Sternberg Park

Arbor Day Celebrated At Sternberg Park

Friday, April 30, 2010
No. 27
http://www.nyc.gov/parks

Parks & Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe today joined City Council Member Diana Reyna, Assembly Member Joseph Lentol and students from P.S. 132 and M.S. 126 to plant a tree in celebration of Arbor Day at Sternberg Park in East Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The tree – a Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) - is located close to a new dog run that is currently in construction at the park.

“Arbor Day is the perfect time for New Yorkers to dig in, plant trees, and get involved in making their communities greener to improve our city’s environment and public health,” said Commissioner Benepe. “We are pleased to plant a Hornbeam tree in Sternberg Park, adjacent to a new dog run that is currently in construction. Thanks to $380,000 in capital funds from Mayor Bloomberg, this dog run will surely delight the community’s canine population as dogs large and small will have their own distinct areas to get exercise, socialize, and chill with their human companions.”

The new tree counts as part of MillionTreesNYC, where one million trees will be planted and cared for in the five boroughs by 2017. Through this partnership with Bette Midler’s New York Restoration Project, we are well ahead of schedule, having already planted over 347,000 trees toward the goal.

With a capital allocation of $380,000 from Mayor Bloomberg, Parks is also constructing a new dog run at Sternberg Park. It will include steel fences for two separate areas – one for small dogs and one for larger dogs. Canine drinking fountains and circular benches surrounding existing trees will be included. The dog run will also feature a surface with a drainage system and 60 Ribbon Grass plantings.

Work on the dog run began in November 2009. The project manager for the dog run’s construction is Wim DeRonde. The resident engineer is Rob Iaropoli. The contractor is CMC Construction Inc. Work is scheduled to be completed within the next six weeks.