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Home , Broadway (Manhattan), Mosholu Parkway, Van Cortlandt Park

ORTLANDT C PAR AN mmer Newsl K V g-Su etter rin 200 Sp 9

A Conservancy Grows

n January, a group of devoted said Parks Commissioner Benepe. the park to operate at a higher level. supporters “Seizing this opportune time to build Toward that end, the Conservancy Iincorporated the new non-profit a strong public/private partnership, is exploring how to update both the Van Cortlandt Park Conservancy. the Van Cortlandt Park Conservancy park’s Visitor Survey from 1998 and The Conservancy aims to assist will work with the community to the Master Plan from 1986 and then the Parks Department’s efforts in establish core principles, carefully develop a Strategic Plan to steward maintaining, preserving and pro- guide, and grow the future of the the park over the next decade. The gramming Van Cortlandt Park park for the benefit of the surround- Conservancy is looking critically at through fundraising efforts as well ing community, New Yorkers, and the following long-term needs and as public outreach. The Conservancy visitors alike.” how to move them forward: reno- board members are dedicated, pas- Modeled after the successful vating Woodlawn Playground with sionate park-goers who are distin- public/private partnerships which ADA accessibility; preserving the guished in various professional fields have shepherded the transformation Stadium Building to create indoor and who seek to rally New Yorkers and quality maintenance of Central space for public programming and to make a difference in Van Cort- Park and , the new Van administrative offices; winterizing the landt Park. Cortlandt Park Conservancy is a non- Garage building; renovating the Van “At 1,146 acres, Van Cortlandt profit organization whose goal will be Cortlandt House; and restoring Park is City’s fourth largest to build support during these tough the overgrown wetlands of Tib- park and home to popular playing economic times and raise significant betts Brook. Other future projects fields and playgrounds, a nation- funding for capital improvements as may possibly include the creation of ally renowned cross-country trail, well as staffing assistance. The City an outdoor performance space by the nation’s first public golf course, a provides over $4 million annually to transforming the red steps south of venerable, 18th century historic house operate the park at its current level the Van Cortlandt House Museum museum, the borough’s largest fresh- and, by combining efforts with the into an al fresco theater, adapting the water , and native flora and fauna,” Conservancy, there is potential for Continued on Page 6 Spring -Summer Calendar 2009

May Celebrate the Solstice Birding Club Sunday, June 21, 11 am Biking Greenway First Saturdays, 9am Honor the first day of summer Sunday, May 10, 11 am May 2*, June 6, July 4, with activities from around the world. Leave your car behind, grab your August 1, September 5 Fishing Derby bicycle and find out what makes the Bring binoculars Bronx the City’s greenest borough. if you have them! Saturday, June 27, 1 pm *May 2 is a day-long Ready to test your fishing van tour to other skills? Come to the first-ever birding sites. Call Van Cortlandt fishing derby 718-548-0912 for and pit yourself against more information. other enthusiasts. There Space is limited. will be prizes and all sorts of fishy fun. Meet at the Lake by Golf House. June Into the Depths July Sunday, June 14, 1 pm Independence Day: Turn your dip-nets into the lake for Washington’s Troops this clear-top to murky-bottom ex- on the Hill ploration. Be on the lookout for water boatmen, snails and water striders. Saturday, July 4, 11 am Explore the park and the Bronx’s role in the American Revolution Wildflower Hikes 1 pm with the Rangers. Sunday, June 7 Saturdays, July 11 & August 8 Cass Gallagher Trail Hike Saturday, July 11, 11 am Look for summer flowers on this walk through the North Woods. Meet at & Tree-mendous Hike Mosholu Avenue. Saturday, May 16, 11 am There are over one hundred species of trees in the park. From looking at leaves to examining bark, discover Van Cortlandt Pool the tricks to identifying them all. Is Open! June 27 – September 7 General Swim 11 am–3 pm & 4–7 pm CityParks Seniors Fitness (Closed 3–4 pm) Call 718-760-6969 ext. 0 for Through June 26 • For ages 60+ • Pre-registration required Adult Lap Swim schedule. Meet at Indian Field Courts, & East 233rd Street Bring a bathing suit, towel and a lock. Tennis: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 10 am All equipment provided. Enter the Park at Yoga: Mondays & Wednesdays, 9 am For more information, College & Broadway. Walking: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 9 am call 718-760-6999. Photos: fireworks banner & cyclist - M. Perron ; wildflowers D. McAbee

2 Programs are FREE and meet at the Nature Center unless noted otherwise. Call 718-430-1890 Spring -Summer Calendar 2009 for information or directions.

NY Philharmonic Concert Thursday, July 16, 8 pm August Spread your blanket and enjoy Putnam Hike classical music followed by fireworks. Saturday, August 1, Noon All aboard as we walk the Parade Ground old Putnam Railroad Trail through the park. Van Cortlandt Track Club

Landscape Photography Back Hills 5K Races Sunday, August 2, 10 am Alternate Thursdays, 7 pm Focus on the park’s natural beauty May 21 – August 13 as well as composition and lighting to take your landscape photos to Meet at the Tortoise & Hare the next level. Statue on the Parade Ground. All skill levels welcome. Born to Run Please bring your own camera, Every Saturday, 8 am and tripods are recommended. Explore jogging routes through the park and lower Westchester. Nature’s Remedy Meet at the northern entrance to Sunday, August 2, 2 pm the Van Cortlandt Stadium. Hike through the park in search of medicinal plants and other natural remedies. Bronx Arts Ensemble Concerts 2 pm

John Muir Trail Hike Memorial Day Monday, May 25 Saturday, July 18, 11 am South of the Nature Center Stretch your legs and get some air as you traverse the park’s only Independence Day east-west trail. Hike ends on the Saturday, July 4 of the park. Howell Grove, enter the park Meet at Broadway & at Broadway & Mosholu Ave. Mosholu Avenue. Sunday Concerts July 12 – August 9 Howell Grove Barefoot Dancing Thursdays Trail July 9, 23, 30, 6:30 to 8 pm History Hike Enjoy live music with dance Sunday, August 16, 11 am instruction from Ghana, India One in a Million Trees Walk Walk the Old Croton and the good ole USA. Saturday, August 8, 2 pm Aqueduct Trail and hear the story of Van Cortlandt House Learn nifty ways to identify ’s Museum Lawn different types of trees, view water supply. some of NYC’s great trees, and discover the important role

trees play in our environment. - M. Feller ; tree Perron Photos: Trail

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Directions Phone Numbers By Car: The Major Deegan Expressway has two Administrator’s Office Van Cortlandt House park exits: Van Cortlandt Park South, which serves & Van Cortlandt Museum the south and west portions of the park and East Park Conservancy 718.543.3344 233rd Street, which serves the north and east. 718.430.1890 City of New York The ’s Broadway exits Van Cortlandt Parks & Recreation also serve the park. links Van Friends of Nature Center Cortlandt Park with the and Pelham Van Cortlandt Park 718.548.0912 www.nyc.gov/parks/vancortlandt Parkways. Broadway runs along the park’s west- 718.601.1553 Events and General ern perimeter; Jerome Avenue and Van Cortlandt Michael R. Bloomberg, Mayor Park East border the park on the east side. Mosholu Golf Center Information 718.655.9164 311 By Bus: The Bx9 travels along Broadway on the Adrian Benepe, Commissioner western edge of Van Cortlandt Park. The BxM3, Park Enforcement Patrol Bronx Recreation Hector M. Aponte, Bronx Borough Commissioner an express line serving Manhattan, offers access 718.430.1815 to the park’s western border. The park’s east side General Information Margot Perron, Van Cortlandt Park Administrator Riverdale Equestrian is served by the Bx16, Bx 31 and Bx34. Westches- 718.430.1825 ter bus lines – numbers 1,2,3,4,20 and 21 also Center serve the park. 718.548.4848 Permits – Special Events Cliff Harris, Designer 718.430.1848 By Subway: The northern terminus of the IRT Rangers #1 train at W. 242nd Street is near the Parade 718.548.0912 Permits – Sports Ground. This publication is funded by a federal 718.430.1840 The IRT #4 train’s last stop at Woodlawn serves Van Cortlandt Golf Course Community Development Block Grant. the park’s southeastern . 718.543.4595 Conservancy

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asphalt field at Southwest Playground into a wheelchair sports field for foot- ball and , and adding a comfort station to the north end of the Parade Ground. In addition to determining needs and fundraising for future capital improvements, the Conservancy will take immediate action to publicize and attract more concert-goers to the ’s annual free summer evening event (on July 16 this year); it will launch an anti-litter and no-alcohol campaign for the park; and it is developing a commu- nity council of user groups to assess various park issues and recommend solutions. The Friends of Van Cort- landt Park will be an important part of the council. The Friends group is a The Conservancy’s founding board members pose with unique mulberry tree: non-profit started in 1992 that offers Gene McCarthy, Co-President of Timberland; Hector M. Aponte (ex-officio), free environmental education, assists Bronx Parks Commissioner; Enith Williams (Treasurer), International Financial with trail maintenance, advocates for Advisor; Nina Habib Spencer (Secretary), Principal at Athena Public Relations; community needs, and coordinates Daniel A. Biederman, President of Corporation; Margot Perron regular volunteer activities in the (ex-officio), Van Cortlandt Park Administrator; Anthony Perez Cassino (Chair), park. Assistant Director of Public Service at Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCoy; and Dr. Thomas Kelly, Head of . Continued on Page 7 Look Who’s Working

Left Listening to a Pulse: Plumber Nelson Sweeting turns on the waterworks at our playgrounds. Through his metal tools, he can listen to the flow of water the way a doctor listens to the flow of your blood through a stethoscope.

Right Tailgate Talk: Joe Gindoff of the NY/NJ Trail Conference prepares volunteers with tools and supplies when they meet monthly to help the John Muir Trail. Photos: Top - E. LLopiz; Bottom two M. Perron Photos: Top

6 Volunteering Does a Body Good 10 am – 1 pm (unless noted) For more information, call The Friends of Van Cortlandt Park at 718-601-1553.

Giveaways for volunteers!

Funded by New York Community Trust and Con-Edison. Tree planting at these events is sponsored by MillionTreesNYC, The Home Depot Foundation and NYRP.

Western John Muir Trail/ SEFRI Training Compost Garden Sessions Saturday, May 2 Saturday, May 16, 2 - 4 pm Head out onto the John Muir South East Forest Restoration Trail to remove Interns or SEFRI Stewards will help and plant native trees. Or, stay with the maintenance of our newly and plant vegetables at our planted trees. Compost Site. Each steward will be trained and Meet at the Friends Compost Site provided with the supplies neces- near the Riding Stables parking sary to adopt a small section of the lot. Enter park at Broadway & Southeast Forest. Stewards will be Mosholu Avenue. asked to care for a small plot of trees for two hours each month. To shrubs can thrive. It’s My Park! Day in become a SEFRI Steward you must Meet at Woodlawn Playground, the Southeast Forest attend a training session. Van Cortlandt Park East & Kepler Avenue. Saturday, May 16 Meet at the entrance of the walking to the Mosholu Golf Course, Clean up and beautify the Croton just north of Bainbridge & Jerome National Trails Day Extension Trail. Pull invasive Avenues near the last stop of the Saturday, June 6 then plant natives such as red #4 train. oaks, tulip trees and spicebush. Restore the beautiful Nature Trail and the forest it Meet at the entrance of the Eastern John Muir Trail walking path to the Mosholu Golf transects, bordering Van Cortlandt Saturday, May 30 Course, just north of Bainbridge & Lake and the wetlands. Jerome Avenues near the last stop Help remove invasive Meet just inside the park at of the #4 train. plants so native trees and Broadway & 242nd Street.

great pride and spur positive improve- the support you can muster! Conservancy ments for the park. If you have any questions or By joining forces with existing comments about the Van Cortlandt continued from p.6 organizations and park visitors in our Park Conservancy, please email endeavors, we will make Van Cort- [email protected], So many New Yorkers are pos- landt Park the best it can be. Won’t call the city’s information hotline sessed of deep-rooted affection for you join us? Whether you have fond at 3-1-1, or call the Park Admin- Van Cortlandt Park’s large and varied memories of Van Cortlandt Park or istrator at 718-430-1890. As the landscape. Whether you are a run- actively visit the park and wish to help new Conservancy takes shape, ner, or player, a nature the Conservancy, there are so many information will be made available lover or picnicker, an adult or kid, we ways to get involved. Plant flowers, at www.nyc.gov/parks/vancortlandt, all love this park. The Van Cortlandt spread gravel on the cross country trail, where park maps, listings of park Park Conservancy intends to nurture lend a hand at events, serve on a com- activities, and the Van Cortlandt community affection for this park into mittee, or write a check – we need all Park Newsletter are also available.

7 Van Cortlandt KIDS Spring -Summer 2009 All programs are FREE unless otherwise noted. Bring water, sunblock, a hat and a snack!

Ranger Programs Birdland: Cool Birds...

Basic Hot Jazz Sundays, July 5 & 26 Saturday, August 15 11 am & 2 pm Meet at the Lake by Golf House. Fishing Clinics Sunday, May 17, 11 am - 3 pm Buggin’ Out Saturday, July 25 Play bird-brained games, Sunday, July 12, 11 am & 2 pm Sunday, August 9 plant bird habitat, see live Find hidden creepy crawlers. Noon birds of prey up close, then For ages 12 & under. Borrow a rod and song birds in the tree tops learn to cast. on a walk...and enjoy jazz Nature Bingo Meet at the Lake by music throughout the Saturday, July 18, 2 pm Golf House. afternoon. It’s a real “tweet” for the family! Play games and win prizes. Family Camp Outs Southwest Playground For ages 12 & under. Fridays, July 24 & Nature Scavenger Hunt August 7, 6 pm Sunday, July 19, 11 am & 2 pm Space is limited; registration required. Take the Challenge to find Learn to Ride Adventures in Time nature’s treasures. Call 718-548-0912. Saturday, May 9 Sunday, July 19 History Camp Meet at the Nature Center, unless noted. 9 am – 4:30 pm Week 1: August 10-14 Call 718-548-0912 for more information. Bring a bike, a helmet and Week 2: August 17-21 a kid who wants to master 10 am - 3 pm the two-wheeler. Van Cortlandt House Museum Ages 5 & up Learn to Play Tennis Call 718-543-3344 for FEES For Ages 5-16 • All equipment provided Southwest Playground and information. Monday, June 29 – Friday, August 21

Monday – Thursday Mondays & Wednesdays 9 am – Noon 1 – 4 pm Pool Programs Paul Hecht Tennis Courts Indian Field Tennis Courts Parent/Tot program, ages 1-5 W. 246th St., east of the E. 233rd St. & Jerome Learn to Swim, ages 6-14 Nature Center Avenue Swim Team, ages 6-18 Call Call Parks Dept.’s Citywide Aquatics No pre-registration required. Call 718-760-6999 at 718-760-6969, ext. 0 for schedules & to schedule according to level of skill. registration dates.

CityKids Performances EcoCrafts Sunday, May 10, 1 pm & 3 pm Tuesdays, 11am-2pm Van Cortlandt House Museum July 7 - August 25 Thursdays, July 9 & 16, 10:30 am Classic Playground Classic Playground with the Friends Tuesdays, July 14 & 21, 10:30 am of Van Cortlandt Park. Sachkerah Playground Thursdays, July 23 & 30, 10:30 am Woodlawn Playground Tuesdays, August 4 & 11, 10:30 am Southwest Playground

This program is made possible by Horace Mann School. Photos: Pool Programs - D. Avila; CityKids Performances - M. Perron