A Spin on the Carousel At Prospect Park Gala

This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.

The New York Sun

No one looked sharper and more festive at the gala to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Prospect Park Alliance than the 51 horses — and one lion, one giraffe, and one deer — on the park’s carousel.

The figures were carved in 1912 by the Russian immigrant Charles Carmel, who maintained his workshop near the stables at Prospect Park and lived a few blocks away until his death, in 1966. They started their roundabout lives at Coney Island but moved to Prospect Park in 1952. When the alliance, a nonprofit that manages and fund-raises for the Olmsted and Vaux-designed park, was founded, the carousel had been out of operation for four years, and the expressive eyes, bright colors, and subtle carvings that made the animals so life-like had long since faded or been painted over.

One of the alliance’s first projects was restoring the carousel, which opened again in 1990 and has been a jewel of the park ever since. The campaign in the late 1980s raised $800,000, but the carousel requires maintenance and cleaning and, therefore, ongoing financial support.

The way the alliance markets support of the carousel shows the smarts, creativity, and fun it brings to its stewardship of the park. The Carousel Program enables donors to permanently “adopt” or temporarily “groom” Carmel’s figures.

The Carousel Program received little attention at the gala, but with any luck the childlike fun people had on their carousel rides — in their un-childlike tuxedos and dresses — will inspire future support. Besides, there was lots of other business. The event honored three alliance leaders: the founding chairman of the board, Henry “Terry” Christensen III, who heads the private client practice at the law firm McDermott Will & Emery LLP, after more than 35 years at Sullivan & Cromwell; a former chairman and founding board member, Horace Morancie, an engineer for the U.S. General Services Administration, who helped found Brooklyn’s West Indian American Day Parade, and board member Joan Kronick, who is a devoted fund-raiser.

When the carousel stopped for the evening, guests took comfort in knowing they could ride it again at next year’s fall gala — or sooner, if they return when it is open to the public (until the end of October this year, and starting again in July). Those charmed by its horses can learn more about them and their carver at an exhibit at the American Folk Art Museum, which is on until March.

agordon@nysun.com


The New York Sun

© 2025 The New York Sun Company, LLC. All rights reserved.

Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. The material on this site is protected by copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used.

The New York Sun

Sign in or  Create a free account

or
By continuing you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use