Forest Park

The Daily Plant : Monday, February 13, 2006

Forest and Highland Parks Salute Top Volunteers

photo by Nicole Gamory

More than 100 Parkies, volunteers, and friends of Queens parks gathered at Oak Ridge in Forest Park on Friday, February 3^rd to bask in the glow of good deeds. The Annual Volunteer Thank You for Forest and Highland Parks included games, balloon creations by Nick the Balloonatick, food, and root beer floats. First Deputy Commissioner Liam Kavanagh and Queens Borough Commissioner Dorothy Lewandowski hosted and presented the awards to the parks’ outstanding helpers.

Ron Niles, president of K-9 Korral, Forest Park’s dog run association, was one of the evening’s honored guests. Ron has been committed to the success of the dog run since its inception in 2002, organizing more than 300 members who assist with maintenance and programming. He put together such events as the dog Halloween costume contests, photos with Santa, training sessions, and flower box contests. Whether he’s organizing a doggie Easter bonnet contest, geting local businesses to donate prizes, or rescuing stray and abandoned dogs, Ron has been a wonderful asset to Forest Park and the canine community.

Dennis and Nancy Moore were the ceremony’s other honored guests. In 1990, the Moores assisted in the initial revitalization of the 101 year-old Highland Park Children’s Garden by working with the NYC Board of Education, the Civilian Conservation Corps, and college students. In the mid-1990’s, volunteers had virtually disappeared, and the Moores decided to tackle the task as the garden’s Volunteer Coordinators.

Slowly, they began to recruit others, reaching out to local daycare centers and schools who were interested in using the garden as a learning center. Today, local schools and residents maintain 16 garden plots. Last year, Dennis and Nancy spearheaded the Garden’s 100^th Anniversary Celebration, and were honored at the Queens Coalition for Parks & Green Spaces with the Emerald Award for their 29 years of combined community service.

"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."

Edmund Burke
(1729 –1797)

Know Before You Go

Forest Park Visitor Center