I \ Page' 8. NEWSPAPER RELEASES 7/33/3tf 98. CHILDREN'S TREASURE HUNT, scheduled far^next Saturday afternoon, August 4 t h , a t 2 p.m. a t JACOB RIIS PARK, Neponsit, 8/5 99. INSPECTION TRIP covering the long Island Parkways and Parks for r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s of t h e P r e s s on Mondyy, August 6th, · 8/9 100. 14 ADDITIONAL PLAYGBOUNDS ^ILL BE OPENED BY THE DEPT. OF PARKS IN NEW YORK CITY ON ^SATURDAY, MORNING, AUGUST 11th, , 8/9 101. The Park Dept. has s t a r t e d RENOVATION OF THE COLUMBUS STATUE fiHssT>-v^w \A*JL Page 9 NEWSPAPER RELEASES 9/12/2 tf 117. Opening of Roosevelt Park, Sept. 14, 1934, 9/18 118. Opening of Zoo, Central Park, Sept* 22nd. 9/28/34 119. I n s t a l l a t i o n of Heating P l a n t in Claremont Restaurant, 9/28 120. Harvest F e s t i v a l a t Jefferson Park 9/29/34. 9/28 121. Concert on the Mall 9 / 3 0 / 3 4 . / , 9/30 122. Building an a d d i t i o n 18-hole course at Pelham Bay Golf Course. 9/30 123. 35 a c r e s of land for park on Welfare Island* 10/1 124. Yacht Clubs a t Pel bam Bay Park ceased to function a s clubs t o d a y . i 10/3 225, I n s t r u c t i o n s in use of new t r e e moving apparatus w i l l be given t o employees of the Park Department, 10/4 126. Contractor f o r s e c t i o n of West Side Express Highway through Riverside Park, b e t . 72nd and 79th S t r e e t s ^ has started dri ving p i l e s for the retaining walls. 10/8 127. Opening of playground at Essex and Houston Streets, Manhattan, 10/8 128. Appointment of Mr. Spargo t o position formerly held by · Major Crane, - · . . * 10/10 129. Opening of 3 playgrounds on Columbus Day a t Baxter, Bayard, Mulberry & Park Streets, Leiv Eiriksson, Corona & 102nd Street, Queens. 10/10 130. Harvest Festival a t Thomas Jefferson Park 10/10 131. Handicraft Exhibit a t Macomb's Dam Park, \ 10/10 132. Survey of a l l signs and commercial advertising in Parks, Parkways in New York City. 10/12 133. Harvest Festival, Central Park,Mall. 10/18 134. Opening of two new Playgrounds at Taaffe Place and Park Avenue, Brooklyn, and Cherry, Monroe & Gouveneur Streets in Manhattan., . , ; 10/19 135. Unveiling of bronze statue of Dr. J, M, Simras in Central Park, 10/8 136. Opening of New Fludiing Memorial Playground, 10/13 137. Final concert at Forest Park by Mr, Creatare, '' ' * r ' 10/8 138. Decision not to erect a swimming pool at St. Albans, new location being considered. ''Page 10 NEWSPAPER RELEASES 10/20/3^139. Dancing on Tuesdays and Thursdays in Prospect Park throughout the Fall and Winter. ' 10/23 140. Erection of Bird Sancturary in Central Park. 10/25 141. Opening of 3 new playgrounds at Sheriff, Broome & Delancey Streets, in New York, Fulton Street & Classon Avenue, in Brooklyn, and Fort No. 4, Sedgwick and Reservoir Avenues, in Bronx. ' 10/28 142. Survey of existing trees on the streets in a l l the five Boroughs by the Park Department. . 10/29 143. Memorandum on organization of work relief projects under the supervision of the Department of Parks. 10/31 144. Opening of Annual Chrysanthemum Show of Department of Parks at Prospect Park on 11/4/34. 11/2 145. Dedication of"f?fTree of Hope1* on November 4, at 7th Avenue & : 131st Street. - '>' 7~" 11/3 146. Unveiling of War Memorial dedicated to the Memory of the men who l o s t their lives in the World War - of the East S i d e . 0 " 11/6 147. Planting of tree to the memory of Madam Marie S. Curie. < · · . , ' * 11/8 148. Opening of two new playgrounds - Dreier-Offerman between Cropsy Avenue end Gravesend Bay, Brooklyn, and Flushing Manorial Playground i n Queens. 11/10 149. Contest of Home-made wagon championship on Thanksgiving Day to be held i n Central Park Mall.. ' 11/10 150. Final roller skating contest for Borough of Manhattan, in Central Paik. 11/15 151. 15th Milestone near 242nd Street and Albany Post Road i s to be reset on November 18; ceremonies to be conducted jointly by the Washington Heights Chester of the D.A.R .' 11/15 152. Roller-skating contest - Inter-Borough - to be held* 11/15 153. No restriction on a r t i s t who paints or sketches for own enjoyment and not commertial venture; make Application for privilege if so desired to Borough Director. 11/16/34 154. Roller-skating championship and home-made wagon contest to be held 11/17/34. ' 11/19/34 155. Meeting held in conjunction with the Department of Health and Water Supply for the development of area in Coney Island. 11/23 156. Announcement of opening of Zoo to be held1 in Central Park, y^C x > December 2,1934, Speakers - Mayor Fiorello H. -1-aGuardia, air. A. E. Smith, Robert itoses, William Hod son, A. Schoelkopf, ",. ·] Page 11 NEWSPAPER RELEASES 11/23 / " 2 ^ 1 5 7 . Department of Health and Department of .Parks announced a Joint program f o r t h e development of combination p l a y - / grounds and h e a l t h c e n t e r s . '. . / : ·· '··:- / Jx^ 11/28 158. Announcing the opening of the Zoo to be held December* 2nd r \ at 2 p.m. in Central Park. ' , '. . .- · ' 12/6 159.' Lleeting a t Port Authority Building, December 10th t o / consider the a r t e r i a l problems of the City of New York and surroundings. 12/7 ' 160. Golf courses will close Sunday, December 9, 1934, 'on account . ' , · - · · of weather. -.·..-· 12/11 161. Park Department pureijaaed a pick-up ear, station wagon and a coupe. Mayor LaOuardia will, drive one of these cars on '.; · . December 10th to City Hall.' , , . . 12/19 162. Erection of Christmas trees at various New York City Farks,- also dedication of Mayo^ I/jGuariia at City Hall Plaza " ·· . ' . on Friday* · - : · 12/20 153. 3^t^nc?cr of Shore Drive Extension in Brooklyn -Bids'opened. 164. Climatic conditions and vandalism made it necessary for the Park Department to protect the statue of D..Glasgow Farragu^. " M 11/17 165. Annual Chrysanthemum Show of Department of Parks at Forest park* 166. Formal permission of artists for sketching purposes in park not essential but letters granting the privilege will be ·· furnished those who make application to Borough Directors. 12/29 167. Golf courses closed owing to cold weather. V, 12/31 168. Progress on park program in 1934 and program for ,1935.,. MANHATTAN BRIDGE AVE. &.INTERBOROUGH PKWAYJ C< UNDER CONSTRUCTION] SHORE DRIVE EX !/ftrkER BEACH m JAMAICA BAY EXTENSION OF SHORE DRIVE,BROOKLYN IN FRONT OF FORT HAMILTON SCALE 1 DEPARTMENT OP FaRKS 4 FOR Ik,L _Af£ KILMSE 12. Arsenal, Central Park December 19, 1934. Tel. Regent 4-1000 The Department of Parks is erecting fourteen 50-foot Norway Spruce Trees in the parks throughout Greater i -Ie r York in preparation of the Christmas festivities to be conducted under the auspices of the City of Her; York. These Community Christmas Trees v.Mch vo.ll be dedicated by I.Iayor Fiorello H. LaGuardia on Friday, Dec. 21st, at 4:o0 p.m., vo.ll be located as follows: City Hall Plaaa Mall, Central ?ark - Off 5th Avenue at 65th Street Roosevelt Park - Chrystie and Forayth Streets at Stanton Street Thomas Jefferson Park - 111th to 114th Street at First Avenue QUEEHS: Kings Park - Jamaica Avenue and 150th to 155rd Streets Forest Park - iVIyrtle Avenue and Park Lane South Northern Boulevard - Opposite Fairington Street BROOKLYN: Borough Hall Grand Array Plaza - Prospect Park Leiv Eiriksson. Park - 86th to 67th Streets between 4th and 5th . Avenues. BRONX: Joyce Kilmer Park - Grand Concourse and 161st Street Clareaont Park - .It. Eden, Webster and. Teller Avenues RICHMOND: Silver Lake Park - Victory Boulevard and Forest Avenue Borough Hall, Barrett Park - Triangle east of Borough Hall on Bay Street, St. George Mayor Fiorello H. LaGuardia \ 111 deliver an address at City Hall Plaza, v.here the principal exercises will be held. The ceremonies from this point rill be broadcast by public address systems to all of the other locations, v.ith the exception of Thomas Jefferson Park, v;here special ceremonies will be held by the .Jayor and the official party after the con- clusion of the program at City Hall Plaza. Commissioner Robert Moses will act as chairnan. The program will open vith a short/concert by the Park De- Vft "----. partaent Band, follor/ed by Christmas Carols sung*%y a lixed Choir of 75 trained voices frcn the Concert Division of the Department of Public '.'el- fare, augmented by children from the playgrounds of the Department of Parks (Continued) ·«···"* ,- t.' />? Page 2. f who have been trained especially for these exercises. Commissioner Moses vlll then introduce I.iayor LaGuardia v.iio v.lll formally dedicate the trees and, by pressing a button, illuminate the thirteen trees simultaneously. This program v.lll be broadcast by Station uJYC and a net-work of tv/enty-tv/o additional stations extending e.s far Test as Missouri and in- cluding a short-v;ave station in Providence v.hich vlll carry the main exer- cises abroad. At the conclusion of the principal exercises the programs vlll continue independently at each point v;here they vlll be in charge of the Borough Director of the Department of Parks or his designate. Christmas Carols of different countries v.lll be sung in the native tongue by the chil- dren, r;ho v.lll be in proper costume made by the Playground Directors. At the conclusion of the exercises at City Hall Plaza, Mayor LaGuardia and the offi- cial party v.lll proceed to Thomas Jefferson Park, '.here a special band con- cert vlll be given betveen 5 p.m. and the arrival of the Mayor. The cere- monies here vlll consist of the dedication and illumine.tion of the Christ- mas Tree by Mayor LaGuardie, v.ho v.lll also formally break ground for the swimming pool which is to be built at this point. The singing of the Nation- al Anthem vlll conclude these ceremonies. Vith the exception of Christmas Day, carols v.lll be broadcast each day thereafter from Station V.NYC to all fourteen locations betv.een 12 noon and 12:15 p.m., to and including Friday, December 28th. The trees v.lll be decorated vith electric lights of gay and varied colors. This will be the first tine that the City has provided Community Christmas Trees on this scale. DEPARTMENT OF PARIS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Arsenal, Central Park December 10, 1954. Tel. Regent 4-1000 The Park Department recently purchased three new cars, a pick-up car, a station wagon and a coupe. Mayor LaGuardia will drive one of these cars to City Hall, leaving the Mayor's house at 9:00 and arriving at Gity Hall at 9:15 a.m. Released to the following by order of Mr. Cruisei New York City News Association Daily Mirror Wide World Acme Associated Press International News Service Fox Movietone News Paramount News Pathe News DSPAETMENT OF PABKS Arsenal, Central Park 4 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 7, 1954. Tel. Eegent 4-1000 The Department of Parks states that in view of the open weather now existing the golf courses tinder its jurisdiction will not close on Sunday, December 9th, as recently announced, but will remain open until further notice. During this period the winter rules will obtain. Phoned to the following, as directed by Mr. Cruises City News Association Daily Mirror Bronx Home News Staten Island AdTance Long Island Daily Star Long Island Daily Press DEPARTMENT OF PA^KS, ^ FOR Arsenal, Central Park. \ / r"/l December 6, 193-:, T e l . : Regent 4-1000 Senator George Fearon, Chairman of the Joint Legislative Committee appointed pursuant ta a resolution of the New York Sta'.e Legislature adopted April 27, 1934, has arranged to hold a raeattv.^ . of the Committee in New York City on Monday evening, December )'i "th . at 8:30 in the Port Authority Terminal Building at 111 Eighth Avenue, This meeting will be held to consider the arterial pro.: lens of the City of New York and its surroundings. It has been arranged at the invitation of Mayor LaGuardia* Mayor LaGuardia has designavfl Park Commissioner Robert Moses to arrange the details of the meeting and to assemble the material on the connections between the City arteries and the suburban highways and parkways adjacent to the City,, The Joint Legislative Committee to report on road-buildir.^ policies is composed of six State Senators, seven State Assembly taes© Tisltors will be returned &M. ©tter aniaals seemed to repleaisix tne Central DEPARTMENT OF P M 3 T*)R RELEASE Arsenal, Central Park Monday, November 19, 1934 Tel. Regent 4-1000 A meeting was held in the offices of the Depart- ment of Parks at 5th Avenue and 64th Street, for the purpose of preparing a comprehensive plan for the development of the prop- erty at Coney Island, bounded by Neptune Avenue and Gravesend Bay, West 31st and West 23rd Streets. At the present time, this 33 acre tract is under the jurisdiction of the Department of Parks, the Department of Docks, the Borough President of Brooklyn, the Board of Education and the Department of Water Supply, Gas and'Electricity. The most easterly block of property between West' 23rd and West 24th Streets is under the jurisdiction of the Board of Education and was to be the site of a proposed new school. This property is bounded on the east by an industrial development, and on the west by property now under the juris- diction of the Department of Water Supply, Gas and Electricity. It was the intention of the Water Department to construct a pumping station on this site. The property between 25th and 31st Streets is under the jurisdiction of the Department of Parks, and plans are now being prepared for the development of this area. Along the waterfront, the Department of Docks planned a 60 foot mar- ginal road and this area has been held by the Department of Docks to be used for this purpose in the future. South of this 60 foot marginal road, and abutting it, there is another pro- posed street, varying in width from 60 to 80 feet, which was to be built by the Borough President. The Borough President also planned to extend West 25th Street northerly from Neptune Avenue to this proposed waterfront street. (Continued) Page 2. As a result of this meeting a comprehensive plan has been decided upon. The Department of Vater Supply, Gas and Electricity will erect its pumping station on the most easterly block between 23rd and 24th Streets adjacent to the industrial area. The Board of Education will use the property between 24th and 25th Streets, and the Department of Parks will develop the balance of the area. The Borough President of Brooklyn has agreed to discontinue the proposed extension of Ves^i 25th Street, as well as the proposed street along the waterfront, and the Commissioner of Docks agrees to abandon his proposal for the marginal street. The Department of Parks agreed to release the property on the north side of Neptune Avenue and the easterly side of v/est 31st Street, to allow for a widening of these tho- roughfares, in order to accommodate the traffic which was origin- ally proposed to be carried along the marginal or waterfront street. ' This new plan is arranged so that the pumping the station will act as a buffer between/industrial area and the property of the Department of Parks and the Board of Education0, it also gives it the seclusion needed for this project. In ad- dition, it places the school in a much better location, nearer to th^center of population, and gives it a fine setting adjacent to the park. The Department of Parks in turn is planning its play areas so as to serve the children attending the school, as well as the other children of the community. A committee of three architects, one from each of the three Departments (Water Supply, Board of Education and the Department of Parks) are to confer on this project, so that the architecture of the buildings to be erected will harmonize. The Department of Parks also offers the services of its Landscape Architects to prepare landscape plans for the entire area. -End- Nov. 16, 1934. y To - Mr .Nelson Prom - J.V.Mulholland SUBJECT: Roller Skating championships, Center Drive, Central Park. Homemade Wagon being constructed at Roosevelt Park, (both of these events Saturday,Nov. 17th.) As per telephone call from Mr. Mulholland, please have photographers at the Center Drive, Central Park, at 2 P.M. to take pictures of the roller skating championships. Also please have pictures taken of a boy or boys making their own wagons at Roosevelt Park tomorrow at 11 A.M. J.V. Mulholland per I H 11 DEPARTMENT OF PARKS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Arsenal, Central Park November 15, 1S34. Regent 4-1000 The Department of Parks states that it is receiv- ing a rather large number of letters from artists inquiring whether permits are necessary to paint and sketch in the city parks. The present policy of the department places no restriction on the artist who paints or sketches for his r own enjoyment rand not as a commercial venture, £blle formal permission is not required, letters granting the privilege will "be furnished those artists who make application for ^; them to the Borough Director of the Department of Parks,viz: *- Swedish Cottage, 79th St.& '7est Drive, Central Park* BEOHX: - Zbrowski Mansion, Claremont Park. BROOKLYN*- Litchfield Mansion, Prospect Park* QUEENS:- The Overlook, Forest Park, Kew Gardens. RICHMOND:-FieId House, Clove Lakes Park, Victory Boulevard & Clove Road, V/est Brighton. DEPARTMENT OF PARKS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Arsenal, Central Park November 15, 1934. Regent 4-1000';. The Inter-Borough Playground Roller-Skating Finals will be held under the auspices of the Division of Recreation of the Department of Parks on the Center Drive in Central Park on Saturday, November 17th, at 2 p.nu The boys and girls who finished first, second and third in each class will com- pete, in the finals for the championship, viz,s Girls 4*8" Class 100 Yards Lillian Seawell from Manhattan John Jay Playground y T Tessie Annis " Brooklyn Gravesend G d " Gloria Amato " Bronx I;lacombs Boys 4*8" Class 220 Yards A. Bujnowski *j lianhattan East 17th.'--tV M. Tartarsky ·* Brooklyn y 7illiamsburg g " F. Goetz " Bronx St.MaryTs West " Girls 5'3" Class 220 Yards Anna Shimonski " Manhattan Roosevelt Margaret Lyna " Brooklyn Grave send Josephine Rubino " Bronx Macombs Boys 5*3" Class 440 Yards V. Galgano " Manhattan Roosevelt " L. Meli '* Brooklyn Bay Parkway " *: '. Bergstrom " : Bronx StiMary1s T/est " The program will include tvro special events| an 830 yard roller-skating race open to girls up to 18 years of age'j and a similar event open to boys of 18 years or under;. -end- t Hov. 10, 1934. To - Mr. Mel son From James V. Mu.lho3.land Subject - Roller Skating (Final Contest) Manhattan Kindly notify newspapers regarding the final roller skating contest for the borough of Manhattan, conducted by Recreation Division, Department of Parks, The races will take place on the Center Drive near the Mall, 72nd St.& Centra]- Park, Saturday November 10th at 2 P.M. James V. Mulholland Director of Recreation. DEPARTMENT OF |«§KS FOR IJflEDIATE RSLEASI Arsenal, C e n t r ^ r P a r k NovenJPr 10, 1934 T e l . Regent 4-1000 Announcement was made yesterday by the Division of Recreation, Department of Parks, of the conduction of the first home-made wagon championship for children of the city, on Thanksgiving Day morning, on Central Park Mall. Medals an&trophies for the preliminary events in the various borough: playgrounds and for the finals have been donated by Israel Sachs, head of the Sachs Foundation. Three classes in the home-made wagon contest will prevails teams of two in the 6-8 year group| 9-11 and 11-13 years. Another feature will be a mixed age group of from 6-13 years which will permit brother and sister or two members of the same family to compete. All wagons must be made by contestants. Three events for scooter races are also on the program. -End- r. DEPARTMENT OPWARKS FOR ISMEDIATE RELEASE Arsenal, Central Pai*k November 8, 1934 Tel. Regent 4-1000 The Department cf Parks will open two new play- grounds on Friday, November 9th, making a total of 37 opened this year. The Dreier-Offerman Playground between Crcpsey Avenue and Gravesend Bay at Bay 46th Street in the Berough cf Brooklyn, will be opened at 3 o'clock* Mayor LaGuardia, Bor- ough President Ingersoll and Mrs. H. Edward Dreier will speak at the dedication ceremonies. The Land for the playground was originally pur- chased by Mrs. Theodore Dreier as a site for the German Home for Recreation for Women and Children and used for 25 yenrs as a recreation and recuperation home for mothers and children. Settlement houses and churches made provision for the work that the German Home was doing and the afMra of the Home were liquidated. A committee composed of Mrs. G. William Rasch, President, Mrs. Arthur Delmhorst, Mrs. H. Edward Dreier, Miss Mary Dreier, and Miss Minna Von Nostitz arranged to have the land turned over to the City and gave to the Park Department $20,000 to be used fcr the construction of a playground. This sum was used tc purchase material for the construction of the recreational plant that is being opened tomorrow. The playground has a wading pool and a two-stcry brick field house. The sanu tables, seesaws, slides and swings ,for small children are located on the Bay side of the build- ing. Apparatus for older children is located in the space adjoining Cropsey Avenue* The Flushing Memorial Playfield in Queens will be opened at 4s00 P.M. Mayor LaGuardia, the President of the Borough of Queens and Mr. John Holley Clark, Jr. will speak., (Continued) Page 2. f| The land for the Flushing Memorial Playfiald was given to the City by the Memorial Field of Flushing, Inc., for the development of a playground. Labor and material were supplied from Work Relief funds. A cne-story field house of Colonial design is lo- cated in a corner of the playground. Eight tennis courts, eight handball courts and two basketball courts are provided in addition to swings, seesaws, sand tables and other outdoor gymnasium equipment. The Department of Parks also announces that nine- teen playgrounds and parks, in addition to the two to be opened tomorrow, will be opened in the various boroughs by March 2nd. One new and completely equipped playground or park will be opened each week beginning November 10th, with the opening of Tompkins Park, Brooklyn. Other November openings are the unveiling of the East Side Memorial, Union Square, Manhattan on November 11thj dedication of the 15th Milestone, Van Cort- Park landt Park, Bronx, November 18th and City Island/in the Bronx. There will be six openings during December, viz.: the opening of the new Central Park Zoo, Manhattan, on Decem- ber 1st| playground at Rutgers and Henry Streets, Manhattan, on the third; playground at Harbcr Read and Richmond Terrace, Richmond, on the tenth; two more blocks at Leiv Eiriksson Park, Brooklyn, on the seventeenth; Chishclm Playgrcund, Queens, on the twenty-fourth and the Highbridge Playground, Manhattan, on the thirty-first. The Playgrcund at Vandervoort and Cherry Streets, Brooklyn, will open January 7th; Highbridge Playground at 130th Street, Manhattan on January 14th; St. James Park and Play- ground, Bronx on January 21st and the dedication of the Flushing Memorial Field Gates, Queens, on January 28th. (Continued) Page 3. · " Three openings are scheduled for February, viz.s Clove Lakes Park, Richmond, on the fourth*, J. Hood Wright Park and Playground, Manhattan, on the eleventh! playground at Union and Van Brunt Streets, Brooklyn, on the eighteenth, and the German Memorial Park, Manhattan on the twenty-fifth. The Prospect Park Zoo in Brooklyn will be opened March 2, 1935. Of these nineteen centers for recreation seven will be in the Borough of Manhattan, three in the Bronx, five in Brooklyn, two in Richmond and two in Queens. -End- ffl DEPARTMENT OF PARKS . FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE The arsenal, Central Park November-6, 1934. Telephone: Regent 4-1000 A memorial tree is to be planted in City Hall Park, Manhattan, on Wednesday afternoon, November 7, at one o'clock, under the auspices of the Department of Parks as an enduring tribute to Madam Marie Sklodowska Curie and her long and tireless energy in discovering radium and making its benefits available to humaMty. November 7 marks the sixty-seventh anniversary of her birth. The Reverend Felix F. Burant, Pastor of St. Stanis- laus Church and Chairman of the United St. Stanislaus Societies, New York, suggested the planting of the tree, with suitable ceremonies, to the Department of Parks. The exercise swill start at 12:45 p.m. with selec- tions by the Park Department Band. Father Burant will make the formal presentation of the tree and dedicate it to the memory of Madam Curie, after which the children of St. Stanislaus Parish School will sing the Polish National anthem. Mayor Fiorella H. LaGuardia will accept the tree in behalf of the city. At the conclusion oi Mayor LaGuardia's address the children will sing The Star Spangled Banner and then place a wreath at the base of the tree, an Oriental Plane. The rendition of the French National Anthem will conclude the exercises. The program will be broadcast by Station WNYC. -End- * DEPARTMENT OF PAEKS Arsenal, Central Park t FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 2, 1934 { ., granted to .the Dopartmont of Parks of tho City to employ diroctly five hundred technical and construction supervisors at salaries up to $80.00 per v/ook. Tho quota of five hundrod mon was later increased to five hundrod and forty-seven. Tho Park Department was given a free hand in tho selection of these mon. No consideration was givon to residence or need of work. They wore to bo hirod on the basis of their ability and experience. Pursuant to this agreement tho Park Department officials canvassed tho largor building and gonoral contract- ing firms of tho City for lists of superintendents, foremen, expediters of construction and engineers who were available, and secured from the Associated General Contractors lists of member contractors. All those lists contained names of cx- porioncod supervisors who wore rocommondod by their former employers. One thousand three hundred tolograms wore sent out on Saturday afternoon to all mon interested in securing - 5 - positionsj directing then to report for personal interviews on Sunday afternoon. On Sunday afternoon all tlao applicants for the foreman positions wora interviewed by Consulting Engineers of the Dopn.rtr.iont , and graded according to their experienco and qualifications. The applicants for suporin- -tendent positions wore interviewed by engineers of the De- partment and those whose record indicated capacity for tho most responsible positions, wore interviewed personally by tho General Superintendent· Colonel Walter DoLanator, City G. „/. A« administrator was asked to bo present, and reviewed and .approved this onorgoncy procedure. The first nen report- ed for interviews at 2:00 P. M. on Sundays and the task was completed at 5$00 t\, M. Monday morning. Tho superintendents who wore si-lectod v/oro directed that night by telegram to report to work on Monday, and the forcnen who were employed wore directed by tologran to report for work over a period cf the following three days. ik memorandum on this procedure forwardod to tho Chairman of the Civil ",/orks administration of tho State of Now York on February 9th is attached. These men employed on January 27th v/oro almost all outside construction supervisors, and wo continued our offorts to obtain designing architects, landscape architects and engineers from the National Rcomploymont Service. 3y tho middle of February it became clear that not even white collar engineers of sufficient cxporionco and training could bo drawn from this agency. On Fobruary 21st, tho Director of tho Fodoral Civil Works administration cf Now - 6 - York Stato authorized Colonel EoLr.iar.tor, No?/ York City Civil Works Adninistrntor, to soloct supervisory, designing and professional personnel to the extent of 453 persons fron lists submitted by the National Engineers Society Employment Service, the National Engineers Society direct, the Archi- toctural Loaguo, the General Contractors Association or the Association of Landscape Architects. The Director connented in his lottor granting this authority that an emergency existed, making it impossible to draw those non through tho National Roemployment Service. A copy of the letter from tho Civil Works Administrator is attached. There was no limitation put on tho residonce of those 453 non. They woro to bo hired for their ability and cxporionco. Duo to a later change of regulations, 142 of the 453 non v/oro required to qualify through Homo Relief. Of tho original 547 nen who wore omployod on January 27th, 374 are still employed on Park Department pro- jects! °f "tho 453 men who v/oro obtained through tho Engin- oors Socioty rolls, 369 aro still working on park design. Tho 257 non of tho original 1,000 onployod have dropped out by accepting other jobs, havo been discharged for inoffici- oncy or transferred to other City Departments, including the general administrative office of tho Works Division. I did not know any of these non. Not a single one was employed or rocommondod on account of personal or political influence. Thoy woro omployod on Federal C. W. A. projects, and paid - 7 - entirely fron Fodoral funds. Thoir placo of residence was not considered. They v/oro on ployed solely for thoir abilities to design worthwhile) park projects, supervise all typos of construction work and perform other highly specialized pro- fossional practicos incidental to the development of the park system in New York City. The Park Department Projects which those no.h undertook to organize and progress is the largest onginoor- ing or construction project undertaken as a single enterprise during the sane length of tine anywhere in ay knowledge. The men took over a completely demoralized force of untrained laborers and mochanics, and in a short length of time whipped an efficient organization into shape. There have boon no- irregularities and no instance of dishonesty by n single one of those men. They have worked almost double the number of hours roquired of them by thoir payaastors, because the in- - dustry in \7hich they wore trained always demanded this of them. They have wooded out and discharged Roliof Workers who could not or would not work. They havo demonstrated remarkable ingonuity in stretching inadqquate quantities of materials. I know of no noro able, devoted and patriotic group of men anywhoro in public service. The C. V/. A. as a 100^ Fodoral Agoncy wont out of existence on forty-eight hours notice last Springy and the T. i£. R. A. proceeding on tho basis of 50% Federal funds, 25/£ State funds and 25% local funds, was substituted* ·· ft «· i -i Tho rulos of employment, the nothod of purchasing material, tho regulations governing tho rental of equipment , r.nd tho responsibility for tho progress cf the work wore all changed overnight, but tho actual work of building playgrounds, erecting buildings, paving roads, etc., did not chango. Tho papers and tho bookkeeping wore simply taken off ono dosk, and dumped on another. As soon as tho Federal Civil '.7orks Administra- tion was replaced by the Works Division of tho Department of Public */olfarc, as a clearing house for this work, tho com- parativoly small nunbor cf tochnical and supervisory men who lived outside of Now York City wore questioned as to their rosidoncc. In July, a list of forty-ono names of non who were listed as non-residents of tho City of Now York was furnished this Department by tho Department of public Y/el- faro. On July 27th, tho Department cf Public i/elfaro was advisod that four of tho men listod uoro no longer working with tho Department, and that twenty-seven of tho non whoso residence was questioned, wore key non and that no non could be found available within tho City who could replace any cf then. Ten of tho non whoso rosidenco was questioned woro tochnical specialists and tho Welfare Department was advised that, while they wore fully qualified for tho work they wore doing and the termination of their services would result in loss, their positions could be filled with other non of similar qualifications. Tho Park Dopartmont offered to - 9 - substitute additional non furnishod by tho V/olfaro Depart- ment to replace those ton non. Up to tho prosont tirno tv/o roplacononts havo boon rocoivod. A copy of tho menorandun from tho Park Dopartnont to tho Welfare Department is attached. It should bo nado cloar that in addition to tho 601 suporintondonts, architocts, engineers and landscape architocts onployod by tho Park Dopartnont with no considera- tion of thoir nood for roliof, thoro aro 1,683 othor tech- nical and supervisory onployoos who wore furnishod by tho Homo Relief Bureau of tho Dopartnont of Public V/olfaro. Statements havo boon nado that thoso non aro overpaid. Of tho 2,284 mon planning and directing tho construction, five rocoivo $80.00 por vcokf nine rocoivo $70.00 por wook; thirty-four rocoivo $60,00 por wookj ono rocoivos $55.00 per wook; fifty-six rocoivo $50»00 por ivookj sixty rocoive $45.00 por wookj fivo hundred and thirteen recoivo wcokly wagos botweon $33.00 and $40.00| oight hundred and tv?clvo rocoivo $30.00 por wookj sixty earn between $24.00 and $27.00 por wook; and seven hundred thirty-four of then aro paid $21.00 por wook. Of thoso 2,284 men, 669 of thon aro archi- toctfef onginoors, specification writers, topographical draftsnon and topographical engineersj 1S615 of then aro in charge of tho actual direction of all tho construction forces^ Thoy aro general suporintondonts, assistant suporintondonts, foromon of nechanical trades, labor foremen and othor super- - 10 - visors. There are 37,643 non working now on Work Relief Projects in tho Park Department, Criticises have boon directed at tho mothod of purchaso of material, rental of equipment and tho hire of transportation facilities. In projects totaling over thirty nillion dollars over a period of less than nino months, mistakes are made. · I do not protend that mistakos havo not boon mado in tho Park Dopartnont. It is nothing short of miraculous that more mistakes havo not boon nadc. Tho rules and regulations under which tho money has boon spent wore not designed to cover omorgoncy work. Tho purchase of millions of dollars worth of matorip.1 running into thousands of i^tons, roquiring innediato delivery, has boon done through a central purchaso system dosignod to satisfy the routine noeds of organized, smooth-running City institu- tions, and not omorgoncy construction projects. Tho regu- lations have boon changed overnight many tines, and in almost every instance, money for tho purchase of material and equip- ment has been mado available after tho date non woro sent to work on tho projects. Federal supervision by the C. W. A., State and Federal supervision by tho T. E. R. A., City super- vision by tho Department of Public Welfare, through both its Homo Relief and Work Roliof Divisions, tho inspection of material and the payment of bills by tho Finance Department, buying of material and equipment by the Purchaso Department, investigation of tho conduct ©f work by tho Commissioner of Accounts, and other forms of control, approval, or check by - 11 - othor City Departments, commissions and bureaus passing on quality of materials, permits for construction, otO^ created a tanglo of rod tapo which has boon cut only by tho cost aggrcssivo and persistent prossuro. Tho results justify ny boliof that no Govornraont enterprise of similar complexity has boon porfornod so as to provide as littlo justification for honost criticism. Since January 19th of this year tho Dopart- aont of Parks has spent $30,2 31,552.00 on now construction / from work Roliof funds, of which $25,931,552,00 has boon / used for labor and $6,300,000.00 for natorials and equipment. / Tho money has boon spont prudently in accordance with r. i I comprehensive plan of development cf tho wholo c i t y , All j | tho parks have been rehabilitated. Forty-one thousand, ; seven hundred and fifty gallons of paint have boon usodj i . i eighty-six miles of rusty, dilapidated fonco have boon rc- ; plncod v/ith twenty-ono miles of now foncingi forty-throe nilcs of walks havo boon repaired! and t wolvo miles of bridlo \ paths havo boon renovated, and six miles of now bridlo paths constructed^ 236 acros of park area have boon drained and \ restored to park usage? 712 drinking fountains havo boon rc- \ pairod and 243 now fountains installod5 39,000 cubic yards \ of stone masonry retaining walls have boon built to restore ' , stoop hillsides to public usage 5 145 comfort stations have been cleanod, repainted .and ropairodj 10,000 now waste \ baskets have boon installed and 23,100 benches have boon - 12 - J * ropairod. Throo hundred and twenty-two tonnis courts havo boon rosurfacod§ 90,500 troos havo boon prunod| 13,500 doad troos havo boon ronovedj 141,800 troos havo boon sprayed? 192,800 shrubs havo boon prunod and tho troos and shrubs in forty»throo parks and parkways havo boon completely rehabi- litated. Over 7O5OOO cubic yards of muck havo boon ninod and spread as top dressing on lawn areas. This material which was being covorod with ash fill would havo cost tho City over $200,000.00, if it had boon purchased and not salvaged from swamp land, Ono hundred thirty-throe thousand cubic yards of now soil wore purchased; 97,000 pounds of grass sood havo boon usodf 400,000 squr.ro foot of sod woro placed; 14,200 troos, 105,000 shrubs and 43,000 vinos woro planted, A complete program of rohabilitating ovor 284 statuos in tho City has boon undertaken. Those itoms are only a small part of tho gonoral housocloaning and rehabilitation of tho existing areas. Now construction projocts include sevon golf courses, which will bo completed by tho Spring of 1935, and five existing golf courses which havo boon modernized, Ono now golf club house will bo finishod. Thirty-four now play- grounds, oquippod with comfort stations, play pavilions, wading pools, and outdoor playground apparatus havo boon added to tho system in addition to tho rehabilitation of sixty-fivo existing playground areas. All thoso playgrounds have boon landscapod to provide shade. Tho sovon block - 13 - rocroational' park at Chrystio-Forsytho r.nd two blocks of tho rocroational park at Loiv Eiriksson have boon finished and oponod this year. By next Spring, sixty now playgrounds will have been opened. Bryant Park has boon completely ro- built. Complete new zoos will bo finished in Central Park, Manhattan, Prospect Park in Brooklyn and Barrott Park in Staton Island. Tho shoepfold- in Central Park has boon con- verted into a modorn tavern and Cluronont Inn on Rivorsido Drivo has beon renovated and oponod as a popular priced restaurant. Tho lower reservoir in Contral Park is being rebuilt and oponod to tho public? temporary bath houses have boen installed at \7olfo's Pond in Statcn Island. Eight now swimming pools, conplotoly equipped with bath houses, filter plants and chlorinating unite, are under construction. Fourteen additional pools aro boing dosigned, and work on then will commence in tho Spring. If this constructive progran is to go on, tho supervision by aggrossivo, qualifiod construction superinten- dents, engineers, architects and landscapo architects, se- lected for their ability to got work done and not primarily for their nood of roliof, must bo continuod and a reasonable amount of material, oquipmont, and supplies must bo furnishod. Without this material to work with, and without this small group of noa of proven ability, tho whole Roliof program will rcvort in a short timo to tho old racket of raking loaves and polishing sidewalks. C o nia issioner. - 14 - (COPY) DEPARTMENT OF PARKS February 9th, 1934. Mr. Alfred H. Schoellkopf, Chairman, Civil Works Administration for the State of New York, 124 East 28th Street, New York City. Dear Al: I am attaching a memorandum prepared by Mr. and Mr. Praeger outlining the procedure followed in the em- ployment of technical and construction supervisors for C.W.A. projects of the New York City Department of Parks. The procedure followed in securing these men was in accordance with my direct instruction, rjid I was familiar with every step that was taken. Very truly yours, (SIGNED) Robert Moses Commissioner of Parks. · * 4 (COPY) DEPARTMENT OF PARKS MEMORANDUM OUTLINING FPOCJSDCPE FOLLOWS!) III -HIE M F L O Y M M T OP TECHNICAL AND CONSTRUCTION SUPER- VISORS FOR C.W.A. PROJECTS OF THE NEW YORK CITY DEPARTMENT OF PARKS. On Friday evening, January 26th, a conference was held at the state C.W.A. headquarters on C.W.I., work in the New York City parks, Henry Root Stern presided and wr.s in communicc-tion on the telephone with Alfred H. Schoellkopf, Chairman of the State C.W.A. Others pres- ent were Frederick Daniels of the State C.W.A.; H6nry Epstein, Counsel; Colonel DeLamater and Mr. Woolsey of the City C.W.A.; Mr. Langa of the U.S. Unemployment Service and Mr. Kauffimnn of the State Employment Service; Colonel Hammond, Mr. Williams, Mr. Ford and Mr. Jones of the State C.W.A. staff; Robert Moses, Commissioner of Parks of the City of New York; W. Earle Andrews and Emil Preager of the City Park Department, and others. It was definitely agreed at this conference that the Department of Parks of the City should directly employ 500 technical and construction supervisors at salaries up to $80.00 per week and that, ·because of the emergency, these men would he exempt from the usual rules of the Federal Re-employment Service. Pursuant to this agreement, on Saturday, January 27th, General Superintendent Emil Prr.eger nnd Consulting Park Engineer W. Earle Andrews, canvassed the larger building and general construction firms of the city for lists of superintendents, foreman, expediters, and construction engineers who were available. Thsy also secured from the Associated General Contractors, a national trade organization, lists of its member contractors. All of thes6 lists contained names of experienced super- visors who were recommended by their former employers. Mr. Andrews and Mr. Praeger were assisted in this v i/ork by Messrs. Wood, Quigley and Dawson, C.W.A. engineers working under the supervision of 'Mr. Praeger on a per diem basis; John Madigan, Richard Hyland and former Deputy Commis- sioner of Highways of the Stats of Nsw York, Major I. B. A. Huie, of the consulting engineering firm of Madigan and Hyland, who, at our request, offered their services without pay; and several civil sorvice employees of the engineering staff of the Department of Parks. Mr. Praeger sent out 1300 telegrams on Saturday afternoon for all men interested in secur- ing positions as superintendents or foremen to report for personal inter- views on Sunday afternoon. On Sunday afternoon, all of the applicants for foremen's positions were interviewed by Mr. Hyland and Major Huie and graded in accordance with their experience and qualifications. All of the applicants for superintendents* positions were first interviewed by Messrs. Quigley, Wood and Dawson and th.6 civil service engineers and those who demonstrated ability which seemed to fit them for the more responsible positions were interviewed personally by Mr. Praeger. Mr. Madigan, Mr. Andrews and Major Crane (Assistant to the Commissioner) supervised generally the process of passing these men through for interviews. Colonel DsLamater, the City C.W.A. Administrator, spent at least an hour in the office upon the invitation of Mr. Andrews on an inspection of the procedure. When the work of interviewing all the men was completed at about eight o'clock in the evening, a board consisting of Mr. Praeger, Mr. Midigan, Major Huie and Mr. Andrews as chairman, personally passed - 2 - upon the selection of the supervisors who were to be employed and telegrams were sent out to the superintendents directing them to report to work on Monday. The foremen who were employed were directed by telegram to report over a period of the following three days. Th6 first men reported for interview at 2:00 P. M. on Sunday and the task of selecting the men was completed at 5:00.A.M. Monday morning. At no time during the course of the work did a single contractor appear in the building or did an officer or ex- ecutive of the General Contractors' Association come into the pic- ture. The negotiations were at all times between the Department of Parks and the individual seeking employment. (SIGHED) W« Earle Andrews Consulting Park Engineer (SIGNED) En*11 Prasger General Superintendent (COPY") FEDERAL CIVIL WORKS ADMINISTRATION OF NEW YORK STATE NEW YORK OFFICE 79 Madison Ave. February 21st, 1 9 3 4. Colonel Walter A. DeLamater, New York City Civil Works Administration, 111 Eighth Avenue, Hew York City* Attention of Mr. Woolsey My dear Colonel DeLamater: Pursuant to our conversation of this date, you. are hereby authorized to select supervisory, designing and professional personnel to the extent of 452 persons from lists submitted by the National Engineering Society's Employment Service, the National Engineering Society direct, the Architect- ural League, the General Contractor's Association, or tho Association of Landscape Architects. These societies will furnish you with a certified list of qualified unemployed persons who are in n3©d, and a copy of these lists will be also furnished by these organizations to this Administration. This authorization is granted as an emergency measure, in view of the fact that the urgency of continuing and promoting your projects brings about an exigency which makes it impossible to draw these men through the National Re-employment Service. Very truly yours, (SIGNED) Frederick I. Daniels. FID:M COPT OF MEMORANDUM Oil TECHNICAL AND SUPERVISOBY WCRK RELIEF EMPLOYEES OF DEPARTMENT OF PARKS WITH NAMES OF IN- DIVIDUALS OMITTED J u l y 2 7 , 1934 TO: Walter B. Woolsey Assistant Director Works Division Department of Public Welfare FROM: W. Earle Andrews I have received a list of forty-one naaes of men who are non-residents of the City and whom you intend to dismiss because of their non-residence. Four of these men no longer are viorking for the Depart- ment of Parks because they have resigned or have r.lrsady been dismissed for on6 cause or another. These men are as follows: (NAMES, ADDRESSES, BADGE NUMBERS AND TITLES OF FOUR MEN LISTED,) The following men hold key positions as executives or do specialized work. There are no men available within the City who can re- place r.ny of these men, and if there were men available with equal ex- perience and qualifications, it would be entirely impractical to replace any of these men with new men whom it would take two or three months to become fully acquainted with the work which these men are doing and to acquire the experience and vi.lue which these men havs acquired during thsir -work with this Department. These key m6n are as follows: (NAMES, BADGE NUMBERS, TITLES, WEEKLY WAGES AND COMPLETE DES- CRIPTION OF DUTIES OF TWENTY- SEVEN MEN LISTED. ) - 2 ~ July 27, 1934. Memorandum to - Walter B. Wool say from - W. Earlo Andrews The following men altho they are not major executives rmd do not hold koy positions, nre fully qualified for the work they are doing, and the termination of their services would result in great loss in either design or construction. Their positions could be filled "by other men with similar qualifications, but as far as we have been able to ascertain, such men are not available on the Welfare list in the city» If you can furnish us with qualified men from the Welfare list, we can substitute them for these men at a slight cost in delay and confusion: (NAMES, 3AEGE NUMBERS, ADDRESSES, TITLES, AND V/EEKLY WAGES OF TEH MEN LISTED.) (Signed) W. Earle Andre*)s General Superintendent WEA:HL WHL "DEPARTMENT OF PAHKS Arsenal, Central Park Tel. Regent 4-1000 October 28, 1934 The Department of Parks is making a complete sur- vey of the existing trees on the streets in all the five bor- oughs of New York. There are over a million street trees in the City and the Charter provides that the Park Department is responsible for their care. Each of the former Borough Park Departments had its own idea as to how this control should be exercised. Some boroughs allowed individuals to plant trees with a permit calling for Park Department inspection, some planted trees for individuals for a nominal fee, some accepted cash guarantees that the planting would be properly done. No adequate records were kept and the existence of most of the street trees has never been tabulated. No orderly city wide system of inspection was maintained. Trees were pruned and fallen trees removed only when occupants of adjacent property complained. The employees responsible for the care of the trees were called in some instances "Inspectors of Tree Com- plaints". This lack of uniform policy has unfortunately resulted in selection of proper species, amateur and improper planting, placing of trees in locations that cannot support any tree at all, and a staggering maintenance burden. While the survey is not entirely completed, the information already compiled indicates that uniform regulations must be established as soon as possible. The Park Department announces the following policy? 1. The Department of Parks will plant without cost to property owners trees along boulevards and parkways under it^s jurisdiction. (Continued) 2. The necessary planting en those boulevards and parkways has been neglected and cannot be completed immediately. Designs for the planting are being prepared and a program over a period cf several years will be established. The program is necessarily dependent en the avail- ability of funds. If the present work relief is continued some of the work will be undertaken immediately. 2. Permits for planting by indiviauals or organ- izations on city streets will be issued by the Park Department except where conditions of soil, usage, rand other factors indicate trees cannot be expected to survive. Permits must be secured from the Department before work is started, and the selections of the species? size and location of the tree will be specified. Preparation cf the soil as v/oll as planting must be done ac- cording to specifications of the Park Department. The cost of the work, except supervision, must be borne entirely by the individual or organization requesting the permit. A ten dollar deposit must be paid for each tree as a guaran- tee of the proper performance of the specifica- tions. This deposit will be returned when the tree is accepted by the City for maintenance. . Application blanks for the planting of trees are now available and may be obtained either by applying by mail or in person to the Depart- ment of Parks at the following offices; MANHATTAN; Swiss Cottage, 79th Street and West Drive, Central Park. (Continued) * *» Page 3. BRONX: Zbrowski Mansion,, Claremont Park. BROOKLYN: Litehfield Mansion, Prospect Park West and 5th Street, Prospect Park, QUEENS: The Overlook, Union Turnpike and Park Lane, Forest Park, Kew Gardens, L. I. RICHMOND: Clove Lakes Park, West Brighton, S.I. Trees planted by the Park Department on Park Depart- ment land and by individuals on permit from the Park Depart- ment will be maintained by the City. A systematic program of pruning, tree surgery where necessary, and the removal of dangerous or dead trees will be undertaken this Winter in each of the five boroughs of the city, if work relief funds are available. There has never been a complete, comprehensive over- hauling of all trees on city streets. Funds have never been available in sufficient amounts to do this work and there has never been a sufficient organization to supervise the highly technical forestry force. Over two thousand complaints are received each month at the five borough offices and at the headquarters of the Park Department concerning trees that need attention. Every effort is made to investigate these complaints and correct faulty conditions where they exist, but preventive measures are required and net corrective actions. The overhauling will take two Winters. Once this is completed and an orderly sys- tem for the control of future planting is established, all the trees in the city that can be properly planted will be main- tained at the present cost of sawing off dead branches, cut- ting down fallen trees, pruning and spraying that is now being done. -End- t 4 FOB DEPARTMENT,OP PARKS RELEASE Arsenal, Central Park Tel. Regent 4-1000. October 25, 1934. The Department of Parks will open three more playgrounds on Sunday, October 28th, at 3;:30 p.m. These playgrounds are located at Sheriff, Bro-qme; and Delancey Streets on the lower i V *"7--- east side in Manhattan, at Fulton Street and Classon Avenue in Brooklyn, and at Fort No'i 4 ? Sedgwick and Reservoir Avenues, in the Bronx. - -.. ... ^'· -·" T-f re" exercises will open with selections by a band, which are to be followed by a brief address by the Borough Director of the Department of Parks who will serve as chairman, call to the colors\ rendition of the Star Spangled Banner\ games n. and dances by the children of the various playgrounds, and in e actual opening of the. play areas. All three playgrounds have recreation buildings and are fully equipped with play apparatus for children, and have space for basketball and handball courts- Each of the- new playgrounds in Manhattan end Brooklyn will have a wading pool and at Fort No. 4 a large portable shower will be provided for use during the summer season in the open play space. The playground at Sheriff, Broome and Delancey Streets is known as the Gulick Playground. It was so named in memory of Dr. Luther Halsey Gulick, one of the founders and the first President of the National Recreation Association. Dr. Gulick was also one of the founders of the Public School Athletic League and was instrumental in revising instruction in hygiene and physical culture in the Public Schools of the City of New York. He served as Presic jnt of the Campfire Girls Association, which h.p also helped to o --end-. DEPARTMENT OF flfcs, FOR I J A D I A T E RELEASE Arsenal, CentraTPark. October a3, 1934. Tel. Regent 4-1000 Through the generosity of the National Association of Audubon Societies the Department of Parks is to receive nearly 100 separate feeding and nesting devices for use in Central Padc. These special means for attracting bird life range in size from small suet holders to large "weathervane" grain feeders. The nesting boxes will be designed to accommodate beneficial species of wild birds now resident in the park, and also other birds that formerly nested there and may return as residents as a result of these efforts. This equipment will be placed in the three sanctuary areas maintained in Central Park by the Park Department. It is appro- priate that the Audubon Association make this donation, inasmuch as it was the original interest aroused by this organization that laid the ground work for the present sanctuary developments. Food- bearing plants are being set out by the department, and the addic- tion of nesting boxes and feeding trays will still further enhance the value of the park sanctuaries to the birds, and, thereby, to the public in general. -End- Octo. 17, 1934 Memo: To Mr.John Downing, Supervisor of Recreation Brooklyn We have been advised by the Music Division 111 8th Avenue, that there will be a Dance Orchestra assigned on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8:30 P.M. at the Picnic House, Prospect Park, commencing Tuesday, the 23rd of October. This dancing is to continue throughout the Fall and Winter season. James V. Mulholland Director of Recreation, Per May Peters. Copy to Mr. Gross - Boro Engineer Copy to Mr. Nelson r DEPARTMENT OF PARKS Arsenal, Central Park October 8, 1934. Mr.Andrews directed that the following statement should be telephoned to all of the Queens dailies as well as to the new York papers carrying a Queens section: THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ANNOUNCES THAT AFTER FURTHER CONSIDERATION IT HAS BEEN DECIDED NOT TO CONSTRUCT A SWIMMING POOL IN ST. ALBANS MEMORIAL PARK. A NEW LOCATION FOR THIS SWIMMING POOL IS NOW RECEIVING THE ATTENTION OF THE DEPARTMENT. THIS WAS DONE. L. RAY NELSON FOR RELEASE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS Thursday,October 11, Arsenal, Central Park 1934. Regent 4-1000. Creatore and his band will play the final outdoor concert of the season at Forest Park, Queens, on Saturday (October 13) evening at 8:30 P.M., in the Music Grove at Woodhaven Boulevard and Main Drive, Richmond Hill. The program has been chosen by popular request, and among the selections are many favorite numbers by Victor Herbert. The Department of Parks estimates that 75,000 people have attended the concerts given under its auspices during the summer. -end- THIS WAS RELEASED TO THE QUEENS PAPERS * 10/10/34 A3 4 K)l )R IMMEDIATE RELEASE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS OCTOBER 8, 1934. Arsenal, Central Park Tel. Regent 4-1000. The Department of Parks announces that the opening date of the Flushing Memorial Playground, located at 149th Street and 25th Avenue, Queens, has been advanced from October 20th to November 9th. -end- DEPARTMENT OF PARKS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Arsenal, Central Park October 19, 1934. Tel. Regent 4-1000 On Saturday, October 20th, at 4 p.m., the Department of Parks will hold a brief ceremony in connection with the unveiling of the bronze statue of Dr. J. Marion Sims by Ferdinand Von Miller at its new location in Central Park, facing Fifth Ave- nue at 103rd Street. Dr. Bernard Sachs will pay tribute to Dr. Sims for the Academy of Medecine, Dr. John H. Finley for the citizens of New York and Dr. George Gray T'/ard for the Woman's Hospital. This statue of Dr. Sims formerly stood in Bryant Park and was removed by former administra- tions and placed in storage. -End- f OF PARKS FOR IMMEDIATE RELSA3E ARSEHAL, CENTRAL PARK · ' OCTOBER 18,-1934. Regent 4-1000. The Park Department announces the opening of two playgrounds on Friday, October 19th. One of these playgrounds is in the Borough of Brooklyn at Park Avenue and Taaffe Place and includes a general girls' play field a boys* play field, a wading pool, basketball court, and an area for outdoor playground apparatus* Handball courts are also provided for boys. A brick recreation building with toilet facilities and indoor playrooms is being con- structed. The playground in Manhattan is located at Cherry, Monrce and Gouveneur Streets* A general play field, two handball courts, outdoor gymnasium equipment and a wading pool have been completed. A recreation building with comfort station, is also being provided. The opening of these two playgrounds mark thirty-two opened by the Park Department in a period of less than three months, On Friday, October 26th the playgrounds at Sheriff, Broome and Delancey Streets, Manhattan, Fulton Street and Classon Avenue, Brooklyn, and old Fort No. 4 in the Bronx will be opened to the public. On November 9th the Dreier Offerman Playground, at Bay 46th Street and Cropsey Avenue in Brooklyn and the Flushing Memorial Playground at 149th Street and Bayside Avenue in Queens will be completed and opened to the public. -end- ··' S DEPARTMENT OF P^CS A RELEASE \ Arsenal, CentraWPark Friday O c t o b e r 12, 1934. ^ Tel. Regent 4-1000 The Recreation Division of the Department of Parks has arranged a harvest festival which is to be presented on the kail in Central Park, Monday evening (October 15th) at 8 P.M. The nearest entrance to the Mall is 72nd Street and Fifth Avenue. This is the first time that the Department of Parks has planned a large outdoor festival of this character. A typical harvest scene will be depicted, with all of the bounty associated with the harvest season on display. Autumn leaves and cornstalks will form a setting for the folk dances of manjr lands which are to be given by the playground directors and Folk Council Dancers. A chorus of forty trained singers, representing the gleaners, will be furnished by the Music Division of the Department of Public Welfare. They will sing the harvest songs of various nations. Dance and incident- al music will be played by a thirty-five piece orchestra, direct- ed by Gerado Iasilli. The following organizations are cooperating with the Department of Parks in giving the festivals The English Folk Dance Society The Folk Festival Council Groups Ukrainian Dancers Club Bondeungdomslaget Svenska Folkdans Ringen Music Division, Department of Public Welfare National Recreation Association The program of the evening is as follows'. Overture Prologue Proserpine and the Earth Spirits Sun and Rain (Continued) Page 2. Scene I oWs ssional - "Come You Thankful People Come"- Chorus The Goddess of Harvest and the Gleaners Scene II Indian Episode - The Indian Harvest - Chorus "Wake, Wake, Arise" Scene III The Holland Episode - "When It's Raining" - Chorus Dutch Dance Scene IV English Episode - "Lavenders 31ue" - Chorus The Morris Dancers Directors Miss May Gadd Processional Morris Dance Tideswell Derbyshire Blue-eyed Stranger Oxfordshire Country Dances Morpeth Rant Northumberland The Old Mole 17th Century Sword Dance Winlaton Durham Country Dance The Durham Heel Durham Scene V ' Ukainian Episode - "The Harvest Song" - Chorus Ukrainian Dancers Director; Mr.kichael Kolorneyka Herman Honyveeter Hrechanyky Kolomeyka Forward Scene VI Italian Episode - "Song of the Reapers" - Chorus Tarantella Scene VII S-jimish Episode - "The Bull and the Cowboy"-Chorus Spanish Dancers · · " '·'- Scene VIII Norwegian Episode - "Fetch the Water" - Chorus Norwegian Dancers £__ Directors Aasmund Goytil 6 JTur O n e ··:-. Haugebonden Figaro Rhinelander Scene IX Swedish Episode - "Heap the Flax" - Chorus Swedish Dancers Director Mr. J. Nelson Dal Dance Vastoga Skralat Oxen Dance Scene X New England Episode - "Corn Shucking Song" -Chorus Country Dancers - Virginia Heel - Southern Group FINALE Recessional - "Thanksgiving Hymn" with Descant In the event of rain the festival will be held at the Recreation Building in Macombs Dam Park, 165th Street and Jerome Avenue, the Bronx. -End- DEPARTMENT OF PARKS FOR RELEASE Arsenal, Central Park Wednesday, October 10, 1934 Tel. Regent 4-1000 The Department of Parks has completed a survey of all the signs and commercial advertising devices adjacent to parks and parkways in the City of New York and has met with the I'etropolitan Advertising Association as a first step to eliminate as many as possible. A committee of three repre- senting the Association is working on the survey with engin- eers and zoning experts of the Park Department. The Park Department survey describes 15,000 signs adjacent to City parks and parkways. Fifteen technical em- ployees trained for the work compiled the report in three months. The tabulation is in twelve typewritten volumes of over 3,000 pages. Maps have been drawn showing the location of each sign and photographs and sketches show the detailed description of each advertising device. The part of the report submitted to the members of the Metropolitan Advertising Association covers only signs maintained by commercial advertising companies in the five boroughs of the City and describes 1,200 signs owned by 46 different companies. Of these 1,200, the Park Department considers that 601 are a real detriment to the appearance of the park areas and should be removed. The purpose of the Com- mittee is to work with the Department in formulating a plan and schedule to get rid of these particular 501 signs request- ed to be removed. There are over 14,000 other signs erected by al- most as many individuals. They range from huge elaborate illuminated devices to hand-bills plastered on fences. They advertise liver pills and cod-liver oil, pasteurized milk and (Continued) Page 2. beer gardens, saddle horses and automobile tires, beauty par- lors and tomb-stones and barbers for both men and dogs. They call attention to everything from a package of chewing gum to an estate in the country. Thousands of the signs have been erected and evidently forgotten. Painted lettering on buildings is half obliterated by the weather, tin plates supported by rotten wood frames are falling apart from neglect and many cheap devices are never repaired when partially ripped away in a storm. The Park Department is not attempting to rid the City of outdoor advertising signs. It is undertaking to clean up as far as possible the unsightly nuisances next to parks. Thousands of men have been working to clean up the long neg- lected areas within the park boundaries and the residential areas next to parks and parkways should be as attractive as possible to permit the fullest enjoyment of the recreational area. Advertising signs do not belong in residential dis- tricts. They exist there because of past indifference and neglect. These former mistakes cannot be corrected overnight, but an orderly program has been worked out and it will be followed. No single enthusiastic drive can be effective 5 the problem calls for sustained effort and cooperation on the part of the responsible sign board companies. This coopera- tion we are assured of. The Park Department is cleaning its own house first. Many of the directional and information signs in the park system have been either unnecessary or improperly de- signed. A standard of design has been adopted for park and parkway signs reducing the number and sizes to the minimum required for safety and necessary public information. -End- DEPARTMENT W PARKS I S IMMEDIATE KELKASE \ ·'· Arsenal| Central Park October 3, 1934 Tel. Regent 4-1000 The Department of Parka will hold a handicraft exhibit of articles made by children who attended the park playgrounds,on Tuesday (October 9, 1934) from 10 A.M. to 9 P.M. at McComb's Recreation Building, McComb's Dam Fark, Bronx, New York. The exhibition Includes samples of soap carvings, basket making, wood earrings, as well as paintings, drawings, and sewing, and also a model of a small airport. The art!-* cles comprising this exhibit also will be on display at the Hotel Commodore during the Recreation Conference, October 16 and 17th. -End- DEPARTMENT OF PAHKS FOH IMMEDIATE HELEASI Arssaal, Central Park October 5. 1934 Tel. Regent 4-1000 / The Department of Parks announces that the Harvest Festival at Thomas Jefferson Park, located between East 114th Street and Pleasant Avenue, New York City, which was postponed owing to inclement weather, will be held on Saturday, Oct. 6th at l»3O p.m. This is one of the areas which was planted by chil- dren under the direction and supervision of the School Farm, which is one of the aefcftities of the Division of Recreation of the Department of Parks. A brief program by the children of the playground consisting of a salute to the flag, recitations, dances, a little sketch and siusical selections will precede the harvest- ing of the crops, which include beets, carrots, celery, lettuce and other vegetables. D2P.rJm.lSHP OF P/JKS Arsenal, Central Park IQk lUCSDIATl' HSLSUSS October 8, 1954 The Department of Parks announces the opening of three new playgrounds for children at noon on Goluc&us Day, Friday, October 12th. These additions to the City Park system marie thirty moaern, completely equipped recreational plants opened to the public by the Department of Parka during a period of less than three months* The playground in Columbus Park at Baxter, Mulberry, Bayard and Park Streets, on the lower Bast side, in the Borough of Manhattan will be dedicated by S!ayor LaGuardia. This old park with ite fine big trees formerly included a smll play area, which was in reality only a broken surfaced area containing poorly arranged rusted swings and slides. It has been replanned to double the size of the play area and provide an orderly arranged resting place for adults at the north end* The playground section Tshich occupies two-thirds of the park area Includes large trading pool, outdoor apparatus, and a large gams field* A recreational building will also be provided in the future. The dedication of this park will be marked by the unveiling of a statue of Christopher Columbus in the section of the park back of the Near York County Courthouse* This statue of white marble was carved by lisa Buss. St ebb ins in Rome in 1867 and was presented to the City of New fork in 1369* The circumstances surrounding the unearthln of the statue are interesting. Mr. John Bsrnell of Syracuse called attention to the existence of this statue in a letter to the Department of Parks on March 3rd of this year# He asked for a photograph of the statue in its existing location. The statue could not be found in any City park. A search uncovered this exceptional piece of sculpture in a crate in the 79th Street storage yards, A fluted circular pedestal of white limestone has been designed and erected by the Park Department. Leading Italian societies will participate in the exerctes as a part of their annual Columbus Day observances. A pageant including organized games and dances by the children of the neighborhood playgrounds will form a part of the opening cersnonies. Two additional play areas will be added to the Leiv J&riksaon Park in the Borough of Brooklyn, between 63th and 67th streets mxi 4th and 6th Avenues. These playgrounds double the existing area in this par!-: available for play. A new playground for small children will be opened at Corona Avenue and 102nd Street in the Borough of Queens* The area includes a recreational building en outdoor fih.tr aT>v«r!»tue. &. unique feature of this playground is its oval, concrete surfaced roller skating rink around the play field. At the conclusion of ther ceremonies at Columbus Park, Mayor LaGuardia and Park Commissioner Moses will make an inspection tour of these two playgrounds in Brooklyn and Queens. # DEPARTMENT OF PARKS - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ARSENAL, CENTRAL PARK October 4, 1934. REGENT 4-1000 The Department of Parks announced today that the^ position of Assistant to the Commissioner? formerly held by Bilajor Theodore Crane, is to be filled by the promotion of George S. Spargo of the Department's Engineering Staff. This exempt position in the Park Department is being filled by promoting Mr. Spargo from his position in the competitive class of the Municipal Civil Service. The reorganization of the five former borough Park Departments into the consolidated Department of Parks on January 19th of this year eliminated 22 exempt positions, replacing these positions with one commissioner and only five exempt staff members. With the appointment of Fir. Spargo all five of these jobs are now filled by employees drawn directly from the competitive classifi- cations of either the New York State or City Civil Service. -end- DEPARTMENT OF PARKS FOR RELEASE Arsenal, Central Park Friday, October 5, 1934 Tel. Regent 4-1000 The Department of Parks announced that the playground at Houston and Essex Streets on the lower east side of Manhattan will be opened today. This playground is similar in design to the 7ar Memorials and model playgrounds that have previous- ly been opened. It includes a field house and outdoor playground equipment. -End- DEPARTMENT OF PAHK3 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Arsenal, Central Park October 4, 1934 Tel. Regent 4-1000 Contractor for the section of the West Side Express Highway through Riverside Park, between 72nd Street and 79th Street has started driving piles for the foundations of the retaining walls to support the paved roadway over the tracks of the New York Central Railroad. Concrete has already been poured for part of the foundations, in the section not requiring pile foundations. Two steam shovels are working at grading portions between the railroad tracks and the river. The work now under contract provides for the completion of the walls on'each side of the rail- road tracks. The specifications require its comple- tion within two months. The contractor is on schedule and will complete the job within the required time. At the time of the completion, contracts will be let for the construction of 'the roadway itself. \ .-End- DEPARTMENT OF PARKS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Arsenal, Central Park October 3, 1934 Tel. Regent 4-1000 The Department of Parks announces that instructions in the use of the new tree moving ap- paratus, mounted on a 3-ton truck, will be given to employees of the Department of Parks by the makers of this equipment on Thursday (October 4th) morning at 10 a.m., at which time a tree will be moved from the Kissena Park Golf Course, Queens, to the Sixth Avenue and Houston Street Playground, Manhattan, Two of these units have been purchased by the Department of Parks, -End- DEPARTMENT OF PARKS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Arsenal, Central Park October 1, 1934 Tel. Regent 4-1000 Pursuant to the order of the Department of Parks, the yacht clubs at Pelham Bay Park have ceased to function as clubs today. Sale and demolition of the structures will be vdthheld pending the decision of the court in the case instituted by the Morris Yacht Club. Permission has been given for the continua- tion of the use of the lockers for the storage of fish- ing tackle, yachting equipment, etc. until such time as storage facilities are furnished by the Department of Parks. The Department of Parks is establishing a cen- tral storage yard for the yachts formerly housed by the five yacht clubs. -End- innfiTWii % ^ / * FOR RELEASE MONDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1934. THE CITY OF NEW YORK DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ARSENAL CENTRAL PARK After an inspection trip on Welfare Island by Mayor LaGuardia and the Commissioners of Correction, Hospitals, Welfare and Parks, the Park Department is requesting release to it of 35 acres of land in the center of Welfare Island, which will "be abandoned early next year when the penitentiary and other correctional institutions move from Welfare Island to their new quarters on Riker's Island. The attached letter to Commissioner MacCormick indicates the scope of the plan. A map is also attached indicating the area in question. ROBERT MOSES Commissioner. _ · , · · . - THE CITY OF NEW YORK DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ARSENAL CENTRAL PARK September 28, 1934 Hon. Austin H. MacCormick, Commissioner of Correction, Municipal Building, New York City. Dear Commissioner: Following our inspection trip with Mayor LaGuardia yesterday on Welfare Island and the discussion of the impending re- moval of the correctional institutions from that Island, I am writing officially to ask you to surrender to the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund, as of February 15 next, the area now occupied by the penitentiary and other buildings, known as Lot 10, Block 1373, consisting of 35.810 acres, such lot to be abandoned by you as no longer needed for the purposes of your department and required by the Park Department for park and recreation purposes. It is essential that action be taken by the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund promptly on this subject so that the Park Department may make engineering surveys and plans for the use of this area next spring, so that arrangements may be made for access by ferry, and so that the necessary program can be worked out for the use of relief workers and relief material and equipment, the tearing down of buildings, storage of material, use of stone on other park projects, etc. As indicated to you, we plan to use these 35 acres for intensive play to make up for the lack of space for such play on Manhattan Island and to a lesser extent, the adjacent section of Queens. There is a great shortage of space for baseball, football, hockey, handball, basketball, track athletics, field sports and other active sports. There is no possibility of obtaining this needed space on Manhattan Island. Thirty-five acres on Manhattan Island would cost a staggering sum. They will be available at no cost on Welfare Island when you move out. Very truly yours, ^?;. COMMISSIONER. / -DEPARTMENT OF ^R R ELEASE Arsenal, Central Park Sunday, Sept#30, 1954 Tel. Regent 4-100.0 Seeding has been started by the Department of Parks of the remodeled Pelham Bay Golf Course to permit the building of an additional 18-hole course. The club house will be loca- ted at the corner of Shore Road and Split Rock Road to serve both courses. The f i r s t and tenth tees and the ninth and eighteenth greens are under one central control. This arrange- ment makes it possible to direct early morning play so that a larger number of golfers can s t a r t at the same time, as there will be four starting places adjacent to the club house. The courses have been designed by the Department of Parks. The yardage for the separate four nine hole courses which constitute this thirty-six hole layout, will vary from 3,000 to 3,300 yards each. In combination, both nines at the Split Rock Course will measure better than 6,600 yards from the back of the tees, and 6,200 yards from the front of the tees. The Pelham Course from the back of the tees will play less than 6,500 yards, and approximately 6,100 yards from the front. With these lengths of holes, and with this design of fairways and greens, there will be provided a l l types and a l l kinds of play. In addition to two eighteen hole courses, there will be a larger practice fairway and practice putting green within easy access. Spacious parking areas will be provided adjacent to both courses. Provision has also been made for a caddy house. A Golf Club House has been designed by the Archi- tectural Division of the Department of Parks and is a contem- porary interpretation of the Greek Revival. The entire (Continued) Page 2.. exterior is of whitewashed brick with white columns and l i n t e l s , The cornices throughout are of wood painted white surmounted with cast iron r a i l i n g s . Green shutters and a base course of bluestone give a striking contrast to the white general scheme, while two bands of bluestone appear on the top of the gray chimneys. The terrace before the portico will be provided with gaily colored tables, chairs and settees. A broad flight of stone steps leads from the terrace to the great lawn. The retaining wall of the terrace is rubble stone with a low para- pet wall on which people can lounge while waiting to tee off. The circular lobby is about twenty-five feet in diameter, wainscotted with Virginia Serpentine Marble, with white stucco walls and contrasting bluestone trim. Here is located the control desk in charge of an attendant, where players may present their credentials, register and receive an assignment. The lobby also gives access to the golf store, the Pro's Shop, and the cafeteria which is served by a modern kitchen. The locker rooms in connecting wings, with access from the end of the club room, are provided with wash rooms and showers. There is also a l a d i e s ' rest room between the locker room and the club room. Along the entire length of the club room, as it faces the golf course, is a two-story portico fourteen feet wide and carried by six large square columns. A part of the second story contains office space. Ti'2 basement is devoted to one of the locker rooms for men and to mechanical equipment, including an oil burner heating plant. Excavation work for the club house is now under v/ay. All labor and materials for the whole project will be 17 paid for from Jork Relief Funds. -End- r THE CIT^fe 1 NEW YORK PARK CONCERTS - SEASON OF 1934 DEPARTMENT OF PARKS Central Park Mall SUNDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 30th, 1934 At 8:30 P. M. NEW YORK STATE SYMPHONIC BAND GIUSEPPE CREATORE, Conductor Soloist LOLA MONTI-GORSEY, Soprano ALL VICTOR HERBERT PROGRAM PROGRAM 1. March--"Baltimore Centennial" 2. Selection from "Wonderland" 3. Badinage 4. Gems of Victor Herbert-Compiled and Arranged by Creatore Including: Babes in Toyland The Red Mill The Serenade Naughty Marietta Mile. Modiste The Fortune Teller INTERMISSION 5. Panamericana 6. A Kiss in the Dark LOLA MONTI-GORSEY 7. American Fantasy This concert is presented by the City of New York and is sponsored by the Division of Recreation, Department of Parks. G. A. BALDINI, Director of Concert Division GEORGE CRANDALL, Assistant Director DO YOU ENJOY THE MUSIC? If so, please help us care for the parks. They are for the pleasure of the Public To preserve their beauty and uf'ulness certain rules have been made. DON'T throw this program or c jer papers on the ground. DON'T destroy the plants or shrubs or pick the flowers. DON'T climb on fences or walls. DON'T walk on lawns marked with "keep-off" signs. Kindly refrain from talking and making unnecessary noise while the band is playing. The Park Department counts upon your co-operation. = 31A-2076-34CH) DEPARTMENT' OF PARKS FOR U I I S B I A T E RELEASE A r s e n a l , C e n t r a l Park September 2 8 , 1934 T e l . Regent 4-1000 The P a r k Department announces t h a t a c o n c e r t consisting exclusively of selections by Victor Herbert will be given Sunday evening (September 30th) a t 8:30 p.m. on the Mall in Central Park by the New York State Symphonic Band, one of the units of the Concert Divi- sion of the City of New York; conducted by Giuseppe Creatore. This concert was arranged to meet the many requests for an All Victor Herbert program. -End- (Program is attached) fc £ o DEPARTMENT OF PARKS FOR IMJEDLiTE RELEASE A r s e n a l , C e n t r a l Park September 28, 1934 T e l . Regent 4-1000 The Department of Parks announces that a Harvest Festival will be held at Thomas Jefferson Park, located between East 114th Street and Pleasant Avenue, on Satur- day, September 29th, starting at l:£0 p.m. This is one of the areas which was planted by children under the direction and supervision of the School Farm, which is one of the activities of the Division of Recreation of the Department of Parks. A brief program by the children of the play- ground consisting of a salute to the flag, recitations, dances, a little sketch and musical selections will pre- cede the harvesting of the crops, which include beets, carrots, celery, lettuce and other vegetables. -End- ]NT O F PARKS FOR IMIEDI^TS RELEASI A r s e n a l , C e n t r a l Park September 28, 1934 T o l . Regent 4-1000 Tho Departnent of Parks announced today that the Clareraont Restaurant would be closed on Monday, October 1st, in order to i n s t a l l a heating system ade- quate for tho T7inter months and for minor alterations to provide an enclosed space for patrons of the restau- rant to enjoy the up-river view. I t is expected that the Claremont Restaurant reopen during the month of December. -End- COPT ' DSPARTMMT OF PABCT A r s e n a l , Central "Park FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE T e l . Regent 4-1000 September 18, 1934 The Department of Parks announces that with the opening of the new Zoo in Central Park, only perfect and healthy animals will be placed on exhibit and this policy will obtain at all other zoos under its jurisdiction. This is. in striking contrast with the policies of former administrations which permitted the acceptance and exhibit of specimens which were unhealthy, deformed or imperfect. In the future only young, healthy, active, and, where possible, paired specimens will be exhibited. A complete and accurate history of all future specimens will be kept instead of the "hit-or-miss" method of the past which relied principally upon memory and guess work for information re- garding the specimens on display in the Park Department Zoos. Certain animals will be moved into their new quarters, which are nearing completion, in the Central Park Zoo, this Saturday. In the meantime the animals which are unsuited, either because of old age, disease or deformities, for exhibition purposes will be destroyed. Certain other specimens are to be offered for sale, viz: "Ackbar" - 4 year old male lion. "Bluff" - male Leopard - approximately 11 years old. Bull Buffalo - 12 years old. Male Zebra. OF PARKS W A " FOE IEMSBIAT:, MIMMM a r s e n a l , Central Park ^^ September 12, 1934. Tel: Hegent 4-1000. · The Department of Parks will formally open the play area bounded by Chrystie, Forsyth, Canal and Houston Streets on Friday afternoon (September 14th) at three o'clock. This area will be naned Roosevelt Park in honor of Sara Delano Soosevelt, the mother of the President. J5ayor Fiorell© E. LaGuardia will deliver the principal address at the dedication ceremonies. The program u l l l open with an introduction and «relcone of Goiranissioner Bobert feoses by Harry H. Schlacht in behalf of the neighboring community. Commis- sioner loses will then acknowledge the introduction and act as chainnan. t r . Alfred H. Sehoellkopf, Chairman of the Temporary ifeergency Relief Administration, will speak after GoBSBissioner looses, and will be followed by William Hodson, Commissioner of Public Welfare. layor LaGuardla will then be introduced by Commissioner loses and will deliver his dedicatory address. A flourish will next be sounded by the Park Department Orchestra, f o l - lowed by a cannon salute at Canal Street, a call to colors, the raising of the Am- erican Flag and the playing of The ~>tar Spangled Banner. The ifetional Anthem will be sung by the children in a l l of the playground blocks. After the rendition of the national anthem, salutes will be again sounded and the children in a l l blocks with the exception of Block Ho. 1 (Houston Street) will be given access to the play apparatus. At Block Ho. 1 the exercises will be delayed sufficiently to per- mit i-ayor LaQuardia, Commissioner Hoses and the other speakers to leave the stand and Inspect the playground area. The official party will then inspect the f a c i l i - t i e s of the other blocks. The area of aoosevelt Park has an interesting history. Once the sec- tion was occupied exclusively by well-to-do citizens who l a t e r moved uptown and made way for the crowded old law tenements. The area was eventually acquired by the city by condemnation at a cost of ^4,500,000. Various plans were advanced for i t s use, chiefly low cost housing developaents, but the s i t e i t s e l f was un- suited for the purpose and this together with the inability to bring the rentals within the means of those living in the area resulted in the abandonment of these housing programs. The s i t e lends i t s e l f admirably for use as e playground. No other development of the property could have served this crowded community so well. ttoosevelt Park contains a l l types of play apparatus, wading pools and recreation buildings. Five of the seven blocks will be opened on Friday and the entire area will be completed before the coming winter. I usleal selections will be rendered by the Park Department Orchestra. The dedication program will be broadcast by the National Broadcast- ing Company's New York State hook-up, the iynariean Kadio System with fourteen stations between Portland, mine and Richmond, Virginia, as well as by Stations W HYC, W7 and ,MS„, A public address system will be installed to f a c i l i t a t e the transmission of the exercises within the area. 9:00 A. M. Park esployass from a l l boroughs to ba on posts. to be «oa$l«t«ly sxelu&*t Polica Datail w i l l b* on duty at 8;30 A.M. f i n a l ofaaefcup by c deplete staff a* f o l l o w : Jeonlaga, Gyane, Wood» J*. H. JfielA, Higgias, Uljsbaok, iUmny, Walsb, Soraea, McLean, Stout and &oyar. lieaslip end E. A. Flsld s i l l ba at Stryant Park with iir» The folloidng, assigaaaat* hiiT« b««E isaSe at Rooafttelt 1'axkt of Bloek # l f prior t o aanrtTal of staff - J* 7. ;&Oiu>llan&, aseiatea by W. Mbyor. Eiitranoa Gat© - £. A. Field (i&r. f i e l d wUl here l « f t Bryant Park earlier with Mp,Sweeny). at foot of raap - J. H. Fiald. vest aid« - Trani: d^oraea. cast side * .4oyor, - Frank: Hlggint* iO«yground aotiYitias In Bloafe #1 - Ifulhollaad and Mlsa MtiKeaaa. Color oerffisony- Captain stout. 0rdaan.«a ~ J. MeLean Gansral Park ^r^onnel - Heaelip, Walah. i'olioe arrange»ffiit0 * I^tjox Crao* and laapeetor Baimon Xsapeator ^ e r n s IT i l l be in eharg© of poll oo. ?· M. Admission of pufelia to part. Public w i l l b« kapt l a uppar l w a l s end exoludad from playg3?ouBd ar*a by park personnel. 8:40 ?, U. msiml pi-ograia b, band as follows: "Souea'a Maroh" "ItaHao "Jewish Dttring iiaying of f i r s t aaleetioae f aobool ehil*3ron w i l l marob into pl»y«r«>uiida, oaoupyiiag axa* «et aaida far tbaa. On the arrival of the Hays?, and |ha o f f l o i a l party, the band w i l l stop wb.at«r«p aalaction I t la playing and six trmapetars w i l l play a fanfare diroetly foUowad by **Hall t o %ha Cliief." 0n« bundrod and twtmty seats, wMoh represent s i x bays of the g »taa&* are to be rasarrwd for tfee spa«ial guaato, and of tl®«« iwata « Rurat>«r sball be a«t aside f»r tha o f f i c i a l party sauiBfi froei Bryant .'ark. lir. swe«ny w i l l ascertain t b i a xmiber tefora bd leaves Bryant i^afk* fb« s i x bays w i n be i s tb« w a t w o f fbm ©Paadatand mwA afel«f uat«ra OQ both a i t e s ar« t o bs wall lust rue tad i a keeping thara fr«e for tha upaoiBl attests. A oh«k«r w i l l a aw* a l l gueeta arrlrlng at Hott«fcY MR.HARlTfoL.SCHLACHT LDITOR OP THE EAST SIDL 3.O5 TO 3J3 RM. HON. KOBERT 3.13 TM 3.14 RM O F MR. ALFRED SCHOELLKO1RP CHAIRMAN TEMPORARY EMERGENCY RELIEF ADMINISTRATION STATE OF NEV YORK BY COMMISSIONER MOSES 3,14- · » 3,17 RM. MR.scH 3.17 TO ais P.M. INTRODUCTION" ©F KONoWUULlAM HOBSON COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC WELFARE CITY OF NEW YORK B T COMMESSKOWER MOSES 3.16 TO 3,21 RM. COMMISSIONER HOIDSON 3Z1 TO 32H RM. INTKODUCIldWI WHOM. PKCDREUWD M , U (GUASUDIA MAYOR OF THE CITY OP NEW YORK BY COMMISSIONER NOSES 3,22 TO 33OHM. MAYOR OF THE CITY ^ NEW YORK 33OHM. CONCUIS|(D>lle great \;ork that he i s doin^ for the benefit of t h e public i n the i^rics of t h i s City and I , therefore, earnestly urge your special a t t e n t i o n to this class or cases in the future. .Yepy respectfully yours, JtCies £. Ms Donald, Chief City lagi -end- DEPARTMENT OF PARKS FOR^MMEDIATE RELEASE « :KX/' 1/ Arsenal, Central Park. September 8 t h , 1934. | A r .\\ The Venetian Water Carnival arranged by the Division of Recreation of the Department of Parks has been postponed, because oi weather conditions, to TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY and THURSDAY, September 11th, 12th and 13th, 7:30 to 11:30 P.M. There will be dancing on the Mall from 7:30 to 9:30 P.M. on each of these evenings and at the close of the dancing the Venetian Water Carnival will open on the Late near the Mall and close at at 9:30 _f 11:30 P.M. There will be a concert, dancing and singing. Many of those taking part in this Carnival will be dressed as Venetian peasants and will be in gondolas and swan boats. These gondolas will be b r i l l i a n t l y lighted and will make a colorful scene. Groups of singers dressed as I t a l i a n peasants will par- ticipate from the Music Department of the Works Division of the Department of Public Welfare as will a 60-piece orchestra led by Mr. G-uiseppe Creatore. In many of the smaller boats will be singers accompanied by mandolins. The Venetian folk dances will be given by the older g i r l s from the clubs of the Park Playgrounds. Some of the Playground Directors of the Department of Parks will also take part in the dancing and some of the members of the Division of Recreation will be dressed as I t a l i a n peasants, A number of I t a l i a n Societies are co-operating with the Departriient of Parks in the staging of the carnival, A display of fireworks during the .Carnival will close the f e s t i v i t i e s , the program for each evening being as follows: 1. Approach of the Doge, 2,1Father Neptune and his Nymphs meet the Doge. 3. Ascent of lather Neptune to his throne. 4. Dance of the Nymphs, 5. Orchestral selections. 6. I t a l i a n dancers - nSora?entina" by the Italian Choral Society; in charge, Miss Santina Algoni, 7. Songs. 8. Fireworks display. -end- OFF^K" ' FCe ILMBDIATB RELEASE Arsenal, C e n t r a l ^ ^ t o k Sej^ember 6, 1934 Tel. Regent 4-1000 : J P _ .ft) L .JJL/^A For the f i r s t time in the history of recreation in New York City, a Venetian Water Carnival will take place, t o - / \ morrow/ September/7, \from 8:30 t o 10:30 P.M. This Oarnival \ f**t f"k- J take p l a W a t the 72nd Street Lake in Central Park; the nearest entrance to this lake is 72nd Street and Fifth Avenue. An effort will be made to reproduce a Venetian Carnival night at which there will be a concert, dancing and singing. Many of those taking part in this Carnival will be dressed as Venetian peasants and will be in gondolas and swan boats. These gondolas will be b r i l l i a n t l y lighted and a colorful scene will be depicted. Groups of singers representing I t a l i a n peas- ants will be supplied by the Music Department of the ?/orks Di- vision of the Department of Public Welfare and a 60 piece or- chestra will be led by Mr. Creator©. In many of the smaller boats there will be soloists accompanied by mandolins. The dancing will be performed by the older g i r l s from the clubs of the Park playgrounds. Some of the playground directors of the Department of Parks will also take part in the dancing and a number of the members of the Division of Recreation will be dressed as Venetian peasants. Cooperation also has been received from some of the I t a l i a n Societies in New York City. There will be a display of fireworks during the Car- nival. The following is the program: 1. Approach of the Doge 2. Father Neptune and his nymphs meet the Doge 3. Ascent of Father Neptune to his throne 4. Dance of the nynpha 5. Orchestral selections 6. Italian dancers - "Sorrentina" by the Italian Choral Society; in charge, Miss Santina Alongi 7. Songs 8. Fireworks display *End* * · · - \ , - ' - CF PARES ^ jj Central Park J P t 3AA W i§ %i£ Tel, Rtgent 4-1000. «**f?V - ^ *J 2j The Department of Parks announced i t s plan today for the development of Marine Park in Brooklyn, which will be one of the largest parks in the city when completed. At the present time much of the area is marsh land and a con- siderable part of it is under water. These sections will be made usable for park purposes by hydraulic f i l l * The design is broad in scope and anticipates the demand for every phase of recreation. The yacht harbor adjacent to Jamaica Bay, will supply f a c i l i t i e s for a l l types of pleasure craft, and every consideration will be given to the needs and requirements of canoeists, and of yachting, · canoe-sailing and motor boat enthusiasts. Ample provision is being made for the storage of this craft throughout the entire year. Shops and gas stations will be conveniently located. A large boat house will be erected on the harbor. I t will contain a.modern restaurant and bar, and a l l other necessary f a c i l i - ties for the convenience and comfort of those interested in boating. On either side of the club house, facing the yacht harbor, ample parking space will be available. On the inland side of the yacht harbor there is to be a large basin for model boats. This faces the club building on the opposite side from the yacht harbor. West of the model yacht basin is a large ampflj. theatre, the stage of which has a lagoon for i t s background and setting. Northeast of the model yacht basin there is to be a recreation- al center containing three baseball diamonds, football and lacrosse fields, boccia courts and an area for archery. A modern field house · will serve this group. Stables with s t a l l s for about 100 horses and a riding ring, with parking space for 500 cars on two sides, are located within a separate park area, northwest of the Shore Drive near the Flatbush Avenue entrance. The rl*ng may be used for show purposes, and a l l of the bridle paths-either .start from, or terminate at this point. (Continued,} * Page 2. Midway between the Shore Drive and Avenue U on the Flat bush Avenue side of the park there is to be a large stadium designed to accommodate a l l athletic events. The stadium overlooks a canoe landing on the canal, with the golf club house in the distance. The areas around the stadium will contain apparatus for the very young children as well as sports f a c i l i t i e s for older children. A large parking area will be provided in the area between the stadium and Flatbush Avenue. On either side of the stadium there also will be two large informal recreational areas. These meadows will be used for base- ball, football, lacrosse and cricket. The canoe basin and the canoe club house at the Avenue U end of the parlt are accessible from a large parking space adjoining a recreational area on the opposite side of Avenue U. The canoe basin forms one end of the canal, which is roughly rectangular in form, and will connect with the lagoon and separate the golf courses on the island from the remainder of the park. The canoe club house has accommodations for 600 canoes and a l l necessary f a c i l i t i e s . Boats will be available for hire for trips around the island. Two 18-hole golf courses have been designed for the island area. The old Gerrittsen Mill, one of the few tidewater mills s t i l l standing in this section of the country, will remain in i t s original location and is to be completely restored. There will be a play area at the corner of Avenue X and Gerrittsen Avenue, accessible to two schools in the immediate vicinity. The golf and tennis club house located on the Gerrittsen Avenue side of the park, which will connect with the golf courses by means of a bridge, is directly opposite the stadium. I t will contain locker space, a lounge and a restaurant,, Ample parking space will be avail- able between the club house and Gerrittsen iLvenue. The tennis courts will be located northwest of the club house. ..There will be fifty standard courts and three exhibition courts, with a grandstand for spectators on either side. (Continued.) Page 3k On the opposite side of the club house will be an arboretum for the display of native plants, such as perennials, small bushes and trees. The park has been designed to entirely eliminate cross traffic. All of the roads will be for one-way traffic only. Pedestrian crossings will intersect the roadways by means of underpasses. Each center of a c t i v i t y has an individual and conveniently located parking area to accommodate about 4,000 cars. The bridle paths on the mainland will wind around the island containing the two golf courses,, Pedestrian paths will connect a l l recreational centers and points of beauty and interest. Ample benches, drinking fountains, comfort f a c i l i t i e s and shade are in- corporated in the plan. The park roadways are laid out to take full advantage of the area and to provide convenient access to a l l f a c i l i t i e s . In addition to the circumferential road around the y/hole park arid feeders from the principal abutting streets and avenues, a through parkx?ay is planned to cross the park, south of the golf course,. This parkway will form a continuation of Emmons Avenue which is planned to be a part of the ultimate Shore Drive. This main artery through the park connects with a traffic circle at Flat bush Avenue, The approach to the proposed suspension bridge over Rockaway Inlet rises from t h i s circle. This bridge will form a direct connection between Marine Park and the ocean front of Jacob Riis Park. No swimming area is provided in the plan of Marine Park. The waters of Rockaway Inlet are unsatisfactory for swimming. Provision has been made, however, in the scheme of the development to leave unimproved areas both east and west of the boat basin, which will be developed as swimming beaches when the waters of the Inlet are satisfactory for swimming. This 2,000 acre park, when completed, will be one of the country's largest, most modern and complete recreational centers. (End.) * t II / I popaytncnt of Parka For immediate release Arsenal, Contral Park Regent 4-1000, More than 2000 children fron a l l parts of New York City v/ill be taken to Jacob Riis Park, Rockaway, L , I . , next Monday whore they v/ill enjoy a full day of svrtoning and entertainnent. At least 700 children fron the various orphanages in Queens alone v/ill be transported "by bus to Riis Park and will arrive thero about 10:30 o'clock in the norning. Children fron Manhattan v/ill leave for the lark on the COMMANDER, at 10 a.n. fron the Rainbow Fleet Dock at 129th Street and the Hudson River, and a t 10:45 a.n. fron the Rainbow Fleet Dock a t Pier* #1 the Battery* These transportation f a c i l i t i e s are provided through the courtesy of the Rainbow Fleet and several bus conpanies. A marionette show, a treasure hunt, story t e l l i n g and ganos are anong the interesting features which have been a r - ranged for the children besides surf swimiing. Dressing facil- i t i e s v/ill bo provided and refreshments v/ill be served, . This outing is being sponsored by the Board of Aldernen with the cooporation of Jacob Riis Park and the Department of Parks. The Honorable Edward E. Buhlor will act as host and Uncle Don of Radio fane will hold a club neeting* Anong the persons of prominence who will accompany the group on the boat t r i p fron Manhattan are: Comptroller McGoldrick, Deputy Comptroller Early, G:::. iman of the Board of Aldernen Majority Group Sullivan, Chairman of the Board of Aldornen Minority Group Curran^ President of Board of Education George F. Ryan; Superintendent of Schools Dr* Harold Campbell, Thirty-five nenbers of the Board of Aldernen will take the boat to Riis Park. --continued-* --2 -- An honorary committee of the following will also attend: Hon. TTillian Groat, Jr., Hon. W.:.rron B. Ashnoad, Hon. George Grau, Sidney Payner, Willian Carter, George L. Knott, Miss Olive Hatch, Frank Keller, George Colyer, Richard Lcnehan, Rev. Paul Beard, Charles T7il.loG, T. E. Jcrur.-.n, John Sheppard, Frank Simon and Frederick D. W;od;. Dr. S. A. Cohen uill act as General Chairman of Activities and E. H. Fensternacher is in charge of transporta- tion. -end- f CHILDREN'S DAY OUTING Ai1 JACC3 R I I S PARK 13DNDAY, AUGUST 2 7 , 1 9 3 4 SCHSDULZD 10:00 A.il. Boat t r i p from Manhattan v i a Rainbow F l e e t r;ith 1200 c h i l d r e n . 10:00 A.M. -- COIu.AMDER leaves 129th S t r e e t on Hudson, llanhattan 10:45 A.II. ~~ COMiLNDER leaves P i e r # 1 , B a t t e r y , llanhattan 10:30 A.I.:. ^eens County Orphanages (Hon. Edward S. Buhler, Alderman, host) arrive at Riis Park with 700 children Pueeiis County Orphanages dress and swim at beaches i\-Z to #6 12:00 II. Noon lunch served to Queens County Orphanages 12:45 P.I.:. Rainbow Fleet arrives m t h 1200 children from i.ianhattan ! l;00 P.II. Rainbow Fleet children sv/irn at Reaches ^'2 to ^6 and have lunch 2:30 P.II. Uncle Don ,of '"OR greeos all children on the playground and holds "club meeting" 3:00 P.il. Ivfcrionette show on playground St. Ifclcchy's Catholic band of 40 arrive 3:45 P.H. Treasure hunt for children. Ileet in front of Adraini s t r a t i on Building for instructions and cues ; 4:15 P.II. Refreshments for children holding tickets f 4:30 P.J.I. All Rairibor Fleet children dress by small groups S t . i.alachy's Catholic Home Band of 40 at Bandstand by flagpole 5:00 P."I. Flag lowering ceremonies at Flagpole 5:05 P.II. , All children must dress 5:15 P.II. Rainbow Fleet children start by buses to 98th St. Docks, Eockaway Beach St. lialachy's Band leaves by bus 6:15 P.LI. Rainbow Fleet sails from 98th St. dock, Rockaway Beach. Orphanages from Ouoens County leave by bus. Depcxtmont of P a r k s i i EkPARTMEHT OF PARES A , ? JfOR IMIfflttATE RELEASE I ; Arsenal, Central P a r k TM kugQpt^m., 1934. | tfel. Regent 4-1000. Columbus Park, which is located in a heavily congested area, bounded by B&yard, Mulberry, Park and Baxter Streets, is being remodelled to greatly increase the play space in the existing park. The play area fronting on the Park Street side of the park will be more than doubled in size and will be divided by a recreation building and two planted strips into two sections, one for the younger chil- dren and the other for older children* The play area for the smaller children will front the recreation building and have apparatus areas paved with cork asphalt and equipped with jungle gyms, swings and see-saws on both the Baxter and Mulberry street sides. A large wading pool, centrally located and separated from the apparatus areas and recreation building by wide bluestone walks, will be provided with three double head showers. Entrance to the pool can be gained only by passing through a chlorinated 1'las Dickinson who holds the 100 yard Metropolitan t i t l e , was recently defeated by liiss F e r r i l l for the Metropolitan 100 neter t i t l e . Another 100 yard titleholuer, Dolores Smithr junior national charrypion, is entered in the 440 event alonfj with Catherine Goets, Jarie ffechette, largaret Barn and Yalerie P h i l l i p s , a l l of V/OMen*s Suiniaing Association. A two-iaile ocean swiLining race to be held alons the ooean front at Riis Park has brought out more than 50 entries from nearly 20 local organizations belonging to the fietropolitan A.A.U. d i s t r i c t . The Hew York Athletic Club has entered Ray Ruddy, Don Ruddy, Walter Spence, Leonard Spence* Eddie Lee, ieo Geibel and others. Surf board races, f l a t boat rowing races and other aquatic events will be on the day f s progran. The men's ocean race is open to a l l registered nembers of the ^Tateur Athletic Union »' and trophies and nedals will be awarded to the f i r s t twelve winners. The '..omen's swimming race is open only to members of the V/omen's Swinging Association. -Snd- II August 15, 1954. Mr.Nelson: tt e Dance Recital - Maria Theresa - Friday Evening Aug 17th 8.30 P.M.Prospect Park Municipal Symphony Orchestra Harry *eyer, Conductor Attached are copies of program for the above dance recital Friday evening at Prospect Park. Will you be good enough to ask the newspapers to use the photograph of Maria Theresa which was sent to them on the occasion of her recital at the Mall Central Park on Saturday evening, July 21st, at that time photographs of ^aria Theresa were sent to all the papers. Mr. Baldini requested that you do what you can to have the newspapers use the photographs sent to them at the.t time in carrying the publicity for the Recital on Friday evening at ^rospect Park? James V. Mulholland Director of Recreation Department of Parks For immediate release Arsenal Central Park i August 15th, 1934 Regent 4-1000 Z> Ocean Swimming Championship - A.'A.U. llore -than one hundred entries from twenty of the foremost swimming clubs will coir pete in the two mile ocean swimming championship at Jacoli Eiis Park, Rockaway,,next Sunday afternoon. The meet i s sanctioned "by the A.A.U. Among the stars entered in the race are, Hay Ruddy, metropolitan one mile and 880 yard champion, seven times winner of the I.ietropolitan long distance t i t l e and seven times winner of the President f s Cup; Bon Ruddy, water polo star and schoolboy champion; Mdie Lee, National long distance champion; Welter Spence, National t i t l e holder; Leonard Spcnee, National anl world's record holder and Leo GeiTDel, N.Y.A.C. s t a r . Rowboats will follow the swimmers over the two mile course from start to finish and pick up competitors who "becoms t i r e d . Silver trophies will "be awarded f i r s t , sec- ond and third places and gold medals gi„en to the f i r s t eight swimmers crossing the finish l i n e . 2:!embers of the '"/omen's Swimming Association and other National swimming s t a r s , including Lconor Eight and Alice Bridges have "been invited to compete in a 440 yard scratch event as an exhibition. At the conclusion of the swimming races, twelve flat-bottomed row "boats r i l l en- gage in a one mile race around the cotirse. Prizes will "be given and none "but expert swimmers will "be allowed to participate in this event. Surf boat races are also sched- uled. All entrants must be registered with the Amateur Athletic Union. Entries will "be accepted until next Saturday at Jacob Riis Prrk Administration Building. FTJI) DEPARTMEM1 OF PARKS FOR RELEASE SUMDAY Arsenal, Central Park August 12, 1934 Tel. Regent 4-1000 The f i r s t two mile men's ocean swimming cham- pionship of the Rockaways will be held a t Jacob Riis Park on Sunday, August 19th. Already entered are Olympic and National swimming champions, including Ray Ruddy, Walter Spence, Leonard Spence, Don Ruddy, Eddie Lee, Leo Geibel, and others. The event i s open to a l l swimmers registered with the Amateur Athletic Union, and silver trophies will be awarded to winners. Medals will be awarded to the f i r s t eight swimmers who cross the finish line in the two mile swim. The event i s sanctioned by the Metropoli- tan A. A. U. Rowboats w i l l follow the swimmers, and a rowboat race will be held after the swimming race. -End- ICl GOWANUS PLAYGROOHD The Gbwanus Playground will provide recreational facilities for both young and old* It is a square block in area, bounded by Fourth and Fifth Avenue and Third and Fourth Streets. The entire area will be fenced, and concreted walks provided on Fourth and Fifth Avenue ends. The Third and Fourth Street sides will have hexagonal block walks flanked on either side by sodded strips in which trees will be planted. A novel feature of this playground is the arrangement of flood lamps so that the entire area may be illuminated. The playground will be divided into four sections and each section will run the entire width of the playground. Starting at the Fourth avenue end will be a general play area, one hundred and seventy feet by three hun&rea ana twenty feet. The surface of this area will be of a sandy clay sub-soil, dragged and rolled level. It will have a ten foot woven wire fence on three sides. The Fourth Avenue side will face a raised terrace of bluestone flagging from where an unob-. strueted view of this play area may be had. Entrance to the children's playgrounds will be gained through the second and central area which will consist of the bluestone terrace, the recreation building and a small planted area. i*he terrace will be provided with drinking fountains, benches and a large flagpole. The recreational build- ing, constructed of brick from the old Gowanus house and following its general plan, will house the comfort stations and storage space* The third area for smaller children, enclosed by the recreation build- ing on one side and a six feot iron picket fence on the other three sides, will be one hundred sixty by one hundred and eighty feet, asphalt paved with the exception of a large wading pool in the center. This pool when drained may be used as basketball courts* The water of the pool will be chlorinated and the children will have to pass through an antiseptic foot bath before entering the pool* There will also be suitable play apparatus such as Jungle gyms, swings, etc* The fourth and last area separated from the other play areas by a six foot picket fence is for older people* It will have bocca and hand** ball courts* The bocce courts will be leveled and rolled and have planted borders* The handball courts will be concrete paved and have a sixteen foot brick backstop with a four foot wire stop on top. This wall also serves as the Fifth Avenue boundary of the playground* The entrance to the last area will be on Third Street near Fifth Avenue* Suitable arrangements will be made for the comfort of parents and ob- servers watching the game* DEPARTMENT OF PARKS FOR RELEASE / > Arsenal, Central Park August 1 0 , 1934 4f iff* T e l . Regent 4-1000 X F o u r t e e n a d d i t i o n a l p l a y g r o u n d s w i l l be opened by the Department of P a r k s i n New York C i t y on Saturday morning, August 1 1 t h . Mayor F i o r e l l o H. La Guardia w i l l d e l i v e r the open- \ i n g a d d r e s s a t 11 a.m. a t the model p l a y g r o u n d , l o c a t e d on West 1 7 t h S t r e e t between E i g h t h and N i n t h Avenues, New York. He w i l l be i n t r o d u c e d by the Hon. Robert Moses, Commissioner of P a r k s . F o l l o w i n g t h e a d d r e s s of Mayor La G u a r d i a , there w i l l be a c a l l t o t h e c o l o r s a n d t h e American F l a g w i l l be raised simultaneously at a l l of these playgrounds with the exception of the model playground located a t 3rd and 4th Streets at Fourth Avenue, Brooklyn, where separate exercises will be held at noon. Borough President Raymond V. Ingersoll will speak a t the opening exercises at the Model (Gowanus) Playground in Brooklyn, and Mayor La Guardia will open the playground. At the conclusion of the exercises a t the Gowanus Playground in Brooklyn, the official party, headed by Mayor La Guardia, will proceed to the Model Playground in Queens, at 25th and 30th Avenues and 84th and 85th Streets, to in- spect i t s f a c i l i t i e s . (Continued) Page 2. ^ A At the Corlears Hook Playground, at Corlears and y Water Streets in Manhattan, handball games and horseshoe- p itch ing contests will take place after the opening ceremon- ies, while the playground located on the site of the Ridge- wood South Side Pumping Station, a t Sunrise Highway and At- l a n t i c Avenue, Brooklyn, will feature a 'baseball game between two good teams. This is the second group of new playgrounds to be opened by the Park Department this year. Nine playgrounds which were acquired and developed with the "far Memorial Fund turned over to the Department of Parks for this purpose, were dedicated and opened by Mayor La Guardia on July 15th. The fourteen playgrounds to be opened on Saturday (August 11th) are as follows: MANHATTAN: yMMODEL PLAYGROUND, West 1 7 t h S t r e e t between E i g h t h and N i n t h Avenues. * PLi PLAYGROUND a t 83 R o o s e v e l t S t r e e t . PLAYGROUND a t 99 Thompson S t r e e t . /ENWOOD KILL PLAYGROUND, Pays on and Dyckman S t r e e t s . N/ ST. NICHOLAS PLAYGROUND, a t S t . N i c h o l a s Avenue and West 1 4 1 s t S t r e e t . /CENTRAL PARK, LOWER RESERVOIR SITE, n o r t h w e s t c orne r . / CORLEARS HOOK PLAYGROUND, C o r l e a r s and Water S t r e e t s . v/PLAYGROUND a t R i v i n g t o n and Lewis S t r e e t s . BROOKLYN: v MODEL PLAYGROUND a t 3rd a n d 4 t h S t r e e t s a t F o u r t h Avenue (Gowanus House). / RIDGEWOOD SOUTH SIDE PUMPING STATION SITE, Sun- r i s e Highway and A t l a n t i c Avenue. PLAYGROUND a t 95th S t r e e t between Avenues K and L, (Continued) Page 3. BRONX: PLAYGROUND a t 141st S t r e e t between Brook and S t . AnnT s Avenue s. QUEENS: MODEL PLAYGROUND at 25th and 30th Avenues and 84th and 85th Streets, Jackson Heights. RICHMOND: MODEL PLAYGROUND a t Jewett and C a s t l e t o n Avenues. With the exception of the s i t e of the Ridge wood South Side Pumping S t a t i o n , and the Corlears Hook Playground, each playground vvill have a r e c r e a t i o n b u i l d i n g including playroom, l a v a t o r i e s , and a modern heating system; a 40 foot f l a g p o l e , adequate p l a n t i n g s of shade t r e e s and shrubbery, a c h l o r i n a t e d foot bath through which c h i l d r e n must pass before e n t e r i n g the wading pool; equipment for younger c h i l d - r e n , c o n s i s t i n g of swings, s l i d e s , see-saws and jungle gyms and handball and b a s k e t b a l l courts f o r older c h i l d r e n . The playgrounds w i l l be equipped with adequate drinking f o u n t a i n s of the type r e q u i r e d by the F e d e r a l Government for army camps. Mayor La Guardia's address and the e x e r c i s e s a t the model playground a t West 17th S t r e e t , Manhattan, w i l l be broadcast t o a l l of the other playgrounds opening on S a t - urday, by S t a t i o n s WNYC, WNEW and WOV. -End- *m DEPARTMENT OP PARES August 3 , 1934 A r s e n a l , C e n t r a l Park -' T e l . Regent 4-1000 NOTICE TO THE CITY EDITOR: The Park Department has arranged an inspection trip covering the Long Island Parkways and Parks for representatives of the press on Monday (August 6th) starting from the Arsenal, Central Park, at 10 A.M. sharp. Luncheon will be served at Jacob Riis Park, and dinner at Jones Beach. , -End- r ITINERARY" FOR INSPECTION TOUR Monday, August 6, 1934 DEPARTMENT OF PARKS Arsenal Building - Central Park ARRIVE Arsenal Building, 5th Avef| & 64th St» Manhattan 10 A.M« South on "Fifih Avenue East on 61st Street Cross 59th Street Bridge East ©n Queens Boulevard South on Woodhaven Boulevard Wfot on Sunrise Highway to Linden Boulevard, Turn here 5 Minute Stop 10*45 10:50 East on Sunrise Highway North on Brookville Boulevard Along Laurelton Parkway 10 Minute Stop 11:10 11;20 North on Elmont Road To Southern State Parkway 15 Minute Stop 11;25 11:40 South on Elmont Road South on Brookville Parkway West on Sunrise Highway South on Woodhaven and Cross Bay Blvd, West ©n Beach channel Drive and Cranston Ave, South on Beach 148th Street West on Washington Avenue to JACOB RIIS PARK for Inspection 30 Minute Stop 12:15 12:45 ~m~mmm*mmmm-~'~m~mmm a n d L u n c h 60 Minute Stop 12:45 1*45 East | n Washington Avenue and Rockaway Beach Blvd, North on Beach 116th Street l a s t on Beach Channel Drive and Amstel Ave, Cross L.I.R.R. tracks Continue East on Boulevard Road Southeast on Dune Street East gn Seagirt Avenue South across Atlantic (Toll) Bridge East < >n Atlantic Blvd, through Long Beach to Bridge, head at Hempstead Town Park Embark in L,I,S«P.C. Boat 2:80 For inspection trip of Meadowbrook Parkway Development Automobiles will proceed to Jones Beach and pick up party at Fishing Dock, north of Bath House #2 at 3*00 Thence to Jones Beach Bath House #2 Swim, Supper and Pool Show Return to New York City by automobile. I 1 ' COPY 1 II · · · · · · I I I OF PARKS D.MBDIATS RBLSASS > Arierjal, Central Park August 3, 1934 Telv Regent 4-1OOO CONTROLLING THE DUTCH SJ£ DISEASE The Park Department, cooperating with Federal and State agencies, is removing a number of elm trees throughout the city in combating the Dutch Elm disease. A few of them are large trees which, to the casual observer, are healthy specimens which should be allowed to stand. Laboratory tests by the U. S. Department of Agriculture, however, show positive evidence of their being diseased, and they must be sacrificed to save the elms which are still healthy. According to present information, the Dutch ELm disease is confined to an area centering in New York City, and having a radius of thirty-five miles. Diseased trees have been found on Long Island as far east as Hampstead and Westbury. In Westchester, the epidemic is most severe at the southern end of the county but thins out at the present known northerly limits near Chappaqua. Connecticut re- ports isolated cases as far east as Stamford. To date, nearly 1,000 diseased elms have been found in New York State, probably four times as many in New Jersey and 21 in southwestern Connecticut. Of those in New York State, 375 were in the five boroughs of New York City, and 175 of these elms were on city property, with St at en Island most seriously affected. This epidemic can be eliminated only by prompt action, ^he Dutch ELm disease is a fungus that works beneath the bark in the growing tissues of the tree where it cannot be reached by spraying, while bark engraver beetles working similarly, are the main carriers of the disease to healthy trees. There is no known cure. With the rarest exceptions, a tree, once infected, will die within two or three years at most, and during every day of the growing season that such a tree is allowed to Aand, it is a source of possible infection of all healthy trees in the vicinity. ,,- -- 2-- The only way to save our elms, therefore, is to cut down and burn every single diseased tree in the country - a task of real magnitude, but not impossible. If one diseased tree is overlooked, it can void all other eradica- tion efforts. For this reason, the state laws require the removal of every diseased tree as soon as it is found. From a practical standpoint, control must be thorough and complete at this time. A tree infected with Dutch Sim disease will surely die, and the expense of removing it must be met either now or later. If the diseased tree is allowed to stand, it will infect other trees and there will be the additional expense of removing them as well. %entually, if there is no control, we must look forward to the probability of removing practically all of our Elm trees in this vicinity, if not in the whole country. A very small part of this potential expense, if used now for control work, will not only avoid such a tremendous outlay but will save one of our most important shade trees. Fighting the Butch Elm disease is like fighting a fire. Prompt action and thoroughness will hold the damage and expense to a minimum. -End- DEPARTMENT OF PARKS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Arsenal, Central Park August 3, 1934 Regent 4-1000. So many requests have been received by Jacob Riis Park at Neponsit for children*s treasure hunts that the park has scheduled another of these events for next Saturday afternoon August 4th at 2 P.M. Prizes will be awarded to winners and seven cues will lead them to the prizes. The last treasure hunt drew several hundred children. Other events at Jacob Riis Park Saturday include lifeboat surfboard and swimming rescue races. -end- * · DEPARTMENT O F PARKS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE A r s e n a l , Central Park August 3 , 1934 T e l . Regent 4-1000 CONTROLLING THE DUTCH ELM DISEASE The Park Department, cooperating with Federal and S t a t e a g e n c i e s , i s removing a number of elm t r e e s throughout the c i t y i n combating the Dutch Elm d i s e a s e . A few of them are l a r g e t r e e s which, t o the c a s u a l observer, a r e h e a l t h y specimens which should be allowed t o stand. Laboratory t e s t s by the U. S. De- partment of A g r i c u l t u r e , however, show p o s i t i v e evidence of t h e i r being d i s e a s e d , and they must be s a c r i f i c e d t o save the elms which are s t i l l healthy. According to present information, the Dutch Elm disease is confined to an area centering in N ew York City, and having a radius of thirty-five miles. Diseased trees have been found on Long Island as far east as Hempstead and Westbury. In West- chester, the epidemic i s most severe at the southern end of the county but thins out at the present known northerly limits near Chappaqua. Connecticut reports isolated cases as far east as Stamford. To date, nearly 1,000 diseased elms have been found in New York State, probably four times as many in N ew Jersey and'21 in southwestern Connecticut. O f those in New York State, 375 were in the five boroughs of N ew York City, and 175 of these elms were on city property, with Staten Island most seriously affected. This epidemic can be eliminated only by prompt action. The Dutch Elm disease is a fungus that works beneath the bark in the growing tissues of the tree where i t cannot be reached by spraying,' while bark engraver beetles working similarly, are the main carriers of the disease to healthy trees. There is no known cure. With the rarest exceptions, a tree, once infected, will die within two or three years at most, and during every day of the growing season that such a tree is allowed to stand, i t i s a source of possible infection of a l l healthy trees in the vicinity. The only way to save our elms, therefore, is to cut down and burn every single diseased tree in the country - a task of real magnitude, but not impossible. If one diseased tree is overlooked, i t can void a l l other eradication efforts. For this reason, the state laws require the removal of every diseased tree as soon as it is found. (Continued) Page 2. From a practical standpoint, control must be thorough and complete at this time, A tree infected with Dutch Elm disease will surely die, and the expense of removing i t must be met either now or l a t e r . If the diseased tree i s allowed to stand, i t will infect other trees and there will be the additional expense of removing them as well. Eventually, if there i s no control, we must look forward to the probability of removing practically a l l of our Elm trees in this vicinity, if not in the whole country. A very small part of t h i s po- tential expense, if used now for control work, will not only avoid such a tremendous outlay but will save one of our most important shade trees. Fighting the Dutch Elm disease is like fighting a f i r e . Prorapt action and thoroughness will hold the damage and expense to a minimum. -End- C OP Y r BSPJRTMINT OF PARKS i FOR BfflBDIATB RSLfflSE Arsenal, Central Paris August 3, 1934 T e l . Regent 4-1000 J THE DOTCH SM DXSSAS2 The Park Department, cooperating with Federal and State agencies, i s removing a number of elm t r e e s throughout the city in combating the Dutch Sla disease. A few of them are large trees which, to the casual observer, are healthy speeijsens which should be allowed to stand. Laboratory t e s t s by the U. S. Department of Agriculture, however, show positive evidence of t h e i r being diseased, and they must be sacrificed t o save the elms which are s t i l l healthy. According to present information, the Dutch Sim disease i s confined to an area centering i n Hew York City, end having a radius of thirty-five miles. Diseased t r e e s have been found on Long Island as far east as Hemp stead and Westbury. In Westchester, the epidemio i s most severe at the southern end of the county but thins oat at the present known northerly limits near Chappaq.ua. Connecticut r e - ports isolated cases as far east as Stamford. To d a t e , nearly 1,000 diseased elms have been found in New York S t a t e , probably four times as many in New Jersey and 21 in southwestern Connecticut. Of those in New York State, 375 were in t h e five boroughs of New York City, and 175 of these elms were on c i t y property, with Staten Island most seriously affected. This epidemic can be eliminated only by prompt action, ^he Dutch Elm disease i s a fungus that works beneath the bark in t h e growing tissues of the t r e e where i t cannot be reached by spraying, while bark engraver beetles working similarly, are the main c a r r i e r s of the disease to healthy t r e e s . There i s no known cure. With the rarest exceptions, a t r e e , once infected, will die within two or three years at most, and during every day of the growing season t h a t such a t r e e i s allowed to *and, i t i s a source of possible infection of a l l healthy t r e e s in the v i c i n i t y . - 2 - only way t o save our e l a s , therefor©, i s t o cut down and train every single diseased tre« in the country - a task of real magnitude, but not impossible* If one diseased t r e e i s overlooked, i t can void a l l other eradiea- tion efforts* For this reason, the state laws require the resnovel of ©very diseased tree as 30on as i t is found. From a practical standpoint, control must be thorough and complete at t h i s time, A tree infected with Dutch Sim disease will surely die, and the expense of removing i t must be met either now or l a t e r . If the diseased tree i s allowed t o stand, it will infect other trees and there will be the additional expense of removing them as well. %entually, if there is no control, we imst look forward to the probability of renoiring practically a l l of our Hia trees in t h i s vicinity, if not in the «hole country* A very smell part of t h i s potential expense, if used now for control work, will not only avoid such a tremendous outlay but will save on© of our most important shade trees. lighting the Euteli ELra disease i s l i k e fighting a f i r e . Prompt action and thoroughness will hold the damage and expense to a minimum. -Ind- DEPARTMENT O F PiiJHK FOHAMMEDIATE RELEASE Arsenal, Central^K.rk W u g u s t J . , 1934 T e l . Regent 4-1000 /) ' < if fv The f i n a l s of the f i r s t Inter-borough Checker Tourna- ment conducted by the Recreation Division of the Department of Parks will be held at the Hecfcscher Playground, Central Park, on Thursday, August 2nd, at 2 p.m. The following contestants who were successful in- the borough finals for the boys and for the g i r l s will participate in the f i n a l s : MANHATTAN: John Covas, 45 West 93d S t . , 14 years, Lionel Sutro Playground. Floreeta Grahm, 2807-8th Ave., 13 years, Colonial Playground. BRONX: Benjamin H e l l m a n , 859 Hunts P o i n t Road, 15 y e a r s , Lyons P a r k . S y l v i a B r o w n s t e i n , 1701 F u l t o n A v e . , 12 y e a r s , Crotona P a r k . BROOKLYN: W i l l i a m C o l e , 5 3 9 - 4 6 t h S t . , 11 y e a r s , S u n s e t P a r k . S o p h i a Cohn, 2 0 6 3 - 7 4 t h S t . , 13 y e a r s , Bay Parkway. QUEENS: Edmund McKenna, 8 9 4 4 - 1 6 1 s t S t . , F l u s h i n g , 15 y e a r s , Bowne P a r k . C h r i s t i n a Wiskerman, 9 - 1 6 - 1 2 7 t h S t . , C o l l e g e P o i n t , 11 years, Waterfront. RI C HMOND: Nickolas Lorgieci, 202 Walker S t . , Port Richmond, Faber Park. Helen Barn, 224 Tr.eadwell Ave., Port Richmond, Faber Park. The Park Department Checker Contest was open to a l l boys and g i r l s , not over sixteen years of age. Although Checkers has been a popular pastime in the playgrounds, this is the f i r s t City Checker Tournament conduct- ed by the Department of Parks. Interest in the game is increas- ing and Playground Directors are called upon with increasing frequency to decide the fine points of the game. The children no longer are content to play an unscientific game. They are beginning to absorb some of the fundamental strategy of checkers. Gold-filled, silver and bronze medals of the Park Department having a checker board panel on then, have been award- ed to the borough winners. The City Seal medal will be given to those finishing f i r s t , second and third in the finals to be held Thursday, August 2nd. DfetoMENT 01 ? A WbB. IMMEDIATE RELEASE ARSENAL BLDG. CENTRAL PARK July 31, 1934. Begent 4-1000. WEST SIDE IMPROVEMENT Bids were taken today on the first section of City Structure No, 4 for the Express Highway north of 72nd Street, in Riverside Park, in accordance with the revised plans of the Park Department. This work consists of the westerly wall and foundations for City Structure No. 4. The contract will be awarded to the low bidder as soon as the bids are examined and checked by the Com- missioner of Parks, in accordance with the authority vested in him yesterday at a meeting of the Board of Estimate and Apportionment,, This is among the first of a number of contracts that will be let for the construction of the West Side Improvement. The New York Central Railroad will take bids the latter part of August for the excavation of a cut from 42nd to 53rd Streets through which cut the tracks now on 11th Avenue will later be in- stalled. This material will be placed adjacent to the above con- struction work in Riverside Park and will later be used in the de- velopment of the landscape scheme. At the southerly limits of the work the ground conditions are such that it was found necessary to install steel pipe piles fill- ed with concrete extending from the bottoms of the walls to solid rock approximately 35 feet below the existing surface of the ground,. At the northerly limits of the contract test pits in- dicated that the walls could be carried on the existing ground without resorting to the use of piles. At the southerly extremity rubble masonry transverse walls have been specified, while at the northerly end stone concrete walls are to be used. The tops of all of the walls are in the form of steps on which will be placed the reinforced concrete earth supporting members. This scheme of supporting a super- imposed load of earth is somewhat novel and was resorted to be- cause of unusual existing foundation conditions,, After the work on the present contract has progressed, it will be possible to proceed with the landscaping work wilth relief labor. Jr" A.NORTH BOUND HIGHWAY H- SOUTH BOUND £XIT TO 7fi'"Sr B SOUTH BOUJifP HIGHWAY J. YACHT # J£APlAA/£ .- , C WORTH BOUND £X/T * BOAT rrsJrrS O.UO^TM BOMS? SA/T/M#C£ Z.POOJL £.JOUTH BOUND EX/T M.JW/MM/MG POOl F. SOUTH BOUND £N7/fANC£ M 0ATSS HOUS£ For description see reverse side WS3T SHE IISS.0V3.3in1 EN? 0 ? "ARE3 Bird's-eye vis.? of the Express Highway crossing over 79th Street. The traffic circle just beyond the grade crossing elimination, affords access to and from the Express Highway, as well as the park development next to the river. Pedestrians reach this park area " by means of the sunken circular plaza, which eliminates crossing traffic. < at o