Senate Resolution No. 2614
BY: Senator MYRIE
COMMEMORATING the 155th Anniversary of Prospect
Park in Brooklyn, New York
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that the
continuing welfare of the citizens of the State of New York is greatly
enriched and reliably served by the purposeful endeavors of those
organizations committed to the preservation of the natural world, the
enrichment of knowledge of local and global wildlife, and the promotion
of environmental citizenship; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commemorate the 155th Anniversary of Prospect Park; and
WHEREAS, Established in 1867, Prospect Park is a 585-acre public
park located in the New York City borough of Brooklyn; it was designed
by the influential landscape architecture team of Frederick Law Olmstead
and Calvert Vaux; and
WHEREAS, This architecture team was essential in transforming
585-acres of remnant forest and rocky farmland into a landscape whose
beauty, though manufactured, would nurture the mind, body and even the
fabric of society; and
WHEREAS, Within Prospect Park, there are seven playgrounds, some
with water features, a 3.35 mile loop for bicycling, a carousel open
from April to October, a 90-acre Long Meadow, the Woodland Ravine,
meandering paths with scenic outlooks and a watercourse which features
waterfalls and springs as well as a 60-acre lake; and
WHEREAS, Following the Great Depression, Robert Moses, the New York
City Parks Commissioner, leveraged funds available through President
Franklin D. Roosevelt's Public Works Administration to launch a number
of development projects, including Prospect Park; his vision was to view
parks as settings for active recreation; and
WHEREAS, The projects completed under Robert Moses' guidance
included the Prospect Park Zoo, new playgrounds around Prospect Park's
perimeter, the extensive renovation of the Park drives and the
construction of the Bandshell as well the Kate Wollman Memorial Skating
Rink, which is currently the site of the LeFrak Center at Lakeside; and
WHEREAS, During the 1970s, New York fell under a significant fiscal
crisis, and Prospect Park's landscapes and structures collapsed into
serious disrepair; less than two million people visited a year, the
lowest in the Park's history; and
WHEREAS, After the bronze sculpture of Columbia at Grand Army Plaza
fell over, symbolizing the general neglect of Prospect Park and its
immediate surroundings, a group of concerned local citizens began
lobbying for responsible stewardship of the Park; and
WHEREAS, Due to the concerned citizen's persistence, the Borough
President took their concerns to Mayor, Edward Koch, who, with the help
of Parks Commissioner, Gordon Davis, developed a plan to restore the
Park; in 1980, Tupper Thomas was appointed the first Prospect Park
Administrator to oversee the restoration efforts; and
WHEREAS, During this time, a group of private citizens working with
Parks Commissioner, Henry Stern, founded a non-profit organization to
work with the City in leading Prospect Park's transformation; with Parks
Administrator, Tupper Thomas, as President, the Alliance offered a new
way for the public and private sectors to join as partners in a common
cause; and
WHEREAS, Starting with the special campaign to restore the Park's
1912 Carousel, the resulting refurbishment became a symbol of Prospect
Park's rebirth; through volunteer initiatives and community programs,
Tupper Thomas was able to cultivate tremendous support from the public;
and
WHEREAS, In the 1990s, the Alliance embarked on an ambitious
woodlands restoration; more than 3,500 cubic yards of topsoil was used
to stabilize slopes and 160,000 plants, sourced from within 60 miles of
Prospect Park, were introduced and approximately 35,000 aquatic plants
were added to provide food and nesting habitats; and
WHEREAS, In 2009, the Alliance announced a radical redesign which
would integrate the rustic aesthetic of Olmstead and Vaux, the
recreational demands of the public, and the energy efficiency
requirements of a modern public space; and
WHEREAS, With the collaboration of the prestigious architectural
firm, Tod Williams and Billie Tsien and the Alliance's Chief Landscape
Architect Christian Zimmerman, the $74 million project restored Prospect
Park, which is considered once again, one of the nation's premier public
parks, and a treasured Brooklyn green space, with more than 10 million
visitors each year; and
WHEREAS, Today, Prospect Park is home to 50 species of butterflies,
more than 30,000 trees, at least 18 species of fish, and more than 200
species of birds; it has brought beauty and pleasure to the residents of
the State of New York; and
WHEREAS, Throughout the seasons, Prospect Park is a destination much
appreciated by the residents of the State of New York and visitors who
seek the historical, cultural, and recreational resources of the area;
it is a source of pride and community heritage to all the people of
Brooklyn; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 155th Anniversary of Prospect Park in Brooklyn, New
York; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the Prospect Park Alliance.