Central Park

The Daily Plant : Wednesday, April 17, 2002

THERESE BRADDICK NAMED EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE HISTORIC HOUSE TRUST

Commissioner Benepe and the Board of Historic House Trust announced today the appointment of Therese Braddick as Executive Director of the Historic House Trust. Since 1992 Braddick has served as Deputy Director and Director of Development for the City Parks Foundation. She will assume her new post on June 3, 2002. As Director, Braddick will manage the Trust's education, development, fundraising, and conservation programs.

"I am pleased that Therese is taking on this big new assignment," said Commissioner Benepe. "I have been impressed with her management skills since she was Deputy Director of NRG. Since then she has become a terrific fund raiser and has mastered the art of managing a non-profit and working with a volunteer board." Deborah Krulewitch, Chair of Historic House Trust said, "Under Therese's direction and with Commissioner Benepe's leadership, I am confident that the Historic House Trust will continue to grow as a strong public/private partnership with Parks."

Braddick first joined Parks in 1983 as an Urban Park Ranger. Two years later, she moved to Natural Resources Group (NRG), first as an Education Coordinator in 1985, and then as the Deputy Director for Education in 1986. In that role she raised and managed over $400,000 in federal and state grants. Returning to the Rangers, she served as a Director, where she managed a 100-member division. From 1990 to 1992, Braddick was the Chief of Staff to Queens Borough Commissioner Oliver Spellman. Since 1992 Braddick has served as Deputy Director and Director of Development, for the City Parks Foundation (CPF). During her tenure she played an instrumental role in the growth of the organization and witnessed the staff increase from 8 to 50 employees. At CPF she supervised the staff and managed the $1.6 million restoration of the Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre in Central Park in addition to overseeing the corporate and individual giving program for the foundation and coordinated fundraising efforts that raised $1.5 million.

The Daily Plant congratulates Therese on her new appointment and wishes her much success at HHT.

Thanks to a substantial contribution from the New York Hospital Queens, the existing rose gardens in Flushing Meadows- Corona Park will receive a makeover. The gardens were added in 1995. New plantings, including additional roses and other flowering shrubs, and pruning will greatly enhance the existing area. The rose gardens, located in a prominent spot near the Unisphere, will showcase a variety of perennial beauties and will provide park patrons with a serene place for quiet contemplation and reflection.

A dedication ceremony took place on Friday, April 5, at 11:00 a.m. Mr. Stephen S. Mills, President and CEO of New York Hospital Queens presented the contribution check to Estelle Cooper, Administrator for Flushing Meadows-Corona Park. Attendees included Elaine Castas from the office of Borough President Helen Marshall’s; Betty Letterese, Director of Community Affairs, New York Hospital Queens; Tom Finklepearl, Executive Director of the Queens Museum of Art; and Jeff Rosenstock, Executive Director of Queens Theatre in the Park.

(Wednesday, April 26, 1989)

For two weekends in May, Parks will celebrate the history, culture and architecture of old New York by holding the first annual Historic Houses Festival.

"The Festival is designed to let people know that visiting our historic houses on parkland can be fun, as well as educational," said Historic Houses Director Mary Ellen W. Hern. "We want New Yorkers to enjoy these important treasures of our heritage as much as they enjoy our city’s parks." The Festival will take place at 14 historic house museums on parkland from May 13 to May 21. The Festival is being organized by Historic Houses Program Coordinator Christopher Glaisek.

"We never know the worth of water 'til the well is dry."

Know Before You Go

Harlem Meer Center (formerly Lasker Rink)

Harlem Meer Center