Tag: Environment

c. Martin Seck

Alliance Launches Fight the Phrag

August 1, 2014

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. Elizabeth Keegin Colley

Arbor Day Tree Celebration

April 1, 2014

This year, help support the maintainance and care of Prospect Park’s 30,000 trees by contributing to the commemorative Arbor Day Tree, which will be planted on April 25. All of the proceeds benefit the work of the Alliance’s Natural Resources Crew, a team of arborists, ecologists and turf specialists that care for the Park’s landscapes. A $100 contribution to the Arbor Day Tree includes a certificate of participation, honoring you or a loved one.

Now in its fifth year, the Arbor Day Tree planting ceremony brings supporters together to see the tree being placed into the ground. This year’s tree will be a beautiful red oak, hand-selected by the Natural Resources Crew. Christian Zimmerman, Vice President of Capital and Landscape Management, said, “With over 150 different species of trees, the Park requires the dedicated care provided by the Natural Resources Crew to manage its health and diversity. This would not be possible without the support of our donors.”

The Prospect Park Alliance Arbor Day Tree is just one way to support your Park through a commemorative gift. You can plant a sapling to welcome a new member of the family, honor a loved one with an individual tree, or memorialze an important anniversary with a dedicated bench. 

Don’t miss out this year. Contribute to the Arbor Day Tree today.

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.