Fort Tryon Park

The Daily Plant : Tuesday, December 4, 2001

PARADING IN MEMORY IN NORTH MANHATTAN

225 years ago a battle was fought in North Manhattan. On Sunday, November 18, a parade through Bennett and Fort Tryon Parks commemorated the conflict, the Battle of Fort Washington. Costumed as George Washington, Commissioner Henry J. (StarQuest) Stern led neighborhood residents to the parade’s endpoint beside a flagpole at Margaret Corbin Place. There the group remembered Corbin, an early American heroine. When Margaret Corbin’s husband, John Corbin, died on the battlefield, she stepped in to take his place. She fought beside troops from Maryland and Virginia. The Battle of Fort Washington and the entire New York campaign was a disaster for the Americans. 54 Americans died, 100 were wounded, and 2,898 were taken captive. Margaret Corbin survived. She suffered grapeshot wounds that she bore for the rest of her life. Her history and that of the battle are recognized today in the names of parks and local streets. They were brought to life in particular during last month’s parade.

The walkway formerly known as Bath Beach was dedicated to park advocate Joe Pezzuto on Monday, November 19 in a ceremony with Parkies, elected officials, members of Community Board 11, and Marilyn Pezzuto, Joe’s wife.

Pezzuto devoted the last 20 years of his life to neighborhood improvements. In his lifetime he organized 22 block and tenant associations that collectively served more than 2,000 families. Mr. Pezzuto founded the Bath Avenue Merchants Association and, most relevant to Parks, the Bath Beach Community Improvement Association. Through that organization, formed in 1980, he planned a range of special events to draw visitors to the park’s 2.96 acres. He planned Fun Days, game days, and beauty contests. Pezzuto understood that healthy parks, like safe streets, strong education, and good public transportation, help neighborhoods flourish. He lobbied for change and the City responded. Commissioner Henry J. (StarQuest) Stern told the guests assembled on the tree-lined walkway, "We are in this together to make the City’s public spaces safe, clean, and lively, and also reflective of the unique neighborhoods they serve. It is a pleasure to dedicate this walkway to one of Parks’ great partners, Joe Pezzuto."

The Olmsted Blood Drive will be held on Friday, December 14, from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. It will be held in both training rooms. Please contact Nathia (Tahina) Beltran by phone (718) 760-6620 or e-mail if you wish to donate. Appointments should be set up for this drive since it is the same day as Olmsted’s holiday party.

For employees in the Manhattan Borough Office who wish to donate blood, the correct number for Veronica (Faerydust) Llanos is (212) 408-0221.

(Tuesday, December 6, 1988)

Commissioner Stern will host "The Department of Parks & Recreation Presents," an hour-long Channel L Working Group cable television show airing live on December 14 at 9:30 P.M.

"To set the cause above renown,
To love the game beyond the prize,
To honor while you strike him down,
The foe that comes with fearless eyes;
To count the life of battle good
And dear the land that gave you birth,
And dearer yet the brotherhood
That binds the brave of all the earth."

Sir Henry Newbolt (1862-1938)