Walter Gladwin Park

The Daily Plant : Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Newly Renovated Playgrounds Debut At Tremont Park

Photo by Daniel Avila

On June 22, Bronx Parks Commissioner Hector Aponte joined Congressman Jose E. Serrano, NYC DEP Protection Chief Financial Officer Steven W. Lawitts, students from Community School 211, and members of Community Board 6 to cut the ribbon on a $4.5 million renovation of Tremont Park.

“Today we opened two newly renovated playgrounds, a sitting area and lawn in Tremont Park, thanks to $4.5 million in Croton Mitigation funding through the NYC Department of Environmental Protection,” said Commissioner Aponte. “These improvements are part of a $200-million Croton-funded investment in the parks of the Bronx, which we’ve used to renovate dozens of playgrounds, create miles of greenway, add new and update existing recreation facilities, and expand access to the waterfront. Tremont Park has long been a recreational oasis, with sports courts, walking paths and a ballfield, and these latest renovations will give Bronxites even more reasons to visit this summer.”

The $4.5 million project included the reconstruction of two playgrounds, with new playground equipment and spray showers. The renovation also added plantings throughout the site, a lawn and a sitting area.

This park was once named Old Borough Hall Park, because Bronx Borough Hall stood on this property. Louis F. Haffen, the first Bronx Borough President, was inaugurated in a second floor office in 1898. Borough Hall served as the borough’s administrative headquarters until a new building was constructed along the Grand Concourse near Yankee Stadium in 1935.

APPLY FOR THE NYC LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE

Applications are now available for the 2013 class of the NYC Leadership Institute, the City’s premier executive development program for outstanding agency managers.

Eligibility
The Leadership Institute is designed for mid-level agency managers who are who are in an appropriate position to implement strategic change, and who have had several years of management experience. An ideal candidate has significant decision making authority in his/her area of work and is, at most, two positions away from a senior management position in the agency with the goal of becoming a senior manager in City government. Candidates should be committed to public service and to working in a diverse environment.

Content
The curriculum focuses on how to bring about a strategic change including organizational diagnosis, and process analysis and design. Special emphasis is placed upon collaborative leadership models and creating shared efficiencies Citywide. Topics are taught by experts from New York City government and other municipalities, the academic community, and the private sectors. The program will require a time commitment of one day per week (generally from 9:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.) for approximately 16 sessions during the fall and winter of 2012/2013.

Application Process
Please complete the attached application and obtain a recommendation from a current manager or supervisor. You may also access the application online at the DCAS website: http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcas/html/resources/leadership_institute.shtml. Please send your completed application to Joe Conforti in Deputy Commissioner Garafola’s Office (The Arsenal, Room 301) by August 3rd. The application also requires the endorsement of the Commissioner, which we will submit after we receive your full application. Please direct all questions to Joe Conforti at Joe.Conforti@parks.nyc.gov or 212-360-1391.

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

“We may go to the moon, but that's not very far. The greatest distance we have to cover still lies within us.”

Charles de Gaulle
(1890 - 1970)