Central Park

The Daily Plant : Monday, June 25, 2001

PARKS ARTIST RETURNS TO HIS ROOTS

Christopher Rodriguez grew up using parks. Born in Queens, raised on the Lower East Side, he's been a New Yorker his entire life. In sixth grade he played a lot of ping-pong and basketball at Hamilton Fish Recreation Center, where he met Chris Engle, a local artist and the director of the center's after-school program. Christopher Rodriguez described what it was like: "I always was that kid who didn't get out too much. The rec. center was the place I got to go to. Chris put me on the path of going into the arts. He saw that I had something. He's part of the reason I want to give back."

This summer Christopher Rodriguez will work as a Playground Associate, supervising one area of a park or recreation center. Christopher explained, "The first priority is to make sure the area is safe for the kids. Then we set up activities for them. Rather than act as babysitters, we try to go along with whatever they want to do, and make sure they have a good time. Chris Engle told me about the position, what it entails, and what you have to do."

Chris Engle started working at Hamilton Fish Recreation Center seven years ago as an art teacher. Drawing from his experience as an art therapist at New York Foundling Hospital, he encourages kids to use the creative arts as a means of self expression and development. "We try to empower kids coming from backgrounds that need support from outside their families and the school system. No one really thought any of these kids had much of a chance to get to go to college, but in some cases we've had great successes. A lot of the kids we deal with are coming from homes where they don't get a lot of parental guidance. We give them a sense of continuity. For many of the kids, working on art projects is a great introduction to developing a work ethic. They can see directly the results of their labor."

"Chris [Rodriguez] was one of the first kids I got to work with. My goal for Christopher was to develop his confidence in his artistic abilities, I wanted him to be able to say: 'this is something I have.'" Siting Christopher Rodriguez as a remarkable example of how the creative arts can make a lasting impact on a young person's life, Chris Engle said, "He's a real success story. He has a lot of talent, and works hard. He came to me while he was in seventh grade. I helped him get into the high school he wanted to be in. Later, I helped him put together his resume and portfolio as he applied for college. At one point I asked him: 'why don't you become an artist?'"

This fall Christopher will enter his sophomore year at SUNY Purchase as an art major with an emphasis on the fine arts. This summer, he'll share his commitment to art with the young people of New York City. He told The Daily Plant, "I look forward to helping the kids expand their minds through arts and crafts. I think art helps people break through borders. It helps them realize that they don't need to be enclosed. Whether its making things out of tissue paper or macaronis, I'm excited about providing an opportunity for these kids to tap into their individual creative abilities."

By Andrew Gray

THE DAILY PLANT KEEPS SCORE: WEEK # 2

The Parks softball league played three games last week, and three undefeated teams emerged. After winning their first round when PEP forfeited the game, Bronx hit the field for the first time on Monday and scored a 16-3 victory against Arsenal West.

Tuesday's games included a midtown battle as Central Park faced Arsenal. While this is Central Park's rookie season in the league, they looked like pros as they handed the Arsenal a 9-2 loss. A couple of fields over, Queens took on the Zoo Garage in a nail-biter, but the contest finally ended with a 6-5 Queens victory.

All teams play this week. Monday, Manhattan takes on Brooklyn, and Central Park faces Queens. Tuesday, it is Bronx versus Zoo Garage and Brooklyn plays again, this time against Arsenal. On Wednesday, PEP takes the field against Arsenal West.

By Sarah (Cria) Coleman

COUNCIL MEMBER MICHELS TO SPEAK IN THE ARSENAL GALLERY

Tomorrow, June 26 at 12:30 p.m., Council Member Stanley (Falcon) Michels will address Parkies in the Arsenal Gallery. Come enjoy his insights and a free lunch too. Please RSVP to Sarah (Ground Zero) Kay at (212) 360-1349.

THIRTEEN YEARS AGO IN THE PLANT
(Monday, June 27, 1988)

MAYOR KOCH OPENS SUMMER
SWIM SEASON AT CITY POOLS

On Saturday a loud splash was heard around the city when Parks'33 outdoors and 33 mini-pools opened for the summer.

Mayor Koch and Commissioner Stern opened the swimming season at the John Jay Pool on East 77th Street in Manhattan along with youngsters in the Homeless Youth Recreation Program, Manhattan Boy Scout Troops 208, 520, and 515 and children from the Marcus Garvey and Highbridge Recreation Centers. The Mayor swore in the Parks staff of Aquatics instructors and gave them each a whistler for the season.

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

On sculpture: "The pot is the man: his virtues and his vices are shown therein
-no disguise is possible."

Bernard Leach (1887-1973)

Know Before You Go

Harlem Meer Center (formerly Lasker Rink)

Harlem Meer Center