Central Park

The Daily Plant : Monday, March 11, 2002

DON’T WRECK IT

Parks & Recreation has nearly 2,000 vehicles and specialized equipment pieces. These range from the ever-reliable pickup and imposing bulldozers, to complicated beach cleaners. The fleet is critical in our effort to maintain the parks and achieve high inspection ratings.

In 2001, Parks vehicles were in 433 accidents. Some accidents are unavoidable, such as your truck being rear-ended by a careless motorist. However, nearly half our accidents are preventable and many involve the striking of non-moving objects like poles, benches, fences, and parked cars.

Here are some important things to remember when driving a Parks vehicle:

1) Judge Spaces Carefully. When driving in tight spaces, including parking lots or park paths, have someone help guide the vehicle whenever possible.

2) Don't Take Unnecessary Risks. If your engine is making a strange noise or if your vehicle is stuck in the sand - call your garage. Get help.

3) Use Two Hands at All Times. Do not operate Parks vehicles while speaking on a cell phone (unless using a hands-free set), drinking, eating, smoking, writing, or anything else that distracts from driving.

4) Obey Traffic Rules. Red lights and speeding rules apply to us, too.

5) Never Use Your Vehicle for Non-official Purposes. If there is any shade of gray, don't do it.

6) Report all vehicle accidents and turn in trip tickets.

Operating Parks vehicles is serious business. Drive carefully and stay safe. If you have questions about our fleet, contact 5-Boro at (212) 410-8901 or Ask Automan on the Parks Intranet.

Though not a magazine widely-read by typical New Yorkers, Chess Life is an important one to chess fans around the country. In this month’s issue, the First Annual Chess-in-the Parks Rapid Open, occurring last September 8, is featured. Held at Bethesda Fountain in Central Park, the event drew 400 people and most participants were teenagers. Ed Feldman, Director of Citywide Chess Programs, recently said of the event, "I think one of the most positive things was that we brought together people as young as four and as old as eighty to one of the most beautiful spots in Central Park to engage in a cerebral activity such as chess."

Phrases such as "wrong-colored bishop" and "Black side of a Benko Gambit" might mean nothing to the chess-illiterate, but they define a match and can determine the outcome. The result of this game, a six-round, Game/10, was a draw between Ylom Schwartz and Paul Truong. The magazine featured photographs of the successful event and specific info on the matches. Combining a love of chess with a love of parks, Chess-in-the Parks will return to Bethesda Fountain in late summer. Whether you’re a novice or an expert, or just plain confused about the game, this event allows you to enjoy the outdoors while challenging you mind. Look for information on the second annual Chess-in-the Parks in the upcoming months.

(Monday, March 20, 1989)

Parks is planning a plethora of musical delights in city parks this summer, and one of the highlights should be the "New Voice in Folk" concert at the Central Park Bandshell scheduled for Sunday, May 28. The free concert will feature performances by up-and-coming folk music artists.

The "New Voice in Folk" concert, an extension of the Newport Folk Festival program, will be sponsored by Ben and Jerry’s Homemade Ice Cream, Commissioner Stern announced at a ceremony on the steps of the Arsenal last Thursday.

"Two roads diverged in a wood and I --
I took the one less traveled by,
and that has made all the difference."

(1874-1963)

Know Before You Go

Harlem Meer Center (formerly Lasker Rink)

Harlem Meer Center