1 ANNUAL REPORT 2012 Cover Contents Partnership Craftsmanship Stewardship Visitor Experience Friendship Financials Lists Support Info 2 CONTENTS 2 3 Partnership 3 Letter from the Chairman of the Board of Trustees and the Conservancy President 5 Letter from the Mayor and the Parks Commissioner 6 Tribute to Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe 7 Craftsmanship 8 Map of Central Park Restoration Work 9 Cherry Hill Concourse 11 Rhododendron Mile 13 East 69th Street Entrance and Girls’ Gate at East 102nd Entrance 15 Bridge 24 17 Shakespeare Conservation 19 Central Play: The Campaign for Central Park’s Playgrounds 21 The Woodlands Initiative 23 Special Recognition Award 26 Stewardship 27 Department of Operations Management • Recycling and Trash Management • Park Lighting 29 Professional Development • College Internships • Woodlands Youth Education Programs 31 Visitor Experience 32 Public Programming and Volunteer Services • Public Programs • Volunteer Services • New Tree Discovery Walks 36 Friendship 41 Financials 55 Lists 56 Board of Trustees 57 Women’s Committee 59 Contributors 91 Women’s Committee Programs & Events 98 Conservancy Special Events 100 Staff & Volunteers 107 Support 108 Info 108 Conservancy Mission, Guiding Principle, & Core Values 109 Credits Charles Obery, Infrastructure & Parkwide Repair Supervisor Cover: The Lake Cover Contents Partnership Craftsmanship Stewardship Visitor Experience Friendship Financials Lists Support Info 3 PARTNERSHIP 3 Central Park Conservancy The Central Park Conservancy is at a pivotal moment in our history as we strive to redefine the visitor experience. The future of Central Park lies with the way New Yorkers — and all visitors — connect with this distinctive and treasured resource. The Conservancy has become known globally as the leader in urban green space management. This has resulted in a growing number of inquiries to the Conservancy to share best practices on topics from public-private partnerships and governance to horticulture. In order to keep up with the enormous increase for information, the Conservancy has begun to lay the groundwork for the Central Park Institute. Through the creation of the Institute, Central Park will become a classroom, accessible worldwide. Children and families will discover the Park in new and imaginative ways. Park administrators and professionals worldwide will turn to the Institute to learn about the Conservancy’s best practices in urban park management. And the general public will have an enhanced Park experience through interaction with the Conservancy’s myriad of educational opportunities, and unique tools for Park exploration. This will build upon the Conservancy’s core strengths of professional development, horticulture and operational management, volunteer training and administration, and the establishment of public-private partnerships. Sheep Meadow Cover Contents Partnership Craftsmanship Stewardship Visitor Experience Friendship Financials Lists Support Info 4 PARTNERSHIP 4 We take great pride in the role we have played in leading Central Park out of a period of decline to its re-emergence as what we believe to be the most important cultural institution and legendary open space in New York City. We understand that in order to secure the vibrancy of the Park, the Conservancy must position it not only as a place of leisure and recreation, but a place of education, outreach, innovation, and discovery. This will allow our most precious asset to continue to thrive for generations. Never more than today has the Central Park Conservancy in all its facets truly exemplified “World-Class Excellence.” Thank you for being such a valuable part of our continued success. We invite you to review this annual report to re-affirm the value of the Conservancy and your generous support. Thomas L. Kempner, Jr. Douglas Blonsky Chairman, Central Park Conservancy President & CEO, Central Park Conservancy and Central Park Administrator Cover Contents Partnership Craftsmanship Stewardship Visitor Experience Friendship Financials Lists Support Info 5 PARTNERSHIP 5 City of New York On behalf of the City of New York, we are proud to join the instrumental in the Park’s recent resurgence. From the Central Park Conservancy in presenting its annual report. completion of the major landscapes around the Lake’s shoreline to the restoration of landscapes along the east The City’s partnership with the Central Park Conservancy side, particularly the recent revitalization of Rhododendron is a model for successful public private partnerships. Mile, the Conservancy and its supporters are ensuring Organizations and community groups throughout the that one of our city’s greatest treasures is always growing five boroughs — and across the nation and world — are and improving. Thanks to the vision and generosity of the following its lead and bringing new life to outdoor spaces Conservancy and its supporters, Central Park’s future as and natural resources. Together with the New York City a center for innovative maintenance practices is ensured Department of Parks & Recreation, the Conservancy also as we continue to improve this iconic park’s landscape, continues to ensure that the busiest city in the world has features, and programming. at its center a peaceful place of timeless beauty- one that attracts 40 million visitors every year, and that remains Central Park is a community gathering place for New one of New York City’s leading cultural institutions and the Yorkers from every walk of life, and we are committed to world’s most extraordinary public park. sustaining its long-term health and vitality. As we make our city even greener and greater, we thank the Conservancy The work of former NYC Parks Commissioner Adrian for its leadership, and look forward to continuing our work Benepe, in partnership with that of Conservancy President with this incredible organization. Doug Blonsky and Chairman Tom Kempner, has been Michael R. Bloomberg Veronica M. White Mayor, City of New York Commissioner, Dept. of Parks & Recreation Cover Contents Partnership Craftsmanship Stewardship Visitor Experience Friendship Financials Lists Support Info PARTNERSHIP 6 Leadership: Honoring Adrian Benepe Parks Commissioner, 2002–2012 Having grown up on the West Side of Manhattan, Adrian has been a passionate lover and user of Central Park for his entire life. Fresh out of college in 1979, Adrian took a job with the Department of Parks & Recreation as an Urban Park Ranger in Central Park. Over the next two decades, with some minor interruptions, Adrian climbed the ranks of the Parks Department, heading up communications, natural resources, art and antiquities departments, and eventually becoming the Manhattan Borough Commissioner in 1996 and Parks Commissioner, appointed by Mayor Bloomberg in 2002. Adrian has been a great friend, supporter, and valued trustee of the Central Park Conservancy, always acknowledging the generosity of individuals, foundations, and corporations who have provided private support for the restoration and maintenance of Central Park. During his tenure, he lent his guidance and support to the Adrian’s commitment to the Conservancy’s important work Conservancy’s Campaign for Central Park (2004–2008), and his deep appreciation for the Park’s unique history and which played a major role in transforming the Park into the remarkable design, combined with his intelligence, insight, greatest public space in New York City. In 2006 it was Adrian grace, and sense of humor will be his legacy. who, with President and Central Park Administrator Doug Blonsky, signed the eight-year renewal of the management We wish him the best of success in all his future endeavors agreement between the Conservancy and the City of New and welcome him into the pantheon of Central Park York affirming the Conservancy’s authority to manage, visionaries and leaders. maintain, and operate Central Park. Cover Contents Partnership Craftsmanship Stewardship Visitor Experience Friendship Financials Lists Support Info 7 Craftsmanship Bridge 24 Cover Contents Partnership Craftsmanship Stewardship Visitor Experience Friendship Financials Lists Support Info 8 CRAFTSMANSHIP 8 Central Park Restoration Work Cherry Hill North Meadow Concourse North Woods The Ramble Shakespeare Hallett Nature Conservation Sanctuary Bridge 24 East 69th East 102nd Street Entrance Street Entrance Restoration in Progress Restored/In Long-Term Management Completed in FY12 In Construction FY12 In Planning & Design Future Projects Cover Contents Partnership Craftsmanship Stewardship Visitor Experience Friendship Financials Lists Support Info 9 CRAFTSMANSHIP 9 Cherry Hill Concourse The restoration of Cherry Hill represents the last major part of the Conservancy’s six-year restoration of the Lake and its surrounding landscapes and shoreline. Phase I of the Cherry Hill project, its landscapes and shoreline surrounding the Lake, was completed last year. This year, the reconstruction of the Cherry Hill Concourse marks the completion of the restoration of the Cherry Hill project. Originally built as a scenic carriage turnaround, Cherry Hill Concourse’s central feature was a decorative watering trough for horses, designed in the 1860s by Park architect Jacob Wrey Mould. The restored Concourse reasserts the site’s historic status as one of the best places in Central Park to view the 20-acre Lake. The view is framed by mature trees and new plantings that envelope the Concourse and hug its nearby paths. Cover Contents Partnership Craftsmanship Stewardship