Jamaica Bay and the Rockaways

The Daily Plant : Thursday, August 10, 2000

PARKS CLASS OF 2000 BEATS THE HEAT AT ORCHARD BEACH

Photograph by Malcolm (Cinema) Pinckney

On Wednesday, August 9, Commissioner Henry J. (Star Quest) Stern joined members of Parks' Class of 2000 for a barbecue and swimming party at Orchard Beach in the Bronx. Parks' new employees got to know each other and share their new experiences at Parks. After enjoying a mid-afternoon meal the group headed down to the beach to swim and cool off from the recent stretch of humid weather.

Orchard Beach, which some call "The Riviera of New York," is a 115-acre, 1.1 mile-long engineering marvel created on Long Island Sound by Parks Commissioner Robert Moses during the 1930s. The beach consists of 13 sections of sandy beach, a hexagonal-block promenade, a central pavilion with food stores and specialty shops, two playgrounds, two picnic areas, a large parking lot, and 26 courts for basketball, volleyball, and handball. The Class Of program was started six years ago as a way to expose recent college graduates to city government. Employees come from colleges and universities across the country to work at divisions throughout the agency in all five boroughs. This creates an atmosphere at Parks that is both energetic and motivating. Class Ofs are able to work closely with senior officials and learn from them on a daily basis.

PARKS BIDS A ROCKIN' FAREWELL TO SUMMER INTERNS

At tonight's Rock N'Rollerblade Disco Party at Leif Ericson Park, Parks will say goodbye to the spirited group of interns who have helped out in the busy summer season. Parks' internship programs give high school and college students an in-depth look at city government and New York City's parks. To help the interns celebrate, SkateMoblies will be on site to provide skates and protective gear to participants, a DJ from WKTU will be spinning disco tunes, Jeremy's Microbatch Ice Cream and Dasani water will provide refreshments for the crowd and the largest disco ball on the East Coast will light up the evening sky.

THIRTEEN YEARS AGO IN THE PLANT
Thursday, August 13, 1987

ROCKAWAY LIFEGUARDS TAKE GOLD CUP AT NINTH ANNUAL LIFEGUARD OLYMPICS

Wearing the traditional Lifeguard Olympics uniform-a bright orange swimsuit with green stripes and running from the boardwalk to a lifeguard stand on the beach-Brighton Beach Lifeguard Steve Lieberman ignited the Olympic torch bringing the Ninth Annual Lifeguard Olympics, hosted this year by Brighton Beach in Brooklyn, to a blazing start. By winning the fourth consecutive year, Rockaway Beach made Parks history. Rockaway took the gold cup for 1987 with a score of 67 ½ points, with Coney Island coming in a close second with a score of 57 ½ points. Five co-ed teams of 20 lifeguards each-representing the "cream of the crop" from four boroughs' beaches and Manhattan pools-performed a wide-range of athletic feats including long-distance running, swimming, and rowing.

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

Ah, summer, what power you have to make us suffer and like it.

Russell Baker (b. 1925)

Know Before You Go

Paerdegat Basin Park