Tag: Prospect Park Alliance

Party for the Park

May 1, 2014

Join the Prospect Park Alliance on Wednesday, June 11, as we celebrate everyone’s favorite Park with music and cocktails under the stars at the Party for the Park. Taking place at the historic Boathouse, one of the Park’s most scenic destinations, this event benefits the Alliance’s work to preserve and maintain Prospect Park.

The evening kicks off with a special pre-party, the Lullwater Lounge, featuring live music by the Smoke Rings and tasting menus prepared by local Brooklyn chefs to pair with Brooklyn Brewery craft beers and specialty cocktails. The main party then gets underway with music and dancing with DJs AndrewAndrew, artisanal sweets by Brooklyn bakers, and a silent auction.

Every ticket helps support the care and maintenance of Prospect Park. It takes millions of dollars each year to keep Prospect Park looking spectacular. The health of the Park depends on the arborists, gardeners, groundskeepers, ecologists and educators that the Alliance, working in partnership with the City, funds through the generous support of its donors.

The first 100 tickets to Party for the Park are $100. After that, tickets to the Party are $125. The VIP Lullwater Lounge Pre-Party tickets are $500 and include dinner, drinks, and live entertainment. Don’t miss one of the most festive nights in Brooklyn!

Share the party on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram with #partyforthepark.

PPA Profiles: Franklyn Sookram

There are few people in Brooklyn who know more about the flora of Prospect Park than Franklyn Sookram, NYC Parks Horticulture Crew Chief, who retires this month. Over the past three decades, he and his crew have planted many of the shrubs, flowers and trees in the Park that have shaped the landscapes. He can assess flat and sloping grade of a lawn with laser-like precision and knows many of the trees personally. “I can recall the year and season most of these trees were planted. Everything that grows in Prospect Park has a story.”

Originally from Grenada, Franklyn moved to Brooklyn in 1976. He was a horticulturalist at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden for many years before coming to Prospect Park in 1985, just two years before the Alliance was founded. He supervises a crew of Prospect Park Alliance and NYC Parks horticulturalists and maintenance workers, reflecting the partnership that makes Prospect Park so great. Most people know that groundskeepers are essential to the Park, but few people know what a horticulturalist actually does. Obviously they plant, water and prune, but in Prospect Park they also install fencing, repair trails, mulch, fertilize, deliver supplies, propagate native plants and remove invasive species.

We asked Franklyn if he had any words of wisdom for future horticulturalists and the general public. His answer was simple: upkeep. Prospect Park features hundreds of acres of landscaping that require year-round care. In the plant world, the health of the plants and trees need expert supervision. A lack of resources can spread the work thin, resulting in erosion, brittle branches and failing root systems. This is usually exacerbated by the damage of a powerful storm.

“Franklyn not only brought a set of highly skilled hands and eyes, he also brought a genuine and infectious sense of dedication that, by his example, his crews have always shared,” said Christian Zimmerman, Vice President of Capital and Landscape Management at the Alliance. “As Franklyn prepares to retire, he reminds us of the importance of the long-term care of Prospect Park. We will do our best to maintain the enormous impact he’s had on the Park.”

PPA Profiles: Daphne Dixon

April 1, 2014

Daphne Dixon has been a dedicated part of the Prospect Park Alliance since she started serving as a volunteer in 2012. In recognition of her service, the Alliance recently honored her with the 2014 Certificate of Appreciation at its annual Volunteer Recognition Brunch.

A resident of East Flatbush, Daphne became a volunteer because she wanted to get involved in her community. There are many places she could have devoted her time and energy, but Prospect Park was lucky enough to be her pick. She was first involved in the Parks Committee of Community Board 17 but then one day she decided that she “wanted to do more than be on a committee; she wanted to be hands-on.”

In 2012, Daphne began volunteering once a week at the Lefferts Historic House, the 18th-century Dutch Colonial farmstead and museum operated by the Prospect Park Alliance in partnership with the City. Her favorite duties include weeding the potato patches, planting in the teaching gardening, and helping out with the doughnut-making demonstrations. On days that the museum is closed, Daphne assists the maintenance crew by clearing leaf litter and debris from the lawns and trails. Jessica Jamhoury, Director of the Volunteer Department says, “It takes volunteers like Daphne to truly spread passion for the outdoors to Brooklyn’s youth. The community grows stronger everytime she visits Lefferts Historic House.”

When she isn’t devoting her time beautifying her beloved green space, Daphne enjoys “whatever catches her fancy” in the Park. This summer she plans to bring her grandson fishing and attend the concerts at the Bandshell.

Do you want to get hands-on in Prospect Park?
Find out more information about volunteer activities in the Park.
For those interested in volunteering with the Alliance’s education programs, join us for an orientation on April 9.

Alliance Launches Junior Volunteer Corps

March 3, 2014

Spring is an ideal time of year for young people to help keep Prospect Park beautiful. This March and April, the Prospect Park Alliance is launching a new program called Junior Volunteer Corps to encourage volunteerism in young people.

Children will learn the importance of giving back to the community while making a meaningful difference in the same Park where they learn, grow and play. “When it comes to raking leaves and clearing small debris, children are some of the Park’s most productive volunteers,” says Veronica Horvath, an Environmental Youth Services Coordinator at the Prospect Park Alliance.

Families and elementary-aged groups are encouraged to participate. To accommodate multiple neighborhoods, Junior Volunteer Corps will take place in different locations throughout Prospect Park on four weekends this March and April. Participants are encouraged to pre-register online.

Planning on taking part in the program? Share your experience with us on Facebook or Instagram.

The Prospect Park Alliance works with over 4,000 volunteers who give approximately 25,000 hours of service annually. The spring season of the volunteer program is just getting started! Learn about the wide range of programs for volunteers of all ages, and also for corporate groups.  Learn more about volunteering in the Park.

 

Making a Green Park Greener

You probably know that the LeFrak Center at Lakeside is a great place to skate, relax and enjoy the scenery; but it’s also environmentally sensitive. The Alliance, working with Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects, took careful consideration when designing the project, which was built in accordance with the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system.

Sustainability can be found in the project from its design through its construction. More than 84 percent of the construction waste was recycled, preventing more than 420 tons of waste from entering landfills. The LeFrak Center itself incorporates partially recycled and locally sourced materials, as well as paints, sealants, carpets and wood containing zero or very low levels of toxic chemicals. The LeFrak Center’s two green roofs create a natural insulation for the Center, which reduces the amount of energy required to heat and cool the building. To encourage non-automobile transportation, the Center also features a generous amount of bike racks, and will feature bike rentals this spring.

Wastewater is one of the biggest environmental impacts in the operation of a public facility. The LeFrak Center is outfitted with low-flow fixtures that will save over 205,000 gallons of water each year. A cistern recycles rainwater from the Center’s east building green roof, reusing it to water the plants and grass at Lakeside, which reduces runoff in the already overburdened city sewer system. The project also has added three acres of new green space to the Park, while the creation of the White Levy Esplanade and Baier Music Island has introduced new habitats for aquatic species.

c. Paul Martinka

PPA Profiles: Alex Boure

January 31, 2014

If you haven’t seen the Alliance’s Lakeside Maintenance Supervisor Alex Boure making his daily rounds in the Park, you’ve certainly seen his handiwork. Originally from Nigeria, Alex has worked with the Alliance for over four years. He now leads a crew of seven maintenance workers who keep Prospect Park looking its best, and take great pride in protecting the Park’s scenic beauty. His crew cleans litter and reports damage at Lakeside and throughout the east side of the Park. If this sounds like a monumental task, it is. Hundreds of thousands of people visit the Park for relaxation and recreation. All this activity takes a toll on the Park. So, how does such a small team maintain so much public land?

The secret, Alex said, is to talk to people, and to smile and care. Sometimes a nice conversation can be the difference between properly discarded trash and a lawn full of litter. A five minute chat can save hours, he explained, and handing out free garbage bags doesn’t hurt. Over the years, Alex has formed friendships with a number of regulars. By engaging visitors, Alex instills them with a sense of ownership for the Park and a respect for its natural areas. His positive nature is contagious.

Recently, Alex’s crew added the LeFrak Center at Lakeside to their domain. The new skating rink is already a booming success. People from all over New York, and around the world, have come to glide across the ice, sip hot chocolate, and admire the view from the adjacent White Levy Esplanade. Far from viewing the crowds as a challenge to the Park’s upkeep, Alex is thrilled by the area’s popularity. The goal of a park, in his view, is to keep the people coming back. A litter-free park is just as much an attraction as the rolling hills, sweeping views, babbling streams, and unforgettable skating. We have Alex and his crew to thank for that.

c. Elizabeth Keegin Colley

Winter Work in Prospect Park

January 2, 2014

The Prospect Park Alliance’s six-person Natural Resources Crew conserves hundreds of acres of woodlands, lawns, and waterways in the Park. Winter conditions are ideal for some of the important work that is needed to keep the Park’s landscapes looking picturesque.

While tree pruning takes place year round, it becomes a key focus of the Alliance’s work in the winter months because the trees have lost their leaves, providing a clearer view of the trunks and limbs. The Alliance’s tree experts (arborists) have inspected over 13,000 trees in the past year, identifying those that need further care. Hurricane Sandy devastated hundreds of trees throughout the Park, especially in the Ravine and on Lookout Hill. In addition to carefully examining each tree, the Crew replaces those lost in the storm to close significant gaps in the tree canopy.

The Natural Resources Crew also scours the landscape to look for invasive species of trees, such as Norway and Sycamore maples, which can undermine the diversity of the Park’s natural habitats and also affect the overall health of its landscapes by blocking precious sunlight from the plants below. Understory trees, saplings, and herbaceous plants keep the soil compact, which reduces erosion. Without them, the dirt loosens, causing erosion that can take years to correct. The Crew is at work replenishing topsoil and protecting vulnerable areas with wood chips, as well as installing underground supports and burlap matting.

All this work will come to fruition in the spring, when the Park comes to full bloom.

PPA Profiles: Eve Schwartz

Anyone who has attended nature programs at the Prospect Park Audubon Center has likely met Eve Schwartz, an educator with the Prospect Park Alliance. A Philadelphia native, Eve has worked at the Alliance since June of last year, and is part of the team that designs all of the educational programs and exhibits about the Park’s natural habitats. She is extremely fond of the center’s collection of live animals, particularly a Albino Black Rat Snake named Chester.

You obviously enjoy working at the Prospect Park Audubon Center. What is your favorite part of your job?
I grew up next to a nature center in Philadelphia. I love sharing my love of nature with new people, so the Alliance’s educational programs are very special to me. Every day I get to connect people with a world they rarely see.

What are some of the questions that people ask at the Audubon Center?
About 60 percent of the people ask about birding. It’s very big in Prospect Park. During the summer, a lot of people ask us about fishing, too.

Why do you think that Prospect Park is such a popular place for birding, especially in the winter?
People don’t think of New York City as being a warm place in the winter, but compared to Canada, where many of these birds originate, the Park is actually a very hospitable environment. Among the species that make the Park their home during the winter months are Juncos, Chipping Sparrows, American Pipits and, occasionally, a Pine Siskin.

Where is your favorite spot to birdwatch in Prospect Park?
To see a variety of species, I like the Lullwater Trail, which goes from the Boathouse up to Breeze Hill, and it is very scenic. I’m a big fan of waterfowl, and it’s the best place to see them. I also like to go to the Vale of Cashmere at the northeast corner of the Park to see the warblers.

What goes into creating educational programs and exhibits?
I consider the season and animals we’d like to highlight. The goal is to make people into human field guides. When people understand nature, they are more likely to protect it and share their knowledge.

Join Eve and the rest of the education team on January 20 at the Audubon Center for Martin Luther King Jr. Day programs.

c. Paul Martinka

Lakeside Opens for Skating

After years of planning, design, and construction, the Samuel J. and Ethel LeFrak Center at Lakeside opened last month to much celebration.

On December 17, Emily Lloyd, President of the Prospect Park Alliance, welcomed Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Parks Commissioner Veronica White, Borough President Marty Markowitz, the LeFrak family and other officials to the ribbon cutting ceremony unveiling this new urban treasure. The event marked the realization of a dramatic vision for the southeast corner of Prospect Park, which gracefully aligns with Olmsted and Vaux’s grand design of a park for all people. Initiated under the leadership of the Alliance’s founder Tupper Thomas, the 26-acre, $74 million project was the result of a strong partnership between the City, the Alliance and the community. Renowned architects Tod Williams and Billie Tsien, in collaboration with the Alliance’s acclaimed landscape architect Christian Zimmerman, created an environmentally sensitive structure that seamlessly fits into the Park’s natural splendor.

Amid a light snowfall, guests reflected on Lakeside as a symbol of Brooklyn’s cultural renaissance. The event was as festive as it was ceremonial. Supporters of the project sipped hot chocolate and admired the new Center and its spectacular views of the Lake. The Mayor handed out skates to students from PS 161 and the Brooklyn Academy of Science and the Environment High School, who were the first to glide across the fresh ice. Lloyd recounted the monumental support that brought the project to fruition, and remarked that Lakeside is a true gift for Brooklyn’s posterity. Mayor Bloomberg also recognized the work of the Alliance, and the importance of public-private partnerships in improving the quality of the City’s parks.

In addition to the ribbon cutting ceremony, the Alliance welcomed over 1,300 supporters to the ice for a special Members Preview of the facility on December 19, and also thousands of visitors in its first week of operation.

Have you visited the LeFrak Center at Lakeside? The Alliance now has an Instagram page, share your photos with us at #prospectpark #lakeside