Prospect Park

The Daily Plant : Friday, April 12, 2002

EVERY DAY IS EARTH DAY AT PARKS

On Sunday, April 21, the Central Park Conservancy and the Urban Park Rangers invite you to Belvedere Castle for Earth Day 2002 from noon to 4:00 p.m. Free activities include face painting, seed planting, nature drawing, leaf printing, craft projects, origami, and a composting demonstration. From 1:00 to 2:00 p.m., at the Theodore Roosevelt Sanctuary guests can participate in a workshop about birds of prey – hawks, eagles, falcons, and other raptors – that live in Central Park. At the same time, the Urban Park Rangers will conduct a 60-minute navigational hike in the Ramble using a map and compass as a guide. Other events will be held citywide to celebrate Earth Day 2002 – a partial listing of events follows.

Thursday, April 18

Sunday, April 21

"I love what I am doing," exclaims Arthur Brodie when describing his job as a City Park Worker. Mr. Brodie began working for Parks in 1992 as a Summer Seasonal Aide. In 1997 he was hired full-time and began working in Bronx District 9. Known for his work ethic, Mr. Brodie completes all his tasks in a thorough fashion. When he cuts the grass, he keeps the lawns and ballfields of District 9 beautifully manicured and when he drives the garbage packer, he often completes the round twice in one day!

When not helping to keep our parks clean and green, Mr. Brodie spends his time at the Shakespeare Community Garden located at East 170^th Street and Shakespeare Avenue, in the Bronx, where he has just acquired a third plot. Gardening brings back memories of his home in Franklin, North Carolina. Mr. Brodie grew up on a farm and was one of 18 children. Collard greens, cabbage, cucumbers, tomatoes, green peppers, yellow squash, zucchinis, and a bunch of sunflowers are among the treasures in his garden.

(Friday, April 21, 1989)

In recent years more and more New Yorkers have taken a "shine" to Prospect Park, the green jewel of Brooklyn. Annual visitorship has doubled to 4.4 million, park monuments and landscape have been restored, and cultural programs have spread music, dance and art throughout the park.

The renaissance of "Brooklyn’s backyard" has been helped by the Prospect Park Alliance- which has raised nearly $1 million for park restorations since its creation in 1987- and by thousands of concerned local citizens, who annually come out to clean, green and support Prospect Park during "You gotta have Park!" weekend.

"Sir, I would rather be right than be President."

(April 12, 1777-1852)