Tag: Prospect Park Alliance

PPA President Sue Donoghue Recognized by City & State

January 18, 2017

Prospect Park Alliance President Sue Donoghue was recently named one of Brooklyn’s most influential people in politics and policy. City & State is a publication devoted solely to covering government and politics in New York, and their annual list, which does not include politicians, is a compilation of community leaders, activists and heads of institutions that “really make Brooklyn a special place to live and work.”

Prospect Park Alliance President Sue Donoghue was selected this year for her work in Parks, both currently and previously in her professional life. “Sue Donoghue has dedicated her career to making sure the city’s parks thrive, both at the Parks Department and through her work on Mayor Bloomberg’s PlaNYC,” noted City & State. “In 2014 she took over as head of the Alliance and has been laser-focused on its maintenance, making sure it remains a gem of the borough.”

Also included on the list were Prospect Park Alliance Board members Rudolph F. Crew, head of Medgar Evers College; Steve Hindy, the Co-Founder of the Brooklyn Brewery; and Andrew Kimball, CEO of Industry City.

Bianca Nelson

Restoring Prospect Park’s Evergreen Trees

December 14, 2016

There are many ways to contribute to Prospect Park—you can volunteer your time, donate or become a member of the Prospect Park Alliance, or even buy a ticket for a ride on the Park’s historic Carousel. The newest way to make a difference in Brooklyn’s Backyard? Plant an evergreen tree! 

This year, the Alliance has launched a commemorative evergreen tree program, allowing individuals to donate these hardy year-round species to the Park. Prospect Park is home to 30,000 trees of more than 150 species, the vast majority of which are deciduous, meaning that they lose all their leaves for part of the year. These deciduous species get plenty of attention for their flowers, fruits and fall foliage, but this new program shifts the focus to an oft-overlooked set of species.

“The Park needs evergreens for a variety of reasons,” says John Jordan, Director of Landscape Management at the Prospect Park Alliance. “They give winter interest and they provide habitat for a wide variety of species. Furthermore, many of the previous evergreen species planted in the Park (such as Austrian pines and Northern Hemlock) have been dying out, and we do not want to lose the evergreen presence.”

While Prospect Park Alliance arborists are still determining which species of evergreens will come to the Park, two that are likely to be included are the white pine (Pinus strobus), a native to eastern North America that can easily live to be 200 years old, and the American holly (Ilex opaca), whose berries attract a variety of songbirds. 

“The program is a great way to give back to the park and to help us maintain a diversity of tree species,” says Jordan. “A diverse forest is a healthy forest.”

Ready to gift the Park a commemorative evergreen? Take a look at a map of proposed locations, and contact us for more information.

c. NYC Parks Department

Alliance Participates in NYC Tree Mapping

November 17, 2016

Last year, Prospect Park Alliance partnered with NYC Parks in support of TreesCount! 2015, a citywide street tree census and an ambitious effort to better care for our leafy neighbors. The Alliance committed to mapping 100 block edges for the count, and recruited and trained a dedicated group of 192 volunteers to examine street trees, identify the diversity of species and look for signs of tree health and stewardship using mapping software. 

After about a dozen TreesCount! 2015 expeditions, the Alliance succeeded in mapping 3,412 trees around the entire perimeter of the Park and surrounding neighborhoods. Curious about the amount of air pollutants removed by the London Plane tree on the corner of 10th street and Prospect Park West? 3 pounds. How about the number of trees in all of Windsor Terrace? 2,188. The interactive map created by NYC Parks can give you a general snapshot of the trees in your area, or provide you with granular data about the health of the American elm outside your window.

Thanks to this census, we can say that the monetary value of these shady neighbors is over $111 million annually, which includes values for intercepted stormwater, energy conserved and carbon dioxide reduction. Which is to say nothing of the intangible benefit one gets from walking down a tree-lined street this time of year as the colors change. 

“The Alliance was proud to participate in this endeavor, and thanks our dedicated Volunteer Corps, as well as NYC Parks, the Park Slope Civic Council, and our partners on the Community Committee for their help with this project,” said Alliance President Sue Donoghue. 

Take a closer look at the trees in your area. 

c. Martin Seck

Fall Foliage Unveiled

October 19, 2016

Fall is in full swing in Prospect Park, and the season is as beautiful as it is fleeting. From the Long Meadow to the Lullwater, the Park’s foliage is a riot of colors, but why does an oak tree blush red while the ginko glows gold? According to Prospect Park Alliance arborists, the answer is in the very leaves themselves.

Most leaves are green in the spring and summer due to the presence of the pigment chlorophyll, a necessary ingredient in photosynthesis. But as autumn approaches, changes occur. “Days are shortening, and winter is coming,” says John Jordan, Director of Landscape Management at the Prospect Park Alliance. “The tree is getting ready to go dormant as a natural part of its lifecycle.” 

As the seasons change, trees respond to the decrease in sunlight by slowing their production of chlorophyll, allowing us to see the other pigments hiding in the leaves. Within a matter of weeks, leaves fade from green into the spectrum of familiar fall colors. Pigments called carotenoids (red, yellow and orange) and anthocyanins (red and blue) take center stage.

“Since chlorophyll has a simpler chemical structure, it degrades more quickly,” says Prospect Park Alliance Arborist Chris Gucciardo, “leaving behind these other pigments, which are responsible for the spectacular fall colors that leave us in wonder.”

So what area should park lovers make sure to visit during this time of year?

“My favorite spot for leaf peeping is along the Park Drive by the lakeshore,” says Jordan. “In that stretch of drive from Park Circle to the LeFrak Center at Lakeside there are many stunning maples with tremendous fall color display each year.”
 
Gucciardo recommends “walking through the Midwood, which perhaps most resembles our native forests in structure, species composition and surely fall color.”

Ready to get out and take in the stunning shades? Read suggestions for four foliage walks through Prospect Park, or stop by PopUp Audubon this month, where Prospect Park Alliance educators will lead fun fall foliage activities for families.

c. Paul Martinka

A Fond Farewell to Lucio Schiavone

“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.

Get the New Prospect Park App

September 20, 2016

Looking for more ways to better explore and appreciate Brooklyn’s Backyard? Prospect Park Alliance has launched the Park’s first mobile app. The app is available now for iPhone, and Android. Through generous funding from the Brooke Astor Fund for New York City Education in The New York Community Trust, the Alliance was able to create an app that will help visitors better navigate the Park and discover its many destinations and attractions. It is also intended to help visitors expand their knowledge of Park history, wildlife, nature and much more.

The app is focused on an interactive map, which is designed to help visitors make the most of all of the Park’s 585 acres, and features a number of categories of destinations, from family-friendly fun to historic monuments and sites, recreation, natural areas and places to enjoy with dogs. In addition, the Park can be grouped into regions, to better explore and discover new areas, and you can track your progress in the Park through an activity log that tracks how much of the Park you have explored, and the distance covered.

A Learn + Explore section includes fun, interactive games and challenges that test your knowledge of Park history, nature and trivia, as well as exploration of the Park. Visitors can earn badges and prizes as they complete challenges and learn more about the Park.

The app also keeps you up-to-date on all the latest Park news and events, how to get involved as a member or volunteer with the Prospect Park Alliance, and general Park information, including hours, directions, event venues, permits and more.

A special thanks goes to the Rehash Studio team for working to make this app a reality.

The Prospect Park app is available in the Download the new app today on the iTunes store, and on Google Play. It’s free, so download it today and get exploring!

Jordan Rathkopf

Dog Beach Reopens After Renovation

September 13, 2016

Brooklyn’s dogs won’t need to sweat the heat! Dog Beach—a popular swimming area for dogs – has re-opened after two months of restoration and reconstruction.

The renovations included replacing pavement with natural stone slabs from upstate New York, replacing chain link fencing with a less intrusive, underwater fencing that provides a durable barrier separating swimming dogs from wildlife. The project also saw removal of invasive plants and installation of native ones to stabilize the pool edge and foster the health of the Lake’s aquatic habitats. All of this work benefits the Park’s diverse  wildlife populations, from fish and turtles to resident and migratory birds.

Dog Beach was closed to the public in early July to accommodate this work, and was initially scheduled to reopen in early 2017. However, the Alliance worked quickly and efficiently to open the beach ahead of schedule.

“Dog Beach is a treasured community resource, and off-leash hours are a unique resource for Brooklyn’s dogs and their owners,” said Sue Donoghue, Prospect Park Alliance President. “We commend our in-house design staff, whose hard work meant that we were able to improve this amenity and return it to public use quickly.”

“The early reopening of Dog Beach at Long Meadow in Prospect Park is welcome news to families making memories with their furry friends,” said Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams. “I am proud to have worked with the Prospect Park Alliance and the City Council’s Brooklyn delegation to fund these enhancements to Dog Beach, which, in combination with renovations to the Long Meadow ballfields, will make Brooklyn’s backyard a more welcoming environment for all of its visitors, whether they walk on two legs or four.”

“Even though it’s September, the “dog days” of summer are just beginning in Prospect Park,” said Council Member Brad Lander. “I’m happy that pups and pooches from across Brooklyn can return to a new and improved dog beach, and in time for a few refreshing summer swims. Thank you to the Prospect Park Alliance, [the NYC Parks Department], and my fellow Brooklyn elected officials for supporting this renovation, along with so many other projects currently underway in Prospect Park, and for completing the project nearly a full 6 months ahead of schedule.”

The re-opening was welcomed by the dog-owning community, who flock to the Long Meadow during off-leash hours. Visit our Things To Do With Dogs page for more details on off-leash hours and locations.

Funding for this project was provided by the Brooklyn Borough President’s office, Council Members Brad Lander and Stephen Levin, and the Brooklyn Delegation, as part of the renovation of the adjacent Long Meadow Ballfields.

Return of the Goats

August 18, 2016

This week, the Prospect Park Alliance welcomed back the herd of goats that are helping to restore woodlands in the Park’s northeast corner. The goats, which first came this past May, did such a great job chomping and chewing their way through the large number of weeds that had overtaken the area, that the Alliance sent them home to their farm in Rhinebeck, New York, until there was more for them to eat.

The first person to greet their arrival was Mary Keehbauch, the foreperson of the Alliance’s Natural Resources Crew, which oversees woodland restoration in the Park. “It is great to have the goats back to continue their important work,” said Mary. Sadly, the herd is returning a bit smaller, with Raptor and Skittles staying in Rhinebeck. “We will miss them, but their absence just reflects how productive the goats were in removing weeds during their first stay in the Park.”

What is it like to work with goats? According to Mary this earth-friendly approach has been a learning experience. “Each day the crew (which is also performing restoration work), first checks the goats, bringing them fresh water and herding them to the area that needs the most grazing. We secure them in the area having learned the hard way that the goats want to be where ever we happen to be working. They treat us as if we are an extension of their group. It’s sweet, really.” At the end of the day, the goats are returned to their overnight pen with fresh water and enough forage to last until the morning.  

Mary’s history with the Alliance, and the Park, goes back further than the goats. She began working at the Alliance nearly 10 years ago, starting with an internship with the Natural Resources Crew. This blossomed into playing a central role supervising the planting of the new landscape at the LeFrak Center at Lakeside, as well as the White Levy Esplanade and Baier Music Island, which serve as wildlife habitat.

After a brief hiatus from the Park to serve as the horticultural supervisor at Brooklyn Bridge Park, Mary returned this year to lead the charge with the Park’s goats. Mary not only ensures that the goats are well cared for and the invasive plants removed, but also oversees the planting of native plant species to the area, which will create important habitat for wildlife, including the Park’s nearly 250 species of birds.

It’s a major challenge, but between Mary, her crew and the goats, removal of invasive species and the full reintroduction of native plants is an attainable goal. And Mary, who considers herself more of a conservationist than a horticulturalist, gets to live her dream. “I figured out a way to live in New York City but still play in the woods all day.”

Learn more about goats at Prospect Park.

Video: 30 Seconds in Prospect Park

How many ways do people love Prospect Park? This 30-second piece by Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Marshall Curry shows quite a few. Curry, a Park Slope resident who comes to the Park to run, wander in the woods and cheer his kids at soccer games, was inspired to create this short video by the variety of passions and people he saw at the Park.

Share photos or short videos of your Prospect Park moments on social with hashtag #ProspectPark for a chance to be featured in a special edition of our Facebook and Instagram Photo of the Week.
 

Marshall gave us a few thoughts about his process and inspiration for the video:

“As a documentary filmmaker, I love to observe people, and one of the things I love about Prospect Park is how many different kinds of people there are, pursuing different passions. A friend of mine, Hilary McHone, used to shoot a one-second video with her phone every day and then knit them together into rapid-fire video journals of her life. It was amazing how evocative those super-short clips could be, how much story and mood could be packed into literally one second. One day I was at the Park, marveling at the diversity of people who were enjoying it in so many different ways – playing sports, wandering in the woods, having picnics with friends – and I thought the rapid-fire clips might be a neat way to try to capture what makes Prospect Park such a special place. So my co-worker, Daniel Koehler, and I scoured the web for clips that people had shot in the Park – not slick professional shots, but amateur (sometimes odd) genuine displays of passion – and edited together our 30 favorites.”

Marshall also loves the Park for his own purposes:

“One of the more unusual things that I have done at the Park is look at planets and the moon on a huge telescope with Brooklyn’s ‘Friendly Neighborhood Astronomer.’ I also love concerts in the summer, tossing baseballs and footballs with my kids. And the Park makes a big difference in the quality of life for my dog who might otherwise think that the world was made of concrete and asphalt.”

Shop for Prospect Park

July 28, 2016

In celebration of Prospect Park’s 150th anniversary, Same Sky, a trade initiative that provides employment opportunities for women struggling to lift themselves out of extreme poverty, with collectives of artisans in the United States and Rwanda, has launched the EARTH bracelet. The bracelet is made with the mission of keeping urban spaces green for visitors and wildlife alike, highlighting the importance of community and conservation.

Through the generosity of Same Sky founder Francine LeFrak, whose family also provided critical funding for the creation of the LeFrak Center at Lakeside, a portion of the proceeds of the EARTH bracelet will benefit the Prospect Park Alliance’s work to sustain, restore and advance Prospect Park, ensuring that Brooklyn’s Backyard is a vital, public green space for all to enjoy.

Visit the Same Sky website to purchase the EARTH bracelet benefitting the Prospect Park Alliance.