City of New York Manhattan Parks & Recreation Michael R. Bloomberg, Mayor Sept./Oct. 2007 Parks Post Adrian Benepe, Commissioner Borough Beat Photo of the Month Manhattan’s parks are getting better and better - an extensive reconstruction program is transforming parks throughout the borough. We recently opened the Harlem River Park ballfields with a $3.5 million synthetic turf field for baseball, football and soccer. Work was also completed on Father Demo Square, Tramway Plaza, two “tot lots” in Riverside Park and the Vesuvio Playground and new pool. Other improvements are not far behind at Columbus Park pavilion, Riverside Park promenade, Harlem River basketball courts and Sherman Creek Waterfront Parks. Thanks to the Mayor and local elected officials for funding these projects, and to community residents whose support helps make it all happen. See you in the parks! Adrian Benepe, An army of volunteers helps beautify Highbridge Park at the last It’s My Park! Day in May. The next volunteer day happens at sites all over Manhattan on Commissioner October 20. Plant a tree, repair benches or tend a garden - it’s your park! Bill Castro, Photo: Daniel Avila Manhattan Commissioner Citywide Spotlight Parks Afterschool Programs Are Starting Now! Every school day until 6:00 p.m., thousands of New York City kids, ages 6 to 13 attend one of the Parks Department’s 35 Afterschool programs citywide. Parks Afterschool offers quality programs that promote the social, physical, intellectual and emotional development of children and youth. This past year, kids made comic books using computer graphics, choreographed dance routines, learned martial arts techniques, visited art museums, played musical instruments, learned chess through our ‘Chess-in- the-Schools’ programs, wrote poetry, planned their financial futures and participated in the first annual Afterschool Spelling Bee. The Parks Department partners with organizations like New York Cares, the YMCA, NYC Global Partners and the Museum of Arts & Design to bring new experiences to kids all over the City. For more information, or to register for the Parks Department’s Afterschool Program, visit www.nyc.gov/parks or call (212) 360-3300. www.nyc.gov/parks CALENDAR Feature of the Month Theodore Roosevelt Park is the Citywide Park of the Month Situated between Columbus Avenue and Little Red Lighthouse Festival Central Park West and adjacent to the Museum of Natural History, Theodore FORT WASHINGTON PARK Roosevelt Park is named to honor the only September 15 @ 12:00 p.m. native of New York City to serve as President of the United States as well as the first United 5th Annual West Side County Fair States President to win a Nobel Prize (for RIVERSIDE PARK peace). The park includes one of the largest September 16 @ 1:00 p.m. dog runs in the City as well as a monument that honors Alfred Nobel. 12th Annual Harvest in the Square UNION SQUARE Thanks to the neighborhood group, Friends September 20 @ 7:30 p.m. of Museum Park, as well as local elected officials, Theodore Roosevelt Park has enjoyed many recent upgrades. Currently, a $2.5 Annual Citywide Bocce Tournament million project to rebuild the park’s perimeter VARIOUS LOCATIONS walks and add more benches is under way, September 29 & 30 @ 10:00 a.m. with major funding from City Council Member Photo: Malcolm Pinckney Gale Brewer. Falconry Extravaganza with the Urban Park Rangers Did you know? CENTRAL PARK September 30 @ 12:00 noon … about CRCs? Located in Recreation Centers citywide, the network of 27 Computer Resource Centers offer state of the art equipment Medieval Festival and serve more than 2,300 children and adults every week with FORT TRYON PARK programming for all ages: Classes & specialized workshops • Drop-in September 30 @ 12:00 noon time • High-speed Internet access • Industry-standard professional and Pumpkin Festival in Central Park educational software • Printing CENTRAL PARK October 27 @ 11:00 a.m. Current Events 4th Annual Little Tykes Bike Races & Halloween Costume Parade INWOOD HILL PARK October 28 @ 1:00 p.m. What’s going on in my park this weekend? How do I request a tree The Abyssinian Crusaders and the Jets of Ceremonial dancers entertain at the re-opening for my street? How can I report a Harlem football teams get ready to play on of Seward Park. The New York Junior League, problem in a park? the newly rebuilt state-of-the-art synthetic turf together with corporate sponsors, local residents ballfields at Harlem River Park. and others dedicated an estimated 7,000 For answers to these questions and Photo: Malcolm Pinckney volunteer hours to landscape, paint and restore more, visit www.nyc.gov/parks or the first permanent municipally built call 311. playground in the United States. Photo: Daniel Avila www.nyc.gov/parks 8.