Central Park

The Daily Plant : Thursday, February 15, 2001

HISTORY UNVEILED: A NEW SIGN IN CENTRAL PARK TELLS THE STORY OF SENECA VILLAGE

Central Park has a compelling story and it begins before Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux drafted their winning Greensward plan. Saturday, February 10, 2001, Commissioner Henry J. (StarQuest) Stern welcomed visitors to Central Park at 85th Street to dedicate an historical sign-the product of a cooperative community effort by Parks, the Central Park Conservancy, Community Board Ten, and the New-York Historical Society to dignify the history of that portion of the park once known as Seneca Village.

Central Park is an epicenter for the diverse elements of city life. It sets the standard for how attractive public spaces unite New Yorkers in common pursuit. Seneca Village was also a model. There, on the land that extends between 81st and 89th Streets, between 7th and 8th Avenues, prominent African-Americans built their homes, churches, and schools, and formed powerful social ties in the mid-nineteenth century. Paradoxically, through the loss of their homes to the city, the residents of Seneca Village enabled the creation of one of New York's most welcoming, integrated public spaces.

Beginning in 1825, parcels of land were sold to individuals and to members of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, described as the "largest and wealthiest church of coloured people in this city, perhaps in this country." Within a few years the community developed into a stable settlement of over 250 working class people with African Americans owning more than half the households in the village. Two African Methodist churches were constructed in the village. Colored School No. 3, one of the few black schools in New York City, was housed in the basement of one of them. All Angel's Church at 99th Street had a racially integrated congregation of African Americans from Seneca Village and Irish and German parishioners. Saturday's dedication provided the occasion to honor this unique history and with it, Black History Month.

Erana (Rainforest) Stennett, Vice President for Government and Community Relations for the Central Park Conservancy and Stanley (Ten Goal) Gleaton, Chair of Manhattan Community Board 10 opened the dedication with a brief welcome. Dr. Alvin Durant, Pastor of the Mother AME Zion Church offered an invocation and blessing. The Mother AME Zion Cathedral Choir sang the national anthem. Commissioner Henry J. (StarQuest) Stern, C. Virginia (Sparrow) Fields, Manhattan Borough President; and Betsy (Flower Child) Gotbaum, President of the New York Historical Society, delivered remarks. The ARC Choir sang the Negro National Anthem, and then Commissioner Stern and the children present took turns reading the sign, paragraph by paragraph. Carrie (Charismatic) Fair Smith, Chair of the Manhattan Community Board 10 Parks and Recreation Committee, closed the ceremony. A reception followed at the New-York Historical Society. Richard Harley, District Manager for Manhattan Community Board 10; Ed (Hedges) Benson, Director for Government and Community Relations for the Central Park Conservancy; and Sara (Cedar Hill) Cedar Miller, Central Park Conservancy Historian also worked to bring about the dedication.

Commissioner Stern began the historical signs program in 1989 based on the belief that parks and playgrounds are enriched by their history, and our enjoyment of them enhanced by knowing what came before. Today adults and children rest and recreate on the land that was Seneca Village. In the future, thanks to the historical sign, the history of the site will be a spur to imagination and a cause for reflection. Photo by Spencer (Flasher) Tucker

THIRTEEN YEARS AGO IN THE PLANT (Thursday, February 25, 1988)

U.S. YOUTH GAMES TRYOUTS BEGIN IN MARCH

So you couldn't make it to Calgary for the Olympics? Not to worry. Parks will hold tryouts in all the five boroughs beginning March 13 for the 22nd Annual United States Youth games to be held August 1-17 in Paterson, New Jersey. The United States Youth Games, with its high level of competition, is recognized as a major athletic event for boys and girls between the ages of 9 and 15.

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

"The memory be green."

William Shakespeare (1564-1616)

Know Before You Go

Harlem Meer Center (formerly Lasker Rink)

Harlem Meer Center