'Family' Dropped From Title of Park Fest
A decision by the Prospect Park Alliance to rename its annual "Family Day" event is drawing criticism from those who say the new name, "Members Spring Fest," represents a frivolous bow to political correctness.
"Family Day," an annual event organized by the Prospect Park Alliance for its members, features carousel rides, pedal boats, and tours of the park's Audubon Center.
A senior vice president of the Prospect Park Alliance, Robyn Bellamy, who approved the name change, said dropping the "family" from the event's title was intended as an attempt to boost attendance by conveying to single people, seniors, and other members that they were welcome. A recent postcard mailed to neighbors announcing "Members Spring Fest" reads in parentheses, "formerly known as Family Day." "We look at our membership base, which is the public, and it includes young people who just moved in, families who have been here for awhile or are new, seniors — it really runs the gamut of ages and interests," Ms. Bellamy said in an interview. "We're still offering the same event in the spring but letting people know that it's really for all members."
"That's a ridiculous thing to do," a former Parks commissioner, Henry Stern, said in an interview. He said the new name "appears to be slighting families," by taking away their connection to the annual festival. "They're well-intentioned, but these are the horns of the political dilemma that people fall on when they're trying to be politically correct," he said.
The president of the Prospect Park Alliance, Tupper Thomas, said yesterday that she and the group's board did not have input into the decision and that she was not aware of it until she received an invitation to the event.
"This was not a major policy decision," Ms. Thomas said.
She denied that the move was made to avoid offending non-traditional families, such as non-married or same-sex couples.
"If you're in Brooklyn, 'traditional family' means almost anything," Ms. Thomas said. "We don't even think about that."
According to Mr. Stern, if the park wanted to attract more visitors, it could host a separate event instead of renaming its annual celebration.
"You don't have to erase Family Day from the calendar to create a Members Day. Why don't you take three days — family day, senior day, and everyone's day?"
The president of Brooklyn, Marty Markowitz, an ex-officio member of the Prospect Park Alliance's board of directors, defended the name change yesterday as more inclusive.
"In no way is the name change 'anti-family' or designed to exclude anyone — in fact, it does just the opposite. There are many members who are single or in non-traditional relationships, and I support this effort by Tupper and the Alliance to more accurately name the event and make everyone feel welcome," he said in a statement.
