Riverside Park

The Daily Plant : Thursday, July 18, 2002

COME TAKE A WALK ON THE RIVERSIDE

As they stroll along the new walkway, Park patrons will be able to peer through the trees to catch glimpses of the Hudson River and the Palisades. On Monday, July 15, Commissioner Adrian Benepe joined Council Member Robert Jackson and the Riverside Park Fund to cut the ribbon to celebrate the newly reconstructed Riverside Walkway. At the event, Commissioner Benepe led the crowd in a rousing rendition of "Come On Over," the popular 1960s radio jingle advertising Palisades Amusement Park. The amusement park closed in 1971, but it will always be the place, "from coast to coast, where a dime buys the most…."

The restored walkway runs from 135^th Street along Riverside Drive to 138^th Street. Parks has expanded the flower beds and planted new shrubs. Harlem residents will be able to enjoy five new benches and new water fountains. For extra shade Linden trees join the Elms, London planetrees and Norway maples that are already in the park.

Parks has improved the walkway’s irrigation system. Before the reconstruction, Parkies had to carry buckets to water this green space. The new water tap makes it easier to keep the plants happy and healthy. In addition, the Fairway Stairway is looking better than ever. Parks has restored the large monumental stone steps that lead visitors from the lower level of Riverside Park up to the walkway. The almost seven story climb is well worth the effort.

Former Council Member Stanley Michels provided $761,000 to fund the restoration of Riverside Walkway. Parks’ Landscape Architect Lawrence Mauro oversaw the design, and Saratoga Associates offered the design vision for the project. Parks’ Resident Engineer Vicki Lombardi oversaw the construction, working with PMS Construction Management and the contractor, Viaggio & Sons Inc.

During the ceremony, Commissioner Benepe thanked the Riverside Park Fund for their dedication to the project and for all of their contributions to Riverside Park. The Commissioner extended a special acknowledgement to Jenny Benitez for all of her hard work. Jenny started out working with the Riverside Park Fund as a volunteer and has moved up to be the Outreach Coordinator for the Fund.

Bill Castro, Manhattan Borough Commissioner, Ed Lewis, Assistant Commissioner for Community Affairs, James Dowell, Executive Director of the Riverside Park Fund, Carolyn Kent, Parks Committee Chair of Community Board 9, George Goodwill, Chair of Community Board 9, K.C. Sahl, Administrator of Riverside Park and Lieutenant Julian Harper of the 30^th Precinct were also on hand for the event. Be sure to "Come On Over" and take a stroll on the newly restored Riverside Walkway.

(Thursday, July 27, 1989)

When it rains on "Wildman" Steve Brill’s parade, he loves it. Brill, who leads wild food foraging tours in city parks, knows that the recent heavy rainstorms yield an abundance of mushrooms in parks. This year, Brill has been finding mushrooms on his wild food tours that he has not seen before.

On a stroll through Pelham Bay Park in the Bronx in June, walker Sharon Volumuth found a stand of mushrooms of the genus Amanita. This group contains some of the most beautiful fungi in the world, according to Brill. It also has some of the deadliest species. Brill identified the species as Amanita cecilae, which is so rare that it is not included in any of the popular mushroom field guides. No one has ever been foolhardy enough the try eating it, so Amanita cecilae is listed as "edibility unknown," although it may very well be poisonous.

"Housework can't kill you, but why take a chance?"

(b. July 17, 1917)

Know Before You Go

Riverside Park

West 79th Street Boat Basin

Riverside Park (79th Street)