Tag: Prospect Park Alliance

Martin Seck

Alliance Transforms Historic Wellhouse into First Composting Toilets in a NYC Park

March 31, 2018

Good news for history lovers…or anyone just trying to find a bathroom. Prospect Park Alliance has restored the Wellhouse, the last remaining building in Prospect Park by Park designers Olmsted and Vaux, into a comfort station with composting toilets—a first for any New York City park.

“It’s a beautiful little building, and it dates back to the time of Olmsted and Vaux in 1869. It’s the only building still remaining from the original park design,” said Christian Zimmerman, Vice President of Capital and Landscape Management at Prospect Park Alliance.

The original purpose of the structure, located by the lake at the base of Lookout Hill, was to pump water to feed the Park’s waterways—its pools, waterfalls and of course the Prospect Park Lake. At the time of creation, it was considered a great technological achievement—an underground viewing platform was created so that Park visitors could see the machinery at work. In the early 20th century, however, the Park was connected to the City water supply, and the Wellhouse became obsolete. Learn more about the history of the Wellhouse on a Turnstile Tour of Prospect Park.

Now, after decades of disuse, the building has being given new life and new purpose by Prospect Park Alliance.

“It is the first time the building has been open to the public in 80 years—it’s pretty exciting,” said Alden Maddry, Senior Architect with the Alliance, on a recent tour of the building.  Composting toilets only use 3 to 6 ounces of water per flush—97% less water than a conventional toilet.  In addition, the project features a greywater garden, which uses water collected from hand sinks, janitor sinks and floor drains to irrigate the landscape.

“The project will save about 250,000 gallons of water a year from going into the city’s sewer system,” noted Maddry.

In addition to the installation of the composting toilets, the $2.34 million project, funded by the New York City Council, provided for the restoration of this historic structure. This included the installation of a new roof, brickwork repairs and—based on historic photos—the recreation of a beautiful portico in period-appropriate colors.

As part of the restoration of the Wellhouse, Prospect Park Alliance excavated the top of the structure’s original cistern wall. As a final phase of the project, the revealed portion of the wall will be cleaned, repaired and capped with bluestone to create a seating area that highlights the history of this distinctive Park structure. In addition, the retaining wall behind the Wellhouse will also be restored. These projects are presented by American Express.

The Wellhouse is just the latest of Prospect Park Alliance’s acclaimed restoration projects in the Park, from the historic Prospect Park Carousel, Boathouse and Bailey Fountain at Grand Army Plaza. “The Wellhouse will perform a vitally needed function, and is vitally important from an historic perspective,” said Zimmerman.

The facility’s permanent residents—thousands of worms—are now busy at work in the composting tanks, and in a few years time, the Wellhouse will produce live-enriching compost. In 2019, the Alliance was awarded the Lucy G. Moses Award for the Wellhouse, an accolade from the New York Landmarks Conservancy in recognition of the owners and stewards of historic buildings across the City who have completed extraordinary restoration and reuse projects.

Smorgasburg 2018 Vendors Announced

March 21, 2018

Smorgasburg Prospect Park, presented by Brooklyn Flea in partnership with Prospect Park Alliance, is ready to roll on starting April 1, with 100 food vendors each Sunday on Breeze Hill in Prospect Park. 

The 2018 season marks the 10th anniversary of Brooklyn Flea, which began April 6, 2008, at Brooklyn Flea’s original Fort Greene location. Over the last decade, Brooklyn Flea has grown to become the biggest incubator of small businesses in New York City. 

Visit Smorgasburg Prospect Park during Opening Weekend on April 8!

Smorgasburg is also one of the largest zero-waste events in America. Last season alone, 867,000 pounds of solid waste were diverted from landfills to compost through its markets, due in part by a ban on any canned or bottled beverages. This year, Smorgasburg will continue to provide free, cold-filtered water in compostable cups and more innovations are coming soon.

On the vendor front, this year there are more than a dozen exciting new additions to the market, including the debut of a fried-cookie-dough collaboration between market veterans Big Mozz and Do, and two Smorgasburg LA veterans expanding to Brooklyn. Among the new vendors:

504 HN Market: traditional Honduran baleadas, made with a fresh flour tortillas and topped with refried beans, Honduran cheese and cream, and avocado. Other varieties include eggs and chorizo.

Big Mozz x DO: The folks behind Smorgasburg’s famous mozzarella-stick stand, Big Mozz, has teamed up with DO to create a deep fried cookie dough! Each piece of cookie dough is battered and deep fried, creating a warm crispy shell with a melty, gooey middle. The ultimate weekend indulgence!

Bonsai Kakigori: Perfectly fluffy Japanese shaved ice, made with a vintage machine imported from Japan, and flavored with housemade syrups and toppings. For the perfect light summer treat, try the Strawberries & Cream or the Matcha Persimmon. The texture is everything!

Btarts: Canada’s favorite dessert is now at Smorg! Btarts bakes the classic Canadian specialty, butter tarts, made with organic butter (of course!) and eggs, plus Canadian maple syrup.

Dashi Fried Chicken: Korean Fried Chicken (KFC) served with housemade dipping sauces and fried to order! Crispy, perfectly seasoned, and so delicious.

Frico Italia: A traditional Italian “pie” made with potatoes and three Italian cheeses then pan fried to create a crispy crust on the outside that gives way to a soft, creamy inside. Take one home or eat on the spot.

King St. Kitchen: Baked goods from a former pastry chef at Eleven Madison Park.  Top sellers from her menu include a peanut butter + chocolate fudge brownie, golden oat cookies, and olive oil + citrus bundt, which is also gluten free.

Lobsterdamus: One of the most popular stands at Smorgasburg Los Angeles, Lobsterdamus mesquite grills whole lobsters, which are topped with garlic butter, lemon and parsley, and served over noodles. They’ll also have lobster truffle fries and lobster nachos!

PopdUp: Also from Smorgasburg Los Angeles (one of two new vendors!) PopdUp makes delicious cold brew teas. Tea leaves are sourced from a partner farm in Taiwan and steeped for 24 to 48 hours, depending on the variety.

Ya Ya Noodz: Szechuan rice noodles made from a machine imported from China, steamed and rolled with fillings like shrimp, pork, or butternut squash.

In the mood for tasty breakfast treats all week? Visit King David’s Tacos at Grand Army Plaza!

Prospect Park Maintenance Compound

Prospect Park Alliance has designed and is constructing a new maintenance and operations building in the Prospect Park Maintenance Compound, located inside the park at Prospect Park West and 7th Street. The $2.62 million building is funded through former Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and the Brooklyn Delegation of the New York City Council.

This new facility will provide a central location for offices and storage for Prospect Park Alliance and NYC Parks Landscape Management and Maintenance & Operations crews. These crews are currently housed in facilities around the Park, including the soon-to-be restored Tennis House. The project will not only relocate staff operations to an area already designated for park operations, including the main vehicle and equipment storage area, but will enable the Alliance to remove a series of storage containers that currently occupy the park’s Center Drive, and also bring back the Tennis House to public use.

This energy efficient building is modeled after the forms and proportions of the existing historical buildings in the Maintenance Compound, including a former stable and workshop buildings. The facility is located on a slope between the lower yard and the upper yard of the Maintenance Compound, allowing the stacking of containers and the construction of a two-story building, one floor of which will be accessed on the upper level and one floor will be accessed on the lower level.

Learn more about Prospect Park Alliance capital projects.

Jonathan Grassi

Prospect Park Soiree Announced!

February 5, 2018

Don’t Miss Out on a Magical Evening of Dining and Dancing Under the Stars in Prospect Park
Saturday, June 23, 2018
Tickets on Sale February 13

The most anticipated party of the year is back! Prospect Park Alliance will host the Prospect Park Soiree on Saturday, June 23, a magical, one-night-only celebration in Brooklyn’s Backyard. Tickets will go on sale to the public on February 13 at 9 am.

We provide the entertainment and breathtaking setting, while guests gather with thousands of Park lovers in festive attire, prepare a delicious feast, bring their favorite bottle of wine, and dine and dance under the stars in one of the Park’s most scenic locations, the Peninsula.

Guests are encouraged to show off their creativity with a show-stopping topper—a fabulous hat or headpiece of your choosing—as well as table décor that celebrates the beautiful surroundings, and raise your glass in a toast to Brooklyn’s Backyard.

Individual tickets are $45, and table packages for groups of ten come with two complimentary bottles of wine. Proceeds benefit the non-profit Prospect Park Alliance’s mission to sustain, restore and advance Prospect Park.

Visit www.prospectpark.org/soiree for more information and tickets. Please note that guests must be 21 and over.

Prospect Park Alliance is the non-profit organization that sustains, restores and advances Prospect Park, “Brooklyn’s Backyard,” in partnership with the City. The Alliance provides critical  staff and resources that keeps the Park green and vibrant for the diverse communities that call Brooklyn home.

c. Joseph O. Holmes

Winter Guide to Prospect Park

January 11, 2018

Temperatures have dropped and snow is in the air—time to head to Prospect Park! We’ve collected everything you could possible need to enjoy a frosty trip to the Park, whether you’re a skater, sledder, hiker or historian. Image c. Joseph O. Holmes.

Winter Activities

Winter at Prospect Park Alliance

Winter Through the Ages

Terry Christensen and Leslie Beller at the Prospect Park Alliance’s 1998 Woodlands Ball

In Memoriam: Prospect Park Alliance Advocates Terry Christensen and Leslie Beller

November 10, 2017

This month, Prospect Park Alliance mourns the passing of two individuals, Founding Board Chair Terry Christensen and longtime Board Member Leslie Beller. These dedicated members of our community leave a lasting legacy on Prospect Park. 

Henry “Terry” Christensen III
The Founding Board Chair of Prospect Park Alliance, Terry Christensen passed away on November 3, 2017. He founded the Alliance with Tupper Thomas in 1987 and served as Chair of the Board of Directors for 20 years, until he stepped down in 2007. He first became a supporter of Prospect Park in 1983 when he gave $100 to the Alliance’s precursor—Prospect Park Tree Trust—and instantly became the Park’s largest individual donor. 

Christensen lived across the street from the Park, and enjoyed its acres with his four children. “I love everything about Prospect Park,” Christensen reminisced in a 2015 interview. “I have so many memories in the Park, picnics in the Park with our children, walking around the watercourse… It’s a place of unending beauty. That’s why it’s so important, it’s the backyard for all the people of Brooklyn.”

Tupper Thomas, as Prospect Park’s first Administrator, reached out to Christensen to ask for his help in the Park, and in 1987 they launched the Alliance with the blessing of Mayor Ed Koch. They called their new organization an “Alliance” rather than a “Conservancy,” because in their view they were not “conserving” the Park, but rather bringing together the public and private sectors in innovative new ways. The model that they created has been widely admired and adopted throughout the country.

During Terry’s tenure the Alliance grew its annual operating budget from $40,000 to $10 million—the Alliance now provides a majority of the staff and resources to care for the Park. Overseeing the restoration of the Park’s 1912 carousel was his first project as Board Chair, and restoring Brooklyn’s last remaining forest was his last. While everybody loves the Carousel, which was dedicated to him in 2007, the forest and the park’s landscape were his real passion.

As Al Garner, who succeeded him as Board Chair, has said, “Terry set the bar for truly effective leadership” while making it look easy and brought a rare combination of vision and practicality to the task. Quite simply, the Alliance would not exist without Terry’s leadership, for that we—and millions of Brooklynites—will forever be grateful. His legacy lives on through our beloved Park, which he called his “fifth child.” 

An attorney with Sullivan & Cromwell and then McDermott Will & Emery, Terry led an extensive international practice advising multinational families, family offices and trustees. In addition to his service to the Alliance, Terry was actively involved in community and cultural life. He served as a member of the BAM board for 25 years and provided steady guidance to many other organizations’ boards including Theater for a New Audience, The Rita + Alex Hillman Foundation, the American Council for Oriental Research and many others. 

Christensen passed away at the age of 72. He is survived by his wife Constance—they celebrated their 50th anniversary this summer—as well as his children Alexander (Susan), Gus (Courtney Booth), Elizabeth and Katherine, four grandchildren and a sister, Karen Cheeseman.

Read more about his life in The New York Times.

Leslie Beller
A longtime Board Member of Prospect Park Alliance, Leslie Beller passed away on October 30, 2017. For more than 27 years, Beller served on the Prospect Park Alliance Board of Directors, including as Secretary, co-chair of the Development Committee, and a member of the Operations and Design + Construction Committees. She was deeply committed to making Prospect Park a safe and vibrant destination and was an avid park-goer herself, spending many weekends on the Long Meadow and the Parade Ground as her children grew up playing on the sports fields.

Her boundless enthusiasm touched so many corners of the Park and the lives of so many Brooklyn families. Beller championed the restoration of some of the Park’s most iconic features, including the woodland Ravine and historic Boathouse, while campaigning for dramatic improvements, such as the celebrated Samuel J. and Ethel LeFrak Center at Lakeside. The LeFrak Center was a particularly significant milestone for her. As she herself said, back in the early 1980s when she was teaching her daughter to skate at the former Wollman Rink, she could only dream of an organization that could think that big and create something as beautiful as Lakeside.
 
A magnetic personality and fearless fundraiser, Beller helped grow the Alliance from a small grassroots organization into a professional and renowned leader in the field, while never losing sight of the importance of engaging the community and all of the neighborhoods surrounding the Park. She constantly inspired new friends and neighbors to become involved with the Alliance. Leslie was a true force of nature—loyal, passionate and generous—and a great friend. The Alliance was able to celebrate her legacy, along with former Board Chair Al Garner’s, at its 2015 Gala.

Leslie also served as a board member of The Brooklyn Museum from 2002 until her death, as well as of the Park Slope Civic Council. Leslie died peacefully at home surrounded by her husband Alan, her daughter Elizabeth and son David, their spouses Michael and Brigid and her granddaughter Clementine. 

Read more about her life in The New York Times.

Emerald Ash Borer Discovered in Prospect Park

October 27, 2017

Today, the New York State Departments of Agriculture and Markets (DAM) and Environmental Conservation (DEC) confirmed the first-ever discovery of Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) in New York City in Prospect Park.  Of an initial survey of 10 suspected trees in Prospect Park by Prospect Park Alliance—the non-profit that cares for the Park in partnership with the City, three were confirmed to be infested by this invasive pest by a Cornell University researcher. 

Prospect Park Alliance has removed three trees to date that succumbed to this infestation, located along the Ocean Avenue perimeter of the Park, and additional affected trees in this area will be removed over the winter. NYC Parks, DEC, DAM and Prospect Park Alliance are taking immediate action to limit the spread of infestation and protect New York City’s more than 51,000 ash trees.

“The Emerald Ash Borer infestation was detected in Prospect Park thanks to vigilant monitoring of the tree population by Prospect Park Alliance arborists, a year-round tree crew committed to the protection and preservation of the Park’s 30,000 trees,” said John Jordan, Director of Landscape Management for Prospect Park Alliance. “The Alliance will continue to monitor ash trees in the Park, and will work closely with New York City Parks Department, USDA and DEC to continue tracking and responding to this infestation.”

EAB is a non-native species of beetle whose larvae kill trees by burrowing into the inner bark and thus interrupting the circulation of water and vital nutrients. EAB-infested trees are characterized by thin crowns, sprouts on the trunks of the trees, and the signature d-shaped exit holes adult beetles leave on trees’ bark. EAB only affects ash trees, which constitute roughly three percent of NYC’s street trees. EAB has been present in New York State since 2009.

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo recently awarded a $75,000 Urban Forestry Grant to the Prospect Park Alliance to conduct a tree inventory of Prospect Park. The inventory will include an estimated 12,000 to 15,000 trees in the landscaped areas of the park, representing about half of the total population. The tree inventory will include an invasive insect, pest, and disease detection survey by incorporating the USDA Forest Service early pest detection protocol (IPED).

Help support Prospect Park Alliance’s work to sustain the Park’s 30,000 trees by donating a commemorative tree; becoming a member or making a donation to the Alliance.
 
Additional information about EAB is available on the DEC website.

Victor J. Blue for the New York Times

The New York Times Highlights Alliance’s Woodland Restoration Efforts

October 6, 2017

The New York Times gave a fond farewell to Eyebrows, Lily Belle and Swiss Cheese, and the important work these Green Goats performed to help Prospect Park Alliance restore two woodland areas that were hard hit by Hurricane Sandy and other severe storms. This month, the Alliance Natural Resources Crew and volunteers are planting over 20,000 trees, plants and shrubs throughout the Vale of Cashmere, one of the two restoration sites. These native species will help build a healthy forest habitat for birds, wildlife and humans alike. 

Read The New York Times article, and learn more about the Alliance’s work to restore the woodlands.

Alliance and NYC Parks Break Ground on Stroud Playground

September 14, 2017

The Stroud Playground groundbreaking ceremony. Pictured left to right: State Assembly Member Walter Mosley, Prospect Park Alliance President Sue Donoghue, NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver, Brooklyn Borough Parks Commissioner Marty Maher, City Council Member Laurie Cumbo, Deputy Brooklyn Borough President Diana Reyna, Principle of PS316 Olga Maluf and Principal of MS353 Tricia Delauney.

On September 8, a groundbreaking ceremony in Crown Heights kicked off the $5 million redesign of Stroud Playground, which was undertaken pro-bono by Prospect Park Alliance as part of Mayor Bill de Blasio’s Community Parks Initiative. The new design fits many amenities into a compact, one-acre space for the benefit of the community and the two schools it serves.

“The Alliance brought decades of expertise in designing award-winning playgrounds in Prospect Park to this project, and we were pleased to be able to contribute to the Community Parks Initiative,” said Alliance President Sue Donoghue. “We are thrilled to have worked on this new design for Stroud Playground that will strengthen and revitalize this cherished community space.”

The Community Parks Initiative is a citywide plan orchestrated by NYC Parks to renovate parks in communities with the greatest need through capital funding, programming and strategic partnerships. The project also received funding from Council Member Laurie Cumbo.

“It was a truly special experience working with the Prospect Park Alliance, Council Member Cumbo, and of course, the many passionate community members who came to our public input meeting to be a part of the design process,” Commissioner Silver said in a statement. “As a result, Stroud Playground will be transformed into a place that can be enjoyed by people of all ages.”

Through a community engagement process, Crown Heights residents weighed in on what they hoped to see in the redesigned park. The innovative design by Prospect Park Alliance includes new play equipment for children of all ages and abilities, and an interactive spray shower. The basketball and handball courts are being expanded and a new synthetic turf area will accommodate open play. There will also be a new track and adult fitness equipment.

The landscape will be enhanced with a number of additional trees to help provide shade for the new seating area and benches, and beautify the space. A garden will serve as a quiet area for relaxation and serve as an outdoor classroom for PS 316 and MS 383 students. Security lighting and lower fencing will make the space safer and more inviting.

Stroud marks the Alliance’s first major design project outside Prospect Park. Construction is expected to take 18 months to complete. The Alliance is currently working on the redesign of Epiphany Playground in Williamsburg, also as part of the Community Parks Initiative.

Learn more about Prospect Park Alliance’s architecture and design team.

Lucy Gardner

New Goat Crew Arrives on Lookout Hill

August 15, 2017

As you may have “herd,” the Prospect Park Alliance Natural Resources Crew received some new additions this July. Four new goats, Lily Belle, Eyebrows, Horatio and Swiss Cheese, have arrived on Lookout Hill, a patch of woodlands and one of the highest points in the Park, located behind the newly restored Wellhouse. Like previous goats that have resided in Prospect Park, these four are tasked with clearing vegetation from wooded areas plagued by invasive species in order to make room for native species that will be planted by Alliance staff next fall. These goat, however, are also part of a new research project with the U.S. Forest Service (USFS).

Although the goats are just arriving on the scene, Prospect Park Alliance’s Landscape Management team has been hard at work in this location for nearly a year. Lookout Hill was selected for restoration because of the severe damage storms such as Hurricane Sandy have inflicted on the area, similar to the Vale of Cashmere. The restoration work in both areas is made possible through $1.2 million in funding from the Hurricane Sandy Disaster Relief Assistance Grant Program for Historic Properties, administered by New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Eighty trees on Lookout Hill were either damaged or destroyed during Hurricane Sandy, leaving room for sun-loving invasive species to take over, damaging the ecosystem. According to Mary Keehbauch, the Alliance’s Natural Resources Crew foreperson, the ultimate goal is to “diversify native plant species in a sustainable way.” This means removing the invasives and replacing them with native species without using chemicals or other methods of removal that might harm the local environment.   

In October 2016, a team of Alliance staff partnered with the USFS to perform an initial assessment of the health of the Lookout Hill woodlands. The team was trained by Dr. Rich Hallett, a USFS research scientist, in the protocol for mapping, monitoring and recording the health of forested areas. Throughout the Lookout Hill restoration, the Prospect Park Alliance Natural Resources Crew will continue to monitor the health of the area, and the data collected will be part of a larger effort by the USFS to survey and protect urban forests. During their time in the Park, Lily Belle, Eyebrows, Horatio and Swiss Cheese will be rotated throughout five plots within the area. The health of these “goat” plots will be compared to “goat-less: plots, where Alliance staff will be clearing manually.

The results of this study will help determine the effect that goats have on urban woodlands restoration, and help the Alliance in the future care of the Park’s 250 acres of woodlands. Over the past three decades, the Alliance has invested more than $15 million to restore and revitalize the Park’s woodlands, which were previously in severe decline, including the planting of more than 500,000 trees, plants and shrubs.

Anecdotally, the new herd seems to be nothing short of goat superstars. These goats are younger and less domesticated than previous Prospect Park goats, making them particularly voracious. “They’ve cleared it like champs,” said Keehbauch, “you must come and see them.”