Out & About
Caring Beyond Central Park
The Central Park Conservancy is a model of public and private management and expert horticultural practices for parks around the world, but it takes special pride in the assistance it provides to neighboring parks in Harlem: Jackie Robinson Park, Marcus Garvey Park, Morningside Park, and St. Nicholas Park, all of which represent more than 88 acres of fields, playgrounds, and rocky landscape.
"We send crews in to mow lawns, remove weeds, and prune trees and shrubs, so the parks' own gardeners and volunteers can focus on making the parks more beautiful through design and planting," the chief administrator of the conservancy, Douglas Blonsky, said.
The outreach, which started in 2005 alongside a program by Partnerships for Parks that engages volunteers, has helped make the parks more attractive, which has led to increased usage.
To celebrate the partnership, the Upper Park Partners Committee of the conservancy held a luncheon at Doubles that raised $22,000 for education and recreation programs. The hosts were Robin Bell-Stevens, Nancy Missett, Susan Rudin, and Samantha Topping. Historian Michael Henry Adamstalked about the exhibit "Black Style Now" that he curated for the Museum of the City of New York.
Many of the women in attendance were already anticipating their visit to the Conservatory Gardens at 105th Street for the annual Frederick Law Olmsted Luncheon on May 2. That's the day the park's blooms take second stage to the colorful parade of hats worn by guests.
