Tag: Prospect Park Alliance

c. Virginia Freire

PPA Profiles: Averill Wickland

July 20, 2015

Education program coordinator Averill Wickland is passionate about teaching environmental education to children and families. He joined the Prospect Park Alliance last year to help lead the development of expanded nature education programs at the Prospect Park Audubon Center.

Following the success of Pop-Up Audubon, a mobile nature education program that takes place in a different area of the Park each month with seasonal themes, the Alliance received generous funding from the Brooke Astor Fund for New York City Education to develop a second Pop-Up Audubon program focused on the Park’s aquatic habitats, as well as Discovery Kits that families can borrow to explore the Park. The new programs launched in April and have been a big success, with more than 400 visitors to the second Pop-Up Audubon program alone each weekend.

“It’s great to be able to share my interest in nature in Prospect Park,” Averill explained. “I really love to hear what the families who visit Pop-Up Audubon have to share as well. Some of them have been coming to the Park longer than I’ve been alive.”

Averill grew up in a small town in Vermont, just outside of Middlebury. After graduating from Wesleyan University, he joined the Peace Corps. He was assigned to a forestry position, where he helped set up orchards in Malawi, Africa, and became interested in teaching. Six years ago, Averill moved to New York City where he worked as an educator at the Science Barge in Yonkers as a field studies coordinator at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden before joining the Alliance.

The Alliance’s nature education programs are designed to engage children from diverse backgrounds, and deliver a message of conservation, stewardship and exploration of the Park. This includes one of the Park’s most popular summer activities, catch-and-release fishing. Funded for many years by Macy’s, this favorite Park pastime began as a fishing contest, but has since evolved into a more in-depth program that teaches children about aquatic ecology. Through funding from the Astor Fund, this year the Alliance has doubled the program with two locations each weekend in the Park.

“Kids are always surprised to learn that there are actually a lot of fish in the Lake,” Averill observed. “Being in the city, people do not often think about wildlife, but we have sunfish, blue gills, pumpkin seed and largemouth bass. When a child lands those occasional largemouth bass, it’s a really exciting moment.”

Learn more about Pop-Up Audubon, and sign up for our newsletter to learn about the latest upcoming Audubon events and activities, including a Family Fishing Night on July 30.

Brooklyn Industries and Prospect Park Alliance Debut Prospect Park Graphic Tee

June 10, 2015

Brooklyn Industries has debuted a Prospect Park Graphic Tee, now available at Brooklyn Industries stores and on the Brooklyn Industries website. The third collaboration between Brooklyn Industries and the Prospect Park Alliance, ten percent of sales from every Prospect Park Graphic Tee will support the Prospect Park Alliance, a non-profit organization that works in partnership with the City to preserve and maintain Brooklyn’s flagship park.
 
The shirt features a vintage Prospect Park map printed on a super soft eco tri-blend crew made with organic cotton, recycled polyester, and naturally occurring rayon. It is available in both men’s and women’s sizes. The women’s shirt is available at all New York Brooklyn Industries locations, while the men’s shirt is for sale at all locations except the Upper West Side store. Both are also available online:

View Men’s Tee
View Women’s Tee

Brooklyn Industries is a cutting edge design company founded by visionary artists Lexy Funk and Vahap Avsar in 1998. Brooklyn Industries’ stores engage the local community in art, clothing, design and style.
The Brooklyn Industries office and design studio are located in Dumbo, Brooklyn. Brooklyn Industries continues to grow every year as an innovative and creative vertical retailer, staying true to its Brooklyn roots. For more information, visit www.brooklynindustries.com.

1,000 For The Park Surpasses Goal

June 3, 2015

Today, the Prospect Park Alliance announced that its seven-day crowd-funding challenge, 1,000 For The Park, surpassed its goal—achieving 1,164 donations to unlock a $50,000 challenge gift from longtime supporters Lorraine and Gordon DiPaolo. Funds raised will go toward the Alliance’s work to preserve and maintain Prospect Park.

“This campaign was really about bringing together the community in support of the Park,” said Sue Donoghue, Alliance President and Park Administrator. “Our message is that millions of people love the Park in thousands of ways, and it is through their support—no matter how small or large—that we are able to care for it. We were delighted to see how people rallied around the campaign, and encourage everyone who loves the Park to get involved, whether by volunteering, donating or becoming a member of the Alliance.”

1,000 For The Park took place from May 27 through June 2, and sought 1,000 donations of any size to earn a $50,000 challenge grant from the DiPaolos. The campaign is a follow up to a similar campaign called 500 for the Park, held in 2014, which brought in more than 500 donations and earned a $25,000 gift from the DiPaolos.

“Gordon and I are thrilled about the outpouring of support from the community,” said Lorraine DiPaolo. “We gave this challenge to help bring to light the important work of the Alliance in keeping the Park green and beautiful, and are delighted to know that the money raised will go back to the Park that gives so much enjoyment to all.” 

c. Elizabeth Keegin Colley

Alliance Launches 1,000 For The Park

May 27, 2015

Today, the Prospect Park Alliance launched 1,000 For The Park, a crowd-funding challenge campaign to earn 1,000 donations for Prospect Park from May 27 to June 2. If the campaign hits its goal, the Alliance will receive a $50,000 contribution from longtime park supporters Lorraine and Gordon DiPaolo. Donations of any size through 1,000 For the Park will support the Alliance’s work to preserve and maintain Prospect Park for the enjoyment of millions of visitors each year.

“Millions of people love Prospect Park in thousands of different ways. As the park’s popularity grows, the resources needed to care for the Park also grow,” said Susan Donoghue, Park Administrator and President of the Prospect Park Alliance. “With our busiest season approaching, we hope the community will help us reach our goal and spread the word. Every donation, no matter the size, will help make this treasured urban oasis even more inviting for picnics, ball games, water play and the thousands of other ways the community enjoys the park in the summer.”

Last year the Alliance held a similar campaign, called 500 For The Park, which raised $60,000, including a $25,000 challenge grant from the DiPaolos. Due to its success (the goal was reached in the first three days of the campaign), this year the challenge was doubled. Funds from 1,000 For The Park will go toward the important work of the Alliance, a non-profit organization that works in partnership with the City to care for the natural environment, restore historic design and provide public programs and Park amenities. The Alliance funds a significant portion of the Park’s operating budget, and employs three-quarters of the Park’s staff.

“Prospect Park is all of Brooklyn’s backyard, and that is why it is so important to support the work of the Alliance,” said Lorraine DiPaolo. “1,000 For The Park is a wonderful way for the community to give back to the Park we love so much, and to recognize the public-private partnership that is essential for keeping the Park green and beautiful.”

There are a number of ways people can participate from May 27 through June 2:

  • Donate at prospectpark.org/1000
  • Email friends and family about the campaign
  • Share on Facebook and tag Prospect Park
  • Share on Twitter with #1000ForThePark @prospect_park
  • Share pics of your favorite ways to enjoy the Park on Instagram with #1000ForThePark @prospect_park
c. Virginia Freire

Audubon Takes Flight

April 14, 2015

From Nature Play to Bird Nerds Game Hour, this spring the Prospect Park Alliance is offering a slate of new and expanded free nature programs. Starting Saturday, April 18, the Alliance will open the Audubon Center at the historic Boathouse for weekend activities, add a second tent to its popular Pop-Up Audubon program, and launch Discovery Packs, ready-to-go kits filled with activities for families.

“The Alliance offers more than 800 programs serving 75,000 visitors each year throughout the Park, including the Audubon Center,” said Alliance President Sue Donoghue. “Providing families from neighborhoods across Brooklyn – and all over the city – with fun, creative ways to explore and learn about the Park’s natural areas and wildlife is an important part of our mission.”

The Prospect Park Audubon Center was established in 2002 through an innovative partnership between the Prospect Park Alliance and Audubon New York as the first Audubon Center in an urban park. Families are able to directly engage with nature through fun, play-based activities such as bird watching, catch-and-release fishing and citizen science projects. The expanded programming reflects both the popularity of Audubon activities with visitors, as well as the Alliance’s focus on increasing access to Park amenities for surrounding communities. 

Every Saturday and Sunday, the Alliance will offer family-friendly nature programming from 10 am until 1 pm at the Boathouse, such as Nature Play, an innovative game-centered approach to connecting kids with the great outdoors, and Blooming Naturalists, which introduces families to the Park’s vast variety of birds. The Alliance’s popular Pop-Up Audubon program, which launched in 2013 and occurs at locations around the Park, will double the fun with a second tent that explores the Park’s aquatic habitats.

In addition, Discovery Packs will be available at the Audubon Center and new Pop-Up Audubon tent that families can borrow to explore the Park. Similar to Pop-Up Audubon, the Discovery Packs will feature a new theme each month. In April, participants will play Habitat Bingo, searching for specific birds then designing nests. 

Check out the full schedule of programs.

PPA Profiles: Janis Napoli

Janis Napoli, Prospect Park Alliance’s Horticultural Supervisor, is the Park’s flower guru. She oversees a team of four gardeners that care for its flowering plants. At first glance, Prospect Park seems to be dominated by trees and shrubs, but there are dozens of flowering plants throughout the landscape, including Park entrances and arches, and a few formal gardens, including Carmen’s Garden at the Litchfield Villa and the berms at Grand Army Plaza.

Janis has had a green thumb her whole life. She propagated plants as a teenager before earning a degree in Horticulture and a prestigious internship with the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Upon completion of her internship, Janis was offered the rare opportunity to become an Assistant Gardener, where she learned a great deal of the skills that Prospect Park benefits from today.

Janis joined the Alliance as Horticulture Supervisor last year, and handles her monumental task with aplomb. With a very small crew, she is responsible for the health and beauty of the all of the Park’s flowering plants, which are spread over 585 acres. As spring approaches, the horticulture crew tends to hundreds of acres of landscapes, with flowering trees to prune, paths to clear and bulbs to plant.

Even before this work begins, every plot must be carefully inspected and assessed. Janis and her team have a lot to consider when creating public floral spaces, such as access to sunlight, flowering behavior and the environment. She even examines aerial photos to learn how landscapes receive sunlight and shade throughout the year, and observes how visitors interact with the space. 

“Areas that are open to the public or are in highly trafficked throughways generally host hardier plants,” Janis explained, “while those that are protected by fencing or thick underbrush allow for more delicate blooms.” 

One of Janis’ favorite destinations in the Park is Carmen’s Garden, and one of her favorite flowering plants is Edgeworthia, or paper bush, which glistens in the sunlight all winter and blooms gorgeous creamy yellow buds in the spring. You can see these blossoms later this spring near the 9th Street entrance of the Park. Check out our spring bloom guide for other great spots to see the horticulture team’s work in action.

Park Path Improvements

Council Member Brad Lander’s Participatory Budgeting process gives you the power to decide how $1.5 million will be spent on projects in your community.

In the past, this process helped fund pathway drainage improvements at the Long Meadow and Park Circle, as well as a few currently in design and construction at Endale Arch, the Lake and Litchfied Villa. This year, you can improve the pathway along the East Drive at Battle Pass, which spans from the Prospect Park Zoo to Zucker Natural Exploration Area. All you have to do is vote.

Tonight from 6:30–8:30 pm, attend the Project Expo, where delegates will present their projects at Camp Friendship, located on 8th Street between 5th and 6th Avenue. Voting will go through Sunday, April 19. Check out the full list of voting locations.  

You may also cast your ballot at Council Member Lander’s Park Slope office today through Thursday. To broaden Brooklyn’s voice, this year the voting age will be lowered to 14. You can even pledge to vote online.

c. Paul Martinka

PPA Profiles: Paul Curtin

April 13, 2015

Paul Curtin is Head Pro and Junior Development Director at the Prospect Park Tennis Center. A Florida native, he started working at the Tennis Center in 2003. “We have a community here that is very tennis friendly,” says Paul, “I love the diversity we see on the courts and the shared enthusiasm for the game.”

As Junior Development Director, Paul leads the Summer Youth Program, which is designed for youth ages 6 to 16 to learn the game and improve their serve, stroke and confidence on the court. Paul was a relative latecomer to tennis. He didn’t pick up a racquet until age 12 but then went on to become a very accomplished player. He loves working with the youth at the Tennis Center. He finds it rewarding to introduce children to tennis and watch their games develop. He also enjoys the challenge of teaching and finding new ways to express tennis techniques. “It takes patience and persistence,” Paul says, “but it’s great to see players mature.”

Registration for the Summer Youth Program is now open. Youth engage in drills and match play for both individualized tips and experience working in groups. Beginners will gain a thorough understanding of the game, as well as basic skills and strategies. Experienced players can hone their game with individualized instruction geared toward match play. Learn more about the Summer Youth Program and sign up today.

Let it Rain

March 16, 2015

As regular cyclists, joggers and walkers in Prospect Park know, heavy storms can cause flooding along the Park Drive and pathways as runoff makes its way through the Park’s drainage system, which is nearly 150 years old. Stormwater management has become one of the biggest priorities for the Alliance’s Design and Construction team. Flooding not only hinders use of the Park, but also can have harmful consequences on the Park’s landscapes and ecosystems.

Nearly all new construction projects in Prospect Park, including the LeFrak Center at Lakeside  and the major renovation of the Long Meadow Ballfields, include sustainable stormwater systems. In addition, the Alliance’s Design and Construction team is exploring other ecologically minded improvements that can be implemented around the Park. New rain gardens that were recently installed along the Park Drive near Park Circle are examples of sustainable stormwater management. This project was made possible by residents of the 39th New York City Council District who voted in participatory budgeting in 2012, which was organized through the office of New York City Council Member Brad Lander.

Rain gardens are landscaped areas intended to collect stormwater runoff and allow it to slowly infiltrate the soil. A small trench is dug into the landscape and surrounded by native water-tolerant plants, such as New York Aster, Inkberry Holly, Bearberry and several native grasses. The gardens are not only beautiful additions to the Park, they also serve several important functions.

“In addition to absorbing stormwater so it doesn’t overwhelm the Park’s aging drainage system, rain gardens create an environmentally friendly method for filtering water and reducing erosion, which can have a devastating impact on the grass, shrubs and trees,” said Justine Heilner, the Alliance’s Senior Landscape Architect. “The rain gardens were planted this fall, and we already have seen a significant reduction in flooding. We are excited to see how they evolve this spring, and hope to install more throughout the Park.”

Winter Wonderland

February 12, 2015

While Winter Storm Juno was not the predicted storm of the century, it did transform Prospect Park into a scenic winter wonderland. Keeping the Park safe and ready for thousands of visitors is not a small feat, and crews worked tirelessly around the clock, contributing from start to end nearly 900 hours to shoveling, plowing, salting and other forms of snow removal.

The Alliance maintains a very small fleet of plows and salt spreaders, which requires an “all hands on deck” approach, as staff do everything possible to stay ahead of storms. Mowers were converted with special brooms into high-powered snow removal devices, but much of the work involved manual labor with staff on the ground operating blowers, shoveling and spreading salt.

The team’s first priority is clearing the Park Drive, entrances and perimeter sidewalks, an operation that took place throughout the night of the storm. The next day, crews focused on shoveling out fire hydrants, bus stops, staircases and crosswalks, with over 40 crosswalks at Grand Army Plaza alone. Even volunteers got into the effort, with a group from the Church of the Latter Day Saints who shoveled staircases in the Vale of Cashmere.

The result of these efforts could be seen in the sheer number of visitors who descended on the Park to enjoy the snow. Prospect Park became the symbol of a New York winter wonderland, thanks to a video posted by Mayor de Blasio, and photographs of the Park in publications around the world. 

Enjoy our photo gallery from Winter Storm Juno, and continue to share your photos with us by posting to our Facebook page or to Instagram with #prospectpark.