Prospect Park

The Daily Plant : Friday, April 25, 2003

PARKS & RECREATION CELEBRATES EARTH DAY

In recognition of Earth Day 2003, Parks & Recreation encourages all New Yorkers to do their part and help take care of the environment. From picking up litter outside your home to joining a community group to plant flowers in your neighborhood park, every little bit counts. Below are come of the vents taking place in various parks this weekend to honor Mother Nature.

Saturday, April 26, 2003, 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Van Cortlandt Park (Broadway and West 246th Street), Bronx

Parks & Recreation joins the Friends of Van Cortlandt Park for a fun-filled Earth Day event for the entire family. The event includes a visit from Smokey Bear and free Stonyfield Yogurt to the first 500 takers. Activities include creating EcoCrafts, planting seeds, live birds of prey and reptiles, making birdfeeders, and tie-dying t-shirts for first 50 participants. The Urban Park Rangers will also lead nature activities. Groups participating include the NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation, Bronx Sierra Club, City Parks Foundation, NY Restoration Project, NY/NJ Trail Conference, and Commuter Link.

Saturday, April 26, 2003, 1:00 p.m.

Crotona Park Nature Center, Crotona Park, Bronx

Parks & Recreation’s Urban Park Rangers will help volunteers plant different shrubs and flowers to attract butterflies to the park. Butterfly bush, yellow giant hyssop, common milkweed, asters, zinnias, Black Eyed Susan, and echinacea are among the plantings that may be added to the park.

Sunday, April 27, 2003, 12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Pelham Bay Park (Enter the park at Middletown Rd. and Bruckner Blvd.), Bronx

Parks & Recreation joins the Friends of Pelham Bay and Con Edison to celebrate nature. Children and adults will enjoy hands-on environmental exhibits and crafts including painting an "Earth Ball." The Museum of Natural History's "Moveable Museum" will feature a dinosaur exhibit. Performances include the Latin Jazz Alliance, musician and television performer Patricia Shih and the Contemporary Ballet Theatre. The Urban Park Rangers will lead environmental workshops, and as a special treat, Bill Deckert with the NYS Falconry Association will bring birds of prey, including hawks and owls.

Saturday, April 26, 2003, 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.

Prospect Park Audubon Center, (Enter at Lincoln Rd. and Ocean Ave), Brooklyn

Parks & Recreation and the Prospect Park Alliance celebrate the birthdays of John J. Audubon, Frederick Law Olmsted and the Prospect Park Audubon Center with a special bird walk lead by Audubon Center Director Glenn Philips.

Saturday, April 26, 2003, 12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Great Hill, Central Park, (106^th Street and Central Park West), Manhattan

Parks & Recreation and the Central Park Conservancy join thousands of New Yorkers for: "Youth Sharing Their Hearts in Central Park." The event includes numerous hands-on environmental crafts and activities along with musical performances of earth and child friendly lyrics by Stella Moon and Toni Wisti. The Urban Park Rangers and Central Park Conservancy docents will lead ecology tours at the event.

Saturday, April 26, & Sunday April 27, 11:00 a.m. & 2:00 p.m.

Arsenal Gallery in Central Park (East 64^th Street & Fifth Avenue), Manhattan

Parks & Recreation joins the NYC Audubon to present free screenings of "Pale Male," an award-winning documentary about a red-tailed hawk that lives on top of a building overlooking Central Park. The screenings will be followed by a guided walk to the Conservatory Water near the Boathouse to view Pale Male, his mate and their offspring via telescope.

Sunday, April 27, 2003, 10:00 a.m.

Morningside Park (121^st Street & Morningside Avenue), Manhattan

Parks & Recreation, Friends of Morningside Park, Starbuck’s Coffee and Columbia University join volunteers to spruce up the park for spring. Volunteers will be planting, wood chipping and painting in the park.

Saturday, April 26, 2003, 12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Alley Pond Woodland Nature Center, Alley Pond Park, Queens

Parks & Recreation joins hundreds of Queens families to celebrate Earth Day 2003. The event will include plantings, live music, environmental crafts and games, youth performances, a bungee run, gyroscope, exhibits by national and local environmental organizations, free giveaways and more. Parks Enforcement Patrol’s mounted unit will also be on hand to teach the public about horses. Rain date is May 3, 2003.