Central Park Conservancy A n n u A l R e p o R t 2 0 1 0 Cover Contents Partnership Craftsmanship Stewardship Friendship Financials Lists Support Info Contents 2 Table of Contents partnership - Letter from the Chairman of the Board of Trustees and the Conservancy President . 3 - Letter from the Mayor and the Parks Commissioner . 4 Craftsmanship . 5 - Map of Capital Projects . 6 - The Lake: Western Shoreline and Wagner Cove . 7 - The Lake: Rustic Bridges . 8 - The Metropolitan Museum of Art to the Harlem Meer: East Meadow North Landscape . 9 - Bethesda Fountain . 11 - Reservoir Fountain . 13 Stewardship . 14 - Operations - The Storm Recovery . 15 - Environmental Initiatives . 20 - Public Programming - Internships for High School Students . 21 - Under the Canopy: Caring for Central Park’s Trees . 22 - Volunteer Programs . 23 - Branding: Our New Look . 24 Friendship . 25 Financials . 30 lists - Board of Trustees . 43 - Women’s Committee . 44 - Conservancy Councils . 45 - Contributors . 46 - Women’s Committee Programs & Events . 73 - Conservancy Special Events . 78 - Staff & Volunteers . 81 Chris Cousino, . 88 Section 2 Coordinator, Support at the Dene Info . 89 Cover Contents Partnership Craftsmanship Stewardship Friendship Financials Lists Support Info Partnership 3 Central Park Conservancy Fiscal year 2010 has been one of the most challenging in This report highlights projects that we have completed the Conservancy’s 30-year history . On August 18, 2009 over the past year that were funded by the Campaign a severe 30-minute nighttime storm ravaged the northern for Central Park to complete the transformation and section of the Park, destroying more than 500 trees and sustain the results . Also included in the report are our 275 acres of major landscapes . new stewardship initiatives in both Park operations and public programs . The damage was indeed significant: the cost of cleanup, stabilization, and restoration is $3 million . The In 2010, the Conservancy unveiled its new look . We Conservancy was able to rise to the challenge, thanks to changed our logo, which will help raise awareness of the extraordinary contribution of $1 million from JPMorgan what we do and who we are . Our goal is to increase the Chase & Co ., and donations from more than 3,000 public’s recognition of the Conservancy’s importance as individual donors — many of whom are new friends of the “Central to the Park .” Conservancy . We are also grateful to our partners, the Department of Parks & Recreation, for its generous help From the Board of Trustees and the Conservancy staff, with the cleanup operations . we thank you for your past and continued support in helping to restore, manage, and preserve the greatest No one better embodies the difference that one urban park in the world . individual can make than Richard Gilder, a founding trustee . Dick Gilder’s passion for the Park, along with his visionary leadership and generous support formed the foundation on which the Conservancy is built . We thought it only fitting to honor him at the Conservancy’s Thomas L . Kempner, Jr . Douglas Blonsky 30th Anniversary Gala, held at the Loeb Boathouse in Chairman, Central Park Conservancy President, Central Park Conservancy and Central Park Administrator Central Park on February 23, 2010 . Cover Contents Partnership Craftsmanship Stewardship Friendship Financials Lists Support Info Partnership 4 City of New York On behalf of the City of New York and the Earlier this year we gathered to celebrate the Department of Parks & Recreation, we are Conservancy’s 30th Anniversary and to recognize pleased to join with the Central Park Conservancy the many individuals whose hard work is keeping to present its annual report and recognize its Central Park more beautiful and alive than ever . continued efforts to preserve one of the greatest From the present ambitious restoration of the urban outdoor spaces in the world . Lake’s shoreline to the restoration of landscapes along the east side of the Park extending from As the Central Park Conservancy celebrates both the Metropolitan Museum to the Harlem Meer, the its 30th Anniversary and a record number of visitors Conservancy and its supporters are ensuring this to the Park in the past year (35 million), its work historic Park is always growing and improving . is as important as ever . The Conservancy, under the leadership of Douglas Blonsky, continues The Central Park Conservancy is a model to make great strides in the revitalization of public-private partnership, and we look forward Central Park . When faced with the enormous to continuing our work with this terrific challenge of repairing the destruction caused by organization to promote the long-term health the flash storm of August 2009, the Conservancy and vitality of the Park that we all love . Best mobilized an incredible recovery effort . The City’s wishes for another great year as we strive to MillionTreesNYC initiative provided more than make our City greener and greater . 1,000 saplings for planting in the areas hit by the storm . Michael R . Bloomberg Adrian Benepe Mayor, City of New York Commissioner, Dept. of Parks & Recreation Cover Contents Partnership Craftsmanship Stewardship Friendship Financials Lists Support Info Craftsmanship Wagner Cove Cover Contents Partnership Craftsmanship Stewardship Friendship Financials Lists Support Info Craftsmanship 6 Central Park Capital Work 1980 – 2010 the lake: Western Shoreline the lake: and Wagner Cove Gill Bridge W 66 ST W 72 ST W 81 ST W 86 ST W 97 ST W 110 ST W 110 Central Park West Central Park West Western Shoreline The Pool The Lake Central Park North Central Park South Cherry Hill Reservoir The Ramble The Fort The Landscape Pond East Meadow North Landscape Harlem Reservoir East Landscape Meer E 85 ST E 97 ST E E 59 ST E 65 ST Fifth Avenue E 72 ST E 79 ST Fifth Avenue 1 1 0 ST RESTORATION PROGRESS Bethesda Fountain Reservoir Fountain the Metropolitan Museum of Art to the Harlem Meer: RESTORED 1980 - 2010 Restoration in Progress east Meadow north landscape LONG TERM MANAGEMENT/ REPLACEMENT IN KIND Restored 1980 – 2010 COMPLETED IN FY10 Long-Term Management/Replacement-in-Kind IN CONSTRUCTION FY10 Completed in FY10 IN PLANNING AND DESIGN FY10 In Construction FY10 In Planning and Design FY10 Cover Contents Partnership Craftsmanship Stewardship Friendship Financials Lists Support Info Craftsmanship 7 The Lake: Western Shoreline and Wagner Cove Our remarkably successful overgrowth along this stretch Campaign for Central Park, of shoreline and path created which began in 2005 and was a sense of confinement completed in three and one-half rather than the infinite vistas years, raised $125 million — that Park designers Olmsted $25 million more than the and Vaux had originally original goal — to restore and intended . Improvements maintain the 20-acre Lake, its included vegetation and shoreline, and surrounding sediment removal; seasonal landscapes . The Campaign horticultural and aquatic also included restoration plantings; rebuilding paths and maintenance of the east and two boat landings; and side landscapes from the installation of new benches . Metropolitan Museum of Art to With the completed restoration the Harlem Meer . of its scenic shoreline, long obscured views of the water This year we completed the were re-established and visitors western shoreline, which can once again appreciate includes Wagner Cove at scenes of the Lake, the Island, its southern terminus . Over Hernshead, the Ramble the years, the vegetation shoreline, and Bow Bridge . The Lake, Western Shoreline Cover Contents Partnership Craftsmanship Stewardship Friendship Financials Lists Support Info The Conservancy’s experts in rustic craftsmanship rebuilt the Gill Bridge, located on the shore of the Ramble, which offers some of the most beautiful views of the Lake . The restoration was funded by Sarah Peter, whose generous gift also included the restoration of the bridge’s surrounding shoreline . Cover Contents Partnership Craftsmanship Stewardship Friendship Financials Lists Support Info Craftsmanship 9 The Metropolitan Museum of Art to the Harlem Meer: East Meadow North Landscape Another Campaign for completion of the 102nd Central Park project, the East Street entrance to the Meadow’s north landscape Park (Girls’ Gate) where it (located between East 100th connects to the East Drive . and 102nd Streets) was completed in 2010 . It included Leadership support for the the restoration of lawn areas; restoration of the landscapes enhancement of landscape between 97th Street and the plantings and upgrade of Harlem Meer has been provided by Thomas L. Kempner, Jr. & irrigation infrastructure to Katheryn C. Patterson; LuEsther support the plantings; resetting T. Mertz Charitable Trust; Polo two stairways and repaving Ralph Lauren Foundation; Nina their connecting paths; adding Rosenwald, Elizabeth & Michael new benches and lighting . Varet, and Alice Rosenwald; With the completion of this The Rudin Family; and the work, our efforts this coming NYC Department of Parks & year will turn to the restoration Recreation. Additional support of the East Meadow proper has been provided by many area residents. (located between East 97th and 100th Streets) and the Newly repaired stairway and paths in the East Meadow north landscape Cover Contents Partnership Craftsmanship Stewardship Friendship Financials Lists Support Info Newly restored East Meadow north landscape Cover Contents Partnership Craftsmanship Stewardship Friendship Financials Lists Support