Central Park

The Daily Plant : Monday, December 2, 2002

THIS PLAYGROUND ISN’T FOR THE BIRDS

The birds were singing and the kids were cheering recently in Queens’ Forest Park. Both had good reason to celebrate as Sobelsohn Playground, which had grown tired-looking after years of heavy play, received a major renovation with $920,000 from the City Council. At November 19 ribbon cutting, Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe, Council Member Melinda Katz, Forest Park Administrator Debby Kuha, Queens Parks Commissioner Richard Murphy, and Community Board 9 Representative Lisa Gomes joined in welcoming children—and birds—to the playground.

Landscape Architect Helen Ogrinz’s gave the playground a woodland-theme makeover with many references to the much-adored woodpecker. Her designs called for the addition of earth tone-colored steel play equipment with spinning elements, a built-in chime keyboard, and swings. Other new features include a spray shower area with water-spitting frogs, new fencing with steel cutouts of woodpeckers, a curving ground pattern with woodland creatures, and a gigantic bird feeder for children to climb through. Resident Engineer David Isaacs of Technical Associates oversaw the work, which was completed three months ahead of schedule by the project’s contractor, Doyle Baldante.

What makes this playground special for the birds are the real birdfeeders that Parks has now installed in the trees around the playground’s perimeter. In addition to hanging bird feeders on trees, a large dead tree trunk—intended to attract woodpeckers—has been moved to the playground’s edge.

Kids from Parks’ Dry Harbor Playschool, the Bobov Headstart Program, and Tisereth Moshe Daycare romped through the brand-new equipment and tested the musical instruments. Meanwhile, neighborhood birds had a chance to feed from the feeders.

"The renovation of Sobelsohn Playground is just one part of what makes Forest Park great," said Commissioner Benepe. "This park—with birdhouses and animal features—fits perfectly with the surrounding trees and landscape of this beautiful Queens park." He then pointed out some notable examples of the rich variety of trees which line the nearby park landscape.

The playground is named for William Sobelsohn, who served in the Korean War and in many local organizations, including the Kew Gardens Civic Association and the New Frontier Regular Democratic Club. An active member of the Congregation Anshe Sholom synagogue community, the temple named him Man of the Year in 1980, and this playground was named for him in 1983, one year after his death.

(Monday, December 11, 1989)

Representatives of Parks and the Central Park Conservancy gathered yesterday to honor the memory of Richard E. Bader (1932-1989) on the front steps of the historic Arsenal. Bader had worked as a Deputy Administrator for capital projects at Parks during the early 1970s.

Bader’s Parks position was the culmination of a 13-year career in city government. He served in the Department of City Planning (1961-1966), the Department of Public Works (1967-1968) and at Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs Administration (1968-1974)

(1803-1882)

Know Before You Go

Harlem Meer Center (formerly Lasker Rink)

Harlem Meer Center