Central Park

The Daily Plant : Monday, October 30, 2000

COMMISSIONER STERN “WALKS SOFTLY AND CARRIES A BIG STICK”

Photo By Malcolm (Cinema) Pickney

Costumed as the park's namesake, Commissioner Henry J. (StarQuest) Stern along with President of the American Museum of Natural History, Ellen (Naturalist) Futter; representatives from the office of the Borough President, Virginia Fields; Council Member, Ronnie Eldridge; Chair of Community Board 7, Eric (The Dodger) Nelson; and Manhattan Borough Commissioner, Adrian (A-Train) Benepe welcomed New Yorkers to the ribbon cutting of Theodore Roosevelt Park Thursday morning. In historic style, recalling the former President's era, the group celebrated the completion of this important capital project with a team of horses and an old time brass band.

Visitors to the American Museum of Natural History will now be met with a lush sight as they enter and exit the building: a flourishing Theodore Roosevelt Park, newly renovated to complement the work of the museum. The new park offers visitors a place to contemplate the natural environment, to absorb what they learned in exhibits, and refresh their minds with a visceral experience of nature. In Theodore Roosevelt Park, New York City Parks and the Museum of Natural History join thriving green spaces, alive and intact, with the historical and social record of their impact. In this way, a healthy park reinforces the experience of the museum.

The ambitious $2.5 million project was funded by the Borough President's Office and the American Museum of Natural History. Architect Judith Heintz designed new drainage and irrigation systems. The lawns have been reconstructed with new paths, benches and fencing. The path across the lawn at 81st street was removed to allow for a larger garden and the preservation of native plants and ferns.

The park's dog run, Bull Moose Run has been transformed into a state-of-the-art canine hot spot, encompassing 13,000 square feet with a drainage system, a floor of paw-friendly pebbles and a shoe-friendly flat surface. If it could talk, the new run might speak the words of Theodore Roosevelt: "I'm as strong as a bull moose and you can use me to the limit."

PARKS GRIEVES THE PASSING OF BOBBIE JEAN JOHNSON

Parks is deeply saddened by the loss of Bobbie Jean (Palmetto) Johnson who died Monday, October 23rd. Ms. Johnson has been with Parks since May 13th 1974. In October of 1997 she was awarded employee of the month. Ms. Johnson leaves behind 5 grown children and many grandchildren. She will be greatly missed.

THIRTEEN YEARS AGO IN THE PLANT
(Monday, November 2, 1987)

CHARITIES AND SPECIAL PARKS PROJECTS RECEIVE WOLLMAN RINK PROFITS

Anthony Gliedman, Executive Vice President of the Trump Organization and Commissioner Stern last week gathered to announce the distribution of $200,000 in "profits" from Wollman Rink's 1986-1987 skating season. "The Parks Department will use $100,000 to build five 'Swedish Playgrounds' similar to the one currently in Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Queens in each of the five boroughs," said Commissioner Stern.

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

"To waste, to destroy our natural resources, to skin and exhaust the land instead of using it so as to increase its usefulness will result in undermining in the days of our children the very prosperity which we ought by right to hand down to them amplified and developed."

Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919)

Know Before You Go

Harlem Meer Center (formerly Lasker Rink)

Harlem Meer Center