Marianne joined Parks & Recreation in May 1986. After participating in the Parks 40 Intern Program for six months, she worked with the Natural Resources Group, mapping plant communities (a.k.a. entitating) in many of the Citys natural areas in Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and The Bronx. In 1989, she began a long stint with the Van Cortlandt & Pelham Bay Parks Administrators Office, first as Staff Writer, then as Director of Public Information, Volunteer Coordinator, Special Projects Coordinator, and finally Director of Community Outreach.

Throughout her career at Parks, Marianne has written and edited a variety of Parks & Recreation publications, including Woodlands, Wetlands and Wildlife: A Guide To New York Citys Natural Areas, the John Muir Nature Trail Guide, and Native Americans of Van Cortlandt & Pelham Bay Parks as well as numerous newsletters, articles, and press pieces. As Administrator of the Citys largest park, Marianne will oversee all aspects of its 2,766 acres not only special events, capital investments, and planning, but also forest, meadow, wetlands and a lone coyote or two. Her intimate knowledge of the park, ease of manner, and dedication to public service will be valuable assets as she helps Pelham Bay Park realize its full potential.

Born and raised in The Bronx (the borough with a capital T), Marianne attended Herbert H. Lehman College where she earned two B.A. degrees in History and Environmental Studies. Marianne and her husband Brian, Commissioner of the NYC Department of Records (and an honorary Parkie), have three children: Conor, 19, Emma, 17 and Luke, 5, and live in the Woodlawn section of The Bronx.

Im very excited and grateful to Commissioner Benepe on this appointment, said Marianne. As a Bronx native and someone who has worked in the park for many years, I know I can make a difference. Pelham Bay Park is truly beautiful and a tremendous asset to the community. I plan on giving the park the attention it deserves, and working hard for its current and future needs.

GO GREEN!

Eco-Tip of the Day

Stop the junk mail.
Each year, the average American household receives
about 1.5 trees worth of junk mail.

www.myfloridaclimate.com

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

Brass bands are all very well in their place - outdoors and several miles away.

Sir Thomas Beecham
(1879 - 1961)

Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe cheered on competitors at the Manhattan preliminaries on Saturday, watching players like American Bocce President Peter Rabito. Chef Lidia Bastianich from Lidias Italy helped kick off the event and awarded $1,000 in prize money to The Devils, the winning team from Queens.

The Citywide Bocce tournament brings New Yorkers out from every borough and from all age groups, Commissioner Benepe said. Bocce is sweeping the country and Parks is proud to bring this international sport to the City.

Queens-based teams swept the finals. Lidia Bastianich awarded the The Devils team members an $1,000 check. The team also won the chance to ride on the Parks float in the Columbus Day Parade. Queens Team Adriatica earned 2nd place overall and $300 in prize money. Manhattans American Bocce Club clinched 3rd place and $200. Last year, two teams from Brooklyn took 1st and 3rd place with participants from Queens earning 2nd place.

Participants from the Bronx played in Pelham Bay Park while Brooklyn players competed at Marine Park. In Manhattan, bocce enthusiasts gathered at J.J. Walker Park and in Queens, teams faced off in Juniper Valley Park. Winning teams from each borough dueled at Juniper Valley Park in Queens on Sunday, September 30.

The Citywide Bocce Tournament was presented by New York City Parks & Recreation, in conjunction with the Columbus Citizens Foundation.

- 30 -

Contact: Warner Johnston /Trish Bertuccio (212) 360-1311

Manhattan

Journey to Fort Washington Park this Saturday, September 15, between 12 p.m. and 5 p.m., for the 15th Annual Little Red Lighthouse Festival, sponsored by Con Edison. Visitors can enjoy hayrides, face painting, the antics of a stilt-walker, live music and a reading of Hildegarde Swifts classic story "The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray Bridge," by Commissioner Adrian Benepe and Dr. Ruth. Guests can also tour Manhattans only remaining lighthouse.

Spend Saturday, September 15 and Sunday, September 16, at the 25th Annual Queens County Fair. A traditional county fair with Blue Ribbon competitions in livestock, produce, home crafts, arts and crafts, and more. Enjoy the Amazing Maize Maze, pie-eating, and corn-husking contests, pig racing, make-your-own-scarecrow, hayrides, petting zoo, carnival rides, and midway. Visit the Bavarian Garden and enjoy Irish and German bands, crafts, and food vendors. The Queens County Farm Museum is located at 73-50 Little Neck Parkway in Floral Park. The fun begins at 11 a.m. and lasts until 6 p.m. Admission: Adults $6.00, Children (12 and under) $3.00.

Brooklyn

Come celebrate International Chocolate Month with the History Club on Sunday, September 16! This months focus is on our citys fine chocolate history. Join us at Marine Parks Salt Marsh Nature Center between 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. for a discussion of chocolates local historic significanceand for some free samples.

Just this week, Hurricane Humberto hit the Gulf Coast in Texas and Louisiana. Have you ever wondered what causes a hurricane? What would happen if a hurricane hit New York City directly? Come down to the Blue Heron Nature Center to learn more about these huge storms that have been sweeping the world. The Urban Park Rangers can answer your questions and tell you what you can do to be prepared. Blue Heron Park is located at 222 Poillon Avenue. The event begins at 3 p.m. and lasts one hour.

On Saturday, September 15, join Dr. Harriet Davis-Kram, assistant professor at Queens College, at the Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum in Pelham Bay Park for a look at the life of New York City residents during the American Victorian Era. Crime was an everyday affair and neighborhood residents often relied on gangsters and corrupt political organizations for aid in emergencies. Registration requested. The event starts at 1 p.m. and is located at 895 Shore Road.

"All I really need is love but a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt!"

Lucy Van Pelt in "Peanuts" by Charles M. Schulz

Scores of volunteers from Goldman-Sachs hit the beach on July 31, making the Bronx the destination for their 2007 annual community service outing. The corporate-sponsored event, organized by New York Cares, brought 380 young men and women to Pelham Bay Park as part of their new employee indoctrination. Goldman-Sachs objective to combine a team-building exercise with constructive community service had positive outcomes, as the group helped upgrade areas along the promenade and clean the shores and trails in nearby natural areas.

The team spirit was matched with a $10,000 donation of supplies that included approximately 1,000 feet of new wooden railing, 76 gallons of paint, numerous bench slats, and all the paint supplies, garbage bags, grabbers, and gloves that you could ask for.

To prepare for a smooth workday, Bronx Shops crews got all the wood pre-installed and readied to prime and paint. Led by Technical Services Supervisor Steve Yanolatos and Painter Supervisor Steve Saccomanno, the volunteers worked alongside Parks staff. They sanded and primed over 700 square feet, and painted nearly -mile of railing from beach sections 10 to 12. In addition, 2,460 square feet of cement wall and 35 benches were scraped and painted.

"The volunteers brought an amazing amount of energy to the park," said Pelham Bay Park Administrator K.C. Sahl. "We very much appreciate all that they were able to accomplish, and are grateful for the enthusiasm and support from throughout Bronx Parks for this project."

In the forests and on the shores of nearby Hunter Island and Rodmans Neck, the volunteers cleared invasive weeds like multiflora rose, mile-a-minute weed, day lily, and mugwort. They walked almost -mile of trails and salt marsh where they cleaned up litter and large debris. Over 250 bags of weeds and litter were collected, and a 3-cubic-yard truck was filled with washed-up debris.

None of this would have been possible without the organizing force of New York Cares, who first approached Parks last spring with the potential project. Events Manager Tara Cook and other key staff members worked closely with Parks to track supply needs, arrange volunteers, and choose key projects that would both interest the volunteers and get the most work accomplished in the shortest amount of time. All totaled, the Goldman-Sachs employees logged an impressive 910 hours of community service.

The team effort was supported by numerous Parks staff including Manager Shawn Cargil, Supervisor Phil Koenig, Seasonal Supervisor Kevin Lonergan, and beach staff Kevin Jenkins, Manny Lopez, and Felix Rodriguez; Urban Park Rangers Mara Pendergrass, Marc Sanchez, Holly Brown and Kathy Vazquez; Pelham Bay Park Wildlife Manager David Knstler, and Natural Resources Group staff led by Forest Crew Team Leader Rich Love and Project Manager Daniella Zanin-Pereira.

Written by Marianne OHea Anderson

Nate and Alex work with the Natural Resource Group (NRG) and have been with Parks since 1997 and 2002 respectively. For four weeks this spring, Nate and Alex were heavily involved in our efforts to eradicate the Asian Longhorned Beetle from Pralls Island in Staten Island.

Alex and Nate worked beyond the call both on their primary assignment to protect natural resources on the island, and to assist this large operation, where needed, seven days a week.

At its peak, the emergency swamping, cutting and chipping of some 3,000 trees, involved more than 70 federal, state, and city workers. Nate and Alex operated NRGs 17-foot Boston Whaler to help get people to and from the Island, one of many boats involved in this effort. They braved changing weather, tides, ship traffic, and difficult landing requirements on constant routes, all while launching from Elizabeth, New Jersey. Alex and Nate put safety first and contributed greatly to the overall safety record of the project. There were no lost-time accidents during the thousands of hours worked by everyone on Pralls Island.

This level of commitment is nothing new for Nate and Alex. Since joining Parks, without formal science training, they have worked with NRGs Salt Marsh Restoration Team and become strong field naturalists. They often respond for Parks at the scene of environmental incidents, such as unauthorized dumping, storm damage, and oil spills. Alex and Nate played an important role in clean-up activities and damage assessment during last years Coast Guard-led response to the Chevron oil spill in New Jersey, which impacted western Staten Island. For their efforts, they were nominated by Director of NRG Bill Tai.

Written by Kamil Krawczyk

SUMMERTIME HEROES:
OUTDOOR MOVIE SERIES AT PELHAM BAY PARK

Celebrate the last few precious summer evenings by coming out to the Bronx for the second half of the Pelham Bay Park Outdoor Movie Series. This first-time event for the park features six films on consecutive Monday evenings focusing on heroes and their struggles against adversity.

Each film was chosen by the five local elected officials who represent Pelham Bay Park, the Citys largest greenspace, and by the events media sponsor, the Bronx Times Reporter. Remaining movies in the series are Rudy, on August 20 (Congressman Joseph Crowley), Mr. Smith Goes To Washington, on August 27 (Senator Jeff Klein), and the series finale, Citizen Kane, on September 3 (Bronx Times). All films air at 8:30 a.m. on the spacious lawn west of the parks running track. The last film, Orson Welles acclaimed 1941 mystery, is scheduled to air at the historic Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum.

Screening classic films outdoors has become increasingly popular citywide, with major showings in Bryant Park, Brooklyn Bridge Park, along the Hudson River, and at many other parks. At Pelham, the movies are projected onto a 20-foot-by-30-foot screen with a state-of-the-art sound system. Families are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, blankets, and pack a picnic.

For those of you who want to know what you missed, previous screenings were The Wizard of Oz, (Councilman Jimmy Vacca), To Kill A Mockingbird, (Assemblyman Michael Benedetto), and The Tuskegee Airmen, (Borough President Adolfo Carrion Jr.).

GROW AT PARKS

Did you know that Job Opportunities for Parks employees can be accessed by phone? Dial 1-888-292-5653 to hear current vacancies, application deadlines and how to apply. The Job Hotline is updated weekly. Parks is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

More opportunities to Grow at Parks are now posted on the intranet, internet and job hotline.
 Senior Environmental Engineer (Assoc. Project Manager)/Olmsted Center 11660B
 Supervisor of Budget and Analytical Unit (Principal Admin. Associate)/Arsenal West 11761
 Supervisor of Purchasing Unit (Principal Admin. Associate)/Arsenal West 11762

Remember to send cover letter and resume with the Vacancy Number to grow@parks.nyc.gov

To see what these jobs entail and for other opportunities to Grow at Parks, please visit the Parks Intranet. You can access the postings two ways: 1) from the top of the screen go to Divisions to Personnel to Job Postings or 2) scroll down on the left side to quick links to the red icon.

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources.

Albert Einstein
(1879 1955)

Mark Tuesday nights at 11:00 p.m. and Saturday afternoons at 5:00 p.m. on your calendars. That is because those are the airtimes for "Its My Park," the television show highlighting the best of the Department of Parks & Recreation. The show airs on NYC TV (Channel 25 on Time Warner, Channel 22 on Cablevision). The show will air Tuesday nights at 11:00 p.m. with an encore presentation Saturday afternoons at 5:00 p.m.

With nearly 29,000 acres of Parks, New York Citys "emerald empire" extends beyond your neighborhood playground offering a surprising richness of things to do and sights to behold. From swimming pools to wetlands and everything in between, "Its My Park" showcases the treasure trove of experiences waiting for you. Bridle path or bike path, "Its My Park" will lead you to a seasons worth of fun.

Using a documentary format, "Its My Park" showcases activities going on in parks throughout the five boroughs which are generally free to the public but not widely known about. This season features segments ranging from extreme sports like urban mountain biking to serene hobbies like community gardening. This season will also uncover hidden histories, take viewers to unheard of facilities and get the word out about free programs.

Highlights of this season include DJ Kool Herc going back to the park where he first spun and scratched and became a founding father of hip hop, a trip inside the Little Red Lighthouse, an annual fishing contest held at Prospect Park, and a walk across the High Bridge. The show will also explore unique locations such as McCarren Pool in Brooklyn and the future Freshkills Park in Staten Island.

Be sure not to miss "Its My Park," Tuesday nights at 11:00 p.m. and Saturday afternoons at 5:00 p.m. on NYC TV.

Episodes include...

Can I Do That?
From building boats to bird watching, go beyond New York's concrete jungle.

Whats That?
Find out what a velodrome is and who uses it. Meet the cowboys at the Cedar Lane Stables, as well as the crew that cares for hundreds of the monuments throughout the city. See whos gone fishin from the Sheepshead Bay Marina in Brooklyn.

Whos Counting?
There are Bocce courts in 39 parks, original Keith Haring murals in two parks, a vegan food vendor and a gelato cart in one park, and the oldest structure in New York State in yet another.

Renaissance All Over Again
From Shakespeare to Handball, Parks are classic and modern.

Forts, Festivals and Farming
Featuring Fort Tryon Park, Orchard Beach, Grove Hill Learning Garden and Morningside Park.

Good Eats and Good Stories
Featuring Red Hook Park Food Vendors, Historic Fort Totten, a space age playground, ice skating and more.

"Recommend to your children virtue; that alone can make them happy, not gold."

(1770 1827)

Collaboration among agencies is key to New York Citys disability access effort in parks and communities throughout the five boroughs. This announcement underscores Parks commitment to making City parks accessible to everyone and complements the Human Rights Commissions recent work in Brighton Beach and other communities on accessibility in residential buildings and stores.

Weve brought New Yorkers Wheelchair Football and Quad Rugby, a website designed for those with visual, hearing, mobility, and cognitive impairmentsand now we bring you the waves and the sand, said Commissioner Benepe. Today, we celebrate yet another example of Parks commitment to helping ALL New Yorkers discover how the Citys 29,000 acres of parkland can enrich their lives with programs, facilities, and now beach access.

Thanks to $130,000 in Mayoral funding, the Parks Department was able to install almost 2,000 feet of accessible Mobi-Mats at four beaches around the City: in the Rockaways at Beach 116th Street, Queens; Brighton Beach, Brooklyn; Orchard Beach, Bronx; and Midland Beach at Jefferson Avenue, Staten Island. All locations have accessible public transportation and accessible comfort stations.

The mats were laid on the sand and secured with 14-inch staples, from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Find more information at: http://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_about/accessibility/beach_trail.html.

These successful modifications create true mobility and independence, said Commissioner Gatling. People with disabilities have a right to participate fully in all areas of life and are protected from discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations under the City Human Rights Law. We are thrilled today to join with Parks in making these City beaches available to all.

In 2006, the Human Rights Commissions Equal Access Program targeted Brighton Beach because of its large number of elderly and disabled individuals and high percentage of old residential multiple-dwelling buildings. The staff received numerous inquires about making the ocean reachable to individuals with disabilities, and within a few months, Parks had installed mats for a trial run. The Commission will continue to work in Brighton Beach until all the targeted buildings are accessible.

I congratulate the Parks Department on another victory for New Yorkers with disabilities, said Commissioner Sapolin. We are happy to celebrate yet another example of how the City of New York is becoming more accessible for all New Yorkers.

The Parks Departments goal is to provide access and opportunity, going above and beyond mere compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to provide access as well as increased opportunities for recreation and participation. Visit us at www.nyc.gov/parks for more information on accessibility, including playgrounds and centers with programming and field trips, free Aquatic Therapy Instruction, Wheelchair Basketball and Football, Quad Rugby, and more.

Parks has been aggressive in our goal of accessibility a few examples of Parks programs include:

• Playgrounds for All Children have accessible play equipment, and at many playgrounds, Parks has programming that reaches out to children with special needs from across the city. School field trips, a yearly carnival, and other special events include face painting, entertainment, and arts & crafts;
• Greenbelt Recreation Center in Staten Island and the soon-to-open Fowler Recreation Center in Queens have accessible equipment and features;
• The Flushing Meadows Corona Park Pool and Ice Hockey Rink, opening in the fall, will have an Olympic-size public pool with adjustable floors to accommodate small children and people with disabilities. The NHL-standard ice hockey rink will be equipped for sled hockey.
• Owen-Dolen Center in the Bronx provides field trips for disabled children on Saturdays, as well as a summer day camp;
  Graniteville Outreach and Therapeutic Recreation Center in Staten Island provides programs and workshops for all special needs groups;
• Free Aquatic Therapy at five locations citywide;
• Wheelchair Basketball, Football, Softball, and Quad Rugby;
• Accessible camping every weekend in July and August with the Urban Park Rangers with accessible tents; and
• Accessible New York City beaches.
• This summers season of Its My Park on NYC TV documents a wide variety of free Parks activities for people with disabilities in every borough, including Wheelchair Tennis instruction in Flushing Meadows Corona Park. To watch Its My Park! videos on wheelchair accessible facilities in New York City parks, search at www.nyc.gov/parks.

"New York Citys beaches provide millions of New Yorkers a spectacular natural setting to have fun in the sun," said Commissioner Benepe. "With over 1.5 million visitors to Orchard Beach last summer and with the upcoming multi-million dollar renovation of the historic Pavilion, this mile-long beach will continue to live up to it's nickname, the Riviera of the Bronx. This summer, as always, we remind beach-goers to observe all beach rules and regulations, and most importantly, to only swim when a lifeguard is on duty."

Parks announced the upcoming restoration of Orchard Beach Pavilion, which dates to the 1930s and was last year designated a New York City landmark. Renovation work will stabilize and restore the building with original historical design elements, including a new fade, support columns, and structural slabs. Currently in the design phase, the project has been allocated $6 million from Croton Filtration Plant Mitigation Funds.

Officials also announced the debut of the AeroBalloon this summer at Orchard Beach. This silent and non-polluting giant tethered helium balloon ride will be available to the public beginning mid-June. For a modest fee and under the supervision of a certified AeroBalloon pilot, beach-goers can take a 15-minute ride in a wicker gondola that will lift them to approximately 350 feet into the air for a 360-degree view of Orchard Beach and Pelham Bay Park.

City beaches span a total of 14 miles at seven locations, including Orchard Beach in the Bronx; Brighton Beach, Coney Island, and Manhattan Beach in Brooklyn; Rockaway Beach in Queens; and Midland Beach, South Beach, and Wolfes Pond Beach in Staten Island. All City beaches are free to the public. Last summer, over 20 million people visited the Citys beaches.

Over the past five years, Parks & Recreation has spent over $50 million on improvements to New York Citys beaches, and there is an additional $10 million worth of ongoing improvements. At Orchard Beach in the Bronx, the historic, landmark pavilion will undergo $6 million in renovations to stabilize the structure and reconstruct historical elements. In Staten Island, a new beachfront greenway connects national park areas in Fort Wadsworth to South Beach and continuing south to Miller Field. At Rockaway Beach in Queens, the Citys first designated surfing area expands this summer from 88th to 92nd streets to include 67th to 69th streets, and there is a new accessible comfort station at 117th Street as well as the Flight 587 memorial at 116th Street. In Brooklyn, Coney Island features 95 newly-replaced historic boardwalk lights and will welcome professional volleyball at the beach for the second consecutive summer. In addition, this season Parks is unveiling "mobimats," or ADA-accessible beach mats that provide beach-goers who use wheelchairs, walkers, and other rolling devices, to travel from the boardwalk to the waters edge. Accessible mats will be placed in Rockaway Beach in Queens, Brighton Beach in Brooklyn, Orchard Beach in the Bronx, and Midland Beach on Staten Island.

Established through the generosity of The Hagedorn Fund, the 700-square-foot Sensory Garden is a delightful addition to the playground, offering children of varying abilities a chance to connect with nature in intimate, engaging ways. At the Gardens center is a teardrop-shaped planting bed that adds natural elements of color, sound, touch, and smell to the built features of the playground. Plants include the fragrant Tiny Rubies Dianthus and Creeping Lemon Thyme; soft-as-velvet Lambs Ears and rough-edged Arborvitae; and the noisy ruffling stalks of Purple Fountain Grass. Brightly colored flowers in the garden include numerous yarrows in yellow, red, orange, and pink, as well as a variety of colorful Butterfly Bush.

The main attraction of the Sensory Garden is a raised wheelchair-accessible L-shaped planter complete with dwarf evergreens, herbs, and flowering vines to creep up the trellis and posts. A small side garden of evergreens provides soft colors, feathery textures, minty scents, and fall fruits for wildlife. Most of the Sensory Garden plants will vary in texture, sight, and smell as they change seasonally, and many attract birds, insects, and butterflies.

The Friends of Pelham Bay Park and the Pelham Bay Park Administrators Office collaborated closely on the project and, with grant money from the New York City Environmental Fund, hired Seasonal Gardener/Educator Donna Dietrich to provide on-site coordination. Dietrichs horticultural creativity is apparent in the Sensory Garden and throughout the playground where several small garden beds were cleaned, weeded, mulched, and re-established with sensory plants, creating a natural link between the play areas and the main Sensory Garden site. This design plan has increased the number of potential opportunities for children with disabilities to experience nature throughout the play setting.

During the summer, work on the Garden created quite a buzz in the community and amongst those groups who regularly use the playground. As weeds were pulled and flowers planted, Dietrich was continually answering questions, receiving positive feedback, and making connections with organizations and schools who care for children with disabilities. By the time school was back in session, several educational workshops were scheduled and children from the South Bronx Center, PS 811X and the Autistic Program at Co-op Citys P.S. 176 got to clear leaves, water plants, smell the crushed leaves of herbs, and plant seedlings.

The beauty of the garden was matched by the brawn of Bronx Parks. With the full support and dedication of Borough Operations, the gardens essential elements the concrete path, garden beds, and raised planters were put in place. Supervisor of Bronx Technical Services Steve Yanolatos assisted with the technical aspects of the gardens design and layout. Boro Crews Supervisor Vincent Morrone and his staff excavated the site, placed gravel substrate, and delivered compost and soil. Under Yanolatos supervision, Mason Tommy Weber laid down the cement walkway. Raised beds were designed and built by Carpenters Greg Kelly and James Murray, with assistance from Sheet Metal Worker Eugene Desplantes and Shops Assistant Carlos Feliciano.

Thanks to the many people who contributed their time and energy to the project, including Friends of Pelham Bay Park Chair Franz Helmke and their board of directors, Bronx Parks Commissioner Hector Aponte, Chief of Operations John Bachman, Deputy Chiefs Paul DAmore and Tom Russo, Administrator Margot Perron, Supervisor Nick Mancini and the Pelham Bay maintenance staff, Gardener Matilda Mosleh and Landscape Architect Claire Dudley.

Written by Marianne O'Hea Anderson

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

Everyone has a purpose in life. Perhaps yours is watching television.

David Letterman
(1947 - )

The lagoon is one of Pelham Bay Parks greatest treasures, said Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe. It is a locals secret renowned for its serene natural setting and its diverse abundance of wildlife, including hawks which pass through along their migratory route.

The shape and orientation of the Lagoon has evolved over the years along with the changing landscape of the surrounding parkland. The Lagoon took its original shape during the 1930s when former Parks Commissioner Robert Moses spearheaded an ambitious $8 million project to add 115 new acres of land to join Rodmans Neck and Hunter Island, and form Orchard Beach. Several decades later, when it was selected as the site of the 1964 Olympic rowing trials, the Lagoon was widened and dredged. Most recently in 2000, the salt marshes of the Lagoon underwent $413,000 in restoration, funded by Mayor Giuliani. The restoration preserved these transitional spots where the freshwater rivers and streams meet ocean water. Today, the salt marshes serve as valuable natural filtration systems that trap pollutants, absorb fertilizers, improve water quality, reduce erosion, and provide a rich wildlife habitat.

This delightful spot offers an array of activities to the curious visitor. Catch an early morning sunrise with Bartow-Pell Mansion on the horizon; search for oysters or launch a canoe with the Urban Park Rangers; join fishermen and their families along the shore to angle for small killifish (Fundulus diaphanus), silversides (Menidia notata), or bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix); or cheer on a competitive collegiate crew race. If youre lucky, you will also spot some other creatures who are in the know of this well-kept secret: the great blue heron (Ardea herodias) and the snowy egret (Egretta thula).

To access the Lagoon via public transportation, take the No. 6 subway north to the last stop, Pelham Bay Park. From there, hop on the BX 29 to City Island Traffic Circle and follow the path to Orchard Beach Parking Lot. Look for signs indicating entrance to the Lagoon in the northwest corner of the parking lot.

Park of the Month introduces some our greatest parks and greenspaces to curious New Yorkers and visitors alike. For additional information on our Park of the Month, please visit www.nyc.gov/parks.

MISSING PERSON AIDED

On October 4, Parks Enforcement Patrol Officer Cordero observed Mr. Dominick Cresenzi, an elderly man in a parked vehicle with the engine running and the windshield wiper blades on. Although he was visibly shaking and unresponsive to questions, with the assistance of Sergeant Mercado, Sergeant Lawrence and Officer Scirica, they obtained his identification and called his sister, who advised them that a missing person report was filed the day before. EMS and NYPD soon responded and the individual was transported to Beekman Hospital. We applaud our P.E.P. officers for their prompt attention in assisting Mr. Cresenzi.

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

A play should give you something to think about.

When I see a play and understand it the first time, then I know it can't be much good.

T.S. Eliot
(1888 1965)

The Citys beaches opened on Saturday, May 27, with lifeguards on duty daily, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Swimming is strictly prohibited at all other times. Beaches will remain open through Labor Day weekend.

City beaches span a total of 14 miles and include Orchard Beach in the Bronx; Brighton Beach, Coney Island, and Manhattan Beach in Brooklyn; Rockaway Beach in Queens; and Midland Beach, South Beach, and Wolfes Pond Beach in Staten Island. All City beaches are free to the public.

"New York Citys beaches are in great shape, and we look forward to a fun and safe summer," said Parks & Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe. "We remind beach-goers to observe all beach rules and regulations, carefully monitor children at all times, and especially to never go in the water when there is not a lifeguard on duty."

Over the past four years, Parks & Recreation has spent $40 million on improvements to New York Citys beaches, and there is an additional $28 million worth of ongoing improvements. In the Bronx, a new lifeguard station is being completed to accompany the recently renovated main pavilion at Orchard Beach. South Beach on Staten Island is home to a new gazebo, shade pavilion and restored bathhouse, while Midland Beach boasts a new pier extending from the boardwalk into the Lower Bay of the New York Harbor. At Rockaway Beach in Queens, the City opened a new ocean-side skate park and playground in 2005, along with the City's first surfing beach. In Brooklyn, Parks is installing 95 historic boardwalk lights and will be welcoming professional volleyball to Coney Island for the first time this summer. Parks is also in process of lighting the famous Parachute Jump thanks to $1 million allocated by Borough President Markowitz.

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In 1844, 14 years before Olmsted and Vaux handed in their Greensward plan, Evening Post editor William Cullen Bryant expounded on the need for a central park in New York City. Soon after, Horticulturalist editor Andrew Jackson Downing echoed these sentiments. Following that lead, Walt Whitman, editor of the then-independent City of Brooklyns Daily Eagle, began advocating for his city to build Prospect Park. So, although its the fruit of Olmsted and Vauxs visionary work that we see, we must remember that editors planted those parks seeds in the Citys soil.

The Bronx, boasts three of New York Citys ten largest parks: Pelham Bay Park is biggest with more than 2,700 acres, Van Cortlandt comes in number four at 1,146 acres, and Bronx Park is number eight with 718 acres. All of these acquisitionsalong with Claremont, Crotona, and St. Marys Parkscame at the hands of John Mullaly, a career newspaper man who worked in a series of posts at several publications before helping to found the New York Park Association in 1881.

Each of these eminent editors have New York City parks named in their honor; additionally, there are over a dozen parks named for editors whose words impacted the history of their local communitiesor, in some cases, the entire nation. From the simple stone relief portrait inserted into the wall of Central Park that honors editor Arthur Brisbane of The New York Sun to Manhattans two large statues honoring Horace Greeley, the founding editor of the New York Tribune, parks around the city pay tribute to historic editors.

Starting in 1831, William Lloyd Garrison published and edited The Liberator, a newspaper through which, for 35 years, he denounced the practice of slavery. His efforts earned him equal amounts of praise, scorn, and respect. Southerners reaction to The Liberator was strong. The South Carolina Vigilance Committee offered a $1,500 reward for the arrest of anyone distributing the publication, while the Georgia House of Representatives offered a $5,000 reward for Garrisons capture and trial. He is honored with a playground in the Bronx.

Manuel de Dios Unanue Triangle Park in Queens honors the memory of another brave newspaper editor who, though he was born in Cuba more than 140 years after Garrison, shared the belief that exposing the truth is a prime responsibility of journalism. Unanue edited El Diario-La Prensa and relentlessly covered the Colombian narcotics trade in Queens. His vociferous efforts to publicize these illegal actions cost him his life; he was shot by a contract killer working for the drug cartel that he exposed.

Although many people whose careers culminated as editors had a great impact on history, there are also great figures who had their start in editing. Roy Wilkins, for whom a park and recreation center in Queens are named, began his career in journalism. From 1934 to 1949, he served as editor of The Crisis, a magazine founded by W.E.B. Dubois. Wilkins rose to the position of NAACP president, where he worked tirelessly to promote voter rights legislation, fair housing laws, and equity in wages.

Even Parks favorite poet Joyce Kilmer was once a dictionary editor. And although he specified that "fools" make poems, he never mentioned who edits them.

-written by John Mattera

"An ant on the move does more than a dozing ox."

Lao Tzu
(600-531 B.C.)

Bronx:

Van Cortlandt Park Take a leisurely walk around the lake or hike the John Muir Nature Trail in this woodsy paradise.
Wave Hill Watch the sun set over the Palisades or visit one of the most impressive arboretums in New York City.
Orchard Beach A romantic walk on the rocky shoreline of Hunter Island will transport you to the coast of Old New England.
Bronx Park Watch the spectacular waterfall on New York Citys only freshwater river, Bronx River.

Brooklyn:
Brooklyn Bridge Park Watch the sun set over Manhattan as the East River glistens before you.
Lullwater Bridge, Prospect Park The waterfall and boathouse make the perfect setting for romance.
Fulton Park Stroll through the great trees in this treasured neighborhood park.
Sunset Park Eagle-eye views of Manhattan, Staten Island, New Jersey, and the Statue of Liberty over the East River and New York Bay will make you feel like youre on top of the world.

Manhattan:
Heather Garden, Fort Tryon Park This picturesque garden offers spectacular views of the Palisades in all seasons.
The Battery Take in unparalleled views as seagulls fly, the waves lap, and the sun sets over Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.
Madison Square Park Enjoy world-class outdoor art in this historic park right in the heart of Manhattan.
Carl Schurz Park Cuddle up on the benches behind the grand, Federal-style Gracie Mansion.

Queens:
Fort Totten Park Peer across the Long Island Sound through stately Civil War-era structures.
Astoria Park Stroll the East River waterfront overlooking Roosevelt Island and the awesome Manhattan skyline.
Baisley Pond Park Sit and relax under the gazebo and gaze out at the fabled gigantic lily pads resting on the pond.
Kissena Park Weeping willows set the mood around the beautiful lake.

Staten Island:
Alice Austen House This Victorian garden will transport you to 19^th-century romance.
Willowbrook Park Ride the carousel with your sweetheart and feel like a kid again.
Clove Lakes Park Row a boat ride on the lake while enjoying the beautiful park.

St. Valentine is considered the patron saint of love and lovers. According to legend, he married lovers in secret when Emperor Claudius outlawed marriage, fearing it made men poor soldiers. While imprisoned for these actions, he sent the first "valentine," a note to his beloved that he signed "from your Valentine."

"If you keep at it, one day something which at first appeared impossible will become merely something very difficult indeed."

Danny Paradise
(born 1943)

Bronx
Catch a glimpse of the impressive but elusive raptors of Pelham Bay Park during Night Owling this Saturday, January 21. Chief Naturalist Michael Feller will lead a walk at dusk in search of a pair of long-eared owls roosting in the evergreens. January and February are great months for spotting these owls. Meet at the Orchard Beach parking lot at 4:00 p.m.

Brooklyn
Take a guided tour through Prospect Parks new nature trails during Introduction to Birdwatching this Saturday, January 21. With more than 200 species of birds, its no wonder the National Audubon Society has designated Prospect Park an Important Bird Area. Meet at Wollman Rink at 12:00 p.m. to take part in this free event.

Manhattan
View the Merchant House as it was seen by House and Garden magazine readers back in 1944 with the new exhibit, "Through the Lens of Samuel H. Gottscho," open now through February 27. The Merchants House Museum is located at 29 East 4^th Street.

Queens
Join the Urban Park Rangers for a heart-pumping hike along Forest Parks scenic Orange Trail this Sunday, January 22. Hikers will meets at 10:00 a.m. at the Forest Park Visitor Center at Woodhaven Boulevard and Forest Park Drive. This event is free and open to the public. Dont forget to dress for the weather and bring plenty of water.

Staten Island
Join educators from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation for a day of fun when you participate in Wet & Wild for the Day on Sunday, January 22. Educators will lead these exciting, free activities from 1:00 p.m.- 3:00 p.m. at the Greenbelt Nature Center at Rockland and Brielle Avenues.

"There is so much good in the worst of us, and so much bad in the best of us, that
it behooves all of us not to talk about the rest of us."

Robert Louis Stevenson
(1850-1894)

Bronx

Join the Urban Park Rangers this Sunday, January 15, as they celebrate the natural environment through creativity during Eco-Crafts at Pelham Bay Park. Make flowers from your own hand print, create sailboats out of paper, and explore other means of expression when you head to the Pelham Bay Nature Center at 1:00 p.m. for this free event.

Brooklyn

Honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and other African Americans who have made great contributions to society through a variety of cultural events and activities in Prospect Park. Learn about freedom quilts through live storytelling and a quilt-making workshop for children and adults at the Lefferts Historic House from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 15. You can also listen to guest speakers from the Brooklyn Center for the Urban Environment (BCUE) and the Sierra Club as they explore the African-American experience, and enjoy performances by the Drummers Grove musicians at the Audubon Center. Visit http://www.prospectpark.org/ for a schedule of speakers and performances.

Manhattan

Learn to play like Pelwhen you take part in the Free Youth Soccer Clinic this Saturday, January 14, at the Chelsea Recreation Center. This free instruction will be offered every Saturday until June 24, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., and is open to boys and girls ages 6 through 12. Clinics will focus on the basic fundamentals of the game with an emphasis on dribbling, passing, heading, defending, shooting, and goalkeeping. Head to the Chelsea Recreation Center at 430 West 25^th Street to kick-start the fun!

Queens

Bring your binoculars and field guides for a nice brisk walk around Alley Pond Park as you count and observe ducks of the North Shore this Saturday, January 14. Winter is the season to observe the largest variety of ducksand with birder Larry Plotnick as your guide, youre sure to learn a few things along the way. Head to the Alley Pond Environmental Center at 228-06 Northern Boulevard at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 14.

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

"I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to
accomplish small tasks as if they were great and noble."

Helen Keller
(1880-1968)

Bloomingdale Playground and Park: Neither of these properties (one in Brooklyn the other in Staten Island) have anything to do with the famous store. In Manhattan, the playgrounds name pays homage to the old Dutch neighborhood of Bloomingdale; a road with the same name also once ran on the west side of Manhattan. In Staten Island, no one is really sure where the Bloomingdale name came from; its quite possible that it is literally a "blooming dale" or basin.

Bush-Clinton Playground: Although it got its name in the 1990s, dont read too much politics into this name. This playground is named for Bush and Clinton streets in Brooklyn, which bound the area. Bush Street was most likely named for one of the many prominent Bush families who lived in the neighborhood. Clinton Street is named after De Witt Clinton (1769-1828), who served as the mayor of New York City, a member of the United States Senate, and, ultimately, as the governor of New York.

Carl Schurz Park: Its easy to hear this parks name and think Carl Schultz, the creator of the beloved Charlie Brown cartoons. In reality, Carl Schurz Park was named in 1910 to honor the soldier, statesman, and journalist Carl Schurz (1829-1906). After emigrating to the United States from Cologne, Germany in 1852, Schurz quickly made his reputation as a skilled orator and was instrumental in Abraham Lincolns 1860 election campaign. His most significant political offices were that of United States Senator from Missouri (1869-1875) and Secretary of the Interior (1877-81).

Hugh Grant Circle: A smile only goes so farits not enough to get a park named after you. This Hugh Grant was named after New York City Mayor Hugh J. Grant (1857-1910). The owner of several west-side taverns, Grant made connections with many local Irish-American organizations that aided his political career. Backed by Tammany Hall, Grant became a New York Alderman in 1882, sheriff of New York in 1885, and mayor in 1889. Grant is remembered as New York Citys youngest mayor (he was inaugurated when he was 31 years old).

Hunter Island had nothing to do with hunting (though Shooters Island did). In fact, this property is named for John Hunter, whose family owned the land for nearly 50 years during the 1800s. It is located in the northeast corner of Pelham Bay Park, near the popular Orchard Beach.

Trojan Courts: In the world of the Keyspan Park and the Staples Center, Trojan Courts might seem like another case of corporate naming. Slightly more refined readers might think of Helen, and the Ancient Greeks. The latter would be a better guess, but still wrong. In fact, it is named for the Trojans, a Bronx amateur baseball club that used the fields in the 1930s. Originally called Pelham Field, Trojan Courts is one of the smaller features of Bronx Park.

-written by John Mattera

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and
looks like work."

Thomas Alva Edison
(1847-1941)

Margot originally came to New York City to pursue her dream of becoming a professional dancer. But soon another dream took precedencethat of becoming an Urban Park Ranger. In 1983, Margot joined the Urban Park Rangers and "got hooked on environmental education." During her two years as a Ranger, she developed innovative programs for the Central Park Conservancy at Belvedere Castle. She went on to run programs at the castle and New York Botanical Garden, and got a second Masters Degree in Museum Education Leadership. Using natural areas as outdoor teaching collections, she became a professor of museum education at Bank Street College and of science education at Brooklyn College. Most recently she was Director of Education and Public Programs for twelve years at Wave Hill, the public garden and cultural center in the Bronx.

"I see my career as providing outdoor experiences for City people in gorgeous natural settings," said Margot. "Pelham Bay Park is a gorgeous setting on a grand scale."

And the Bronx is happy to have her.

"We are so pleased that Margot has decided to come home," said Bronx Borough Commissioner Hector Aponte. "Her expertise refined at Wave Hill, Bank Street and the New York Botanical Gardens will be put to good use as we develop new and exciting programs at Pelham Bay Park."

Thus far, the new position seems to suit Margot well. When asked about her first day on the job, Margot responded with enthusiasm. "I have so much energy and so many ideas for the park, and I cant wait to implement them. This weeks homecoming rekindles old friendships and sparks new ones. Its great to be on the agency team again."

More than three times the size of Manhattans Central Park, Pelham Bay Park is the Citys largest park property. Visitors to the park enjoy miles of bridle paths and hiking trails, Orchard Beach, the Bartow-Pell Mansion, two golf courses, and a breathtaking 13-mile saltwater shoreline that hugs the Long Island Sound.

"The love of ones country is a splendid thing. But why
should love stop at the border."

Pablo Casals
(1876-1973)

"The upgrade and enhancement of Parks & Recreation track & field facilities is a logical step in making this type of athletic activity more accessible for New York Citys young athletes," said Deputy Commissioner for Public Programs Kevin Jeffrey. "These regional venues reduce travel time for kids and allow for higher-level competitions to be held locally. For example, the First Annual Mayors Cup meet was held this past April at the new track in Astoria Park, Queens. Nearly 1,500 young athletes from the Citys public, independent and parochial schools competed."

Outdoors in parks and indoors in recreation centers throughout the city, the Parks & Recreation Capital Projects division is developing elliptical tracks made from prefabricated rubber panels. These panels are manufactured in the controlled environment of a factory, eliminating variables like erratic temperatures that can effect the installation process of a pour-in-place (on-site) rubber crumb system often used to coat tracks. Prefabricated materials cost more, but they guarantee quality, longevity and resiliency. They also require less maintenance than the once popular cinder-surfaced tracks.

To construct these tracks, natural rubber is mixed with pigment and produced in custom-made sheets. Once transported to the site, the sections are laid down like a carpet over a carefully prepared and graded sub-base. Proliferating across the city, these new tracks are smooth and brightly colored with demarcated lanes. The almost imperceptibly bouncy surface minimizes the adverse effects that pounding pavement might otherwise have upon users and puts a slight spring in every runners step.

Deputy Team Leader for Bronx Capital Projects Andrew Penzi was the Landscape Architect who designed one such track in Pelham Bay Park. The regulation 400-meter track, just one component of a new track & field facility for New York Citys largest park, replaces a worn out pour-in-place system. The track will wrap around a new synthetic turf football field. Long jump, high jump, pole vault, discus and shot-put facilities are also being built in the vicinity. Construction, which began in February on this $2,505,000 project, is expected to be completed by the end of this month. Funds were allocated by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Council Member Madeline Provenzano, and a Dormitory Authority Grant.

Also in the Bronx and set to open by the end of September, a shorter course is under construction at Bathgate Park. The inner oval area bounded by the track is being surfaced in the same rubber material as the track itself. Here, under the careful supervision of Resident Engineer Ahamad Baksh, different colored rubber pieces are being cut and installed to form a map of the earth.

Ground in Brooklyn is about to be broken for a new track at Linden Park, and Brooklyn Team Landscape Architect Marcha Johnson is in the process of designing a 400-meter track to replace the existing cinder one at Kaiser Park. At Victory Field in Forest Park, Queens, where the Mayor just cut the ribbon on a brand new synthetic turf baseball field, construction on a new little league field contained inside a track has already begun, and a track for Keith Williams Park is in design. An indoor track, currently under construction at the East 54^th Street Recreation Center in Manhattan, will loop around on a gallery above the perimeter of a basketball court below. On the Lower East Side, a new rubber track and synthetic turf field are under construction at Sara D. Roosevelt Park.

Icahn Stadium on Randalls Island, already in construction, will house the only Class 1 IAAF certified track in the United States. Designed with an asphalt and gravel sub-surface for superior drainage, the level of the track will fluctuate by less than an eighth of an inch over any ten feet of track. Meeting and superceding even-gradation and other requirements qualifies the venue for hosting international competitions, rendering it an eligible candidate to hold the next Summer Olympic trials in 2008. The new stadium will have seating for up to 10,000 spectators, a roof, light towers for night usage, a regulation-size soccer field, locker rooms able to accommodate up to a thousand visiting athletes and training and treatment rooms.

Icahn Stadium will attract world-class events, while also providing a key resource to local communities and schools. The $45 million project is funded by $22.6 million in public funds and the rest by private donations raised by the Randalls Island Sports Foundation and Parks & Recreation, including a $10 million gift from Carl Icahn. It is scheduled to open in spring 2005.

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

"Life is often compared to a marathon, but I think it is more like being a sprinter; long stretches of hard work punctuated by brief moments in which we
are given the opportunity to perform at our best."

Michael Johnson
(b. 1967)