If you’ve taken a ride on Prospect Park’s carousel, rented a paddle boat, or visited the Parade Ground or former Wollman Rink in the past 26 years, you’ve likely come across–and befriended–Margaret Ring. Margaret is Prospect Park Alliance’s former Carousel Manager and a staff member for over two-and-a-half decades, who has just celebrated her retirement after a storied tenure in Brooklyn’s Backyard. Prospect Park Alliance celebrated her send-off with a carousel horse dedicated to her legacy in the park.

A native Brooklynite, Margaret is a familiar and beloved face to thousands of regular park goers who think of her fondly as “The Mayor of Prospect Park.” A local celebrity, Margaret has made generations of families feel welcome in the park, often greeting old friends and new faces in her golf cart alongside her Shih Tzu, Percy.

Reflecting on her tenure at so many distinct sites across the park, it is clear that the community, connections, and friendships Margaret established at each park location are at the heart of her work. “I have a favorite memory at each site. From place-to-place, I saw and got to know the same people: the same people visited the carousel and rode the paddle boats. People playing soccer at the Parade Ground always came to the skating rink, so it was really just wonderful to experience each of those places.” The wide network of friends and community that Margaret has built in her role at the Alliance spans far beyond the park. “Something I’ll miss the most is walking down the street, or heading out on the train,” she says. “People know me, and I’ll hear ‘Prospect Park is in the house!’ That makes you feel good. If I, or the park, made them feel even a little bit better or happier, it means I’ve made their day–the whole park has.”

While her work with the Alliance dates back nearly 26 years, Margaret’s story in Prospect Park begins well before that. Margaret’s father ran track through Prospect Park, her parents got engaged here, and Margaret herself has carved her own legacy as a beloved presence and representative of all that our community holds dear about their park. “I’ve seen this park at its best, and I’ve seen this park at its worst, so I can be that true Brooklynite to say that if it weren’t for the Alliance, we wouldn’t have this beautiful park. I was that kid who saw Prospect Park first as a beautiful park, and then later as it was in disrepair before the Alliance, and when Prospect Park Alliance first made this park come back to life. The people of Brooklyn really did and do appreciate this—this is Brooklyn’s Backyard. It is the garden of Eden. It’s the jewel.”

Alliance staff, friends and family gather to celebrate Margaret’s lasting impact in Brooklyn’s Backyard. c. Ken Brown

Prospect Park Alliance President Morgan Monaco shares, “Margaret has been the steward of so many magical moments in the childhoods of people who now come back with their own kids. Margaret is behind what makes that magic happen: it’s the attention to detail, knowing how to go that extra mile for customer service and being that welcoming presence.” Without question, Margaret is one of the quintessential characters that makes Prospect Park Brooklyn’s Backyard.

When asked to reflect on her time in the park, Margaret’s response is enthusiastic. “You can’t beat this!” she says, in reference to the carousel. “It brings happiness to everyone, whether you’re 3 or 65 years old, everyone loves to come to the carousel. Now that I’m retiring, I’m not going to be here, but my horse will be. I feel very honored and privileged to have this. My little nephew really wanted this—and he’ll always come back knowing that this is Margaret’s horse!”

“Tanti auguri” is what to say when next you see Lucio Schiavone. The Naples native and beloved Prospect Park Alliance Carousel manager will step down from his post of twenty-six years this coming December. 

Schiavone came to New York in 1963 after marrying his wife, an American. Having attended the Academy of Art in Italy, he pursued a career as a painter and sculptor, and in 1988 was hired by the Prospect Park Alliance to assist in the restoration of the Carousel. The Carousel’s 53 horses, as well as a lion, a giraffe, a deer and two dragon-pulled chariots, were carved in 1912 by Charles Carmel, one of the foremost carousel designers of his era. Shuttered in 1983, the Carousel was in a rough state by the time Lucio was hired. 

“I couldn’t believe it,” said Lucio recounting his first time seeing the ailing Carousel. “One horse didn’t have a head… the giraffe’s back legs were gone.” 

The Carousel restoration, the Alliance’s first capital project in the Park, took 18 months, during which a team including Schiavone reassembled the fifty-one horses and other assorted animals, and fixed the air-pumped Wurlitzer band organ. When the project was completed, Lucio was asked to stay on to run the daily operations of the Carousel, a task that he has relished for decades. “From then up to now, I’ve loved everything I’ve done here, all the kids smiling when they go around. I love the kids, and that’s why I’m still here.”

Because of Lucio’s efforts and meticulous attention to detail, the Prospect Park Carousel continues to be a magical, wonderful amusement for children and adults alike. Lucio’s positive and playful demeanor has brought immeasurable joy to the lives of Prospect Park’s millions of visitors over his career.

Help us kick off Lucio’s retirement on November 5 at 11:45 am at the Carousel! The Prospect Park Alliance will be commemorating Lucio’s significant contributions by naming a favorite horse “Lucio” in his honor, and offering free carousel rides from 12-1 pm. Stop by and to tell Lucio “ci vediamo,” until we meet again. 

RSVP and learn more about Lucio’s November 5 celebration.

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!