Colgate Close

The Daily Plant : Thursday, May 22, 2003

NEW PLAYGROUND AT COLGATE CLOSE PARK SHINES

On Monday, May 19^th the sun was shining on Colgate Close Park as the ribbon was cut on the park’s new playground. On this beautiful day, Parks & Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe noted that the playground is one of the most beautiful in New York City. Fifth graders from P.S. 152, located right across from Colgate Close Park, joined the event, and it was clear from the students’ enthusiasm that the new playground will be theirs to enjoy when they’re not at school.

Council Member Jose Serrano, who attended the ribbon cutting, was particularly proud of the park, which in his district. His predecessor, former Council Member Pedro Espada, allocated the funding for the $1.3 million reconstruction. Also in attendance were Francisco M. Gonzalez, District Manager of Community Board 9, Karen Underwood, Principal of P.S. 152, and Bronx Borough Commissioner Dorothy Lewandowski. Dr. Weissblum and Mr. Giordano, teachers at the nearby school, led the students in a rendition of "God Bless America."

The once abandoned concrete lot was transformed into a beautiful playground complete with basketball courts, a little league field and more. The new playground and basketball courts join the little league field that was completed in June of 2000.

The new playground includes swings, and two kinds of play equipment, one designed especially for pre-schoolers, and the other for older children. There is a spray shower in the shape of an obelisk, commemorative markers of time and place, built by Egyptian pharaohs.

Park patrons of all ages will enjoy the new seating area with benches, shade trees and horticultural plantings. Athletes can test their skills on the new basketball courts. The entire site has received a new drainage system and water fountains.

This park, like the streets that bound it, honors John Cloes, an early pioneer of the New York area, and James Colgate (1818-1904), the famous financier and philanthropist. The City of New York acquired the 1.871 acre park in 1958.

On Tuesday, May 20th, approximately 30 students from JHS 10 in Astoria, Queens participated in a clean-up and planting in Astoria Heights Playground. Outreach Coordinator for Partnership for Parks Tom Panzone was approached by teacher Kathy Sansonia who was interested in doing a community service project with her students. A project was then organized by Panzone and Sansonia with help and support from District 1 staff. The staff, including SPMO James Joesten and Seasonal CPW Pierre Delatour did a terrific job supplying tools and plants for the students who were very eager to do the planting. The kids did a marvelous job cleaning and planting.

...to Parkies born on May 23: Joseph Bernstein; SPMO Timothy Burch; Adminstrative Staff Analyst Joseph Trimble; Assistant Mechanical Engineer Emmanuel Nwokelo; Construction Project Manager Tulio Cabreja; Community Coordinator Timothy Rutgers; Vladimir Lamarre; Playground Associate Ricardo Reynolds and City Park Worker Edwin Gonzalez.

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