Marine Park

The Daily Plant : Friday, August 11, 2000

A NATURAL PARTNERSHIP: PARKS AND NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TEAM UP AT SALT MARSH NATURE CENTER

Photograph by Malcolm (Cinema) Pinckney

Mayor Rudolph (Eagle) Giuliani, Deputy Mayor Rudy (Cobra) Washington, Commissioner Henry J. (StarQuest) Stern, Council Member Herbert (Merlin) Berman, Terry (Dead Pirate) Garcia of the National Geographic Society, local dignitaries and schoolchildren were on hand for a celebration of the new Salt Marsh Nature Center in Marine Park, Brooklyn on Thursday, August 10. This newly opened facility has brought remarkable new life into Marine Park and its surrounding community. Over 8700 visitors have already enjoyed the center's services and attendance is increasing every week.

There was even more good news to celebrate. The National Geographic Society-the oldest and most prestigious scientific and educational organization in the world-has pledged $200,000 for the Urban Park Rangers to create an "Explorer Program" and launch a Junior Ranger program at the Salt Marsh Nature Center. The "Explorer" program will offer the Marine Park community top quality environmental education, and recreation activities, including hiking, tracking, canoeing, fishing, birding, art, and photography. The Junior Ranger program will provide opportunities and incentives to turn this community's youngsters into urban naturalists.

The Salt Marsh Nature Center is the first nature center to receive the support of the National Geographic Society. Both Parks and the National Geographic Society hope that the success of the partnership at Salt Marsh will enable such programs to be expanded to the many other nature centers in New York City's parks.

THIRTEEN YEARS AGO IN THE PLANT
Friday, August 14, 1987

Under picture-perfect skies, over 200 youngsters gathered with parents and local elected officials at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Benninger Playground in Queens. The site was recently restored at a cost of $623,000. "This is the first time I've ever been to a dedication ceremony where the playground was named after a Parks Commissioner other than Robert Moses," said Commissioner Stern. "What an honorable distinction."

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

"No question is ever settled Until it is settled right."

Ella Wheeler Wilcox (1850-1919)