Prospect Park

The Daily Plant : Wednesday, May 1, 2002

FIRST URBAN AUDUBON CENTER LANDS IN PROSPECT PARK

Over 200 species of birds make Prospect Park their home at some point during the year and now they’ve been given an official headquarters. On Friday, April 26, the ribbon was cut at the first urban Audubon center built in the United States. The historic boat house in Prospect Park in Brooklyn, after extensive renovations, has been transformed into an Audubon center.

On a sunny yet chilly Friday, hundreds gathered in front of the boathouse to hear from several distinguished guests and elected officials. The two-story Beaux-Arts boathouse sits on a beautiful section of Prospect Lake, overlooking both the ravine and the bridge. The new center is the result of a unique public/private partnership.

Commissioner Benepe was one of many enthusiastic speakers, along with Senator Charles Schumer, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, Council Member Joe Addabbo, Administrator of Prospect Park Tupper Thomas, Executive Director of Audubon-New York David Miller, and Deputy Mayor Patti Harris. "The addition of this urban Audubon center elevates the environmental education we offer New Yorkers to a new level," said Commissioner Benepe. According to him, "Prospect Park is the perfect place for such a nature center as it was recently designated an ‘Important Bird Area.’"

The National Audubon Society was founded in 1905 and now boasts 600,000 members in more than 500 chapters. According to its website, the mission of the National Audubon Society is "to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds and other wildlife for the benefit of humanity and the earth's biological diversity." This new center is "the cornerstone of our new ‘2020 vision,’ our plan to create 1,000 nature centers across the country by the year 2020," said John Flicker, President and CEO, National Audubon Society.

The boathouse, originally built in 1905, received $5 million in renovations over the past 2 years. The center will offer a hands-on approach to environmental education. Surrounding the center are 2.5 miles of interpretive nature trails. Prospect Park, at 526 acres, is one of New York City’s premier parks. It was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux in 1866 and is host to 6 million visitors every year. The Prospect Park Alliance, a public/private partnership, protects and preserves the park through fundraising and advocacy and played a major role in the addition of this first urban Audubon center.

(Wednesday, May 8, 1989)

Parks horticulturists won the prestigious American Horticultural Citation at the New York Flower Show held last month. The Parks exhibit, Rosaceae: The Rose Family, was described by the judges as an "exhibit of horticultural excellence which best demonstrated the bond between horticulture and environment and inspires the viewer to beautify home and garden through skillful design and appropriate plant material."

Featuring many unusual and unknown plants, Rosaceae was a hit with the estimated 100,000 persons who visited the New York Flower Show at Pier 92 in early March. Three bronze statues of dancing bears by Paul Manship were part of Parks’ presentation and contributed to the exhibit’s popularity.

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

"The greatest sweetener of human life is Friendship.
To raise this to the highest pitch of enjoyment,
is a secret which but few discover."

Joseph Addison
(May 1, 1672–1719)