Prospect Park

The Daily Plant : Monday, September 18, 2000

DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS/MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES SETS UP A REFUGEE CAMP IN THE HEART OF THE CITY

Photograph by Malcolm (Cinema) Pinckney

Most New Yorkers have, thankfully, never had to experience the conditions of a refugee camp first hand. But an innovative new exhibit set up by Doctors Without Borders in Central Park this past weekend allowed city dwellers to do just that, and hopefully gave visitors an understanding of the need to help refugees receive shelter, food, and water, better sanitation and basic health care. Commissioner Henry J. (Star Quest) Stern joined Doctors Without Borders' Executive Director Joelle Tanguy, Logistical Coordinator of the Refugee Camp Nicholas Beaudoin, and Public Affairs Officer Stephanie Davies for the exhibit's debut at Cherry Hill in Central Park on Friday, September 15. Doctors Without Borders aid workers guided visitors through the camp this weekend, explaining the structures and materials used in a real refugee camp. Visitors were able to explore shelters used in tropical, desert, and cold climates, see how food is distributed, taste the high-energy biscuits distributed to combat malnutrition, and understand basic health care and epidemic control. The exhibit, which has already traveled to Barcelona, Paris, and Los Angeles, will be stopping in two more of New York City's green spaces in the coming weeks. Doctors Without Borders will be setting up camp in Prospect Park from September 27 to October 1, and in Van Cortlandt Park from October 4 to 8. Doctors Without Borders is a private nonprofit organization dedicated to delivering emergency medical aid to victims of armed conflict, epidemics, natural and man-made disasters, and social marginalization. The group won the 1999 Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts.

HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN AT HAPPY WARRIOR PLAYGROUND

On Thursday, September 14, Commissioner Stern, Council Member Philip Reed, and Manhattan Borough Commissioner Adrian (A-Train) Benepe turned out for the groundbreaking ceremony at Happy Warrior Playground, located at Amsterdam Avenue between 98th and 99th streets. A $1.2 million reconstruction funded by Countil Member Reed will renovate and beautify this historic community playground. After the reconstruction, the playground will feature new play equipment, spray shower, benches, fencing, basketball courts, pavement, and planting. Parks will also be adding two new basketball courts in addition to repairing the two that are already there, helping to increase the overall recreational opportunities in the area. This unusually named playground has an interesting history. Happy Warrior Playground is named after former New York Governor Alfred Emanuel Smith whom President Franklin D. Roosevelt called "The Happy Warrior" in reference to the Wordsworth poem celebrating diligence and perseverance. The park also pays tribute to the gifted basketball player and well-known community leader Earl "The Goat" Manigault. Soon after his death in 1998, the basketball courts were formally named "The Goat Courts" in his honor.

THIRTEEN YEARS AGO IN THE PLANT
(Monday, September 21, 1987)

NO DROWNINGS THIS YEAR WHILE LIFEGUARDS SERVED CITY BEACHES AND POOLS

Thanks to good luck and alert Parks lifeguards, New Yorkers spent the safest season of swimming in over 20 years this summer. Not a single drowning occurred at the city's pools and beaches while lifeguards were on duty. This swimming season, from May 23 to Labor Day, a well-trained force of over 900 lifeguards patrolled the city's 14.3 miles of beaches and 39 indoor and outdoor pools.

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

What shelter to grow ripe is ours? What leisure to grow wise?

Matthew Arnold (1822-1888)