Central Park

The Daily Plant : Friday, June 7, 2002

WEEKEND ACTIVITIES IN NEW YORK CITY

Alfred E. Smith Badminton Tournament- Saturday, June 8
Place: Alfred E. Smith Recreation Center (80 Catherine Street, Manhattan)
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Free admission for spectators to enjoy 5 events: Men’s Singles, Women’s Singles, Men’s Doubles, Women’s Doubles, and Mixed Doubles. Trophies will be awarded to winners of each event. For more info about the badminton program call (212) 285-0300.

Hershey Track & Field- Saturday, June 8
Place: AstoriaTrack in Queens (35-30 35^th Street, Astoria)
Time: Registration at 9:00 a.m., Meet begins at 10:00 a.m.
Boys and girls ages 9 through 14 can compete in several competitions, including the 100 Meter Dash, 4X100 Meter Relay, and the Standing Lomp Jump. For information call (212) 360-3313.

Arlene Grocery Three Farms Festival – Saturday, June 8
Place: Bandshell at East River Park (East River at Cherry Street)
Time: 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Free admission: Arlene Grocery and the Lower East Side BID have teamed up to bring music and activities, including six bands and tons of Lower East Side vendors.

"PLANT PROFILE"

Eric Rothstein

Eric Rothstein is the Natural Resources Group’s Ed Norton. It’s not that they are substantially similar. Norton wears a pork pie hat and a raccoon cap; we have never seen Rothstein in a hat or cap of any kind. Rothstein received a BA and MA in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Wisconsin at Madison and Cornell, respectively; we suspect that Norton never pursued higher education. Norton worked for DEP; Rothstein works for DPR. Rothstein does not do the Hucklebuck. But, they are both sewer spelunkers.

As a Water Resources Specialist for Natural Resources Group (NRG), Eric’s background in hydrology and hydrogeology – the studies of surface water and ground water – is frequently put to use assessing the potential affects, existing and proposed, of storm water on parks landscapes resulting from public works projects. As a project manager, Eric also contributes to the design and supervises the construction of wetland restoration projects. When a pipe or manhole of mysterious function or origin is uncovered during the planning or construction process, Eric is often the first – and more often the only – person to volunteer to check it out first hand.

He has exhibited unabashed joy prying open a manhole and descending 20 feet down a masonry-line shaft to determine if a storm line under a proposed wetland restoration in Forest Park is still active. And he has emerged with a broad smile after strolling a hundred yards into a four foot wide corrugated culvert under Central Park’s Lasker Rink to ascertain whether if it has single or multiple sources. Intrepid tendencies aside, Eric’s engineering know-how has been a valuable asset to Parks. It has allowed him to review and revise plans for massive public works projects – the Staten Island Bluebelt, LIE/Cross Island Parkway Interchange, Oakland Ravine/Ally Creek Drainage Improvement Project, and other -- and protect natural resources functions and values.