Study ABCs Between the Trees
Education Director Rachel Stephenson leads a class of students in the Park
November 13, 2008
Imagine identifying bird species in a wildlife corridor, exploring a military fortification from the War of 1812, or putting pen to paper in a secluded pastoral landscape. You don't have to go any further than the Park's 843 acres to experience all of this and more.
Central Park Across the Curriculum (CPAC) is a series of enrichment workshops for educators. These Central Park Conservancy-led workshops blend the Park and the classroom. Our 2008-2009 courses include Teaching with Plants, Creative Writing in Central Park, and The History of Seneca Village. Interested? Do your homework at www.centralparknyc.org/cpac and then register by calling 212-360-1403 or e-mailing cpac@centralparknyc.org.
Because the Conservancy has become an official Department of Education (DOE) provider, we are now able to offer customized professional development workshops in science for New York City school teachers. So far this fall, schools have enjoyed customized professional development workshops on topics ranging from how to study Central Park's trees through the seasons to how to use the northern end of Central Park to study science, math, and the humanities at the same time. DOE will fund its teachers participation. Please call 212-360-1403 for more information on how to participate and to book a half-day or full-day science program in Central Park.
November 6, 2008
Gayle Welling is one of about 200 volunteers who work throughout the Park gardening, mulching, weeding, planting and raking.
Volunteers Help Cut Pollution with Back-to-Basics Leaf Collection
Rakes in hand, Gayle Welling and her two fellow volunteers stand on a leaf-strewn patch of Central Park lawn. Taking a quick rest from their morning’s work, Welling, an 11-year volunteer of the Central Park Conservancy, notes one of the top benefits of their back-to-basics method of leaf collection.
“We’re very quiet,” says Welling. “We’ve always done a lot of raking, and now we’re just doing a lot more.”
The trio is among the nearly 200 regular volunteers of all ages, plus groups of volunteers that help out on accession, who work throughout the Park gardening, mulching, weeding, and planting. In the fall, they become an army of leaf-rakers combing the lawns - just another in a string of green initiatives the Conservancy has implemented in its operations both in and out of the Park.
Park users might have noticed them last fall, when pollution-producing leaf blowers went into retirement in favor of good old-fashioned rakes. Conservancy staff still use rolling blowers on wheels to help clear the leaves, but by relying more heavily on rakes, the abrasive noise and emissions that usually accompany autumn have been significantly cut down, says Russell Fredericks, the Conservancy’s director of horticulture.
“We’re entering the peak leaf season right now,” says Fredericks. “We have 26,000 trees, and you can imagine…how many leaves [that amounts to].”
While the raking effort does take longer, Fredericks says that the extended leaf collection time is a small price to pay for the environmental benefits — and for quieter strolls through the Park.
So what happens to all the leaves once they’re sucked up by leaf vacuums or collected into barrels and reusable bags? All of the Park’s organic waste - from logs to branches to leaves - is recycled to produce compost and mulch, which are used throughout the Park to improve plant health and put nutrients back into the soils. Breaking the Park’s natural leaf resources down into compost reduces waste and fertilizer use while improving the soil and protecting plants from disease. Each year, over 3,000 cubic yards of leaves get turned into compost with 5,000 cubic yards of wood mulch generated from tree- and shrub-clippings.
“It all gets recycled,” says Fredericks. “It doesn’t go into the landfill. And at the end of the day, that’s our ultimate goal.”
Pick up a rake and join the effort! The Conservancy is always looking for more volunteers. For more information, e-mail volunteer@centralparknyc.org or call the Volunteer Hotline at 212-360-2751.
October 30, 2008
The ING New York City Marathon was November 2
The first New York City Marathon was held in Central Park in 1970. One hundred and twenty-seven runners paid the $1 entry fee to New York Road Runners to participate in a 26.2-mile race that looped several times within the Park. The race has grown into the world’s largest marathon with nearly 39,000 runners crossing the finish line in 2007. This Sunday, runners will pound the pavement through all five of the city’s boroughs, but the iconic finish line remains in the Park.
In this sea of runners, 75 men and women will stand out; they comprise Team Central Park. Ranging in age from 21 to 72, Team Central Park runners are from a dozen different states, Europe, and the Mediterranean. The team has raised more than $200,000 to keep the Park beautiful for present and future generations.
Rutger Devnik is part of the team and shares why he’s running for Central Park.
My friends and I are excited to be running as part of the Central Park Conservancy team in the ING New York City Marathon this November. Our small group's common interest is wine. I am a viticulturist in Virginia. Our vineyard is called RdV Vineyards and we are in the midst of our very first harvest.
My parents live on Central Park South. For some people, New York City is about the culture, the shopping, the tall buildings and the exciting pace. However, when we visit my parents in New York, Central Park is the place my wife and I love to take our two young boys. I also love to run in the park. When it came to choosing a charity for the marathon, I immediately thought of the Central Park Conservancy. It seems fitting somehow that five people who are dedicated to wine, a true product of nature, have the opportunity to run for an organization that creates and preserves such natural beauty.
I have had the great fortune to work with and befriend three very knowledgeable wine experts from Bordeaux - Jean-Philippe Roby, Kees van Leeuwen, Marie-Helene Schaaper and her husband, Jan. All four of my friends from France are avid runners and Jan has completed twenty-four marathons. After learning that the four of them shared a lifelong desire to run in the ING New York City Marathon, I became excited and decided to make their dream a reality.
October 23, 2008
Autumn in Central Park is marked by changing colors. As trees prepare for their winter dormant period, a vibrant palette of yellow, gold, orange, red, and purple paint the landscape.
Bill Berliner is the Central Park Conservancy's Associate Vice-President of Horticulture and knows the facts about fall. "Three factors influence leaf color — leaf pigments, length of day, and weather. As days grow shorter and nights grow longer and cooler, biochemical processes in the leaves take place. Leaves lose their green when chlorophyll production slows and finally breaks down, allowing other pigments in the leaf to show through."
Weather conditions influence the timing and intensity of fall color. Warm, sunny days and cool, crisp nights produce the most vibrant colors and hues. Bill predicts the end of October and beginning of November will be the Park's peak.
Where does a tree expert go leaf peeping? "North Meadow is a brilliant mix of maples and oaks.” Bill adds. You'll see sugar maples turning bright orange with hints of yellow and red."
See the Park's best and brightest on your next visit.
October 21, 2008
CHANEL Mobile Art Lands in Central Park
Central Park is the only American venue for Mobile Art, a traveling international exhibition commissioned by CHANEL and housed in a futuristic pavilion designed by architect Zaha Hadid. Mobile Art is open to the public daily through November 9. Please visit the on-site Ticket Box Office for limited same-day ticketing. Admission is free of charge. Mobile Art is housed in Rumsey Playfield. Enter Central Park from Fifth Avenue and 69th Street. Visit http://www.chanel-mobileart.com for more on the contemporary art container.
Malcolm Pickney, NYC Parks & Rec |
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October 16, 2008
Central Park is the perfect place to play with your pooch
It might not be the first patch of New York green that city dog owners think to take their four-legged friends, but dog-friendly Central Park is actually a great place to stroll and play with your pooch so long as you know some basic rules of the Park.
A great time to visit is before 9:00 am and after 9:00 pm, when most of the unfenced Park landscapes are available for owners to walk and play with their dogs off-leash. In between those hours, dogs must be on-leash in the Park — home to 23 designated “dog-friendly” areas. These are popular gathering spots for owners and their dogs to mingle and meet.
The Park offers dog owners some particularly scenic areas to take their pets on-leash this time of year, with fall’s golds and reds. Central Park’s native species are planted and preserved across 136 acres of woodlands, as well as in our wildlife corridors, meadows and regular landscape plantings. It all provides for beautiful seasonal views, and the Park’s staff encourages visitors to take advantage of them — though their dogs must be on-leash at all times.
Other great pockets of the Park where dogs are welcome, but must be on-leash at all times, include Conservatory Garden, Shakespeare Garden, Bridle Path, Cedar Hill, Kerbs Boathouse Plaza (at the model boat pond), Arthur Ross Pinetum, Turtle Pond, and The Peter Jay Sharp Children’s Glade. The Children’s Glade might pose some confusion for dog owners, since it neighbors Great Hill, home to one of the Park’s many dog drinking fountains. But the area indeed requires that dogs be leashed, since the sensitive landscape can be damaged by the thousands of paws that regularly come trotting through the park.
There are some spots where dogs are not allowed: Playgrounds, display fountains, bodies of water, ballfields, the Elm Islands at the Mall, Sheep Meadow, East Green, and any areas where signs are posted.
Thirsty dog owners are more than welcome to use one of the standard drinking fountains. Their thirsty canines? We ask they take advantage of the 16 special dog fountains that dot the 843-acre Park. While it may be tempting to allow your pooch to drink from or dip in any of the Park’s water bodies, remember — they’re filled with fish, turtles, and waterfowl. To help preserve the Park’s wildlife, we ask that you keep to the dog fountains or bring your own receptacle.
The Park’s stretches of road also offer a great place for owners to take their dogs on a city stroll, with just over six miles of roadway that wind through the lush space. But be attentive — the roadways are also popular with pedestrians, cyclists and skaters. To prevent accidents, keep your dog on a short leash when crossing the drives.
As always, don’t forget to curb and clean up after your dog. Your fellow dog owners and Park users will thank you for it.
For information about dog runs and park rules Citywide, contact the Department of Parks & Recreation through 311, or visit www.nyc.gov/parks/dogs.
Want your bark heard? Central Park PAWS is an organization of dog owners who work with the Central Park Conservancy to address dog issues in the Park and produce programs and events involving dogs and their owners. Visit http://www.centralparkpaws.org/ to join.
October 9, 2008
Students Dig Community Service
Terrell Smith and Anissa Garcia volunteer in the Hallett Nature Sanctuary
October 9, 2008
Your teen could hold the key to Central Park's wildlife wonder, Hallett Nature Sanctuary. Closed to the public since 1934, middle and high-school age groups can unlock the gates of this 3.5-acre woodland preserve through the Conservancy's community service program.
Student groups of 15 or less are invited to take part in the Sanctuary's ongoing ecological restoration. Students may remove invasive plant species, install native species, maintain existing trails, or construct new ones. The program promotes healthy and hospitable wildlife habitats while giving urban students a natural escape. Students learn how to collaborate as a team, use tools safely, and identify particular plant species under the supervision of the Conservancy's education department.
Register a group by phone 212-360-1439 or e-mail youth@centralparknyc.org.
Migrating Birds Enjoy a
Layover in Central Park
An Immature Red-tailed Hawk in Central Park
October 2, 2008
Every year, Central Park is an important hub for birds flying south for the winter. New York City's position on the Atlantic Migratory Flyway (one of the routes birds follow each spring and fall) makes the Park an ideal stopover point for thousands of birds traveling from places as far away as Patagonia and Greenland. Now is the time for you to witness first-hand these migrating birds seeking sanctuary in Central Park.
The Ramble has become the center of birding activity in Central Park, and approximately 230 species of birds are spotted feeding and resting there each year. During the migration seasons, regular bird watchers and novices alike can enjoy the opportunity to see hundreds of species in and around the Park. If you do come, the Central Park Conservancy asks that you please adhere to these basic courtesies toward our feathered friends:
- When observing birds, stay on paved paths and designated woodchipped trails. Trampling damages fragile vegetation.
- Observe birds from a comfortable distance. If a bird seems agitated by your presence, move farther away.
- Don't approach or try to rescue a fallen nestling. The parents are usually nearby and will continue to care for it.
- Please pick up litter and dispose of it properly. Birds can get entangled in discarded fishing line, six-pack loops, and plastic bags.
- Up-to-date information about bird sightings can be found in the "Bird Book" kept at Loeb Boathouse. Loeb Boathouse is located near the entrance to the Ramble.
September 25, 2008
Whether it's expanding recycling programs or enhancing tree care and wildlife corridors, the Central Park Conservancy is dedicated to environmental stewardship. You can help by joining us as we carry in, then carry out this fall.
Visitors to our nation's parks have probably heard the phrase "Carry in, carry out." With 25 million annual visitors (that's more than Yosemite, Yellowstone, and Grand Canyon National Parks combined), minimizing impact is a challenge in Central Park.
But even little changes make a big difference. On your next visit to one of our managed wildlife habitats, areas such as the Ramble, we challenge you to remove all forms of litter and biodegradable waste. Properly disposing of these materials helps avoid harming our ecosystem.
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Be part of the Park
How you can help — Trash bins have been removed from inside the Ramble. You will find trash and recycling bins located at all entrances. Better yet, take your trash home with you. Show your personal style and environmental savvy and BYOB (bring your own bag). If you're planning a picnic, bring re-usable dishes, utensils, and water bottles and take them home.
It matters — The Ramble was designed as a 38-acre "wild garden" (in the words of Park co-designer Frederick Law Olmsted) with rocky outcrops, secluded glades, and a tumbling stream called The Gill. Over time, the Ramble has become the center of birding activity in the Park, and approximately 230 species of birds have been spotted. Other wildlife found in the Ramble are gray squirrels, raccoons, the white-footed mouse, wild turkey, and bats.
Plan ahead and prepare — Reduce what you bring with you to the Park; stay on designated paths to avoid trampling the Park's fragile wildlife corridors; dispose of waste properly; leave what you find; respect wildlife; be considerate of other visitors. Visitors can help preserve and protect Central Park's natural resources and help maintain a clean environment for current and future generations to enjoy.
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September 18, 2008
Cross over Bow Bridge, one of Central Park's most iconic features, and you'll see an amazing transformation just in time for fall.
Look for eight 3.5-foot high planting urns — cast-iron replicas of the bridge's originals — which were removed almost 100 years ago. A skilled team of Conservancy craftsmen used historic images and took cues from another urn thought to be an exact model of the ones that originally adorned the Bridge.
Designed by Central Park co-designer Calvert Vaux and his assistant Jacob Wrey Mould, Bow Bridge is the second-oldest cast-iron bridge in the United States.
The creation and installation of these pieces was made possible by the Central Park Conservancy's Women's Committee, which raised the funds needed to return these treasures to their prominent perch on this classic piece of American architecture.
