throughout the sector, while leading countless volunteer groups at Inwood, Isham, Highbridge, and Gorman Parks with his inspiring energy. When not leading our greening efforts, Tim hits the books and is working on a dissertation in comparative religion at Syracuse University. A key part of our horticultural renaissance, Tim was nominated by Director of North Manhattan Parks Jane Schachat.

Christopher M. Davis is Public Programs Employee of the Month. Chris is a Special Projects Coordinator for Manhattan Recreation and has been with Parks & Recreation since November 28, 2000. Chris sports many hats for Recreation. He compiles each years annual report, secures staff for citywide special events, including Experience Spring, and helps coordinate the staffing, schedules, and budget for summer day camps. Chris is the Playground Associate Coordinator for the borough and has also served as a Pool Supervisor, helping Jackie Robinson Pool sail through a busy and safe 2003 season. Chris shows off his sporting knowledge by spearheading a baseball program in Manhattan, coaching a team of 13- and 14- year-olds in Brooklyns 3B League, and running Turn 2 clinics and workouts. Chris also went beyond the call of duty during the 2003 blackout by ensuring the safe evacuation of patrons, responding to a fire, and getting the pool pumps running by 7:30 a.m. the next day. Talented and driven, Chris was nominated by Chief of Manhattan Recreation Chris Clouden.

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

"I am becoming sick and tired about lying."

Walter ven der Vijver
Former CEO of Royal Dutch/Shell

From 1955 to 1960 Rustin was a close advisor to Dr. King, and helped establish the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. In 1958 and 1959 he coordinated the National Youth Marches for Integrated Schools, which led to his appointment as Deputy Director of the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.

Asa Philip Randolph achieved fame by organizing the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, the first black union in the country. In 1941 he influenced President Franklin D. Roosevelt to issue Executive Order 8802, which banned discrimination in the defense industry, and led to the creation of the Fair Employment Practice Commission. In 1955 Randolph became the first black vice-president of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), and in 1965 he founded the A. Philip Randolph Institute, dedicated to advancing the causes of labor and civil rights. In 1964 the park at 116th Street and Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard, formerly known as Kilpatrick and Dewey Square, was renamed in his honor.

Rustin later took over the helm of the A. Philip Randolph Institute, and was instrumental also in the creation of the Congress on Racial Equality (CORE). In 1986 he was the keynote speaker at the unveiling of the Gandhi statue in Union Square Park. Late in life he was also an outspoken advocate for the gay rights movement. On January 23, 1990, a monument was unveiled in his honor, located in the south planting bed of Ralph Bunche Park at 42nd Street and 1st Avenue. Appearing on the monument is Rustins credo: "The principle factors which influenced my life are non violent tactics, constitutional means, democratic procedures, respect for human personality, and a belief that all people are one."

In May, Parks & Recreation held its second annual Meet the Manager program, with Park managers hosting patrons in 130 parks citywide. Through these meet and greet sessions, we have reached out to thousands of New Yorkers, with 1,110 doing short surveys in the last two years. Though too young for the surveys, hundreds of children also received Parks & Recreation frisbees, balls, and rulers - adding more fun to their park experience.

On June 25, a group of summer interns launched a two-month survey initiative that will reach each of the five boroughs. First up was Union Square Park, where over 70 surveys were completed. Parks & Recreation set up a table with surveys, Special Events calendars, and free giveaways to members of the public who stopped by to give us their feedback. The day was a great success as both visitors and residents expressed satisfaction at the newly renovated Union Square Park. Even the sun gave us approving ninety-degree weather for the day.

Since then we have surveyed in four boroughs. On July 8, 5-Boro Operations staff and interns went to Madison Square Park and St. Catherine's Park where over 130 customers participated. The following week, intern volunteers from many divisions of Parks & Recreation went to Brooklyn's Prospect, Sunset, and Red Hook Parks. Despite the rain and clouds, over 200 surveys were collected. Operations interns and staff tackled Staten Islands Clove Lakes Park and the Bronxs St. Marys Park during the week of July 28. The St. Marys team broke the all time record by coming home with 102 surveys collected in one park. So far, over 1,538 park surveys have been tabulated, and the program is growing.

Park & Recreation Surveys are opening up a new way for the public to communicate about parks and to express their priorities and concerns. Thanks to Susan Friedman, Lofton Johnson, and interns Miriam Petersen and Ian Shin, and all our interns for their help, to Sherry Lee who is coordinating this initiative, and to Leslie Nusblatt, Parks & Recreations Intern Coordinator.

Manhattans squares were its first parks, the predecessor to the biggest "square" of all, Central Park. Ranging in size from 1000th of an acre to 20 acres, they are dispersed throughout Manhattans central business districts and residential enclaves. Over the years, Manhattans squares were used for outdoor markets, military exercises, political rallies, music, college commencements, and countless receptions, celebrations and vigils. They contain more than 40 of Parks & Recreations finest sculptures and have been the scene of historical milestones, from the display of the Statue of Libertys torch in Madison Square (1876) to the first Labor Day Parade (1882) in Union Square to the September 11^th vigils following the attacks on the World Trade Center. The photographs and drawings displayed in Manhattan Squares illustrate how these first parks evolved over the years and helped to define what parks would and could be throughout the City.

Before Central Park, Manhattans squares were essentially the only parks in the center of the City, and the oldest images in the exhibit are among the most interesting. Early maps illustrate the foresight of City administrators who anticipated the eventual development of all of Manhattan, and the importance of carving our public space. Historic prints, plans, renderings and postcards define a transcendent New York in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, as elegant squares were newly landscaped and opened up for more democratic use. Photographs of a workers rally and the first Earth Day in Union Square are among the images that depict some of the first instances of social activism in Manhattans squares.

The exhibit also displays images which emphasize the way these squares are still evolving and changing today. Several squares have recently been expanded into adjacent streets, including Union, Foley and Verdi Squares. Herald and Greeley Squares have witnessed a startling revival achieved by more hospitable design, lavish horticulture, improved security and programming. In the financial district, plans are underway to reinterpret venerable Hanover Square as a British commemorative garden. And throughout the City, business improvement districts, conservancies, and volunteer grassroots organizations are working to bring about a renaissance of Manhattans squares, so that they may continue to flourish and remain central to the City.

Most of the images on display are from the New York City Parks & Recreation Photo Archive and Map File Collections; additional images are on loan from the New York Historical Society, the Art Commission of the City of New York, Miriam Berman, New York Bound, Robert McCabe, Catha Rambusch, Greenmarket, and William Cohen. Manhattan Squares was funded with generous donations from American Lawyer Media and Sunoco. Curated by Jonathan Kuhn and Patricia Hamilton, Manhattan Squares will be on view from June 19 - September 5, 2003.

Nancy Barthold has moved from Litchfield to Olmsted, having been recently named Assistant Commissioner for Capital Projects. Since 1996, Nancy was the Chief of Operations for Brooklyn where she oversaw operations for 430 parks, playgrounds, and malls, 17 swimming pools, and 7 recreation centers. In addition, she managed the operations of 2,500 full-time and seasonal employees. Barthold first joined Parks in 1985 working with gardening and forestry crews in Queens as a Park 40 Intern. For the next 11 years she held such positions in Parks as Assistant Director and Special Projects Coordinator for NRG, PRM for Northeast Queens parks, Director of Landscape Management for Queens parks, and Deputy Chief of Operations for Manhattan. In her new position, she will be assisting Deputy Commissioner Amy Freitag in overseeing the day-to day-operations and management of the Olmsted Center. In addition, she will be in charge of administering Olmsted 2002, an initiative to rethink the way Capital Projects are managed into a team approach. Finally, she will be overseeing the Requirements Contracts unit both for buildings and playgrounds. "Nancy is a fantastic manager and a passionate Parkie," says Deputy Commissioner Amy Freitag. "We are very pleased to have her at the Olmsted Center." Barthold graduated from the University of Vermont in 1983 with a BA in Anthropology/Environmental Studies. A resident of Douglaston, Queens, she is active on the Udalls Cove Preservation Committee and volunteers her time with Gods Love We Deliver.

Charles A. Gili has been promoted to Chief of Operations for Brooklyn, replacing Nancy Barthold who has moved over to Olmsted. Having served as Deputy Chief of Operations for Brooklyn since 1997, Gilis main responsibilities included the general oversight of operations in Brooklyn and communicating daily with field managers and crews. In addition, he was the Dean of Discipline and supervised the West Indian Day Parade Cleanup. Gili joined Parks as an Urban Park Ranger in 1982 and remained with the Rangers until 1989, serving as the Borough Director for Brooklyn from 1985 to 1987. In 1989 he became the Principal Park Supervisor for Prospect Park and District 14 in Brooklyn and in 1992 became the Chief of Operations for the same area. "Im pleased that Charlie will continue serving Brooklyn as the new Chief of Operations," says Commissioner Julius Spiegel. "His experience as Deputy Chief of Operations for the last five years makes him an ideal candidate." Gili lives in Brooklyn with his wife, Laura, who is the Chief of Recreation for Queens. They have 2 children, ages 8 and 18, and in his spare time, Charlie coaches ice hockey and baseball.

Emily Brennan has been promoted to Director of Central Recreation. In 1999, upon graduating from Brown University, Brennan joined Parks as an Analyst for Central Recreation. In that position she designed and implemented the "Learn to Play Field Hockey Program" and also oversaw various athletic and cultural programs, including "Summer Fun in the Playground." Since November 2000 Emily served as the Deputy Director of Central Recreation.

(Wednesday, July 19, 1989)

The free Union Square Park Summer Entertainment Series continues through September with eclectic offerings from jazz and rock to rhythm and blue and dance. Homeboy Steve and the Mudcats will play rhythm and blues on Wednesday, July 19. The Inner Circle All Stars jazz band will take center state on Friday, July 21. A rock band named Mr. Thing will perform on Monday, July 24. All performances will take place from noon to 2 p.m. at the north end of the park near the pavilion.

"Astray from the Steerage," "The Immigrant," and "I Cover the Waterfront" will be the triple-bill lineup of the Floating Cinema at Battery Park in Manhattan on Thursday, July 20. "Popeye," starring Robin Williams, will be the feature attraction at Little Bay Park in Whitestone, Queens on Saturday, July 22. On Sunday, July 23, the Floating Cinema will screen "On the Town" at Alice Austen Park on Staten Island and "Jaws" will play at Pelham Bay Park in the Bronx on Friday, July 21.

"There are evils ... that have the ability to survive identification
and go on for ever ... money, for instance, or war."

Saul Bellow
(b. July 10, 1915)

William M. Finer is Bronxs Employee of the Month for February. William began with Parks on January 22, 1974 and is the Supervisor of Mechanics for the Bronx Shops. He supervises 21 trades staff including electricians, plumbers, painters, and maintenance workers. Through Williams efforts, Bronx reduced its work order backload for core trades substantially. Currently only 10 jobs are outstanding over 14 days, and there are zero jobs which have been waiting more than a month. He is also part of an important new trades initiative to improve shops services and park ratings through regular meetings with their customers the district managers. For his technical competence and many years of service to the Bronx, Finer was nominated by Bronx Borough Commissioner, William T. Castro.

Tupper W. Thomas is Brooklyns Employee of the Month for February. Tupper began in city government on March 5, 1968 with HPD. Her Parks career began on May 19, 1980 when she was appointed Administrator of Prospect Park. For 21 years, Tupper has managed and guided this 526 acre flagship park and marvel of design helping to preserve and enhance one of New York Citys premiere natural and tourist attractions. She played a critical role in establishing the Prospect Park Alliance (PPA) which since 1987 has performed extensive fund-raising and capital restoration for the park. A winner of many awards, including the 1987 Sloan Public Service Award, Tupper is a forceful advocate for parks and green spaces, and a terrific asset to New York City. She was nominated by Brooklyn Borough Commissioner, Julius Spiegel.

George Kroenert is Capital Projects Employee of the Month for February. George joined Parks on October 1, 1990 and currently works as an assistant landscape architect with Manhattan Construction. He is the resident engineer assigned to the $6.4 million Union Square South project. This job includes the construction of new DEP water mains on E. 14th Street and Union Square West. He has conducted extensive and effective community outreach and coordination for this project, especially since the construction has involved frequent interruptions in water service for residents. George is also the resident engineer for the reconstruction of the Brooklyn Heights Promenade and Palmetto Playground. Skilled and professional, George is helping to reshape New York Citys public spaces. He was nominated by Chief Engineer, John Natoli.

Lauren Brignone is Citywide Services' Employee of the Month for February. Lauren graduated from Wellesley and joined Parks on June 26, 2000. She works as an Analyst in Marketing and Special Events. Lauren has played a key role in organizing and finding sponsors for some of Parks most high profile events, including the Easter Eggstravaganza and Halloween Party in Central Park. Through her efforts, tens of thousands of New Yorkers young and old celebrated the holidays and had fun in the park. Lauren was also instrumental in organizing, on short notice, the Ninth State of the Parks ceremony on January 18 in the Arsenal. Bright, dedicated and capable, Lauren was nominated by Deputy Commissioner for Management and Recreation, Robert Garafola.

Samara B. Epstein is Managements Employee of the Month for February. Samara graduated from Brown University. She joined Parks on August 23, 1999 as an Analyst in Budget with the OTPS unit. In August 2000, she became the coordinator of the Job Assistance Center (JAC) at Al Smith Recreation Center. Samara helped establish and develop the JAC program which has placed over 464 WEP participants in full time employment. In December 2000, she returned to the Arsenal where she soon took over for Falcons Eye as Director of Central WEP. As such, Samara developed the Citywide WEP crew chief training. She also worked hard to quickly implement the Parks Opportunity Program (POP), which now involves over 3,500 participants. Sharp and calm, Samara is helping to steer our vital workfare initiatives. She was nominated by Deputy Commissioner for Management and Recreation, Robert Garafola and Comptroller, David Stark.

Find out more about Parks' Employee Awards Program.

At a Groundhog's Day celebration held at the Queens Zoo this past Saturday, Parkies and families anxiously waited to see what winter prediction the zoo's prairie dogs would make. Prairie dogs on Groundhog's Day? Actually, prairie dogs Corona Kate and Flushing Meadows Phil are well-equipped for weather forecasting. The furry creatures never hibernate, and their network of tunnels allows them to poke their heads above ground and relay weather forecasts to one another. What did the season soothsayers see? Their own shadow, which means there are six more weeks of winter yet to come this year.

(Tuesday, February 14, 1989)

The Estee Lauder Companies have donated $5,000 to the newly-created Historic House Trust of New York City, Director of Art and Antiquities Adrian Benepe announced. The Trust, a not-for-profit organization, was created last December to help Parks restore and interpret its collection of 14 historic house museums.

The gift from Estee Lauder Companies will be used to purchase supplies for the Historic House Restoration crew, which will be headquartered at Parks facilities in the Highbridge Pool building in Manhattan.

"I acted, and my action made me wise."

Thom Gunn (b. 1929)

Today New York Harbor and smaller waterways are being reclaimed for their views, their breezes and sunsets, for the peopleas opposed to the industriesof New York. Salt and freshwater marshes are the sites of ecological restoration, and the Bronx River is the stage for a community revitalization project. The arrangement of the works moves rapidly from North America to Europe, from photograph to oil and watercolor, from the Gowanus to the Caledonian Canal.

Like the waterways that are the focus of the exhibit, the landscapes around New Yorks waterways are in motion. Preserved in the new exhibit are two views of the Twin Towers from Hackensack, New Jersey. Another photograph in the exhibit captures the view from the Towers observation deck. Because the landscapes captured in the photographs are fleeting, theirs is an historical as well as an artistic record. The Links and Links of Scotland and New York will remain on view until October 25 when the gallery makes room for a new show.

Commissioner Henry J. (StarQuest) Stern and Alan (Scotsman) Bain, President of the American-Scottish Foundation addressed those present. Heather Bain, Director of the American-Scottish Foundation; Jonathan (Archive) Kuhn, Director of Art and Antiquities; Jill (Mainsail) Mainelli, Director of Community Resources; Adrian (Sassafras) Sas, Public Art Curator; and all of the featured artists were also in attendance.

1,000 OREGONIANS STOP AT UNION SQUARE PARK

ON A WHIRLWIND TOUR OF THE CITY

On Sunday, October 7, Union Square Park was the meeting place for a distinguished gathering of New Yorkers and one thousand citizens of Oregon who answered an invitation from the Mayor and the Governor to visit New York City and offer it support while consuming its immense cultural resources. The stops on their tour included St. John the Divine, the Waldorf Astoria, several Broadway theaters, among many other locations. Their visit to Union Square Park was a chance to pause in the exuberance of a visit to the Big Apple, and acknowledge the tragedy that occasioned their visit. In the course of the ceremony, the crowd affirmed its fondness for New York City, the people who dwell here, and the people who visit. Commissioner Henry J. (StarQuest) Stern spoke and greeted Mayor Vera Catz of Portland, Oregon.

(Thursday, October 13, 1988)

Country music fans and square dance enthusiasts can kick up their heels at the "country in the city" Harvest Festival, a down home extravaganza bringing an afternoon of free banjo playing, hand clapping and high stepping to the Central Park Bandshell this Sunday, October 16 from Noon to 4 P.M. The Bandshell is located in the middle of the park at 72^nd Street.

Six musicians from the Fretted Instruments School of Music in Manhattan will play country tunes and "hoe down" rhythms, while a "caller" shouts instructions to square dancers in the park.

"You could not step twice into the same rivers;

for other waters are flowing on to you."

Heraclitus c. 540 c. 480 B.C.

The legendary composers birthday was celebrated with musical performances by students from the Henry Street Music School. Narrating the musical tribute was prominent actor of the stage and screen, Eli Wallach, a native New Yorker and, a little known fact: a former Parks lifeguard. George Gershwins works have become a staple of the American musical canon, taught in schools and performed on the most celebrated stages. Seward Park was a humble stage for his great music, but one that facilitated childrens transport backwards through time. Students from Seward Park School, P.S. 140, and P.S. 184 were present. Perhaps some of them were able to picture George Gershwin as a 12-year-old schoolboy as he sat before a piano for the first time. Many of the children had written letters of thanks to Mayor Rudolph (Eagle) Giuliani for helping to keep the city safe in a time of crisis. Their was extra emphasis when they sang, "old man trouble. I dont mind him. You wont find him hanging round my door."

Commissioner Henry J. (StarQuest) Stern; Adrian (A-Train) Benepe, Manhattan Borough Commissioner; Jayne Godlewski, Principal of Seward Park School; Esteban Barrientos, Principal of P.S. 140; Nancy Hope-Lowans, Title VII Coordinator for P.S. 184; and Caroline Stoeffinger of the Henry Street Music School were among those present at the birthday bash.

Congratulations to former Parkie Brian Liberti who has just accepted a position as Director of Forestry for the City of Syracuse. He will be the first person to hold this position, bringing the knowledge he gained at Parks to his native city. Liberti for one year worked as a Street Tree Forester in Manhattan. In that role, he negotiated the challenges of planting trees in the borough with the least spare room. He excelled at his job. Through a fortuitous coincidence, Liberti is replaced by Shawn Maerz, who graduated from Syracuse Universitys Environmental Science and Forestry program at. Maerz will be based in the Bronx.

(Monday, October 3, 1988)

Since New York City erected the only monument in the United States of Mahatma Gandhi two years ago, the site at the southwest corner of Union Square Park has become a place where people reflect on the ideals of non-violent resistance espoused by the great Indian leader.

"You cant walk by this statue and not think of what Ghandi stood for," said Mayor Koch yesterday, looking up at the statue by H.K Patel that depicts Gandhi walking with a stick and wearing a lion cloth.

"True music...must repeat the thought and inspirations of the people and the time. My people are Americans. My time is today."

George Gershwin (1898-1937)

Dear Friends of Parks,

If ever there was a moment when the value of urban parks was manifest, it is now. One week after a rally for parks in Union Square, that site became host to the citys largest memorial to the terrorist attacks and the losses suffered by New York.

In every corner of public space, similar rituals have emerged. People are lighting candles, writing messages, leaving flowers and flags in their neighborhood parks. Theyre consoling one another and sharing opinions in neighborhood parks. Our city has sustained a tremendous loss but with your help, parks can play an important role in the psychological recovery of the city.

New Yorks more than 28,000 acres of parks and playgrounds are yours to use, whether its to memorialize with friends or reaffirm your daily routine. They are also places where you can help. The impulse to volunteer can and should be directed toward our parks because as you strengthen parks, you will strengthen our city. Volunteers have helped bring out the beauty in our parks and highlight their value to New York. The symbolism of such acts of volunteerism is now greater than ever. If youre interested, please call 1-800-201-PARK.

Our parks are open and fully operational. Our primary goal, as always, is to ensure that New Yorks green spaces are safe, clean, and available for peaceful activity. In addition, since September 11, Parks has dedicated its best efforts toward making all of New York City as safe as it can be. Let me share with you a few examples of how we were able to be helpful.

By the night of Tuesday, September 11 our Operations offices had rallied six light towers and hundreds of gloves, goggles, dust masks, and raincoats from every borough to be transported to Ground Zero. All of our vehicles were fueled and staffed with drivers on alert to operate rescue and shuttle services. Park Managers staffed a 24-hour phone desk at the Mayors command center to coordinate this work. Recreation Centers in every borough hosted special afterschool activities for children.

Randalls Island became a staging ground for the National Guard. Orchard Beach was closed to serve as a helicopter landing. The Worlds Fair Marina extended ferry services to rescue workers, and all other marinas were closed to serve as security checkpoints.

Our computer teams have worked with other City agencies to establish an Emergency Mapping and Data Center, which so far has processed 700 map requests from sources as diverse as the Fire Department of New York, FEMA, the Red Cross, and the Department of Defense.

Last week, the members of our Urban Park Service rescued over 1,000 house pets from Battery Park City apartments and assisted residents in retrieving their belongings.

The parks in District 1 in lower Manhattan have been cleared of dust and debris. No structural damage was done, but some flowerbeds will need to be replanted and lawns reseeded.

For more information about these and other help efforts, please refer to issues of The Daily Plant from September 13, 2001 through September 25, 2001.

I am proud to write to you of Parks contributions thus far, and I invite you to enjoy those parks that are at the center of our public life. Our public spaces are a measure of our good health. If you take the pulse of parks today, Ill think youll find that they are vital.

Fortunately, no Parkies were harmed on September 11. I send my best wishes to all New Yorkers and especially to those who are mourning the loss of friends and families.

"Turtlemania," which takes place Saturday, October 1 from 1 to 4 P.M. in the middle of the park near Belvedere Castle at 81^st Street, is being presented by Parks in association with Rowntree DeMets, makers of Turtles candy. The event will feature turtles from New York State and around the country. The raindate is Sunday, October 2 at 1:30 P.M.

"This is one of those cases in which the imagination is baffled by the facts."

Sir Winston Spencer Churchill (1874-1965)

New Yorkers sat elbow to elbow in the bleachers eating the traditional Yankee fare of hot dogs and soda, but instead of pennant flags they waved American flags. Cries of "Ice cold beer here!" were replaced with shouts of "U.S.A.! U.S.A.!" And not one, but dozens of anthems and patriotic tunes were sung, including the popular God Bless the U.S.A. The baseball diamond itself had been dressed for a prayer service. Homeplate was a bed of flowers and the outfield was a stage. The pitchers mound was planted with flowers in a formation of stars and stripes.

The afternoon wove popular, national, and religious imagery together. At the door, guests received free stuffed animals affixed with notes and crayoned drawings from children across the country. Thus it was that uniformed officers, grieving family members, and dignitaries from the United Nations entered the stadium with stuffed bears, rabbits, and ducks under their arms. The image of stars and stripes was re-iterated on t-shirts, bandanas, and handheld flags distributed at the door. The service included the singing of Muslim prayer and the sounding of a shofar. The ringing of a school bell called the audience to attention as talk show host Oprah Winfrey invited dozens of celebrated government, religious, and entertainment leaders to the podium. Audience members took their seats with roses and tissues from the Red Cross in hand.

Governor George (Hudson) Pataki urged New Yorkers to consider how proud the deceased would be of the citys efforts to restore and rebuild. Mayor Rudy (Eagle) Giuliani spoke of the miracle of St. Pauls Church being saved from harm. Located in lower Manhattan, the church holds the countrys oldest American seal and was visited by George Washington during the Revolutionary War. Muslim, Jewish, Christian, Sikh, and Hindu religious leaders offered their thoughts and read from sacred texts. Their words were punctuated by musical performances. Opera star Placido Domingo sang Ave Maria, Mayor Giulianis favorite hymn. Bette (The Rose) Midler led the crowd in You Are the Wind Beneath My Wings. Popstar Marc Antony performed America the Beautiful.

As the Columbia Society Orchestra of the NYPD played Amazing Grace, the whole crowd hummed to the tune. When the Boys and Girls Choir of Harlem performed We Shall Overcome, New Yorkers took hands. The afternoon was full of expressions of warmth. Mayor Giuliani, for example, hugged every speaker at the conclusion of their remarks. At the end of the interfaith service, strangers in the audience parted as friendly acquaintances.

Parks assisted in the prayer service in a variety of ways. Not only is Yankee Stadium a Parks concession, the event ushers and consultants were from the Urban Park Service, Bronx Operations, and several other offices. Following Mayor Giulianis for a return to routine, homeplate, the outfield, and pitchers mound will be restored in time for the New York Yankees to play at home tonight.

(Tuesday, September 27, 1988)

Ideas can be potent weapons, stronger than a swarm of soldiers or a roomful of rifles. On Sunday, hundreds of marchers will commemorate the 119^th anniversary of the birth of Mahatma Gandhi, one of the great men of the 20^th century and the father of nonviolent resistance. Beginning at 10:30 a.m., marchers will wind their way from the United Nations downtown for a ceremony in Union Square Park, where the statue of the Indian leader stands.

At Noon, when marchers arrive at the southwest corner of the 3.6-acre park at Union Square Park West and East 14^th Street, they will be greeted by Mayor Koch, Commissioner Stern, Indian Foreign Minister Narashimha Rao, Indian Ambassador P.K. Paul and Consul General P. Alan Nazareth. The Russel Tubbs Instrumental Ensemble will play Indian-flavored jazz and the dignitaries will put a garland of flowers picked from city parks around the neck of the Gandhi statue.

"You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,
which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you,
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.
You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth."

Kahlil Gibran (1883-1931)