Van Cortlandt Park

The Daily Plant : Tuesday, January 18, 2005

JOHN HERROLD TO TAKE THE REINS OF VAN CORTLANDT PARK

Today, January 18, John Herrold begins as Administrator for Van Cortlandt Park, New York City’s fourth-largest park with an area comprising 1,146 acres.

"Having worked with John at Madison Square Park, I know of his ability to network and communicate with people," said Bronx Borough Commissioner Hector Aponte. "These skills will be put to good use as John and the community develop a new vision for Van Cortlandt Park."

John Herrold has long been involved in New York City’s parks, professionally and personally. John joined Parks & Recreation in 1999 after a several years of volunteering with the Riverside Park Fund. As a part-time aide to the Riverside Park Administrator, he oversaw special events and coordinated volunteer and community projects in Riverside and Fort Washington parks. He was especially involved in relations with the dog-owning community and worked on design and fundraising for the reconstruction of two dog runs in Riverside. He was officially dubbed "Director of Quadruped Affairs" and fielded calls from around the country and as far away as Japan and Australia on the design and management of dog runs.

Starting in 2001, John served as the manager of Madison Square Park, where he oversaw daily operations, capital improvements, a wide range of special events, and community relations. He also nurtured a strong relationship between park operations and the fundraising and programming activities of the Madison Square Park Conservancy.

Born in Manhattan and raised nearby in northern New Jersey, John recalls his formative time on his family’s woodland property in rural Pennsylvania. "My life-long love of the natural environment, which led to my intense appreciation for New York’s green spaces, comes from this experience. It was also how I came to understand planning, construction, and maintenance." John is a graduate of Columbia College and has lived on the Upper West Side since the late 1980s.

As far as his new position is concerned, John is eager for the challenge. "I fell in love with Van Cortlandt Park the first time I visited," said John. "The deep woods, nature trails and aquaculture; the horseback riding, golf and athletics; the historic house, nursery, gardens and playgrounds, make it a fascinating place for people with every sort of interest. And it’s big enough to contain all of this with room to spare."

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

"The tragedy of life is what dies inside a man while he lives."

Albert Schweitzer
(1875-1965)