Prospect Park

The Daily Plant : Wednesday, July 10, 2002

BARTHOLD NAMED ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER; GILI IS BROOKLYN CHIEF OF OPERATIONS

Nancy Barthold has become the Assistant Commissioner for Capital Projects, Charles Gili has been promoted to Chief of Operations for Brooklyn, and Emily Brennan is the new Director of Central Recreation, Commissioner Benepe announced today.

Nancy Barthold has moved from Litchfield to Olmsted, having been recently named Assistant Commissioner for Capital Projects. Since 1996, Nancy was the Chief of Operations for Brooklyn where she oversaw operations for 430 parks, playgrounds, and malls, 17 swimming pools, and 7 recreation centers. In addition, she managed the operations of 2,500 full-time and seasonal employees. Barthold first joined Parks in 1985 working with gardening and forestry crews in Queens as a Park 40 Intern. For the next 11 years she held such positions in Parks as Assistant Director and Special Projects Coordinator for NRG, PRM for Northeast Queens parks, Director of Landscape Management for Queens parks, and Deputy Chief of Operations for Manhattan. In her new position, she will be assisting Deputy Commissioner Amy Freitag in overseeing the day-to day-operations and management of the Olmsted Center. In addition, she will be in charge of administering Olmsted 2002, an initiative to rethink the way Capital Projects are managed into a team approach. Finally, she will be overseeing the Requirements Contracts unit both for buildings and playgrounds. "Nancy is a fantastic manager and a passionate Parkie," says Deputy Commissioner Amy Freitag. "We are very pleased to have her at the Olmsted Center." Barthold graduated from the University of Vermont in 1983 with a BA in Anthropology/Environmental Studies. A resident of Douglaston, Queens, she is active on the Udalls Cove Preservation Committee and volunteers her time with God’s Love We Deliver.

Charles A. Gili has been promoted to Chief of Operations for Brooklyn, replacing Nancy Barthold who has moved over to Olmsted. Having served as Deputy Chief of Operations for Brooklyn since 1997, Gili’s main responsibilities included the general oversight of operations in Brooklyn and communicating daily with field managers and crews. In addition, he was the Dean of Discipline and supervised the West Indian Day Parade Cleanup. Gili joined Parks as an Urban Park Ranger in 1982 and remained with the Rangers until 1989, serving as the Borough Director for Brooklyn from 1985 to 1987. In 1989 he became the Principal Park Supervisor for Prospect Park and District 14 in Brooklyn and in 1992 became the Chief of Operations for the same area. "I’m pleased that Charlie will continue serving Brooklyn as the new Chief of Operations," says Commissioner Julius Spiegel. "His experience as Deputy Chief of Operations for the last five years makes him an ideal candidate." Gili lives in Brooklyn with his wife, Laura, who is the Chief of Recreation for Queens. They have 2 children, ages 8 and 18, and in his spare time, Charlie coaches ice hockey and baseball.

Emily Brennan has been promoted to Director of Central Recreation. In 1999, upon graduating from Brown University, Brennan joined Parks as an Analyst for Central Recreation. In that position she designed and implemented the "Learn to Play Field Hockey Program" and also oversaw various athletic and cultural programs, including "Summer Fun in the Playground." Since November 2000 Emily served as the Deputy Director of Central Recreation.

(Wednesday, July 19, 1989)

The free Union Square Park Summer Entertainment Series continues through September with eclectic offerings from jazz and rock to rhythm and blue and dance. Homeboy Steve and the Mudcats will play rhythm and blues on Wednesday, July 19. The Inner Circle All Stars jazz band will take center state on Friday, July 21. A rock band named Mr. Thing will perform on Monday, July 24. All performances will take place from noon to 2 p.m. at the north end of the park near the pavilion.

"Astray from the Steerage," "The Immigrant," and "I Cover the Waterfront" will be the triple-bill lineup of the Floating Cinema at Battery Park in Manhattan on Thursday, July 20. "Popeye," starring Robin Williams, will be the feature attraction at Little Bay Park in Whitestone, Queens on Saturday, July 22. On Sunday, July 23, the Floating Cinema will screen "On the Town" at Alice Austen Park on Staten Island and "Jaws" will play at Pelham Bay Park in the Bronx on Friday, July 21.

"There are evils ... that have the ability to survive identification
and go on for ever ... money, for instance, or war."

Saul Bellow
(b. July 10, 1915)