Prospect Park

The Daily Plant : Tuesday, April 10, 2001

PLAY BALL!

Photo by Spencer (Flasher) Tucker

On Saturday, April 7, 2001 the Prospect Park carousel cranked up and the Lefferts Homestead reopened its antique doors. Guided tours of the wooded ravine began again and, most important to the hundreds of kids who gathered at the bandshell, Saturday marked the first day of permitted baseball play for the dozens of baseball leagues that compete in Prospect Park's ten ballfields. Commissioner Henry J. (StarQuest) Stern greeted paraders, suited up for the start of the season. The sluggers and outfielders in attendance were among the 25,000 that Prospect Park Baseball, an umbrella organization of little leagues, coordinates. Tupper (Forsythia) Thomas, Prospect Park Administrator; Ron D'Ambrosi, President of Prospect Park Baseball; and Maryann Feeney, Parade Coordinator greeted the kids who, with bats, mitts, and Gatorade in hand, were prepared to have a ball on the first day of play.

Also Saturday morning, members of the Peter Stuyvesant Little League paraded through Manhattan in anticipation of a season of play at Murphy Brothers Park, Randall's Island and each of Manhattan's 102 ballfields.

FIRST SERVES OF THE SEASON

Yes, it's that time of year again. Tennis permits are on sale and the season runs from now through November 25. Fees are $50 for Adults (18 to 61 years), $20 for Seniors (62 years and over), $10 for Juniors (18 years and under). Seniors and Juniors must provide proof of age. Each person playing on a court must possess some type of permit. Single play permits -good for one hour of play- may be purchased for $5. Cash, personal checks and money orders are the only accepted means of payment.

Reservations are required for many of the courts. Players may call up to two weeks in advance to reserve a court.

Tennis permit offices are located in each borough and are open 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. The office in the Arsenal will be open Saturdays during April to June from 9:00 to noon.

By Patricia Brown, Media Consultant

PARKS TO HOST NEW SOCCER AND ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT PROGRAM

On Tuesday, April 3, 2001 Commissioner Henry J. (StarQuest) Stern joined representatives from New York Scores and Major League Soccer to announce their new partnership, designed for 180 kids from 6 Washington Heights schools. Participants will enjoy soccer practices and tournaments five days of the week with corresponding academic enrichment activities. Keep an eye out for the third, fourth, and fifth graders in J. Hood Wright, Jacob Schiff, and Inwood Hill Parks. America Scores have fine-tuned their program in Washington DC, New England, Denver, and Chicago.

THIRTEEN YEARS AGO IN THE PLANT
(Monday, April 18, 1988)

PARKIE FOILS BURGLARY AT ARSENAL WEST

Earlier this month CPW John Lattimore, who provides night security at the Arsenal West building at 16 West 61st Street, noticed two men who appeared to be burglarizing the building manager's car.

Lattimore approached the two men, who tried to run away. After a brief, chase Lattimore caught one of the burglars and brought him back to the scene of the crime where he was later arrested by the police. The incident is the fourth time Lattimore has foiled a crime since coming to Parks two years ago.

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

"I'm not just involved in tennis but committed.
Do you know the difference between involvement and commitment?
Think of ham and eggs.
The chicken is involved. The pig is committed."

Martina Navratilova (b.1956)