Includes CALENDAR of URBAN PARK RANGER FREE Programs 2 Nycparks Nyc.Gov/Parks/Rangers URBAN PARK RANGERS
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THE FREE NEWSPAPER OF OUTDOOR ADVENTURE JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2011 INCLUDES CALENDAR OF URBAN PARK RANGER FREE PROGRAMS 2 NYCParks nyc.gov/parks/rangers URBAN PARK RANGERS Hi Everyone! I was so excited when I was Archery program. Summer is a great time to Message From: asked to write the opening message this tune up your bike, strap on your helmet, and summer’s in Outdoors in NYC. It was only one take a Cycling tour of a famous park, or sign Pearl the Squirrel year ago that I joined NYC Parks and what an up to spend a night under the stars with me adventure it has been! The Urban Park on a Family Camping program. Rangers really know how to have fun. Last summer I went camping every weekend I am not going to spend one day cooped up and I took my first ride in a canoe. It was in my tree this summer! On my days off, I awesome! In the fall I graduated from the am going to visit Coney Island, fly a kite, and Park Ranger Academy and in the winter enjoy a concert in the park. I am also going I taught my first Winter Survival program. But to plant an acorn for every new friend I the most fun I had was making friends with make! So climb out of your tree this hundreds of kids who visited me in the park. summer and explore all the NYC Parks has to offer. Please do your part to help keep When I was a little squirrel growing up in our parks looking clean and beautiful by Van Cortlandt Park, I could not wait to climb taking your trash with and leaving nothing down from my tree each day and explore the behind. See you in the parks! forest. My friends and I learned the names of all the trees, and discovered which oaks A complete list of all Parks programs can be had the sweetest acorns. We had scavenger found by visiting www.nyc.gov/parks. hunts and made crafts out of what nature provided. Now there is nothing I love more than connecting kids to the natural world while showing them ways to stay fit and exercise their brains. This summer, the Urban Park Rangers offer dozens of family friendly programs that I’m sure you’re going to go nuts for. Young kids will love letting their imaginations run free as they use found objects to express themselves on the Imagination Play program, and older kids can build their muscles and improve their aim on an MANHATTAN STATEN ISLAND Urban Park Ranger Belvedere Castle (BC): Blue Heron Nature Center (BHNC): Central Park. 79th St., mid-park. Blue Heron Park. 222 Poillon Avenue, Nature and 212.628.2345 between Amboy Road & Hylan Boulevard. 718.967.3542 Visitor Centers Dana Discovery Center (DDC): Central Park. 110th St. & Lenox Ave. High Rock Ranger Station (HRRS): BRONX 212.860.1376 High Rock Park. Park in the lot at the end of Crotona Nature Center, (CNC): Nevada Avenue, off Rockland Ave., and Crotona Park. Enter the park at Charlotte St. Inwood Hill Nature Center (IHNC): follow signs. 718.667.6042. & Crotona Park East. 718.378.2061 Inwood Hill Park. Enter park at W. 218th St. & Indian Road. 212.304.2365 or Orchard Beach Nature Center (OBNC): 212.304.3401 Pelham Bay Park. Section 2 of Orchard Beach. 718.885.3466 QUEENS Pelham Bay Ranger Station, under Alley Pond Park Adventure Center (APPAC): construction (PBRS): Alley Pond Park. Enter at Winchester Blvd., Pelham Bay Park. Bruckner Blvd. & under the Grand Central Parkway. Wilkinson Ave. 718.885.3467 718.217.6034 or 718.217.4685 Van Cortlandt Nature Center (VCNC): Forest Park Visitor Center (FPVC): THE FREE NEWSPAPER OF OUTDOOR ADVENTURE Van Cortlandt Park. Enter the park at W. Forest Park. Woodhaven Blvd. & Forest Park JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2011 246th St. & Broadway. 718.548.0912 Drive. 718.846.2731 Sarah Aucoin, Director Fort Totten Visitors Center (FTVC): Bonnie McGuire, Deputy Director Richard Simon, Deputy Director BROOKLYN Fort Totten Park. Enter park at fort entrance, Marta Arroyo, Program Manager Salt Marsh Nature Center (SMNC): north of intersection of 212 St. and Cross Elizabeth Green, Graphic Designer Marine Park. East 33rd St. & Avenue U. Island Pkwy. and follow signs. 718.352.1769 Shalini Beath, Grants Manager 718.421.2021 Fort Greene Visitor Center (FGVC): Urban Park Rangers 1234 Fifth Avenue Fort Greene Park. Enter the park at Myrtle New York City 10029 Avenue and Washington Park. 718.722.3218 URBAN PARK RANGERS nyc.gov/parks/rangers NYC Parks 3 Urban Farm at the Battery Debuts Site is the Battery’s First Public Urban Farm Since the Dutch Planted their Cottage Gardens in New Amsterdam in 1625. Public Welcomed to Plant and Farm at 80 Organic Vegetable Plots On April 11, 2011 Parks & Recreation “The Farm is a natural outgrowth of the with architect partner Shane Neufeld utilized Commissioner Adrian Benepe and Battery Battery Conservancy’s ongoing commitment over 5,000 bamboo poles which were donated Conservancy President Warrie Price were to community outreach and envisioning to the Conservancy by renowned artists Mike joined by members of the Millennium High creatively the future of life in the City.” and Doug Starn. The bamboo is repurposed School Environmental Club and 200 first from their internationally acclaimed and sixth graders from P.S. 276 and P.S. 896 The Urban Farm occupies one full acre of installation work ‘Big Bambú: You Can’t, You to inaugurate the new Urban Farm at the the Battery’s verdant parkland at the Don’t, and You Won’t Stop,’ which occupied Battery. Also present were architect and southernmost tip of Manhattan – along The Metropolitan Museum of Art Roof Garden designer Shane Neufeld, and Battery Chefs State Street at Pearl Street – and will be in during the summer and early autumn of 2010. Wade Burch of Merchant Market, and Zak operation for two years until construction Pelaccio and Kevin Pomplun of Fatty Cue. begins on the Battery Garden Bikeway It will also function as an outdoor classroom connecting the East and West Sides of where students and volunteer members of “Urban agriculture is critical in our city to Manhattan. the public – including community groups, strengthen the connection between New local residents, members of the Downtown Yorkers and the food they eat,” said Parks & It originated with a request from students of work force, and military veterans - can Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe. Millennium High School’s Envrionmental plant, cultivate, harvest, and eat fresh “We are delighted to partner with the Club to plant a vegetable garden in the park. produce. During the preparation of its soil Battery Conservancy in establishing this It led to a farming initiative that now for planting, the Urban Farm already has urban farm which will promote hands-on includes eight schools with over 650 welcomed more than 650 students from learning about the living environment, students participating. kindergarten through 12th grade, from eight nutrition, history, civics and the arts. And New York City schools: PS3 The John Melser what better location than in the Battery – The Urban Farm will now serve the Lower Charrette School; PS89 Liberty School; the site where the Dutch first planted their Manhattan community as a sustainable PS276 Battery Park City School; IS289 cottage gardens back in 1625!” outdoor farming destination to include 80 Hudson River Middle School; IS896 Lower organic vegetable plots. These will lie within Manhattan Community Middle School; M560 “From its structure to its program, from its an “architecture” conceived by New York City-as-School; Claremont Preparatory seeds to its enrichment of the park’s soil, designer Scott Dougan, who created a School; and Millennium High School. from its potential for bringing people planting footprint that pays playful tribute to together and teaching us about healthy Zelda, a wild American turkey who has Members of the public who would like to eating, the Urban Farm at the Battery is a resided since 2003 in the Battery and is much get their hands into the soil at the sustainable exercise in both progressive loved by the public. Tracing a perimeter that Urban Farm can learn more by going to: horticulture and design excellence,” said evokes Zelda’s silhouette, including her www.thebattery.org Battery Conservancy President Warrie Price. distinctive head and tail feathers, Dougan Urban Park Rangers 1234 Fifth Avenue New York City 10029 4 NYCParks nyc.gov/parks/rangers URBAN PARK RANGERS Biking Are you staycationing in New York City this summer? A cycling tour of one of New York City’s premier parks is the perfect way to get more from your vacation at home. See more in less time while burning calories! Our Urban Park Ranger cycling guides will introduce you to some of the most famous parks in the world. Enjoy breathtaking views, public artwork, landscape design and an abundance of wildlife. Biking programs are suitable for all ages and generally proceed at a leisurely pace. You must supply your own bicycle and helmets are required. We recommend bringing plenty of water and a light snack. BRONX MANHATTAN STATEN ISLAND Sunday, July 24 Sunday, July 24 Saturday, July 9 Biking / Van Cortlandt to Pelham Bay Park Biking / Riverside Park 11 a.m. / 72nd Biking / Midland Beach 10 a.m. / Midland 11 a.m. / Van Cortlandt Nature Center, Street and Riverside Drive Avenue and Father Capodanno Boulevard West 246th Street and Broadway Sunday, August 28 Sunday, July 31 Sunday, August 14 Biking/ Inwood Hill Park 11 a.m. / Inwood Mountain Biking / Wolfe’s Pond Park Biking / Soundview Park to Pelham Bay Hill Nature Center, West 218th Street and 11 a.m.