THE FREE NEWSPAPER OF OUTDOOR ADVENTURE JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2012 INCLUDES CALENDAR OF URBAN PARK RANGER FREE WEEKEND ADVENTURES 2 NYCParks nyc.gov/parks/rangers URBAN PARK RANGERS What does a real New York City adventure Pond Park. This unique opportunity for Message From: mean to you? For many, it means strolling team-building and individual fun includes through Times Square, necks craned a zip line, a climbing wall, balance Richard Simon upward to drink in the lights and sounds platforms, and a series of low- and high- of Broadway. For others, it’s a day spent ropes courses. As the fi rst challenge Deputy Director cheering for their favorite team at Yankee course in New York City, it fosters Stadium or Citi Field. Yet for some, true necessary life skills like problem solving, Urban Park Rangers adventure can be found exploring the overcoming personal fears, while promoting verdant parkland and natural areas of our leadership and group interaction. At the city. For over thirty years, New York City’s Alley Pond Park Adventure Course, you can Urban Park Rangers have served as the literally climb to new heights of adventure. ambassadors to our emerald empire, providing outdoor adventure programs Heading to the beach this summer? Then that promote physical fi tness, cultural join us for some of our special Weekend awareness, and the exploration of nature. Adventures taking place throughout the Jamaica Bay area of Queens and eastern It’s our mission to connect New Yorkers Brooklyn, which are listed in this edition of to the natural world. Each weekend Outdoors in New York City. From the Bronx the Urban Park Rangers offer exciting to Staten Island, there is a different Urban “Weekend Adventures” in a park near you. Park Ranger Adventure offered each These programs enable adults and families weekend. This summer I encourage you to experience the natural world in new and to join the Urban Park Rangers for a truly unexpected ways. They include canoeing, unique adventure in New York City. On an fi shing, hiking, biking, archery, camping, Urban Park Ranger program adventure, wildlife viewing, and astronomy, as well as discovery, and the natural world are just special programs for kids and families. a few blocks away. On a Weekend Adventure program you can immerse yourself in the tranquility of To fi nd out more about all of the Urban nature, discover our city’s diverse culture, Park Rangers have to offer, visit us on the and delve into our rich history, all for free. web at www.nyc.gov/parks/rangers. But that’s not all. From May-November, the Urban Park Rangers operate a world- class Adventure Course located in Alley ©Photo by Elizabeth Green | NYC Parks BROOKLYN continued STATEN ISLAND Urban Park Ranger Fort Greene Visitor Center: Blue Heron Nature Center: Fort Greene Park. Enter the park at Myrtle Blue Heron Park. 222 Poillon Avenue, Nature and Avenue and Washington Park. 718.722.3218 between Amboy Road & Hylan Boulevard. Visitor Centers 718.967.3542 MANHATTAN High Rock Ranger Station: Belvedere Castle: High Rock Park. Park in the lot at the end of BRONX Central Park. 79th St., mid-park. Nevada Avenue, off Rockland Ave., and Crotona Nature Center: 212.628.2345 follow signs. 718.667.6042. Crotona Park. Enter the park at Charlotte St. & Crotona Park East. 718.378.2061 Inwood Hill Nature Center: Inwood Hill Park. Enter park at W. 218th St. Orchard Beach Nature Center: & Indian Road. 212.304.2365 or Pelham Bay Park. Section 2 of Orchard 212.304.3401 Beach. 718.885.3466 THE FREE NEWSPAPER OF OUTDOOR ADVENTURE Pelham Bay Ranger Station: QUEENS Pelham Bay Park. Bruckner Blvd. & Alley Pond Park Adventure Center: Urban Park Rangers Wilkinson Ave. (under renovation) 1234 Fifth Avenue Alley Pond Park. Enter at Winchester Blvd., New York City 10029 under the Grand Central Parkway. Van Cortlandt Nature Center: 718.217.6034 or 718.217.4685 Van Cortlandt Park. Enter the park at Director Deputy Director W. 246th St. & Broadway. 718.548.0912 Forest Park Visitor Center: Sarah Aucoin Richard Simon Forest Park. Woodhaven Blvd. & Forest Park Deputy Director Graphic Designer Bonnie McGuire Elizabeth Green Drive. 718.846.2731 BROOKLYN Salt Marsh Nature Center: Fort Totten Visitors Center: Marine Park. East 33rd St. & Avenue U. City of New York Parks & Recreation Fort Totten Park. Enter park at fort entrance, Michael R. Bloomberg, Mayor 718.421.2021 north of intersection of 212 St. and Cross Adrian Benepe, Commissioner Island Pkwy. and follow signs. 718.352.1769 URBAN PARK RANGERS nyc.gov/parks/rangers NYC Parks 3 How long have you worked for NYC Parks? Do you have a favorite high or low element? Ranger in the I joined NYC Parks as an Urban Park Ranger My favorite element is the Swingshot, one in June, 2000, shortly after graduating from of the high elements. A participant is Spotlight: Southampton College. My fi rst assignment suspended from a cable in the very center was working in parks throughout Queens. of the element while a haul team hoists John McCoy I was promoted to Ranger Sergeant in 2004 the person up toward one of the poles. and then to Captain in 2009. The participant pulls a rip-cord and Urban Park Ranger Captain, swings down like a human slingshot. Manager of the Alley Pond You run our Adventure Course in Alley It’s amazing because you really feel the Pond Park, Queens. Please tell us about g-forces at work. Park Adventure Course. the Adventure Course experience. The Alley Pond Park Adventure Course What is your favorite Park? opened in 2007. It is the only outdoor I spend a lot of time in Alley Pond Park, challenge course of its kind in New York and it certainly is one of the most City. Our team of highly trained facilitators beautiful parks in the city. However, provide team-building activities by I would say Central Park is my favorite combining group challenges, climbing park because of its’ history and design, walls, high and low ropes elements, and and because there is so much to see and even a zip-line. People should leave the do. It’s the crown jewel in our park system. course feeling they were challenged physically and mentally. It’s a safe place Where can we learn more about visiting to do crazy, unusual things. the Adventure Course? The Adventure Course is open seven days What do you like best about working at a week, from April-November. Schools the Adventure Course? and private groups can book programs I really enjoy seeing people challenge throughout the week. Sunday’s are free themselves. Many people leave the Course days open to the public. You can learn believing that they have overcome a fear more about the Adventure Coarse and all or feeling closer to their friends or co- Urban Park Ranger programs by visiting the workers. The bonding experience is really NYC Parks website, www.nyc.gov/parks cool to observe. There is a perceived risk of danger, but everyone is securely held in a harness and wears a helmet, so people are completely safe at all times. ©Photo by Elizabeth Green | NYC Parks 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. ©Photo by Elizabeth Green | NYC Parks BRONX BROOKLYN MANHATTAN Sunday, July 1 Saturday, July 7 Saturday, July 14 Biking / Van Cortlandt Park to Orchard Biking/ Plum Beach 11 a.m. / Meet in Biking / Central Park 11 a.m. / Meet at Beach 11 a.m. / Van Cortlandt Nature parking lot off of Belt Parkway eastbound 110th Street and Lenox Avenue Center, West 246th Street and Broadway. between exits 9 & 11 Program ends at Orchard Beach, Pelham Sunday, August 19 Bay Park. Saturday, August 19 Biking / Riverside Park 10 a.m. / Meet Biking/ Owl’s Head Park 11 a.m. / Meet outside of 79th Street Boat Basin, 79th Sunday, August 19 at the Park House, Colonial Road and Street and the Hudson River Biking/ Soundview Park to Orchard Beach 68th Street 11 a.m. / Enter park Lafayette Ave. and Morrison Ave. Program ends at Orchard QUEENS Beach, Pelham Bay Park. Sunday, July 22 Biking / Fort Totten 1 p.m. / Meet at Front Gate, Totten Road and Cross Island Parkway Sunday, August 26 Biking / Cunningham Park 11 a.m. / Parking lot on Union Turnpike and 197th Street. This program ends at Ft. Totten Park STATEN ISLAND Sunday, July 8 Biking/ La Tourette Park 11 a.m. / Field of Dreams, Richmond Avenue and Forest Hill Road Saturday, August 4 Biking/ South Beach 11 a.m. / Father Capodanno Boulevard and Sand Lane ©Photo by Malcolm Pinckney | NYC Parks URBAN PARK RANGERS nyc.gov/parks/rangers NYC Parks 5 Canoeing Few experiences compare with being on the open water in New York City. The rhythm of the waves, the sun on your face, and the exhilaration of slicing through the water, all add up to an experience you’ll never forget.