Tag: Prospect Park Alliance

c. Paul Martinka

Park Improvements

October 22, 2014

The Prospect Park Alliance has recently received more than $1.6 million in funding from government agencies on the federal, state and city levels to improve the northeast corner of the Park, including repairing storm damage in the Vale of Cashmere, and also reconstruction of the fencing and sidewalk along Flatbush Avenue.

The Alliance received nearly $730,000 from the National Park Service and the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation to repair storm damage in the Vale, a once lush garden oasis located along a dramatic 60-foot slope, which was originally a children’s play area. The Vale eventually surrendered its sweeping views of the surrounding landscape to maturing trees. Last year, the Alliance created the Donald and Barbara Zucker Natural Exploration Area, which used trees damaged by Hurricane Sandy to create a new play area for children, which this year was named Best of New York by New York magazine.

Hurricane Sandy destroyed 50 trees in the Vale, causing damage to adjacent structures and destabilization of the sloping landscape. This project will restore the woodlands, clean up storm damage, reset damaged boulders, and replant native trees and shrubs in order to stabilize the slope. In addition, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams and New York City Council Member Laurie Cumbo recently awarded grants totaling $900,000 for the first phase of repairing the sidewalk and fencing along Flatbush Avenue. Together with the future opening of the Flatbush entrance to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, this project will go far in improving accessibility to this side of the Park.

Park improvements aren’t restricted to the northeast corner. A significant project is currently underway to restore the Long Meadow Ballfields, and to improve pedestrian pathways and drainage issues around the Park. This includes the reconstruction of the transverse path at the north end of the Long Meadow, which was made possible through funds from New York City Council Member Brad Lander through the Participatory Budget process. 

In addition, to improve drainage issues at the Park Circle entrance to the Park, the Alliance has installed rain gardens that help to absorbe stormwater runoff. Like the rain gardens at the LeFrak Center, the new installations will recycle the water to feed surrounding plants and trees. Other projects currently underway are the creation of the first compostable restrooms in a city park at the historic Wellhouse, and the City Council has recently awarded funding toward the renovation of the Prospect Park Bandshell. Stay tuned for further news on these Park improvements.

c. Greg Martin

PPA Profiles: Sue Donoghue

Both personally and professionally, city parks have played a central role in the life of Susan Donoghue, the Alliance’s new President and Park Administrator. After earning a Master of Public Administration at New York University, she spent six years at NYC Parks as an Assistant Commissioner, where she spearheaded the agency’s work on important initiatives such as PlaNYC, Mayor Bloomberg’s blueprint for enhancing the city’s sustainability. Through these initiatives, the city has planted more than 900,000 trees, renovated and constructed eight regional parks, and added over 260 new community playgrounds through the Schoolyards to Playgrounds Initiative in all five boroughs.

Yet her passion for Prospect Park goes beyond her work at NYC Parks. As a neighborhood resident and mother of three, the Park is a haven for her family. She brings her children to the Park to play sports, and three times a week takes an early morning jog around the loop. Even her pet enjoys the Park. “I have a puppy,” she explained, “so I’m in the Long Meadow early in the morning.”

Taken together, the role as Alliance President and Park Administrator could not be more ideal. “You don’t always get to combine what you really love with your professional experience,” she said.

Donoghue has a strong awareness of the challenges of running and operating an urban park, as well as what an incredibly vital resource the Park is for such a densely populated borough. One of the biggest challenges is harnessing resources and gaining consensus. Her time in city government was an education in what it takes to bring new initiatives to the fore. “Good communication is essential to help people understand what we do, why we’re doing it, and how it benefits everyone,” she said. “It takes partnering with the community to bring about change and incorporate new ideas.” In her new role, she is highly focused on making certain the Park serves the diverse groups that consider Prospect Park their backyard, and understanding their changing needs.

She also is dedicated to making certain the work of the Alliance in the ongoing care and maintenance of Prospect Park is able to meet the Park’s increasing use. “Parks all over the city are important examples of the city’s renaissance,” she said. “People are coming in droves, which is wonderful, but that can sometimes take a toll on the landscape.” Since the Alliance’s founding in the mid-1980s, Prospect Park has seen a huge increase in visitors, in the past 20 years alone it has grown from 2 million to more than 10 million visits annually.

Ultimately, Donoghue defines success for the Alliance as continuing to attract a wide range of visitors from across the borough by restoring the Park and bringing to fruition new amenities such as Lakeside; while keeping the Park clean, safe and well maintained.  

c. Paul Martinka

PPA Profiles: Rafe Shaffer

September 2, 2014

There are few people more passionate and knowledgeable about the Park’s illustrious past than Rafe Shaffer, the Supervising Educator at the Lefferts Historic House. Rafe grew up in Park Slope and has spent a lot of time exploring the trails, woodlands, hills and history of Prospect Park.

“I never imagined I’d work in Prospect Park,” he explained. A graduate of Brooklyn College with a degree in anthropology, he has worked with the Alliance at Lefferts Historic House for three and a half years, starting his senior year of college and working his way to becoming a supervising educator. Rafe is passionate about history and sharing knowledge about the past. Built by a Dutch family in the 18th century farming village of Flatbush and brought to the Park in the early 20th century, Lefferts features a working garden, historic artifacts, period rooms and exhibits. Visiting the house, you can find Rafe leading tours, organizing educational programs and greeting visitors at the museum’s teaching garden.

“My favorite thing about working at Lefferts is the joy you see on children’s faces as they play with toys from the past,” said Rafe. “They don’t even realize that they’re learning. And it’s a really powerful thing to watch. They might not remember the year this house was built or the names of the people who lived here, but they will always remember making butter and apple pie over an open fire.”

Meet Rafe at the upcoming Lefferts Historic House public programs, such as the second-floor tours, hearth cooking or the Harvest Festival on September 28. Learn more about Alliance programs at Lefferts Historic House.

Lefferts was also named a top destination for children’s birthday parties by Time Out New York, with ice-cream making, potato sack races and other historic fun. Have your child’s next birthday party at Lefferts.

c. Michael Moran/OTTO

LeFrak Center Celebrates Success

September 1, 2014

Prospect Park holds a special place for many Brooklynites, and it is through the support of the community that the Prospect Park Alliance is able to achieve its founding mission: the restoration, preservation and long-term stewardship of this urban treasure. Lakeside is not only the most ambitious project in Prospect Park since its creation nearly 150 years ago, but also an important example of how the Alliance and the City work in partnership to make a great Park greater.

Lakeside has become a year-round destination for tens of thousands of Brooklynites, who are enjoying ice skating, roller skating and water play, as well as scenic new landscapes and a transformed lakeshore. The project has not only won the hearts of Brooklynites, but also has been recognized for its success. Recently, Lakeside was awarded a MASterworks Award for Best Urban Amenity by the Municipal Art Society of New York and also an Award for Excellence in Design by the New York City Public Design Commission.

On October 1, the Alliance will honor the family of Samuel J. and Ethel LeFrak at the 2014 Prospect Park Alliance Gala. The LeFrak’s gift to the Alliance ensures the ongoing care of the LeFrak Center at Lakeside, which was made possible through the generosity of the Park’s dedicated elected officials, the Alliance Board of Directors, and support from a range of corporations, foundations and individuals.

“The LeFrak family has deep roots in Brooklyn, and their philanthropy goes back more than 100 years,” said James Snow, Interim President of the Prospect Park Alliance. “Their support of Lakeside is proof that investing in the future of Prospect Park is investing in the Brooklyn community. Since opening last December, Lakeside has served a wide range of communities that consider Prospect Park their backyard.”

Summer fun at the LeFrak Center at Lakeside is in full swing, so don’t miss out! How much has Lakeside added to your enjoyment of Prospect Park? Share your experiences with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at #prospectpark.

PPA Profiles: Lucio Schiavone

August 1, 2014

Originally from a small town outside of Naples, Italy, Lucio Schiavone, manager of the Prospect Park Carousel, moved to New York in 1963 after he married his wife, an American he met in his hometown.

“When I first saw my wife, she was up in a tree eating figs,” he recounted with chuckle. Having attended the Academy of Art in Italy, he pursued a career as a painter and sculptor. Lucio was hired by the Prospect Park Alliance in 1988 to assist in the restoration of the 1912 Carousel. He carefully painted each horse with a team of two other craftspeople. After several weeks, the renovation was complete and the carousel was re-opened to the public.

The Alliance soon realized they needed someone to maintain these new improvements, as well as perform the daily operations of the amusement. Lucio was their first choice. In addition to operating the attraction for tens of thousands of children each year, he performs weekly maintenance on this antique machine, climbing a thick black ladder up into the machinery to keep it well oiled. Once a year he gives the horses a fresh coat of paint, and every few weeks he changes the sheet music on the band organ.

Lucio let us in on three secrets of the Prospect Park Carousel. The first is that Morgan, the black stallion, is the leader and the favorite of all the horses. The second is that the scandalous mermaid (another favorite) isn’t part of the original carousel. A local resident donated the ornament during the restoration. The third secret is that he’s stayed at the carousel for nearly 25 years because of the kids. “They are so happy when they come here. It makes me happy when I see them. I just love that. I love to be here, and I love what I do.”

This month, the Alliance is offering free carousel rides on Thursdays for children 12 and under, through the support of Astoria Bank. You can take your family on the carousel for free year round with the Prospect Park Alliance Family Plus membership. And don’t forget to check out the Carousel t-shirt!

c. Martin Seck

Alliance Launches Fight the Phrag

The Prospect Park Alliance and more than 100 volunteers from Goldman Sachs came together on August 1 to launch Fight the Phrag, a new campaign to remove an invasive species of wetland grass that has dominated the shoreline of Brooklyn’s only lake—an important wildlife habitat and scenic destination in Prospect Park.

Phragmites grows densely along the Lake’s shoreline, up to a height of 18 feet, so removing this hardy species is no easy task. Led by the Alliance’s Landscape Management crew, volunteers used black plastic landscaping fabric to tamp down the tall grass, denying it of sunlight and forcing it to use its reserved energy. Once the sheeting is removed, the Alliance will install native plantings to create new habitat for wildlife.

Goldman Sachs is a longtime supporter of the Alliance’s restoration efforts, funding a range of projects and providing thousands of volunteer efforts through Community TeamWorks, the firm’s global volunteer initiative that allows people to take a day out of the office to connect and volunteer with local non-profit organizations.

“The Goldman Sachs team is thrilled to be here to support this initiative” says Peter Dowling, Associate at Goldman Sachs. “Through great initiatives like Fight the Phrag, our people get a chance to work hard as a team to make a difference in the community. It is great to see the results at the end of day.”

Fight the Phrag is the latest phase of the Alliance’s long-term revitalization plan to restore Prospect Park’s woodlands and natural areas. The Alliance has restored the Ravine, the last remaining forest in Brooklyn, as well as its historic waterways, including waterfalls, pools and rustic bridges.

Fight the Phrag initiative will continue this month through the Weekend Woodland Corps. Sign up for the August 16 or 23 session, or donate to the Alliance to help support this effort.

c. Chasi Annexy

New York Philharmonic Returns to Prospect Park

July 1, 2014

There are few things that could make Prospect Park even more enchanting and serene, but the New York Philharmonic will do just that on July 9 when they kick off their annual Concerts in the Parks in Prospect Park. Since 1965, the New York Philharmonic Concerts in the Parks have been an iconic summer experience, transforming parks throughout the boroughs into outdoor concert halls.

Bring your friends and family, and a blanket, for a perfect evening of music and nature. The program, led by Music Director Alan Gilbert, will feature Don Juan by Strauss and Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet. A fireworks display will follow the performance.

The Movable Feast Café at the Picnic House will be open noon until 9 pm, so Philharmonic fans can purchase wraps, coffee, and sweet treats to enjoy at the performance, including Maximo Pino Gelato and Sorbetto.

Prospect Park Alliance members at the Arborist level and above enjoy VIP seating, so become a member today!

PPA Profiles: Justine Heilner

Formerly a landscape architect at the acclaimed James Corner Field Operations, Justine Heilner was instrumental in the design of the city’s newest park, the celebrated High Line on Manhattan’s West Side. She recently joined the Alliance’s Design and Construction Office as the Senior Landscape Architect, supervising many of the new and ongoing improvement projects around Prospect Park.

A Brooklynite at heart, Justine and her family live in Park Slope, and consider the Park part of their everyday lives. This perspective has given her a good understanding about how the Park is used, and the challenges of maintaining its beauty. “We need to design the Park’s landscapes so they can take a good amount of traffic” she explained. “Prospect Park is a place that’s so loved, it can get loved to death.”

Justine is joining the Alliance at the tail end of Lakeside, one of the Park’s most ambitious restoration projects. She is currently overseeing the reconstruction of the Park Drive at Lakeside, which will improve pedestrian access to the LeFrak Center and make the Drive safer for all Park users.

Prospect Park has presented Justine with new and welcome challenges as a landscape architect. There is a modest budget to improve and maintain hundreds of acres of meadows, streams, woodlands and bodies of water. Drainage is one of the greatest challenges in the Park, particularly following the more severe weather patterns that have come with climate change. In her work, Justine is constantly considering how to incorporate more sophisticated design solutions into a historic landscape.

We look forward to seeing Justine’s work as the Alliance moves ahead with its next big focus, restoring the northeast perimeter and the Vale of Cashmere.

PPA Profiles: Lawrence A. Timberlake

June 2, 2014

Have you had a sense of déjà vu when watching a favorite film or television show? You might have seen a familiar landscape in Prospect Park. The Park has been featured in a number of productions and photo shoots, from Essence magazine to the films Julie and Julia, Date Night, and It’s Complicated, and the television shows Boardwalk Empire, The Americans, and even Sesame Street. These activities need to be carefully coordinated to minimize their impact on the Park and its visitors, which falls to Deputy Director of Special Events Lawrence A. Timberlake.

An NYC Parks employee, Timberlake started in the Special Events office at Prospect Park over seven years ago, and has steadily worked his way up to his current position overseeing film, television and photo shoots, as well as festivals and large-scale events, such as the popular New York Philharmonic in the Park (this year taking place July 9) and past events such as Tropfest. When it comes to photo, film and television productions, Lawrence explained that Prospect Park is a favorite because of its natural beauty and the ease of working on location here. “These types of activities,” he explained, “bring in important revenue that goes toward the continuous upkeep of the Park.”

Lawrence has seen a number of celebrities and blockbuster film projects in Prospect Park, but which one was his favorite? Without hesitation, he answered, “The Smurfs, because it was a childhood favorite.”

Coordinating productions in Prospect Park can be a serious undertaking, but facilitating large-scale events can be a monumental task. One of Lawrence’s favorite events is film icon and Brooklyn native Spike Lee’s annual Michael Jackson Birthday Celebration. It is an extremely popular event, with thousands of people gathering at the Nethermead. One year, Lawrence accompanied the legendary rapper Snoop Dogg to the event, along with fellow performer Warren G. Before the duo stepped out of the vehicle, they admired the crowd and bestowed Prospect Park with one of its highest compliments: “This is real Brooklyn Luv.”

c. Elizabeth Keegin Colley

500 for the Park a Success

May 1, 2014

We did it! Over 600 donors contributed to 500 for the Park, helping the Prospect Park Alliance earn a $25,000 challenge grant from Lorraine and Gordon DiPaolo. After our donors smashed through the original 500-donor goal, our board of directors stepped in and offered an extra $20 per gift for every donation made above the original 500.

Together, we raised a total of $61,670 for Prospect Park!

These funds will help the Alliance in its important work to preserve and maintain Prospect Park. Working in partnership with the City of New York, the Alliance is responsible for the operation and long-term stewardship of Prospect Park, and funds a significant portion of the budget that keeps Prospect Park clean, safe and beautiful.