Madison Square Park

The Daily Plant : Monday, September 23, 2002

NEW LIGHTS BRIGHTEN BATTERY PARK

On Wednesday, September 18, Parks and ConEd joined together to turn on new lighting along Battery Park's Eisenhower Mall. The new Icetron lights, which were donated by Osram Sylvania, not only light up the Mall's allay but also illuminate Fritz Koenig's "Sphere," the sculpture which was recovered from the granite fountain in the center of the World Trade Center Plaza.

The event was started by Commissioner Benepe who introduced jazz vocalist Jane Monheit to sing the Nation Anthem. Forest Church, the Senior Minister at the All Souls Unitarian Church, followed with an invocation. Commissioner Benepe then welcomed and thanked the partners in this project including William Castro, Manhattan Borough Commissioner, Warrie Price, President of the Battery Conservancy, Charlie Jerabek, President & CEO of Osram Sylvania, and Lou Rana, ConEd's Vice President for Manhattan Electrical Operations. Upon conclusion of the remarks and the setting of the sun over the Hudson River, the officials flipped the symbolic light switch, and the assembled crowd watched as the Eisenhower Mall and Sphere came back into light.

Eisenhower Mall, which is the formal promenade from Broadway to Castle Clinton in the Battery, has always been heavily trafficked by tourists and commuters alike. Now the mall is the interim home to two memorials - the Sphere and the Eternal Flame - that commemorate those who lost their lives in the attacks of September 11. As the Battery welcomes visitors from all over the world to see these memorials, the new lights will help ensure that the mall will always be an inviting place.

This partnership to improve the lighting at the Battery is one of three recent lighting efforts by Parks. On September 17, ten miles up the Manhattan's Hudson River shoreline, Parks and the Historic House Trust turned on the light in the Little Red Lighthouse beneath the George Washington Bridge for the first time in more than fifty years. This fall Parks will also commemorate a new light in the eternal light memorial in Madison Square Park.

THIRTEEN YEARS AGO IN THE PLANT
(Monday, October 2, 1989)
HELP CLEAN YOUR PARK

After a fun summer of playing in the parks, it's time to get to work in our green spaces during the Sixth Annual Parks Clean-Up Day. Parks is asking New Yorkers who enjoy their local parks and playgrounds to spruce them up by planting, pruning, raking, sweeping, and painting on Saturday, October 28.

''New York City's parks are everyone's backyard, ''said Commissioner Stern. ''In order to keep our 26,220 acres clean and green, we need all concerned New Yorkers to give us their energy and enthusiasm. When the parks look good, people feel good.''

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY
''Let mortal man keep to his own
Mortality, and not expect too much.''
Euripides
(September 23, 480-406 B.C.)