'closed uo puoiic pending alterations and repairs* 170- Announcement where to inquire for skating at the various Boroughs* x7:iL ' Announcement of death of Caliph, hippopotamus"1 at Central Park Zoo. * 17S. Opening of additional section of Eirikssoa Park on 1/14 - to be attended by Hon. R. V» Ingersoll. .'/, 1/18 173. Bids taken by N.Y.C R.R. on City Structure #4 on West Side Express. 1/25 174. Bronze Bust of W. Irving, formerly in Bryant Park removed to V/ashington Irving High School. 1/28 175. Infomation on ice steting to be obtained a t various Boroughs, and publication of phone numbers for convenience of public. * · · · · · · · ' · Page 12 NEWSPAPER RELEASES 176* Opening of Chisholm Playground postponed on aeeount of 0 ' '' · ·-' weather. ; - ; ;: . .' . /., r 1/31 177* Gro^d-Hog Day to be observed in City Hall Park* ! · ·. . . - · · · - · · ; · " · · ' . . · . . ' - · · ' ' - - , ' . V 2/11 178*. Contract of construction of the bridge carrying Saw Mill River Parkway extension over Broadway In Borough of Bronx*. 2/1 179* Agreement between Heckscher Foundation for Children, the Department of Parka: and Department of Health for a recreational and health clinic in Brooklyn, formerly ,,i-v operated by the Heckscher, Foundation* 180, In cooperation with the Department of Sanitation, the Park Department will resume construction of Shore ·Tv-Drive in Brooklyn, · ··.-· . · ·_.; * · ·'"' · : - . ' ' ' · · · · ' . - · ' · · · · · . · · · · · · · · · ^ - · : : · · · ' " · · : · · · · · · · · · ' · · · · · , " ' · ' · 2/5 181, Care of birds in the various parks in New York City during the periodn&en snow was on the ground* 182* Announcementuf Plan for RaQdall?a Island, 183* Announcement of redesign of City Hall Park* effective after the demolition of the old Post Office and the return of · - the land on which i t stands to the City, ; 184* - Released plan on redesign and development of Madison Square Park* · · 1 185,)Reconstruction of Joyce Kilmer Park* (186,, Bids for contract for Randall's Islandf Hell Gate and Harlem ' L J · River Piers of the Triboro Bridge, opened. . · - 2/28 187. Opening of 3 playgrounds', located-at Bast 28th Street, New Yoric City, Chisholm Park, Queens and Union Avenue bet, 161st - <>,.*r-street^&-.163rd-'Street, - I n B r o n x * " : ^ " > - · · : « : . - , ; ··/·· .-.·- ·········.,' 188* Bids opened for construction of bridge carrying H* Hudson Park- over Broadway*' · . 2/28 189. -Announcement of starting work on 190*'^Information as to Golf permits and fees, " '· '<< 191. Announcement,of leasing of property owned by,R* T* Centcal B.R, parcelsj for development of temporary playgrounde* 198* 'Announcement of opening of; eight playgrounds on Friday,JKeajoh 8. 1955* 3/15 195. Announcement of inauguration of firing Street trees planting >sj ' prograa by setting out 4000 trees. : 194, Certain Valueless plants in Kissena Park Nurseries have been removed -· the mounting maintenance costs forced this act* ' " · ' · " · ' . ' » · ' " . ' · ! .'I : Page 13 " NOTSPAPER RELEASB3 · . Interboro Holler Hockey Tournament t o be held during week/of 3-18-35. 19$, Grand Army Plasa entrance to be entirely rebuilt by Park Department 3/21 197. Holler Skating Hockey Championship to be held at Madison Square Garden Saturday, March 23, 1935. 198.: Extensive campaign to be carried on for comfort station renovations, by Park Department. ' · 199.' Joint announcement for the revised plans for the construction of new Health Center on the s»s. of 115th Street & Lexington, Avenue· j^3/24 200. Revised plans for the development of Heoksoher Playground to inoludea memorial to Sophie Irene Loeb. ^ 4/1 201* Three new areas} two playgrounds and one section of land developed for proper setting of Memorial Foundation to be opened April 1, 1935. ^ 4/2 202, Sailboat contest and Basketball and Soccer Tournaments announced. S 4/4 203. Soft Ball Tournament sponsored by Park Department during April 204* Dramatic functions scheduled in Manhattan and Bronx Playground*, sponsored by Park Department for children. 4/6 205. Park Department will initiate a "Science Exhibit and Fair" on June 1, 1935, to be prepared by the children of the ' * ' various playgrounds for public, , , ' 206. Dreamland Parking Space i s to be developed as a recreation center* 207. Department of Parks announced) the commencing Baater Sunday at the Conservatory in Prospect Park. 208. Department of Parks made arrangements with (Sanitation Department to cleanand f i l l Orchard Beach, ' ·/;'·;' 209. Opening of Baseball Diamonds on Sunday, April 14, 1935* 210 t Program of opening of the Baseball Season at Yietory Field 4/3.4/35, 211* Announcement of a c t i v i t i e s of the, Baseball Season - Openings, ^ 212, Planting of tree at Hecksoher Playground i n honor of Oen, S, Houston 4/13 213, Restoration of Terrace Bridge looated at the Mall, nearing oom- pletion, ' · - . ; . · ".··'·'. 4/15 214, Central Park Zoo welcome arrival of several new animals donated by JPELIX De MARCS. ·· ft Page 15a t NEWSPAPER RELEASES . ' ." . . . . . . . .>.;··· -.. - . . . . ' " - . . · ; · : ; · , ' . \ ·, . 215* Departmrat of Parks Issued a development plan of redesign . <· 'and reconstruction of Highland Park* V ·'- 4/16 216* Inmates of the Old House of Refuge on Randall's Island '.' moved to the New State Training Institution at " Coxaackie In Green County. <- v^4/14 217* Children plant gardens at Betsy Head Park, April 15, 1935, : : a t 1 1 A.M. ' · . · .. · . · . ' .· y 4/16 218» Department of Parks will officially open Jay Hood Wright Playground at Fort Washington to Haven Avenue, Manhattan, ···..·· ·'· on April 16, 1935. . v --:-.;. ,.. 4/17 219. Easter I5gg Hunt at St. Nicholas Playground held In oo* ·· ·· · , operation with Harlem Aid Center#..' , 4/21 ' 220, Opening Of Golf Courses on April 28, 193B, ' .: r · · . 4/29 221» Announce receipt of permit to open playground for year at property at Sutphin Boulevard,88th Avenue, 148th Street and 89th Avenue, Brooklyn* '···;' . S / y t C * ' 5/35 222« Announcement of concerto to be held this-.Summer in the /. / · varioua parks.- ; · · ·' . yX 5/22 * 223. . Marble Shooting Championship to be held in City Hall Park, -·· · 5/15/35. ·'·' 224. ' Postponement of opening date of forest Park Golf Course* 225, Last of patients on Randall1s Island removed to Cozaaokle, ··>·'· · ·. and work- s t a r t e d on I s l a n d * ·· 229, Announcement Of bids for H, Hudson Parkway, and also plans f o r the construction of Parkway. .- P ~ .,., · . ,.,,«,,. * «>-. ·y-r- Page .-&] NEWSPAPER RELEASES 227 · Announcement of Social Danoing to be held on the Central Park Mall every Tuesday and Thursday oommenoing June 11, 1935* 228. Dept. of Parks announoes a baseball tournament bet. Manhattan College and the Bronx Elks at the Mosholu Baseball Field. : . - 229. Announcement of reopening of Jaoob Riis Park, Rookaway, L.I. 5/25/35* K5/2& 230. Programs for eonoert to be held May 26, 1935· Viotor Herbert Festival, 231. Decoration Day Conoert on the Mall, May 30, 1935. ^5/24 'S 232. Manhattan Counoil of the Girls Soouts will oonduot three day oamps in coop* with the Park Dept. during the summer beginning July 8, ending Aug. 30, 1935. 233* Meeting held of prominent citizens at the Boro* pros. Ingersoll, in the interest of obtaining specimens for the Prospeot Park Zoo, which is nearing completion. ^" -5/29 234v Dept. of Parks will sponsor a Soienoe Exhibit and Fair for the publio June 1, 1935 at Prospeot Park Pionio House and MoCombs Dam Park* ·· / . 5/29 235* Announcement of Opening of parks and playgrounds during May* June and July* 236* Statement of Comm. Moses to the Press and letter to Coon. Hammond re. Orohard Beach. 5/30 237. Program of Summer oonoerts and Dance schedule* 6/1 238, Announcement of oonoerts to be held at Central Park and Prospeot Park. 4/12 239. Announcement of Easter Flower Show in the Park Dept. Greenhouses. 6/8 240. Opening of St. James Park to the publio. on Sunday 6/9/35* newly reoonstruoted. 6/6 241. Exhibition at the Rockefeller Center of photo, renderings, sketohea and soale models- from 6/10 to 6/29 of the past, present and future of New York Parks. 242. Listing of donors to the Prospeot Park Zoo and the animals they donated* · "\» ^6/14 243* Opening of the Henry Hudson Park Authority b i d s a t t h e Arsenal B l d g , , f o r the s t e e l arch bridge over t h e Harlem/River, oonneoting the b o r o s . of Manhattan and r Bronx. · <·' 6 / 2 0 244. F i n a l s of amateur hour w i l l be held at the Mall on June 2 2 , 1935» 6/25 245. Punehball tournament for g i r l s under 16 y r s . i o f age oonduoted i n f i v e boroughs. ' Page 15* NEWSPAPER RELEASES 246. Bids on t h e Henry Hudson Parkway Authority a t Arsenal B l d g . Park. 1 V DEPARTMENT'OF PARKS FOR IMMEDIATE RELE/SE ARSENAL, CENTRAL PARK June 28, 1935 Tel. Regent 4--1000 The Henry Hudson Parkway Authority opened bids todey at three o'clock at the headquarters of the City Park Department in the Arsenal,. Central Park. The structure will, be a reenforced concrete arch bridge approximately 120 ft. in length with a 40 ft. clearance. It will carry four lanes of traffic. Alternate bids were taken. The N.Y. & N.J. Engineer- ing Corporation, 60 East 4.2 Street, New York City, were the low bidders for Design "A" - a bridge with stone facing, with a figure of $144,959. Chas. Schaefer & Son, Buffalo, New York, were the low bidders for Design "B", s bridge with concrete facing, with e figure of $122,127.50. Work on the structure is to be started immediately end must be completed by December 1, 1935. Complete list of bidders is ettached. 4 DEPARTMENT OF PARKS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ARSENAL CENTRAL PARK June 28, 1935. Regent 4-1000. BID TABULATION NAME ADDRESS DESIGN "B" DESIGN "A" Chas. Schaefer & Son Buffalo, New York $122,127.50 $166,917.50 Poirier & McLane Corp. 33 West 42nd St, NY. 122,459.00 155,469.00 N.Y.& N.J.Eng. Corp. 60 East 42nd.St.N.Y. 135,650.00 144,959.00 Frank A.0'Hare Co.,Inc. 270 Medison Av. N.Y. 135,371.00 172,755.30 Woodcrest Constr. Co. Grand C en.T ermine1NY 139,303.00 171,768.00 Anthony Construction Corp .55 W.42nd St. N.Y. 151,430.00 181,900.00 Johnson, Drake & Piper Freeport, L.I.NY .151,882.00 192,797.00 Cleveorock, Inc. 420 Lexington Ave,NY 155,573.00 196,028.00 Garofano Construe. Co. 700 S.Columbus Ave. 161,890.50 19J,764.00 It. Vernon, N.Y. -end- DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ^"~ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ARSENAL, CENTRAL PARK June 14, 1935 TEL. REGENT 4-1000 The Henry Hudson Parkway Authority opened bids today at three o'clock at the headquarters of the City Park Depsrtment at the Arsenal in Central Park for the steel arch bridge over the Harlem River, connecting the boroughs of Manhattan and the Bronx. Bids were taken on the bridge in two parts. The following is a list of bidders with the amounts of their proposals for the steel superstructure: NAME ADDRESS AMOUNT OF BID American Bridge Co., Inc. 71 Broadway, NYC % 865,208.59 McClintic Marshall Corp. Cunard Building, NYC 882,302.49 Taylor-Fichter Steel Const. Co., Inc. 570 Seventh Avenue, NYC 917,480.00 Harris Structural Steel Co. 419 Fourth Ave., NYC 917,826.00 The Phoenix Bridge Co. l 30 Church St., NYC 934,616.80 The following is a list of the bidders with the amounts of their pro- posals for the concrete foundations and approach walls: NAME ADDRESS AMOUNT OF BID Thomas Crdmmins Cont. Co. 734 Lexington Ave., NYC % 272,668.50 J. Leopold & Co., Inc. 60 East 42 St., NYC 284,270.00 Rodgers & Hagerty, Inc. 500 Fifth Ave., NYC 288,188.00 Anthony Const. Corp. 55 West 42 St., NYC 289,686.50 Garofano Const. Co», Inc. 700 S. Columbus Ave., Mt. Vernon, N. Y. 293,971.75 P. T. Cox Cont. Co., Inc. 154 Nassau St., NYC 294,000.00 Poirier & McLane 33 West 42 St., NYC 317,720.00 Senior & Palmer, Inc. 50 Church St., NYC 323,005.00 Woodcrest Const. Co. Grand Central Terminal NYC 335,475.00 Joseph Metzer, Inc. 295 Madison Ave., NYC 356,595.00 Joseph L. Sigretto & Sons,Inc. 405 Lexington Ave., NYC 461,300.00 Construction work on this bridge will start immediately. DEPARTMENT OF PARKS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ARSENAL June IS, 1955. TELEPHONE BEgent 4-1000 Although the response to the appeal of the Brooklyn Citizens1 Com- mittee for the Prospect Park Zoo, formed by the Honorable Raymond V. Ingersoll, Borough President of Brooklyn, and the Honorable Robert Moses, Commissioner of Parks for the purpose of aiding in the stocking of the Prospect Park Zoo with good specimens is gratifying, opportunity still exists for those having the means and interest to contribute specimens or the funds frith which to purchase them for the new zoo. There is listed below the animals needed for the cages shown, and the approximate costs House Ho. g Animals Heeded Cost Cage 4 g 2rbra $900.00 each " 6 1 pair Gnus 900.00 · " 1 0 g ^erabau Buffalos 400.00 " House Ho. S Cage g 1 pair Hippos 5500.00 n " 5 1 Giraffe Price canot be quoted House Ho. 5 Cage 1 1 pair Black Lepards 625.00 each w 2 · "Bengal Tigers -g yrs. 1400.00 " B S _4 « . 1750.00 » " 5 · 1 · Snow Leppards lg50.00 " n 18 1 " Jaguar 6g5.00 · " 1 9 1 " Siberian Tigers g500.00 n " IE 1 · SingSing Water Buck 1000.00 w " 1 6 1 · Hilgai 400.00 n " 1 8 1 ·" Eland 900.00 · The specimens needed, as listed above, involve a total expenditure of approximately #55,000. Those interested are invited to communicate with Mr. Louis C. Wills, president of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, g6 Court Street, Brooklyn, N. I., who is serving as chairmen of the Brooklyn Citizens1 Committee for the Prospect ©ark Zoo or to the Honorable Alfred B. Smith, who is acting as "Renting Agent" for the zoo. Each contributor will receive an appropriate certificate tearing the signatures of former Governor Smith and Commissioner Robert Moses. A bronze tablet of acknowledgment will be placed on the cages housing animals whose cost was borne entirely by a single individual. Prospect Park Zoo is to open on July 3rd. It will be one of the finest zoos in the country for its size. - end - LIST OF DONORS, PROSPECT PARK ZOO, JUNE 12, 19S5. Donors Ani"¥*Ts Cost House Ho,.1 Cage 1. (Park Dept.) 3 black bears R g n 3 brown bears « S S Klein 5 polar Bears $250.00each (Col. J. Ruppert) 1 « » 250.00 " House No. 2 Cage 1 S. Klein 2 Genette Cats 60.00 " ·· 2 S. » 1 Pr. Gazelles 300.00 " 5 n w 2 Civet cats 25.00 " 5 H n 2 Jaguarandi 90.00 " 6 I. J.Fox Foxes John R. Crews n n 7 S. K"lein 1 Pr. Spotted Hyenas 200.00 8 n 2 gray kangaroos 450.00 " 9 n 1 Pr. Hyena dogs n Kool Cigarettes 6 Penguins B 12 S. Klein 2 Chimpanzees 300.00 n 13 Brooklyn Zoo Committee 1:2 Toucans 35.00 n 12 ?oucanettes 14.00 14 Small Contributions 5 spider monkeys 50.00 · 15 Brooklyn Zoo Committee 12 Brazilians Tyran 9.00 n 12 cardinals 4.50 n 16 Brooklyn Civic flanmlttee e t c . 200.00 " 17 S. Klein 12 Asst. 15.00 " 17 12 Orioles 10.00 · 18 15 Monkeys-assorted . 15.00-35.3D aa (Capuchins , Woolys, Sapaj ous) 19 mi 12 Thrushes 14.00 each ,12 Orioles 14.00 n 12 Startngs 5.00 w 12 S hrikes 20 15 Rhesus Monkeys 15.00 " 10.00 " Prospect Park Zoo Animals Animals Available Seeded Cost House Ho. 1 Cage 1 3 black bears n 2 3 brown n « g 3 Polar bears Cubs $250.00 each Full 400.00 n House Hp. 2 R Cage 1 2 Gennette Cats 60.00 » 2 1 pair Gazelles 300.00 n n g 2 Civet cats 25.00 R " 4 2 Zebra 900.00 n " 5 2 Jaguarandi 90.00 n i t "· 6 1 Pp. Gnu 900.00 n y 1 Pr. Spotted Hyenas 200.00 n « 8 2 Gpay Kangaroos 450.00 n « 9 1 Pr. Striped Hyneas 225.00 R " 1 0 2 Karabau Buffalos 400.00 n " 1 1 12 Tropicals *6.00 n 12 Tangers *6.00 n it » 12 2 Chimpanzees 500.00 « 13 12 Toucans *55.00 n 12 Toucanettes ·14.00 tt · 14 5 spider monkeys 30.00 n · IS 12 Brazilian Tyrants? *9.00 n ·4.50 n " 1 6 5 Gibbons 200.00 n " 1 7 12 Orioles *10.00 II " 1 8 15 Monkeys-Assorted 15- 35.00 (Capuchins, Woolys, & Sapajous) " 1 9 12 Thrushes *14.00 12 Orioles ·14.00 n 12 Starlings * 5.00 n 12 Shrikes ·15.00 n " 2 0 15 Ehesus Monkets 10.00 " * To properly fill each cage would cost 1300.00 to 500.00 per cage. Birds range in price from #5.00 to $35.00 each. LIST OP DO-SORS. PBOSPEGT PARK ZOO. JOSE |g. 19S5 Donors Cost House So. S Cage 1 (Park Dept.) 2 Elephants 3 Gaumont-British 1 Giraffe Picture Corp. House Ho. 4 Cage 1 Brooklyn Daily Eagie 4 Golden Eagles #50.00 each 2 Anheuser Busch 4 Bald Eagles 50.00 « Eagle Pencil Pencil Co. 50.00 « House No. 5- Cage 4 S. Klein 1 Lioness 600.00 · 6 Metro-Goldyn Mayer 1 pr. lions 7 S. Klein 1 P E Spotted Leopards 300.00 · 8 M 1 Lioness 500.00 · 9 II 1 Pr. Puma 125.00 ·· 11 II 1 Pr. Agouti 25.00 " 13 n 1 Pr. °celots 50.00 B 14 n 2 Fallow Deer 175.00 " 15 » 1 Pr. S Iberian Badfews 40.00" 17 H 1 Pr. Binturongs 225.00 · 19 n 1 pr. Afr. Porcupine 50.00 · 20 n 4 elk (Park Dept.) 4 · House No. 6. a Cage 1 . Klein 3 Tibetan Sunbears 275.00 * 2 Brooklyn Zoo Committee 2 Russian Brown Bears 225.00 B Barnuo & Bailey X Brown bear B 5 Abraham & Straus 3 M8ylayan bears 200.00 Bouse No. 7 S." Klein 5 sea lions 135.00 · H r n ^ No. S Animals Prospect Park Zoo i Animals · Available Heeded Cos1 Gage 1. 2 Elephants w 2. 1 pair Hippos $5500.00 each " S 1 * Giraffes Price cannot be quoted House No. 4 Cage 1. 1 n Golden Eagles I 50.00 net M 2. 1 " B als Eagles 50.00 " House Ho. 5 Cage 1 1 pair black Leopards 625.00 n M 2 1 " Pengal Tigers 2-yrs. 1400.00 i i 4-yrs. 1750.00 B N » 5 1 Snow Leopards 1250.00 » 4 1 Lioness 500.00 n · 5 1 pair jaguar 625.00 n « 6 1 lion 1000.00 n » 7 1 Pair Spotted Leopards 500.00 n " 8 1 Lion 500.00 n " 9 1 Pair puma 125.00 n 1 1 i t 10 1«· Siberian Tigers 2500.00 V ; 11 1 n Agouti 25.00 n i t » 12 1 "SingSlng Water Buck 1000.00 "15 1 » Ocelots 50.00 n " 14 2 Fallow D eer 175.00 n * 15 1 Pr. Siberian Badgers 40.00 n 11 16 1 " Nilgai 400.00 H " 17 1 " Binturongs 225.00 n It no T X ** u'S t id Mpmuw « V~\ snrl ooo on n v\J\J m \I\J IB 50.00 n 19 1 * Pr. Hraican PorcupiBe 20 4 KLk fofii Prospect Park Zoo. An-finaia BftfyjAfl Cost Nouse HQ. 6 Cage 1 3 Tibettan Sun Bears #275. each 2 3 Russian Brown bears 225.00 " 3 3 Maylayan Bears 200.00 " House So. 7 5 sea lions 135.00 R Approximate cost . . . . excl. of Giraffe #48,475.00 The prices above have been taken from lists submitted by Hagenbach ^ Louis Euae, l a c , Henry Trefflich and information from Bronx Zoological Society. end - Tfip 4 * FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS - J une 3, 1955. ARSENAL CENTRAL Pi.RK Regent 4-1000. >/ d The Department of Parks is opening to the public on Sunday, June 9th, at three o'clock^ the neily reconstructed St. Janes Perk, situa- ted at Jerome Avenue, north of Fordhaa Road, the Bronx. This park: is eleven and one half acres in area and vac completely replanned and reconstructed during the past four months. A Central Hall, v.lth vide bench line paths facing a centre turf panel, bisects ike erea taking the place of the former dusty extension of 132nd Street. South of the Mall io a large open la\;n encircled by a promenade for park visi- tors. The northern section is devoted principally to recreation activi- ties. Tv;elve ne, tennis courts have been provided and a completely equip- ped children's playground occupies the space along Jerome Avenue. The vork thin spring has involved the construction of paths, the grading and top-soiling of the lavn areas and the setting out of 192 trees and 5865 shrubs. A recreational building, - ..hich v.lll contain public rest rooms, rill be erected later in the year at the Jerome Avenue entrance to the park. George L. Quigley, Borough Director of the Department of Parks of the Bronx \ ill be chairman of the dedicatory exercises. The speakers v.lll be Commissioner Robert "/loses, John Vt. C'Brien, Chairman of the Bronx Committee of the Park Association of *e\. York, Alder.nnn Joseph Kinsley and Bcrcugh President James J. Lyons. The flag raising ceremonies v.ill be dignified by the presence of a Bettoiy from the 253th Fluid Artillery and tho Co.Tnianding Officer of this Regimont, Col. Paul Loeser, vill attend. The 258th Field Artillery Band ill supply the music. At the conclusion of the ceremonies Benediction - . ill be pronounced by Rev. Arthur V. Litchfield, Rector of St.James Protestant-Episcopal Church- Folio, ing the opening of the pare three exhibition tennis matches 1 ill be played in .hich the best kno . n anatour talent of the Bronx vill participate, vix: Ernoct Koslana, Bernard Freediaaa, Daniel Froedman and Allan Lovell members; of the 1I.Y.U. Tennis.,Team, and ,liss i.iillicicnt Hirsch of the Crotona Park Tonnis Association and -iiss Bertha Heppner of Van Cortlandt Park. -end- --' DEPARTMENT OF PARKS I 1 FOR IifiEDIATE RELEASE ARSENAL, CENTRAL PARK -,/"! I June 4, 1935 Tel. Regent 4-1000 "V The past, present end future of New i'ork's parks v.-ill be mirrored in an exhibition of photographs, renderings, sketches and scale models to be held in the International Building of Rockefeller Center from June 10 to June; 29. Sponsored by the Municipal Art Society to honor the work of Commissioner Robert Moses end the Park Department, the exhibition will show for the first time ell of the city park projects financed under the direction of Commissioner Moses by municipal and relief funds, as well ss the development of city perks since 1850 end proposed changes for the future. The exhibition will fill half of the second floor of the International Building in Rockefeller Center. The exhibits contributed by the Department of Parks of New York City, the Long Island Stfte Park Commission and the Tri- Borough Bridge Authority, will be arranged in five sections corresponding respectively to each of the five boroughs of New York City. In the exhibit depicting the development of the Central Perk Zoo, a pair of live monkeys will swing from porches in a semi-circular cage. Special keepers will feed, water and cere for the monkeys. Beside- this cage panels of photographs will show the contrast between the old zoo and the zoo es it now exists, and also the new zoo developments in ell the Boroughs. In the seme exhibit will be shown the original plan of Central Park drawn by Olmsteed and Vaux in the 1850's. General park recreation areas proposed for the city will be represented by plans and models of Highbridge Swimming Pool, Jackson Heights Playground and Heckscher Playground Memorial. The Triborough Bridge nov: under construction will be completely illus- trated by drawings and photographs assembled by the Triborough Bridge Authority. Nearby a large relief map of Queens will show the proposed State Parkway extension to the bridge and Brooklyn. \ The Henry Hudson Bridge will, be illustrated by drawings of the new structure over the Harlem River and Randall's Island by v map showing the tennis courts, baseball diamonds and stadium, Jones Beach State Park will be fully depicted in maps end photographs of the park, photographs of the pool in operation , and fir views of the beaches, approaches and numerous recreational facilities. Models will show the connection of the Interborough Parkway in Queens with Pennsylvania Avenue and grade separations st Highland Boulevard, and the grade separations and. access drives at the junction of Grand Central Parkway, Interborough Parkway and Queens Boulevard at Kew Gardens. During the exhibition puppet shows for children will be given daily. The terrace adjoining the exhibition rooms will be set with trees and tables and the Park Orchestra will furnish music in the afternoons. The exhibition will be open to the public without charge from 10:00 A. M. to 6:00 P. M. drily, including Sundays. IMMEDIATE RELEASE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS April 12, 1935. BOROUGH OF BROOKLYN City Editor Exhibit ' Commissioner ^oses announces that the Easter Show in the Park Department Greenhouses, Brooklyn, will surpass anything that has heretofore been done. It is anticipated that last year's at- tendance of over 150,000 people will be exceeded this year. The Department will offer another masterpiece of horti- cultural display. The huge cross, measuring thirty feet high and fifteen fee wide, will be comprised of more than 3,000 of the finest Gigantium Lillies imported from Japan, the sides banked with beautiful yellow Genesters and pearl pink Rhododendrons, and the foundation laid out in a fine assortment of Azaleas in every color and shade. Appropriate groups of plants will be placed for side wall s and the entrance. As easter is a little late this year, the Exhibit may not last more than two weeks; therefore, the Park Department will have the Greenhouses open in the evenings, starting Easter Sunday, until 8 P.M. Flood lights have been installed to give the exhibit a beautiful blaze of color. The hours of attendance are from 10 A.M. to $ P.M. No children under sixteen years of age will be admitted in the evenings unless accompanied by a guardian. The Greenhouses are located in Prospect Park, 9th Street and Prospect ^ark West, Brooklyn Department of Parks 1/ June 1st, 1955. Hon. Thomas W. Hammond Commissioner of Sanitation Department of Sanitation Municipal Building Hew York City. Deer Sir: OnM ay 22nd I discussed with you on the t e l e - phone and wrote you that i t would be necessary to stop the Sanita- tion Department's dumping operations at Orchard Beach on July 1st next because these operations have been entirely unsatisfactory. Since our order as to July 1st was issued, your men have flagrantly violated our agreement and have l i t t e r e d the surrounding community with garbage and refuse. The Sanitation Department has failed to perform the necessary work i t agreed to do to confine i t s dumping operations within bulkheads established between Hunter Islrnd ; nd Orchard Beach. There have been many occasions where the Park Department forces have had to perform wjrk which was in obligation to your Department. The Park Department has made daily inspections of the New York City, Long Islrnd and Westchester shores surrounding Orchard Beech. Inspections yesterday disclosed that garbage and other refuse has been permitted to float away from Orchard Beach. I am writing to state that i t will be necessary to stop the Sanitation Department's dumping operations at Orchard Beach not later than Saturday, June 8th. Your work must be so arranged as to vacate prrk property with a l l of your equipment and forces by n )on of this day. I also assume that you will clean a l l shores out- side of park property which your Department has l i t t e r e d . Yours very truly, Commissioner Released on May 22, 1935.- THE CITY OF NEW YORK DEPARTMENT OF PARKS Arsenal Central Park STATEMENT TO THE PRESS In answer to a number of inquiries as to filling at Orchard Beach for the new bathhouse, beach end perking areas, the public is informed that all dumping by the Sanitation Department will stop on July first. It is necessary at this time to explain again the problem which faces the Perk Department. Orchard Beech constitutes the best locati n and the only one publicly owned for e substantial bathing area on any of the boundary waters of New York City vith the exception of Staten Island, Coney Islend end the Rocktwciys. After an exhaustive study, the 'Park Department hes started t program of construction of outdoor swimming pools to meet the present end future needs of other city neighbor- hoods where boundary waters can no longer be safely used for bathing. At Orchard Beech we found & totally inadequate brthing area and bathhouses so badly constructed thrt they hed to be torn down. It was necessary to plan the new berch on r proper scelc for the use of lcrge numbers of people. This necessitated t tremendous fill. I repeatedly esked for sufficient funds to start this work on en cdequcte scrle, end stated that no impression could be rardc on it merely with relief work unless a much larger percentage wts mrde rvrilcble for materiel and equip- ment. As en alternative, and vs prrt of the pressing problem of dis- posing of city ashes, I agreed to hcve such ashes dumped rt Orchcrd Berch and several other areas. The assurances given us thot clcen cshes would be dumped hcve unfortunately not mrterif lized. A certain rmount of ger- bege end refuse, in rddition to rshes, have been dumped. At one time the boom which held beck the dumped meterirl, broke, rnd c good dcrl of this material floated oat on edjecent territory. This w s the responsibility of the Scnitetion Deprrtment, end v.vs clefned up by them. Subsequently, c number of other precautions were teken ;rhich hfve not been wholly SJ tis- fectory, ?nci while the Scnitetionra?tericl hrs helped to solve our problem, we hcve decided that this dumping must stop beeruse of incidental nuisences. I wish to mrke it entirely cletr, however, ^irt rlthough subse- quent dredging end filling operrtions will be entirely free from the -2- present dumping nuismccs, there i s bound to be r l l the ?pt)err;nco of confusion, disturbance of raeturr-1 scenery · nd b?rring -if the public, which go ?;ith r l l mcjjr construction. r.jrk of this ch1 r r c t e r . I hr.ve lived through r gjod d e l y£ t h i s kind of thing ft Jmes Befclu rnd jthc;r pieces, find I suppose t h r t rlong with ar/ r s s j e i r t e s , ve shfll hrve t-j'go through with i t cgrin here. There i s nJ use in iattempting to develop Orchard Beech on anything but & Irrge s c r l e . In the end, JUT present plens v.ill be j u s t i f i e d . In the mc-rntinc, v?e ere djinf piecemer-1 wjrk oa f tremendous under tricing. We believe t h r t t h i s work will gj frster under the revised ?nd expended ?>rk orogrnm beginning July 1 s t . This applies fclso t j the rjsd end prrk-'fy system vt Pr.-lhrm Biy Prrk, the recon- struction of the Rice Sttdium r.nd >ther scheduled imprjveraonts in t h i s crev. ROBERT MOSES Coiamissijner. DEPARTMENT OF PARKS 3 '' F O RTSMEDIATE FOR HM RELEASE A r s e n a l , C e n t r a l -Park May 2 9 , 1935. Tel. Regent 4-1000 The Department of Parks announced today it will sponsor a Science Exhibit and Fair for the general public June 1, 1935, at the Prospect Park Picnic House and McCombs Dam Park Recreation Building, 165 Street & Jerome Avenue in the Bronx. This Science Fair is one of the functions developed by the Park Department to utilize children's summer leisure. Children of all playgrounds are invited to attend this exhibit, which has been prepared by the regular members of the Playground Clubs, supervised by the Playground Directors. The Fair will consist of two general divisions - Nature Study and Mechanics- The Nature Study Division will include exhibits of biological collections, insect and plant life, leaves and seeds, aquatic life and bird life. The Mechanics Division will include model airplanes, home-made radios, receiving and transmitting, model yachts, sailboats and other handicraft activities. The exhibits will be judged according to age groups - that is, the juniors and seniors will be classified and suitable awards given in each class. There will be group exhibits from each play- ground, and the children will also exhibit scientific collections developed during the school term, such as biological collections, manual training exhibits, etc. There will be no charge to attend the Fair or enter an Exhibit. -End- "* 4 · · S"* DEPARTMENT OF PARKfl^ ^ r IMMEDIATE RELEASE Arsenal, Central Park May 27, 1935. Tel. Regent 4-1000 A meeting of prominent citizens was hel$ this afternoon in the office of Borou£h President Ingersoll, at his invitation, in the in- terest of obtaining specimens for the Prospect Park Zoo, which is nearing completion. Borough President Ingersoll opened the meeting and told of raising funds for the old zoo when he was park commissioner some years ago. He then introduced Mr. Moses, who pointed out the background of relief labor and said that instead of putting the men to work on the streets and around in the parks they wanted to undertake some projects of considerable magni- tude. He saict.-that when he first took office he put the 69,000 men out on maintenance and then they worked up the zoo project. He explained that a zco project is very intricate and very complex. He also pointed out the dif- ference between the Brooklyn zoo and the Central Park Zoo. In Central Park we had to build around a lot of old buildings and in Brooklyn they started off with a clean slate. "··. . . . .. · . .-: flhe main handicap is lack of exhibits. When he first took office a lot of old decrepit animals were weeded out. He then tried to get various balances together which were accrued to the Park Department to purchase animals and submitted it to the Director of the Budget but several objections were raised due to hard times and the buying and feeding of animals against the people who were starving for want of food. He then talked to Governor Smith and pointed o out that there were plenty of people in Brooklyn of means to provide animals. He also mentioned the fact that it was too far for Brooklynites to go to the Bronx Zoo. He said the zoo would open July 4. Borough President Ingersoll then introduced Mr. Wills, Pre- sident of the Chamber of Commerce, and it was voted to make him chairman of the committee to raise funds. He is chairman of the Brooklyn Citizens Com- mittee to raise funds for the zoo and he had the power to appoint a secretary (Continued) Pare 2. and treasurer. He is turning his office over to the handling of any details that come up. W. K. Schwartz was made treasurer and he thanked the Governor for coming to Brooklyn. He thought it was a neighborly gesture. The Gover- nor was introduced and he spoke about being ni£ht superintendent in Central Park Zoo; told how he can sit in his window and look out on the zoo. Said that as many as 122,000 visited the zoo in one day and in no case would the entire majority go to the Bronx Zoo. He also pointed out the old conditions in Central Park - of the keeper having to sit with a rifle in case of fire,. and in contrast he pointed out the new arrangement in Brooklyn where bears and elephants and elks can be viewed without looking through bars. He recog- nized there has been some opposition to the zoo in Brooklyn but stressed the j;,#i point that it was ideal thing for the kids. He told of donating the chim- panzee to the new Central Park Zoo. He mentioned that Mr. S. Klein,·of 14th Street, had given a certified check for $5,000 for the purchase of animals for the Brooklyn Zoo. Thosci are some of the animals: ' · }:. ,, ,,, , 5 sea lions 2 lioness 2 gazelles 1 pair puma 2 gennette cats 1 " agouti 2 civet cats 1 " fallow deer 2 jaguarendi 1 " ocelots 1 p-.ir of spotted hyenas 1 " Siberian badgers 1 " » striped " ·- 1 " binturongs 2 kangaroos 1 " African porcupines 2 chimpanzees 4 Elks 2 cages of tropical birds 5 Polar Bears 15 rhesus monkeys S Tibetlan sun bears 1 pair spotted leopards Governor Smith added as a point of interest that he would like to see 50,000 donations of $1 each rather than two or three people give, all the money so it would be of more popular interest. -End- SUMMER PROGRAM IN CITY FOR 1935 The Manhattan Council of Girl Scouts will conduct three day camps in cooperation with the Perk Department during the coming summer, beginning July 8 and closing August 30. The dry camps will be at Inwood Parkj which is necr the 207th Street Station of the Eighth Avenue Subway (Washington Heights Train), end Erst Side of Van Cortlandt Perk, which is necr the Woodlawn Strtion of the Lexington Avenue Subway (Woodlawn-Jerome Avenue Trrin), and West Side of Van Cortlandt Park, which is near the Van Cortlandt Station of the Seventh Avenue Subway (Van Cortlandt Park Train.). There will be accommodations for 150 children in each center each $cy for four days a week. Centers will open at ten o'clock in the morning and close about three-thirty o'clock in the afternoon. The program will include Scout craft, games, athletics, outdoor luncheon, singing, interest groups, such as nature, hendcrrft, dramatics, folk dancing and art. They will be open to all girls, including non-Scouts, be- tween the ages of eight and sixteen, in Manhattan. The children will be as- sembled at about fifty-five playgrounds chosen as centers in various sections of Manhattan and will be chaperoned to the parks by members of the playground staffs. ·' " " There will be no cost for transportation to the children. Any social welfare agencies, such as settlements, institutions, church organiza- tions, etc., may send children to the designated plrygrounds provided one leader is furnished for each twenty children, and this arrangement has been made in advance. Manhattan has been divided into districts and rotating group scnedules will be. arranged. It is probable that the same group can only visit the parks once a week with free- transportation. Any child wishing to attend more frequently may do so provided she c m pry her own carfare. Three members of the supervising staff will be selected by the Manhattan Council and under the direction of c -ne of their field executives. Besides these leaders there will be others furnished by the Perk Department. The Park Department has put comfort conveniences, with water, etc., at the disposal of these groups. The Board of Education has made it possible for these children to take advantage of the eight cent lunch provided for their day camps for any children desiring it. Any child who was receiving t free lunch at a public school may receive lunch free of cost. Any child wishing to bring her own lunch may do so and jaay also learn fire-building and out-door cooking. LIST OF PLAYGROUNDS To be used as Meeting Centers for Day Camps. West Side Battery Park Hudson & Clarkson Streets . Columbus, Baxter, Mulberry and Bayard Streets Downing Street necr Bleecker -2- Model Pleyground, West 17th Street between 3th r .nd 9th Avenue-s 95 Thompson Street West Side We shington Street between Hor?tio rnd V'est 15th Street Sixth Avenue, Mecdougfl Street, Houston Street West Houston between Thompson rnd Sullivcn Streets Chelsee, 27th Street, Ninth Avenue DeWitt Clinton, 52nd Street, 11th rnd 12th Avenues West 59th Street between Amsterdam rnd 11th Avenue West 67th Street rnd 11th Avenue Centre1 Perk, Sutro, 93rd Street Riverside, 96th Street f .nd Riverside Drive. Morningside Park, 123rd Street end Morningsidc Drive St. Nicholas Extension, 129th Street ind St. Nicholas T errf.ee Williom McCrcy, 138th Street, 5th rnd Lenox Avenue St. Nicholas, 140th Street rnd St. Nicholrs Avenue Hamilton Perk, 140th Street J. Hood Wright Perk, Ft. Wrshington Avenue, West 173rd Street 150th Street West of Seventh Avenue 150th Street Brcdhurst (Colonicl) Cerraansville, 151st Street m e Aiastf.rdrm Avenue High Bridge, 169th Street High Bridge, 176th Street end Amsterdfia Avenue Pcyson Avenue end Dyckacn Street 189th Street rnd Amsterdsm Avenue Ishf.m, Senasn Street Fort Tryon, 198th Street Ec st Side Corleers Hook, South Jeckson rnd Cherry Street Corletrs Hook Extension, Corlerrs end Cherry Street Coleiaenj Cherry end Mrrkot Streets Cherry, Monroe end Gouvenor Streets Gulick; Broone, Delfncey fnd Sheriff Street Sophie- Irene Loeb, Mf-rket f .nd Henry Street Rutgers Slip, Rutgers end South Street Lewis end Rivington Streets - John J. Murphy, 17th Street < ,nd Erst River Torapkins Squrre, 10th Street rnd Avenue' A Willirm H. Sewrrd, Crncl rnd Jefferson Street 83 Roosevelt Street Joseph C. Sfuer, Ecst 12th Street nerr Avenue B Houston, Essex End Norfolk Streets Houston, First Avenue rnd Ludlovv Streets Roosevelt Plryground, Crnrl, Houston rnd Chrystie Streets Northerst Corner of Rutgers rnd Henry Streets Southside, 28th Street between Second tnd Third Avenues St. Gfbriel, 35th Street rnd Second Avenue St. Catherine, 62nd end First Avenue John Jey, 77th Street end Erst River Crrl Echurz, 84th Street f .nd Ef.st River Yorkville, 10.1st end Second Avenue · ; &-jtWs; 4 i'·!-·>« '»;" ·" : ELKAN NAUMBURG DECORATION DAY CONCERT THURSDAY EVENING, MAY 30th, 1935 EIGHT O'CLOCK CENTRAL PARK :: ON THE MALL THE NAUMBURG ORCHESTRA, Leon Barzin, Conductor THE MALL -- CENTRAL PARK THURSDAY EVENING, MAY 30TH, AT 8 O'CLOCK DECORATION DAY THE NAUMBURG ORCHESTRA LEON BAEZIN, Conductor Program "The Star Spangled Banner" 1. Overture "Der Freishutz" von Weber 2. Symphony in C Major Schubert Andante--Allegro ma non Troppo Andante--Con moto Allegro vivace 3. Symphonie Espagnolle Lalo Allegro non Troppo Andante rondo JOHN CORIGLIANO 4. Les Preludes Liszt 5. Waltz "The Blue Danube" Strauss "America" X H I S CONCERT is contributed by MR. WALTER W. NAUMBURG and MR. GEORGE W. NAUMBURG, sons of MR. ELKAN NAUMBURG, who donated the bandstand on The Mall and lived to see it put to the purpose he had in mind of erecting a veritable Temple of Music. MR. ELKAN NAUMBURG had been impressed with the need of an adequate bandstand in Central Park by reason of his custom, long years in practice, of con- tributing Orchestral Concerts of high quality, in the cause of good music for the people, on three holidays, Decoration Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day. His sons, continuing this custom in his memory, have added a fourth concert to the NAUMBURG series by giving a similar concert on July 31st, the anniversary of their father's death. T H E NAUMBURG concerts for the season of 1935 are therefore set down for May 30th, at 8:00 P. M., July 4th, at 8:00 P. M., July 31st, at 8:00 P. M , and September 2nd, at 8:00 P. M. These dates to be remembered by lovers of good music. CITY OF NEW YORK HON. FIORELLO H. LAGUARDIA, Mayor 31A-2076-3S-B.P. VICTOR HERBERT FESTIVAL of the Gaelic Musical Society of America BRANDON TYNAN, Chairman Central Park Mall SUNDAY EVENING, MAY 26th, 1935 At Eight-Thirty NEW YORK STATE SYMPHONIC BAND GUISEPPE CREATORE, Conductor PROGRAM 1. March--Baltimore Centennial Herbert 2. GREETINGS MR. JAMES MCGURRIN President, General American Irish Historical Society 3. Selection from WONDERLAND Herbert 4. BADINAGE Herbert 5. GEMS OF VICTOR HERBERT Compiled and Arranged by Creatore INCLUDING Babes in Toyland Red Mill Mademoiselle Modiste Naughty Marietta The Serenade The Fortune Teller INTERMISSION 6. PANAMERICANA Herbert 7. Tribute to Victor Herbert . H O N . D A N I E L F . COHALAN 8. Vocal Solo--A K i s s I N T H E D A R K . . . . Herbert BEATRICE EATON 9. Selections from EILEEN Herbert 10. AMERICAN FANTASY Herbert 34 31A-2076-35-R. DEPARTMENT OF PARKS FOR ILIMEDIiiTE R L L E A S E Arsenal, Central Park May 24, 1925. Tel. Regent 4-1000 y The Department of Parks announced today that Jacob Ri'is Park, Rockcwaj, L.I., will reopen for the summer season Saturday, Ma;y 25. Locker facilities will accommodate 8200. Prices will not be increased week- ends or holidays. Parkin£ space will accommodate 5500 cars. A food bar v;ill dispense lunch and soft drinks. The Em- pire dining room ano. adjoining teri'ace will serve luncheon and dinner, v/ith dancing throughout the evening. Trained clirectoirs will supervise the playground, arrang- ing games for the children. A story telling hour at 11 k.l. and 2 P.I.I, will entertain the younger children. Special events are planned for chil- dren and grownups on the beach, playground and in the ocean. -End- ·DEPARTMENT OF PARKS / FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Arsenal, Central Park #J/ May 21, 1935. Tel. Regent 4-1000 The Department of Parks announced today that Manhattan Col- . lege, whose season record includes two victories over New York University, and The Bronx Elks, one of the strongest amateur teams in the borough, will vie fear honors at the Mosholu Baseball Field, 201 Street and Webster Avenue, The Bronx, Sunday, May 26, at 2:30 P.M. Bert Daniels, Manhattan's coach, has promised to have his first string men in the game. This field, recently reconstructed by relief workers assigned to the Park Department, is one of the finest baseball plants in the entire park system, with seating accommodations for 3500 plus 1000 park benches. The diamond has been constructed according to big league specifications and a very fast game can be expected. The Park Department band will furnish music and the teams will march across the field, forming the guard of honor for a flag raising ceremony before the game. Another feature will be an exhibition by the 40 man drill team of the Bronx Elks. -End- DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ^ f : ]?1R RELEASE ARSENAL, CENTRAL PARK Mey 21 > W Tel. Regent 4-1000 "V The Department of Parks announced today the beginning of advertising of bids for the Henry Hudson Bridge across the Hudson River Ship Cc.nc-1 from Inwood Hill Perk to Spqyten Duyvil. Bids will be opened June 14. The bridge will be built by the- Henry Hudson Parkway Authority, of which Commissioner Moses is sole member, cs prrt of en express highvvry linking Riverside Drive with the Saw Mill River Pfirkwry.. Last month the Authority sold three million one hundred thousend dollars ($5,100,000) worth of bonds to a banking syndicate to finance the project. The structure- will be a high level tangle arch bridge, with rn 800 foot span, flanked by two steel viaducts each 500 feet long end by two 450 foot reinforced concrete approach structures. It will cr.rry a four lane concrete roadway and heve a clearance above mean high vrater of 145 feet. The contract, to be let next month by seeled bids, is for the con- struction of the substructure end superstructure of the bridge. The estimated cost of the vrork is one million dollers ($1,000,000). Work will begin im- mediately after the nv/nrd of the contract and the structure will bo completed in 1957. . The Henry Hudson Parkwcy is designed to eliminrte ,the|trrffic bottle neck ct the drawbridge ft 220th Street rnd Bror.dvfey. Eventurlly it will be a link in & through perkwey find express highway astern extending from the Brttery in Menhstten to the Sew Mill River Prrirway in FJostchester. The rest of the bond issue will be used for the construction of two sections of the perkwp-y end gredt. cliiainrtion bridges from the end of Riverside Drive through Inwood Hill Prrk south of the bridge, fnd from the northerly bridge head through Spuyten Duyvil. At Riverdale Avenue, section three of the new parkwry,'known ns the Sow Mill River Pcrkwry Extension is rlrerdy under construction by the State Public Works Department on plans approved by the City Park Department with the use of federal highway rid funds. t s ** V FOR R3LSAS3 HOtTDAY, LAY 2 0 , 1 9 3 5 , Tip; CITY OF em YORI' DEPART" EFT OF PARKS Arsenal - Central Park The last of the patients occupying the "buildings of the House of Refuge on Randalls Island were removed yesterday to Coxsackie. P.-r"i\a;",t to Chapter 144 of the Laws of 1933, the title to the land and "buildings formerly occupied "by the Society for the Reformation of Juvenile Do1.; ::rt.\&- ts known as the House of Refuge, reverts to the City of iTcv; York and "become, established as a City park. The "buildings rjill he torn dorm immediately for the Department of Parks "by the C-r.mmissioner of Buildings, lanhattan, and construction of this portion of Randalls Island will start immediately after the "buildings are demolished. Establishment of this neT; park area adds 50 acres to the City Park System. g f Msy 7,19 55 x 1- I The me ting with the Brooklyn and Long Is. Municipal Golf Association was constructive and I will dictate a summary for you. One of the things they requested was that Forest Park remain closed until all of the courses could be opened. I akked them if the congestion at Clearview would be relieved if we opened 9 temporary holes at Forest and they all agreed that it would not make a bit of difference. The dry weather in April did us a lot of damage, more at Forest than anywhere else and I suggest a press release be issued that due to weather conditions the opening date for Forest Park be postponed until the grass can stand the play. John R. Van Kleek Golf Architect. ft DEPARTMENT OF PARKS FOR IMMEDIATE" RELEASE Arsenal, Central Park May 6, 1935. Tel. Regent 4-1000 The Department of Parks announces that its City-Wide Marble Shooting Contest for boys and girls which has been conducted in all of the various park playgrounds throughout the city is nearing com- pletion. The championship will be determined on May 15, 1935, on the Plaza in front of City Hall. This annual marble shooting Contest has become an event which is looked forward to with great interest by the children of the city and the attachees of the Park Department have been hard put to it to take care of the numerous entries. Boys and girls under 14 years of age have been competing since the first part of April in this tournament in order to qualify for the championship games at City Hall. Separate contests have been held for the boys and girls, neither having met each other during the course of the tournament. When the City Hall games take place the public is assured of seeing the pick of the boroughs, since only the winners of the respective boroughs v;ill be chosen to play that day. Three boys from each borough will meet three boys from each other borough and the same will be true of the girls. In addition to these contests it is planned to have the winning boy meet the girl champion at a time and place to be fixed later, in order to determine the question of whether the boys or girls excel in marbles. -End- 221 · DEPARTMENT OF PARKS · FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Arsenal, Central Park April 29, 1935. Tel. Regent 4-1000 The Department of Parks announced today the receipt of a permit from the owners of the property bounded by Sutphin Boulevard, 88th Avenue, 148th Street and 89th Avenue, for the use of this area for playground purposes for a period of one year at no cost to the city. The property belongs to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn and this permission was granted by the Right Reverend Thomas E. Malloy, D.C., Bishop of Brooklyn. The property comprises one complete block, a little over two acres, plans for the playground include hand- ball and basketball courts and an area set aside for small children equipped with apparatus. The development of this playground and of many others throughout the city is entirely dependent upon relief funds. These funds have been steadily reduced so far as the Park Department is concerned. We now have approximately half the amount for material which we had last summer and fall* There are further threatened cuts in both men and materials. Under these circumstances, scores of new playgrounds cannot be equipped and opened this year. A complete statement on this subject giving the list of the playgrounds which cannot be opened and their lo- cation in every borough of the city will be furnished to the press next week in answer to hundreds of communications as to why the promised new playgrounds are not being developed and opened faster. -End- * FOR II .MEDIATE RELEASE DEPARTMENT OF R.RKS A p r i l 1 6 , 1935. ARSENAL CENTRAL TEL. Regent 4-1000. A p r i l 17, a t 3:30 P.M., the Department .of Parks w i l l o f f i c i a l l y open J a y Hood Y/right Playground' a t F o r t Washington ^venue t o Haven ^venue, n o r t h of 173rd S t r e e t , Manhattan. Approximately 250 c h i l d r e n w i l l p a r t i c i p a t e i n t h e ceremonies by s i n g i n g and dancing, addresses w i l l be mcide by Borough D i r e c t o r John W. H e a s l i p , Jr c ? Miss E l l e n s>.. G. P h i l l i p s , D i s t r i c t S u p e r i n t e n d e n t of t h e Board of Education; F o r e s t L. Boyles, P r e s i d e n t of t h e Washington Heights Chamber of Commerce, alderman E l i a s H. Jacobs w i l l make t h e p r e s e n t a t i o n and G l o r i a Woods and Paul ^ronin, representing the Spirit of the Park, will accept the playgrcpdfid. .. · --~- / Facilities, will consist of slides, swings, jungle gym, see-saws, horizontal ladders and bars, soft ball diamond, wading pool and two haildball courts. The r e - creation building will include a playroom and two loggias. Floodlights will be installed for night USE- Ten play- ground directors will supervise this three*-acre playground, r -end-* ft DEPARTMENT OF BJiFS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE THROUGH Arsenal, Central Park NE7 YORK CITY NE'./S A:SOCI^TION Re-.ent 4-1000. April 12, 1935. CHILDREN PLANT GARDENS ^T BETSY IIEAD IARK HOPKI173O1J ,J\E> BL/aKE ^VEfcUES, BROOKLYN, N.Y. Monday, ^pril 15, 1935, at 11 A.M.. The first group of 300 children will begin planting their first crop of Scallions, Lettuce, White and Red Rad- ishes Monday, April 15 at 11 A.M. The children will be taken into the garden in groups of 40 and given a demonstration planting on one of the little gardens, by a garden instructor. Tags bearing their names and the number of their little 4 X 8 ft. gardens are given to the children before planting. This tag entitles ownership unless rules or regulations are broken. *>n important lesson in responsibility is here given as every tag bears upon it, the potent warning "if you lose your tag, you lose your plot." Seeds and little garden tools are furnished by the Recreation Division of the Department of Parks. The resultant harvest of their quick growing spring vegetables will be garnered in a "as ye sow, so shall ye reap,11 spirit and proudly taken home by the little farmers. The garden plots are planted intensively, several times during the growing season, so that groups of different children in these congested areas may learn some of the workings of nature and have a good time in doing so. -end- DEPARTMENT O F P^RWABW S*\ y*\ J ^/FdFlMMEDI^TE / ^"OIFIMMEDI RELEASE A r s e n a l , C e n t r a1 l Park Park .. · · JJ // I/ Aprils Apri 15, 1935. Tel. Regent 4-1000. .000. ^r-- /\y ^-r-rr- The Department of Parks issued a development plan today for the redesign and reconstruction of Highland Park, Interborough Parkway, Jamaica Avenue, Warwick Street and Highland Boulevard, Queens. The main play center will be between Highland Boulevard and Jamaica Avenue, Tennis courts will be resurfaced. Fruit trees will surround the children's gardens. The athletic field, separ- ated from the tennis courts by a large lawn, will contain three baseball diamonds. A field house will contain men's and women*s locker f a c i l i t i e s and a children's playroom. A wading pool eight inches deep and 160' by 90' will be located in front of the house, A walk w i l l circulate the athletic field and connect with a new stairway in the northwest section leading to Highland Boulevard. The Ridgewood Reservoirs will be surrounded by a shaded walk. Shade t r e e s , bushes and shrubs will be planted throughout. A playground equipped with complete apparatus will be located west of the reservoirs between Highland Boulevard and In- terborough Parkway. ^ shelter house will separate this section from the small children's play area end picnic ground. The old bandstand is to be altered and painted. A fish pool, stocked with gold fish, will form part of the redesigned flower garden, .around which will be bluestone walks. All vehicular drives, except the one connecting Highland Boulevard a.nd. the Parkway, will be superseded by walks. Parking space will be provided southwest of the reservoirs. The area of Highland Park is 96.08 acres, part of which is in Queens and part in Brooklyn. The land was acquired by purchase gift and surrender by the Department of Water Supply, Gas & Elec- tricity. The land purchased cost $501,370.60. ^ R.RKS FOR I^PDIATE RELEASE Arsenal, Central Park A p r i l 13, 1935. Resent 4-100C. ·y The restoration of Terrace Bridge, located at the extreme northerly end of the Mall, is rapidly nearing com- pletion. The restoration, as far as present conditions per- mit, follows the original design of Messrs.Olmstead and Vaux. A medium priced garden restaurant is being con- structed under the Bridge, with auxiliary facilities on the terrace, consisting of colorful tables, chairs and umbrellas. The restaurant is being provided primarily to serve light refreshments to those attending concerts, dances and other activities on the Mall. The restaurant proper v/ill be located under the Bridge with the kitchen in the southeast corner end adjoining a bar where beverages and sandwiches will be sold at popular prices. The terrace floor, which is done in red brick, will serve those who prefer, the garden type restaurant of the "Gay Nineties", or who wish to rest in the seats around the edge of the fountain. The Bethesda Fountain, designed by Emma Stebbins and erected by the City in 1873, serves as an appropriate background as does the lake just north of it. The restaurant v/ill be operated under a concession agreement with the Department of Parks and will open about the 15th of May. The restoration of Terrace Bridge includes the removal of the comfort facilities which formerly existed on the west end of the enclosed terrace. New and.modern facil- ities have been erected on either side of the stairs midway between the lower terrace and the Mall on the upper level. -end-- FOR It MEDIATE RELEASE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS " THROUGH THE 1 -TE7 YORK CITY Arsenal, Central Park NEY/S ASSOCIATION. Tel. Regent 4-1000. April 12, 1935. The Department of Parks announces that a tree, will be dedicated to the memory of General Sam Houston, first governor of the Republic of Texas, by the Historic Nut Tree Planting Association in Heckscher Playground, Central Park, at 2 J O 0 P.M. April 14. Lt.-Col. Lake, President of the Association will make the presentation. The tree, which will be transplanted from General Houston's old home at Huntsvilie, Texas, will be marked by a bronze plaque denoting its historic nature. rvllyn R. Jennings, Landscape Architect, will represent the Park Department. Margaret Bell Houston, granddaughter of Sam Houston, will read 5'Song from Traific", an original poem, addresses will be made by Prof. Dudley F. McCollum, New York University; Borough Director John U. Heaslip, Jr.j Mrs. Horace L. Hotchkiss and Colonel Martin L. Crimmins. -end-- 1!JMO TO: E P KING April 11, 1935· FROM: · J.F. MURRAY SUBJECT: PROORAi: FOR OP-XING OF TIE BASEBALL SEASON AT VICTORY FI3LD, SUNDAY APRIL 14 2 P.M. Bandselections and maneuvers by G-rover Cleveland High school band, under tho direction of Professor Seifert. 2:30 PM Players of the Ravens Baseball Team and the Aztecs Baseball team will line up on the field and led by the band will parade to the flagpole and raise the flag. 2:40 PM Each team will have ten minutes practice on the fieldf 3: PM Matthew Napear will throw out the first ball starting the game. John F. Murray Supervisor Recreation Quens NOTE: THE Ravens and the Aztecs are r i v a l teams of Grlendale and played a 1-tt game a t the end of l a s t season. Both are uniformed teams*. KSK DEPARTMENT OF PARKS FOR IMMEDIATE RELICS E '"*.. Ars enal, Central Park. April 11, 1355 Tel. Regent 4- 1000 OFFICIAL OPINING OF PARK BASE3ALL DIAMONDS The Department of Parks announces tho formal opening of 159 baoebcll' diamonds Sunday afternoon, April 14. .VKyo:? LaGuardia and tho five Borough Presidents have been invited to throw oat the first ball in their respective boroughs. Teams have been picked from those regularly using Park diamonds. Each Borough Supervisor of Recreation issues permits for alter- nate Saturdays and Sundays} for a period of two hours from 10: 00 A. M . to 6:00 P. IS.. , iipon written application. Thus more teams can be taken care of and consideration given to neighborhood teaua. The Schedule of openings is as follows: In the Bronx the Raleigh Baseball Club will play the Bain- bridge Baseball Club at Van Cortlandt Park on Diamond 1 at 1: 50 P. M. The Manhattan Concert Band will furnish music. In Brooklyn the KC.UH Arrows will vio against the Bovorley Baseball Club for the honor of winning the first game, to be played at 2: 00 P. M. The New York State Sym phonic Band will play incidental music. In Manhattan the Holy Name Church team, under the direction 1 of Rev. A . V.. Meyer, will contest the first game against the Lamport Manufacturing Co. team, managed by Miss Teddye Wolf, on Diamond 3, North Meadov/, Central Park, at £: .*00 P. M. Mus ic will be furnished by the Park Department Band. In Queens the Grovor Cleveland High School Boys' and Girls' Band will lend color r ..t the game between the Raven Baseball Club and the Ajstec A . C. et Victory Field, Forest Park, k: 50 P. M. The Old Timers' ' Association of Queens are invited as guests of honor. In Richmond the Pleasant Plain be^z and West Brighton ( Cardinals will play at Willow Brook Park at 2:M P. M. Fair warning is given the big leaguers, because Park Depart- ment employees are going to keep these diamonds in the best possible condition, - End- DEPARTMENT OF PARKS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE the Arsenal, Central Park April 8, 1935 Regent 4-1000 The Department of Parks has made arrangements with the Department of Sanitation to cover with d e a n sand the fill which the Sanitation Department recently deposited in Orchard Beach at Pelham Bay Park. The dredge ·Empire Stated which is owned and operated by W. H. Gahagan, Inc., has been engaged by the Department of Sanitation for this work and will proceed this week to Orchard Beach to start operation. The dredge has a capacity of about 8,000 cubic yards a day. The covering of this fill with clean sand, pumped over it by the dredge, will remove every objection which can be raised freat a health, standpoint. -End- OF P^RKS - FOR RELEASE Arsenal, Central Park SUNDAY, A p r i l 7, 1S35, Regent 4-1000. The Department of Parks announced today that commencing Easter Sunday the Conservatory in Prospect Park, Brooklyn, will be open to the public daily from 10 n.M. to 8 P.M. Easter is a little late, so the exhibit may not last more than two weeks. The masterpiece in this Easter horticultural display will be a huge cross, thirty feet high and fifteen feet wide, planted with more than three thousand of the finest Gigantcum Lilies imported from Japan. The sides will be banked with beautiful Genista and pearl pink Rhododendrons, .azaleas in every color and shade will form the foundation. Floodlights have been installed to bathe the display in a blaze of color. Children under sixteen years of age will not be admitted in the evenings unless accompanied by a guardian. It is expected this year's attendance will far surpass the 150,000 people which visited the exhibit in 1934. -end- · j " DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ^ FOR RELEASE | - f Arsenal, Central Park Sunday, April 7, 1935, Tel. Regent 4-1000 The area adjoining Coney Island known as the Dreamland Parking Space is to be developed as a recreation center, according to plans announced today by the Department of Parks. It is bounded on the north by a pedestrian way, on the west by West 8th Street, on the south by the Boardwalk and on the east by West 5th Street. The section immediately adjacent to the Boardwalk v/ill be re£raded and resurfaced. It will contain ten handball courts, twenty-eight paddle tennis courts and ten shuffleboard courts, to be separated equally by a lawn. The remaining area will be developed principally as a great lawn for archery and games. It will be enclosed and shaded by Sycamore trees, and benches will be provided. An underpass will connect the area east of the Municipal Bath House, Heretofore this has been nothing more than a barren sand lot. This section will be developed as sand play areas. More than six hundred trees are to be planted in these two main areas to provide needed shade. The Boardwalk will be ten feet above the park. A four foot bulkhead is to be erected under the Boardwalk. The space between the top of the bulkhead and the boardwalk will be completely enclosed to separate the beach and perk areas and to regulate ingress and egress between the two. Seaside Park, northeast of this development, is to be rehabilitated by the Department of Parks, following the existing design. The plan, however, anticipates the eventual connection of Seaside Park and the Boardwalk by a mall 150 feet wide. (Continued) Page 2. "Dreamland Parking Space" was acquired by purchase March 14, 1912, at a cost of $2,552,436. It has an area of 11.56 acres and was purchased at the same time the city bought Jacob Riis Park, an area of 258.58 acres. Although "Dreamland Parking Space" is less than 5% of the area of Jacob Riis Park it cost approximately twice as much. It was purchased as an addition to Seaside Park but vas never developed as intended, and the decision as to its use has long been in controversy. In 1923 the Department of Parka of the Borough of Brooklyn pjived the area and operated it as a parking space. This was subsequently leased in 1326 to a privf:-.te corporation for the parking of automobiles. Last spring the Department of Parks cancelled the lease and operated the parking area with its own employees. In 1927 a resolution waa introduced in the Board of Aldermen to transfer the land back to the Commissioners of tho Sinking Fund as a protest against the non-dovolopmont of the area n.s< i park or playground and to release it for other use. How the area is to be developed by the Department of Parks along the lints vhich induced its purchase- by the city. The new facilities will muet tho need of a recreation center in this section, separate r -.n d distinct from the beach at Coney Island. Borough President Ingersoll1? approval hr>.s been given. These improvements v.ill bo mr.de as soon as sufficient work relief funds tire available. -End- ft FOR RELEASE DEPARTIVENT OF P^.RKSW SATOEIDAY, A p r i l 6,1935 A r s e n a l , C e n t r a l Park Regent 4-1000* The Department of Parks will initiate a new activity with the inauguration of a "Science Exhibit and Fair11 for the general public on June 1st, 1935. The fair will be held at two locations simultaneously--The Prospect Park Picnic House in Brooklyn, and the Macombs Dam Recreation Building, at 165th Street and Jerome avenue in the Bronx. It is in line with the policy of the Department to encourage this form of activity because of its aid to the proper use of the new leisure time. This exhibit will be prepared by the children of the various playgrounds throughout the city under the supervision and guidance of the Borough Supervisors of Recreation. It will consist of a showing of the many articles of handicraft made by the children during the year, raid.··an exhibition of the various hobbies indulged in by them with the cooperation of the playground directors. The exhibit will be partitioned into two main divisions-- nature study pud mechanics. There will be exhibits of home-made radios, both receiving end tr nsmitting sets^ model yachts and sail- boats; model motorboats, baskerty, mats, cabinet work, soap carving? knitting, bookbinding, hooked rugs, entomological collections,, col- lections of the flora and f .una of the region, .and many other inter- esting exhibits. ^11 exhibits will be prepared by the children and will demonstrate the variety of handicraft work done in the parks and playgrounds. The children will also exhibit the various scientific collections developed by them during the school term, such as "biological collections, manual training exhibits, etc. Every park and playground in the city will be represented by one or more exhibits. Arrangements are being made to present prizes for the best exhibits, anotg the different age groups. There will be no charge for entering an exhibit in the fair, neither will there be anycharge for admission. -end-' DEPARTMENT OF PARKi^ FOR RELEASE Central Park, Arsenal FRIDAY,April 5,1935. Regent 4-1000." >2> H Under the direction and guidance of playground directors, children who attend the Department of Parks playgrounds are making great strides in the amateur theatrical field. Their activities, which embrace all phases of amateur dramatic work, provide excellent training as well as aiding to develop hobbies. The boys and girls who take part in the shows engage in all details of the work. They design and make costumes in the playground sewing classes £ the boys design and construct scenery and attend to the lighting and proper- ties. The children range from six to sixteen years of age. Most of them h?.ve had no experience in this field, but despite this handi- cap some remarkably fine plays have been presented. Many fine shows are scheduled for April. In Manhattan the plays will be given Saturday afternoons at Carmine Street, Gyr/aiasium, Clarkson .and Varick Streets. Three or four plays will be given each afternoon, beginning at 2s00 P.M. During intermissions while scenes are being changed the Dance Group of the Gymnasium will present a series cf modern and interpretative dances. Several dramatic functions are scheduled for the Bronx in April. April 13 an "amateur hour" of thirty-six a.cts, which will include representation from every Bronx playground, will be staged at Macomb's Dam Recreation Building, 165th Street and Jerome Avenue. At 2s00 F.IvI., jipril 23, children from Lyons Square Playground will present "Princess Chrysanthemum", an operetta. ^ ivpril 24 children of St. Mary's West Playground will give "The Queens Cross-Patch." In Brooklyn, Queens and Richmond, where facilities are available, plays will be given at various playgrounds. Information as to the time and place of presentation may be secured from each Borough Director. -end- DEPARTMENT OF PARKS FOR RELEASE Arsenal, Central Fark THURSDAY, April 4,1935. Regent 4-1000. The Department of Parks will sponsor an extensive Soft Ball Tournament in the city Playgrounds during the spring and summer months. This game is comparatively new in New York City, but has been played for years in the other cities of the country. The Park Department has sponsored Soft Ball Tournaments in previous years, but not on the scale contemplated this year. The game differs from the regular hard baseball in that it is played on a smaller diamond, either grass or concrete, and a much larger and softer ball is used. No other equipment than bats and balls are necessary for the game, making it cheaper to play. The tournament will start on April 20th, and will have five classegj a. Boys under sixteen years. b. Boys between sixteen and nineteen years. c. Boys and men over nineteen years. d. Married men e. Girls and women over eighteen years. The tournament will be conducted in all boroughs simultan- eously. It will be an- elimination tournament, to determine the winners in the respective playgrounds. These winners will meet the teams from the other playgrounds, beginning on or about May 20th. The tournament will continue throughout the summer, with the semi- finals taking place between August 25th and September 9th. Medals to the city champions in each class will.be awarded by the Department. Teams and players who wish to enter this tournament are requested to communicate with the nearest playground, or with the Park Director of their respective borough. -end-* ft Arnmmlt Ceatral P«ic A p r i l JKf 1386» Tel, E»g»>;fe 4-1000 ASfiOC © tlhit Urals «1U tak# pl«ct will for ocmteft this -«itH of er®&tioii of Ma SOCCSl A E t ? l a a l « of t*v*> ©oec«r t o a M i l teit« » l a c « A p r i l Oth s t Nortel f}L*fUJ£>i*-^\ V" J2ol DEPARTMENT OF PARKS FOR RELEASE, Arsenal, Central Park Monday, April 1st. \GI Tel. Regent 4-1000 Three areas, constructed with Work Relief Funds, are to be opened by the Department of Parks on Monday (April 1) * Two are play- grounds, located at Vander»oort Avenue and Cherry Street, Brooklyn, and at 32nd Avenue and 106th Street, Queens, and brings the total of playgrounds opened during the past year to forty-nine. Another is the section of the William H. Sewara Park which has been developed as a formal setting for the Jacob H. Schiff fountain. The playground at Vandervoort Avenue and Cherry Street has an area of nearly an acre. The land was acquired by the Sinking Fund Commission by purchase at a cost of £22,500 and it was turned over to the Department of Parks on April 3, 1924, for development as a playground, but the land lay dormant and undeveloped until the present program of play- ground construction was undertaken. It will contain a wading pool, a basketball court, eight kindergarten swings, six large swings, two handball courts, two playground slides, two kindergarten slides, eight see-saws, a horizontal bar, a set of parallel bars, a climbing ladder and a jungle gym. The area will also have a shelter house containing a playroom and conveniences. The exterior of the building has been completed. The playground at 32nd Avenue and 106th Street consists of about a quarter of an acre. It has been leased to the Department of Parks by the Society for the Propagation of the Faith. The lease runs until December 31, 1936. The play area will contain a bank of swings, four see-sawa, a giant stride and two slides. It will be opened at 3s30 P.M. The section of the 'William H. Seward Park bounded by Hester, Essex and Canal Streets has been developed along formal lines as an appropriate setting for the Jacob H. Schiff Fountain, designed by the late Arnold W. Brunner, architect, which is now being repaired and which will be the central figure in the design. The work on the fountain itself has not yet been completed and it will be put in place at a later date. -End- DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ^jQ FOR RELEASE Arsenal, Central Park ^ j£f Sunday, March 24, 1935. Tel. Regent 4-1000 The Heckscher Playground in Central Park was officially opened on June £1, 1926. The one person who did the most to overcome the oppo- sition to the establishment of a children's playground in Central Park was Sophie Irene Loeb, a prominent social worker who was instrumental in ob- taining much social legislation in the State of New York. The funds for the development of the playground were do- nated by Mr. August Heckscher. Through Mr. Heckscherrs generosity, it has now become possible to erect a memorial to Sophie Irene Loeb. This memorial will be erected as the central feature in the area occupied by the Heckscher Play- ground under a new plan recently prepared by the Department of Parks, call- ing for the complete renovation and redevelopment of this area. The memorial itself will consist of a carved stone group of statuary, which will also provide drinking fountains for children, surrounded by a circu- lar paved area, all enclosed by heavy landscape rjlanting. The new plan for this development, recognizes the origin- al intent of Miss.Loeb and Mr. Heckscher, that this playground should be used primarily by the younger children. The feature of most interest to the small children- is a wading pool approximately 60' x 250'. In past i years this pool has been used simply as an open saucer of water, with no attempt at regulation or prevention of contamination. The new plan calls for revising the construction of this pool, so that it will fit more appro- priately into its natural rock location, and provides for restricted en- trance and egress through a sterilizing, chlorinated foot bath. The ball field, which occupies about one half of the area of the playground, has always buen a bare expanse of dust and cinders with no orderly layout. For days after every heavy rainstorm in the Summer this (Continued) # Page 2. field is nothing but a mud hole. It v;ill now be regraded, properly drained, and seeded. There will be four soft ball diamonds and two hard ball diamonds, which vri.ll be permanently and properly located for the most efficient use of the area for ball play|ng. This field will be laid out in such a way that it can be used for football by the smaller boys and for field hockey by the girls, during the seasons when baseball is not played. The present recreation building, which served primarily as a comfort station, will be remodeled to provide recreation rooms for cold and inclement weather, and a heating plant will be installed so that it can be used throughout the year. The present equipment of swings, see-saws, playhouses, etc. will be increased and placed in an orderly ar- rangement, which will make the playground usable for at least twice as many children as have been able to take advantage of it under the present layout. In addition to the present facilities, there will be added a few small grass areas on which children can play croquet and other group games. -End- DEPARTMENT OF PARKS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Arsenal, Central Park March 22, 1935 Tel. Regent 4-1000 A joint announcement of the Department of Parks end the Department of Health today made public the revised plans for the construction of the new health center on the south side of 115th Street just east of Lexington Avenue. The site, acquired through private purchase for the sum of $103,120, is to be improved with a four-story brick building for use as a District Health Center by the Department of Heslth. The original plans prepared by the Department of Health have been modified so that the roof of the new building is to be made into a playground by the Department of Parks. The East Harlem Health Center is one of seven similar building? for which the P.I.A. has allotted funds. These buildings have been designed to suit the needs of the district in which they are to be built, end wherever prac- ticable similar playgrounds provided by the Department of Parks will be made part of the health center. "I cm delighted", said Commissioner Rice, "at the very effective cooperation which Commissioner Moses hr.s given the Department of Health. The addition of the roof playground adds immeasurably to the in- fluence of the Health centers. After 11.1, the primary function of the centers is health education and clean, safe end attractive playgrounds will help us in our efforts." The new building for the Es st Harlem Heflth Center will be basement and two stories in height, of fireproof steel skeleton type construction. Access to the roof playground, will be through direct outside stairways and by elevator. The first floor will contain certain facilities for general entrance and circulation, and the rooms required for the various clinic and diagnosis services. The second floor will provide spr.ee for the administrative staff and voluntary charity agencies connected with this work. DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ~?-~ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Arsenal, Central Park March 22, 1935 Tel. Regent 4-1000 The plans for this building are being prepared by Henry C. Pelton, architects, and will be ready for construction about the first of July. The building will be ready for occupajicy about March, 1936. The estimated cost is approximately $239,660. While the roof playground is not entirely new, the Department of Parks will spare nothing in the way of ingenuity in developing this area into the city's most modern recreational center above street level. It will be so designed and landscaped as to conceal from those using its facilities that they are located on a roof and high above the street where the air is better and competing influences are entirely removed. In addition to a wading pool, the playground will be equipped with see-saws, swings, slides and small playhouses. Shaded aireas will be set aside for quiet games. A roof loggia will contain a directors' room and all facilities, from which will extend a. shaded promenade and rest area which can be enclosed during the winter months. The joint use and development of this property by the Depart- ment of Health and Department of Parks was decided on at a conference between officials representing the interests of these two departments. The roof area was ma.de a.vailable for playground purposes by certain minor revisions in the original plans for the health center. The East Harlem neighborhood, in which this health center is located, is in great need of intensive health Service, recreation amd education. The depression has caused a gradual return into this area of those who, in mare prosperous times, had better homes elsewhere in the city. The establishment jf the East Harlem Health Center as one of the first units in the city-wide plan of health centers, is essential to meet the health needs of the local community, which is a tenement section, in which are some of the most difficult social and economic conditions in New York City. \ >' DEPARTMENT OF P^UKS FOR ILflviED IATE RELEASE n ARSENAL, CEl'ITRAL PARK lviARCH 1 4 , 1 9 3 5 . REGENT 4-#lOOO. / / The Department of Parks is carrying on an extensive campaign of comfort station renovation. Seventy-five per cent of these buildings were in poor condition and in need of repair at the advent of the new administration. It will be necessary, in many cases, to erect entirely new buildings to replace the antiquated and temporary types of shelter in various parks. Many of these buildings were erected in the late nineties and are still in use. They are constructed of wood. The original fixtures, by now totally inadequate and very unsanitary, are still in operation. During the year 1934 construction of forty-five new- play- grounds and recreational buildings in which modern comfort facilities are located, was begun. These are located as follows; Manhattan - Inwood Hill; Central Park Zoo; Cherry, Monroe & Gouverneur Sts.5 Gulick Playground; 17th St. Play- ground; Thompson St.Playground; Roosevelt Park, where four are located; Win. McCray Playground; Lewis & Rivington Sts.; Jos. C. Sauer Flayground; 83 Roosevelt St.; Essex & Houston Sts.; Hamilton Fish Park; High- bridge Park; J. Hood "/right Playground and Columbus Park. Brooklyn - Three at Leiv Eiriksson; Unnamed Playgrounds #4, 5, 10 and 13; Gowanus House and Drier Oiferman Playground; Dyker Beach Golf House; Prospect Park Zoo, and Wm. E, Sheridan Playground. Bronx - .Louis Zimmerman Playground; Vincent Ciccarone Play-, ground; 141st St. & Brook Ave.; and Felham Bay Golf house. Queens - Flushing Memorial Playground; Corona Playground; Jackson Heights Model Playground; Van Dohlen Playground; Daniel M. O'Connell Playground; and Chisholm Park. Richmond - Jewett & Castleton Sts.; Austin J. McDonald Playground; Nicholas DiMatti Playground; Barrett Park Zoo; and Silver Lake Golf House. . Plans are in progress to renovate the comfort stations in the following parks in the near future. Manhattan -Seward Park; Bryant Park; Columbus Park; Carl Schurz Park; Morningside Park; Washington Square Park; Corlears Hook; McLaughlin Park; Chelsea Fark; John Jay Park; Hamilton PI.; Hechscher Playground; Yorkville Playground; Hudson Park; St.Catherines Park; St. Gabriels Park; and in Central Park, North Meadow, The Rambles, The .Ball Hause and the Tennis House. Brooklyn - Cooper Park; Bushwick Park; Irving Square Park; Ft.Greene Park; V/inthrop Park; Sunset Park; McLaughlin Park; Fulton Park; Betsy Head Bath House; Carroll Park; McKibben Playground; Red Hook Playground; Tompkins Park; and City Park; and Saratoga Park. Queens - Astoria Park; Tennis House in Forest Park; Highland Park - Lower Level. Bronx - Van Cortlandt Park - two; and St. Marys Park. --2-- Tho oomfort s t TT a t i o n s in t h j fuiowin;-- uc.rks v. i i i h* dotnoxiaheci ana r o p i a o e d b rnodorn s t r a o t u r o s . Manhattan Battery Park; Mt. Morris Park; Stuyvesant Park*, John J. Murphy Park0, and in Central Park, the Dairy Comfort Station| one located at Conservatory Lake*, one at 110th St. & Lenox Ave.v and one near the tavern. Brooklyn - Red Hook Park^ Bowne Park; Tompkins Square Park', Seaside Park<5 Lincoln Terrace Parks and in Prospect Parkj the Boat House| Comfort station at Park Circle; The Flower House;, Croquet House5 and the comfort station at the Main entrance. Bronx - . Claremont Park, Franz Siegel Park$ and Crotona Park Square. Uniformed attendants in charge of these comfort stations see that they are properly maintained, -end- , . · : '·; f . ' f · · · ·. ,'i , DEPARTMENT OF Pr.RKS FOR RELEASE A R S E K A L , CENTAL P^RK MARCH 2 1 , 1 9 3 5 . 'REGENT 4 - 1 0 0 0 . , ft] The final game of the city-wide Roller Skating Hockey Tournament sponsored by the Recreation Department of the Department of Parks wall take place at Roosevelt Park, Chrystie and Forsyth Streets^ on Saturday March 23rd, 1935, at 1. P.M. This tournament has engaged the attention and interest of the youth of the city to a great extent and a large attendance is expected at the game. Boys under eighteen years of age who are the pick of the city's roller skate hockey players will participate in the game, to which many of the professional hockey players of. the International Hockey League h.:.ve been invited. The play- offs for the right to participate in Saturday's game have been taking place- during the past'week :X the various playgrounds of the Department of Parks, and the winners in e\c£» borough G.re being chosen. In order to accomodate the large number of visitors who are expected to attend the final game, arrangements are being made to have benches installed, so that every spectator will be assured of a comfortable seat in which to watch the game. The Park Department Band of sixty pieces will furnish music for the occasion. Through the courtesy of the Ice Club atop Madison Square Garden, the Hockey goals used for this game will be those used by the professional end amateur players in the ice hockey games which have proved so popular at Madison Square Garden during the past winter. --continued- -2- During the tournament over one hundred teams from all parts of the city have taken part in the tournament which had its inception during the first w>..ek of February. All of tlie teams were strictly amateur end were, coached to a l.rge extent by the playground directors in charge at the various playgrounds ~nd recre vtional areas throughout the city. .among the guests invited to be present at the game are: Miss Ida Oppenheimer, of the Lower last Side Community Council*, Miss Mary A. Kennedy, Principal of Public School 91; Rev. Brother Amody, Director of La Salle academy; Dr. r/illiam Kottman, Principal of Public School 65; Jack Filman, of M .dison Square Garden; Mr. George S. Kirkc? Principal of Public School 20; Mr. Robert Brodie, Principal of Seward High School, Mr. Gustavus Kirby of the ^m-tcur Athletic Union; H-.rry Schlact, Esq., of the East Side Chamber of Commerce, end a host of other figures in the world of sports nd recreation. -end- FOR RELEASE DEPARTMENT OF P«SKS SUKDAY, March 17,1935. Arsenal, Central Park Tel. Regent 4-1000. The Grand Army Plaza, constituting the main entrance to Prospect Park, Brooklyn, is to be completely rebuilt by the Department of Parks. The general design will remain unchanged but the promenade around the Bailey Memorial Fountain has been re- designed and the north entrances have b^en relocated away from the existing subway grating which is to be completely shielded by ground covering. The path around the oval is to be re- located somewhat nearer to the street to increase the planting area. This path will be shaded on either side by adequate plane trees. The promenade surrounding the fountain will be constructed oi Belgian blocks with a flagstone border and will be enclosed by a low hedge. A decorative curbing about 6 inches higher than the promenade, will enclose the fountain and add to its setting. The northern end of the oval is to be developed as a I'iwn banked on both sides with planting. The dividing street panels east and west of the oval are to be regraded and planted with adequate trees. New street tr^es along the sidewalks, east and west, will provide additional shade where needed. -continued- -2- The Soldiers' and Sailors' Memorial Arch at the northern entrance to the park was proposed by Mayor Seth Low. The cornerstone was laid on October 30, 1889. The monument was completed in October, 1892, and was the objective point of those taking part in the parade in memory of the 400th anniver- sary of Columbus' discovery of America. John H. Duncan was the architect. Mr. Frederick William MacHonnies was the sculptor for the naval and military groups flanking the archway and for the equestrian group symbolizing Victory, which surmounts the arch. The equestrian figures in high relief of Abraham Lincoln and General Ulysses Simpson Grant, were done by './. R. 0'Donovan and Thorn..s Eakins. This area was the scene of some of the fierce fighting which took place in "The Battle of Long Island". It was on "Prospect Hill" that more than 1,200 Americans lost their lives in the cause of liberty, and 1,000 were trie en prisoner. On April 17, 1860, the legislature enacted a lav/ ere .ting Prospect Park. The park was designed by Messrs. Olmstead & Vaux5 and is one of the city's largest and most beautiful p-jrks. -end- DEPARTMENT OF PARKS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Arsenal, Central Park March 15, 19 egent 4-1000. HOLLER HOCKEY.TOURNAMENT ilk S The Department of Parks announces an interborough Roller Hockey Tournament to take place during the week of March 18, 1935. The teams to participate in this tournament are those who have already won the championships of their respective boroughs. Each borough is very anxious to garner the championship of the city and the rivalry is already exceed- ingly keen. During the tournaments in the various boroughs the attendance at every game was considerable, showing that the :;arae of hockey as played on roller skates has won a firm place in the ^hearts of the child, en of the City of New York. Every game was..well._ attended not only by the children, but also by many grown-ups as we;ll,;-: ;. ;;;..v .;,.::,. \m;'· In Richmond, the team representing the Model Play- ground at tTewett and Castle ton Avenues annexed the championship pf that borough,: while;:the Brooklyn crown-was placed on the team oi Bushwick Park Playground. The boys, from Cpliege ,P6int Playground ;in Queens took, the- title in that Borough.,; In.-both the Bipnx and; Manhattan,., the.:.rivalry is,so ke.en: that the .·;-·· champions hcive, yet tpi be decided --the leading contenders;,:in. ; .. ~ the Bronx being the teams from the Playground at 141st Street and Bfrook Avenue, and,from McCpmbs Dam Park', in Manhattan: the team from .T.7est 59th Street Flaygrpund is fighting it out with the team frpmvRoosevelt Playground.; r ;· : : ;:; · ; . ·;- :. A H eyes will be upon, the interborough tpurnamentr next week when the respective champions meet each other to: de- cide who will be: the victor at the final game to be played at Roosevelt Playground on March 23, 1935.... Hpn.. Fiorello H> : . « LaGuardia, Mayor of the. City of New: York,; has been invitejol^to-;v act as, honprary, referee .of this; f inalrgame , · at which prizes will be awarded tp the} winner#ri, t The- Park, Department band, will · play andr;ac ccmpdat ions will, be made tp take care : of, the,, numerous spectators w&6 are expected, to be present. The--players of the National Hockey League;, inc|.udiiig..both the Am^rieans;.and: the _ · Rangers, Ustfe been invited tO; be.present* , ; · : ,.. ..: ., DEPARTMENT OF P A R K S ^ FOR IMMEDMTE RELEASE A rsenal, Central P ^ K MARCH Tel. Regent 4-1000 As a routine maintenance procedure, certain valueless plants in the Kissena Park Nurseries have been removed by the Department of Parks. This housecleaning has been reluctantly delayed for over a year, but the mounting maintenance costs have finally forced the Department to take this action. The present value of the stock which has been removed is nil. If this same quantity of stock were in first class condition it would cost about $8,000.00 if purchased in the open market today. None of the material destroyed was in anything approaching first class condition. If the destroyed material had been kept to be nursed back to health, which might have been possible for a negligible proportion of the stock removed, the ultimate cost per plant would have been far in excess of the cost of purchasing new mater- ial. This housecleaning is a common commercial nursery practice and no com- mercial nursery could or would afford to maintain stock of this nature* All of this stock Had been in this nursery for a number of years. Not a single tree or plant of those destroyed was purchased during the past year. The trees and plants destroyed suffered from one or more of the following defects: 1. Plants either dead or dying. S. Plants deformed by scars caused by fire or mechanical injury due to careless cultivation, causing them to be unhealthily deformed and in many cases resulting in partially decayed trunks. 3. Trees with low branches and crooked trunks which will never, in the opinion of experts, make satisfactory mature trees for park or street planting. 4. Trees with branches so high from the ground that they could not be trained to produce satisfactory trees for any park use. These trees were weak-stemmed and many required stakes to hold them up. They had been removed from nursery rows where they had been grown too close together for too many years. DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ^ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEA^f Arsenal, Central P a y ^ K MARCH 1 4 A 1935 Tel. Regent 4-1000 Treer H h mal-formed heads having bad branch formar tien which showed that they should never; have been' purchased by the City in the first instappe, and w^ich, if allowed to grow, would have become dattgerous t public for the following reasons: (a) Trees with bad crotches which could have been easily split open by a storm. (b) Trees that had had their central leaders cut, allowing serious decay in the trunks, resulting in deformed side branches which could easily be blown off by heavy wind. (c) Trees damaged and setiously weakened by infestation of borers. -end- DEPARTMENT OF PARKS 4 P W RELEASE m Arsenal, Central Park March 15, 1935, Tel. Regent 4-1000 113 PARE DEPARTMENT TO PLANT STREET TREES The Department of Parks is inaugurating the spring street tree planting program by setting out four thousand trees. These trees will be allocated among the five boroughs, 500 for Queens, 900 for the Bronx, 1,000 for Brooklyn, 1,200 for Manhattan and 400 for Richmond. They will be planted mainly on parkways, streets bordering parks and main thoroughfares such as Northern Boulevard in Queens, Jerome Avenue in the Bronx, Ocean Parkway in Brooklyn, Convent Avenue in Manhattan, and Rich- mond Terrace in Richmond. Much of the planting will consist of replace- ments of dead trees v/hich have been taken down. The work of removing dead, diseased, dangerous and nuisance trees has been carried on throughout the winter, together with pruning and shaping of those street trees most in need of such treatment. The poplar, especially, has been campaigned against vhere its well-known propensity to uproot pavements, obstruct and damage sewers with its roots, and break off or blow over in wind storms, is in evidence. No poplars or other inferior street trees such as the silver maple, will be planted or be permitted to be planted. The majority of the projected street planting Will consist of plane trees, Norray maples, pin oaks, scarlet oaks and lindens in sizes between 3" and 4" caliper. The average price is $10,00, bringing the total to approximately $40,000.00 for street trees. Because of the presence of Dutch Elm Disease in the re- gion, no elms will he set out at present. The policy of the Park Department in regard to the planting of street trees by private initiative remains the same as announced last fall, with the exception that no deposit is required with the application for a permit. (Continued) Page 2. Permits for planting b}: individuals or organizations on city streets will be issued by the Department except where conditions of soil, usage and other factors indicate trees will not survive. Permits must be secured before work is started, and the species, size and location of the tree will be specified. Preparation of the soil, as well as- the planting and any placing of guards or gratings, must be done according to specifications of the Park Department. The cost of the work, except supervision, must be borne entirely by the individual or organization requesting permit. Permits may be secured by applying by mail or in person, to the local borough office of the Park Department. MANHATTAN: Swedish Cottage, 79th Street and West Drive, Central Park. BRONX: Zbrowski Mansion, Claremont Park. BROOKLYN: Litchfield Mansion, Prospect Park, Prospect Park West and 5th Street. QUEENS: The Overlook, Union Turnpike and Park Lane, Kew Gardens, L. I. RICHMOND: Clove Lakes Field House, West New Brighton, S . I . All street plantings by the Department or by individuals will be maintained by the City. -End- · DEPARTMENT OF PARKS TOR IMMLDInTh RELEh.SE Arsenal, Central Park March 7, 1935. Tel. Recent 4-1000 ^ Through New York City News V iissoeiation. The Park Department recently leased from the Nev. York Central Railroad four parcels of property which will be developed as tem- porary playgrounds. · . . t These pronerties, leased to th^City for the sum of 131/ Oa,e Dollar per year, are all located on Washington Street. One lies be- tween .Morton and Le Roy Streets, and is approximately 200 x 50 feet;one between Perry and Eleventh Streets, irre^ulcr, approximately 206 x 70 feet; 0 one between West 12th and Jane Streets, approximately 160 x 64 feet; and the fourth between Jane and Horatio Streets, approximately 170 x 70 feet. The playgrounds will be fully equipped with children's play apparatus. Handball courts and shufflfr~boards will be constructed for the adults. Construction v.-ork will be started, shortly and the play areas will be available in early summer. The work will be done by Work Relief forces. -End- DEPARTMENT OF PAREjA FOR^feffiDIATE RELEASE Arsenal, Central P s K February 27, 1935. Tel. Regent 4-1000 The Park Department announced today the starting of work on the extension of Riverside Park along the west side^of the New York Central Railroad tracks. Dirt and rock fill is being brought into the area north of 72nd Street at the rate of 500 truck loads a day. This addition to the park is part of the West Side Improve- ment project. Permission has been obtained from the War Department to ex- tend the bulkhead line out fifty feet into the Hudson River from 72nd to 129th Streets. South of 83rd Street the fill will slope gradually up to a level with the express highway extension over the tracks. North of 83rd Street the express highway will be brought down on the fill at the water's edge. The areas not occupied by the highway will be landscaped and utilized·for various park activities. At 70th Street, which will be carried down to the waterfront by means of a grade crossing elimination, there will be a boat basin, and just to the south a large swimming bowl is planned. At 96th Street there will bo a second grade crossing elimination. A total of 1,000,000 cubic yards of fill is required to reclaim the entire area. Of this amount 800,000 cubic yards will come from the railroad cut under construction by the New York Central from 42nd to 64th Streets, Two contracts already have been let calling for delivery of 400.,000 cubic yards during the next four months at the rt.te of 4,000 cubic yards a day. All the stone taken from the cut will be used to construct a rip-rap wall along the park waterfront.. Work on this wall is expected to begin shortly. Relief labor will be used entirely. A squad of relief (Continued) Page 2. workers aided by several cranes and "bull dozers" (grading machines) al- ready ere at work on the dirt now coming in. The first contract on the West Side Improvement providing for retaining walls and foundations from 72nd to 77th Streets is expected to be completed in thirty days. Poirer & McLane Corporation were recently awarded a contract for $1,171,628.80 which includes approximately 8,000 tons of steel for the highway over the tracks and which is now being fab- ricated. A contract for the 79th Street grade crossing elimination will be let in the near future. The entire cost of the improvement up to 82nd Street is estimated at %3,500,000. The fill for the park area is being supplied by the railroad as part of its $18,000,000 project for taking the tracks off Eleventh Avenue and placing them in the new cut, which is being opened up between Tenth and Eleventh Avenues. -End- DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ARSENAL, Central Park Tel. Regent 4-1000 February 28, 1935 The Department of Parks announces the opening on Friday, March 1st, of three playgrounds and the improvement of a small park at Gouveneurs Slip and Front Street. d> Of The playgrounds to open are located on East 28th Street, east ' \ of Third Avenue, Manhattan; in Chisholm Park in College Point, Queens; and Union Avenue to Tinton Avenue between 161st and 163rd Streets in the Bronx. / '/ > "' w The playgrounds are all completely equipped with gymnastic and play apparatus. Handball courts are provided in the large playground in the Bronx. A modern shelter building now under construction in this play- ground will be opened in the near future. The park at Gouveneurs Slip and Front Street provides a needed breathing space in a congested area. The park is beautifully lands- caped with trees and shrubs and is amply provided with benches. Appropriate opening ceremonies will be held in all these areas. -End- DEPARTMENT OF PARKS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE A rsenal, Central Park February 19, 1935. Tel. Regent 4-1000 The Department of Parks announces the plan for the re- construction of Joyce Kilmer Park, north of the Bronx County Court House between Walton Avenue and the Grand Concourse and extending from 161st Street to 164th Street. The plan was prepared with the cooperation of the Borough President of the Bronx and the work will be done jointly by the Park Department and the Borou£h President. Joyce Kilmer Park now consists of an area roughly rec- tangular in shape between 162nd Street and 164th Street and three smaller triangles separated from the large rectangular area by streets. The Grand Concourse is narrowed down at about 162nd Street by these triangles and the existence of the streets through the Park constitutes a disorderly arrangement of traffic* The new plan calls for the continuation of the Grand Con- course through these small triangles. The panels planted with Linden trees will be also carried through to 161st Street, The diagonal street through the south end of the Park will be closed and the open well on 161st Street in front of the Court House will be covered over. All of the area remaining between 161st Street and 164th Street and between Walton Avenue and the widened Grand Boulevard and Con- course is included in the new Park layout. This new layout will afford a dignified setting to the County Court House. It will be built around a grass panel 900' long centering on the Court House. The panel will be surrounded by tree shaded promenades. The memorial fountain to Heinrich Heino, which is now located in one of the small triangles to be eliminated, will be located at the north end of this grass panel. An informal walk will be carried along the west edge of the Park under shaded trees. The statue of Louis J. Heintz, which is in another of the small triangles, will be relocated on the west side of the Park over- looking a grass panel opposite 162nd Street. -End- THE MONUMENT TO HEINRICH HEINE 1799 - 1856 The memorial is in the form of a decorative fountain in white marble, the center of which is occupied by a figure of "Die Lorelei" on a high pedestal. On one side is the portrait bust of Heine in low relief. T The base of the shaft is ornamented with mermaids on each side of shell like basins into which water flows from the mouth of a dolphin. The memorial is the work of Ernest Herter and bears the following inscription: HEINRICH HEINE TO THE MEMORY OF THEIR GREAT POET THE GERMANS IN AMERICA THE MONUMENT TO LOUIS J. HEINTZ This monument was presented to the City in 1909 by a Committee of Bronx citizens who sought to pay tribute to a former Street Improvement Commissioner for his work in making possible the con- struction of the Grand Concourse. It was the work of Pierre Feitu. The monument consists of a granite pedestal vhich bears the following inscription: LOUIS J. HEINTZ TO COMMEMORATE THE FOUNDING OF THE PROGRESS AND PROSPERITY OF THE BRONX A bronze portrait figure of Heintz is placed on the pedestal and a bronze figure picturing Fame as a draped female figure, is placed at the base of the pedestal. -End- p CiNT CF PARKS F0I1 ,, Central Bark Monday, February 18, 1935 fel. Regent 4-1000 The Department of Parks announces its redesign of City Hall Park, to ba made effective after the demolition of the old Post Office and the return of the land on which it stands to the city* This plot» irregular in shape, will be completely rede- signed, the new plan includes a broad promenade on the axis of City Hall and St. Paul's Chapel. The statue of Civic Virtue ie to be removed, k new fountain, tnore in keeping wita existing surrounding*, will be placed at the intersection of Broadway and Park How. The entire park will be encircled by plane trees and hedges. the shaded walks throughout the park will contain ample benches. '^ The bronze statue of Nathan Hale, presented to the eity in 1393 and designed by F. «*. MaeHonnies, and the one of Horace Qreeley, designed by John Qulney Adams Ward and given to the eity in 1916, will flank the sain facade of Gity Hall, with the statue of Nathan Hale on the west and the one of Horace dreeley on the east side of the area* the automobile entrance and parking space now directly In front of City Ball will be rewoved to the rear of the building in the new plan* This new design will open a beautiful vista of City Hall and the park to those approaching the area from the south. The Department of Plant and Structures has already an- nounced plans for a new elevated terminal to replace the unsightly structure located on Centre Street, opposite City Hall Park. fhe reconstruction work will be started this spring. With the completion of the contract for the new Post Office on May l t 1936t the present Post Office will be demolished and the property returned to the Bark Department. When the Post Office is removed the Park Department will cose back and complete the new construction of this area of the Park on the Poet Office site, the present plan includes the future landscaping of this area. -End- · A $mxr Hisrcay OF cm HAH, PARS; The City of New York acquired title to the land comprising City Hall park in the year 1686, under the terns of the Deagan Charter, vis.} "I do by these presents give and grant onto the said Mayor| Aldsraen and Comaonalty of the s&id City of New Tork all th« waste vacant unpateated and unappropri- ated lands lying and being within ths said City of Hew York and on Manhattan Island aforesaid extending and reaehlng to the low water aark," etc* At that time the area was uncultivated. The park took its form as the result of gradual evolution rather than by careful planning, the first building to be erect ad within the area of City Ball Park is shown on the map of 1788, just opposite what is now Murray Street, and this or an* other small building is shown on this site until the building of the prison, then known as the Bridewell, in 1776. The first public building, an axiBShouee, was ersctsd on the sits in 1736* Two snail outhouses were later erected adjacent to the alsa- house, and la 1757 a small area, east of the workhouse fence, was enclosed as a burial plaee for the poor of that institution. In 1797, a new alms- house was erected in the rear of the first one, which was then demolished. In 1745 the eitiiens erected a palisade and six block- housss as a protecting barrier against possible invasion by Franco, which country had declared war on England the previous year* A powder magaaine was also erected a short distance southeast of the alashouse. The Common Council Based a committee la 1757 to build & new gaol to cope with the growth of o H a e . This building stood 135 feet east of the present City Hall and it it said to have cost less than $12,000. It was the oldest Municipal building in the Gity at the time of its demolition in 1903, and was known at various periods as the Mew Oaol, the Debtors' Prison, the Provost, the Register's Office and finally as the Hall of Records. The Coffioon Council authorised the Committee on the New Oaol to «r«ct a public whipping post, stocks, eage and pillory opposite the gaol, which waa used as a city prison until 1830* Then the City required iaproved facilities for earing for its records asd the gaol was selected by (Continued) 1 Paga 2. ' ' a eoamittee of the Season Council for this purpose, and the building was remodeled into what has been tarmed an "architectural nondescript1* · On eotspletion i t housed the municipal offieea and the depository of the c i t y ' s ' reeords. One by one the eity officials »er# ©bligtd to vacate to acco- naodate th« ever increasing voiuta© of public record* until 1B 1869 the building was occupied exclusively by the vity Registert »«d ws* known as th© Register's Office and also «us the Hall of Suseordf* I t was i s 189? that tfid City erected a new Ball of Records on the north side of Phawbsrs 3traet and ths Board of Alden»®B voted to place the old building undar the supervision of the Natural Histories! Mu- 89UK for uaa as a public sUSQUE but the building had to give way shortly thereafter-to the construction of a subway station at Brooklyn Bri4ge» The American 3csnic and Historic Preservation. Society and other civic bodies vigorously opposed the demolition of this old xwndraark but i t was eventually condemn ad as *uaeafe" and ^dangerous te life* and 4esolishe4 in 1903* Plans for a new prison were approved on March 17th, 1775f by the Common Council, and this building was erected an the s i t e between the first aliashouae and Broadway* During the Resolution i t was used as a orison for i^erle&n Soldiers* This struetuee furnished some of tha materials used in the Toffib'a Prison in Centre Street when i t was demolished in 18BS* It Is interesting to note that the new prison was erected with funds partially supplied from a lottery, and that the City trassurer was authorised to tales 1,000 tickets "en and for the risque of the Corporation*. The lottery flan was also advanced as a means of finanoing in part the second The second almshouse was built in 1797 and the old one was removed* This building stood until 1857, a year of great financial distress, when it was deaaolished, partly for the purpose of giving work to the unem- ployed* Tna present City Hail, designed by Viacomb and Mangin, was erected in 1301 on the site of the first alashouae. It cost $538,733, and is recognised as one of the best examples of the period from an architectural (Continued) · » Pasta 3 . standpoint. Hie first City Hall was located at 73 Pearl Street and the second stood on the site of the United States Sub-treasury at Nassau and fall Streets. Other buildings located within the boundaries of City Hall Park Included the Rotunda, a circular done-like structure erected in 1818 by John Vandsrlyn to be used as an a r t gallery* &fter the great fire in 1835 the Rotunda served as a post office* In 1845 i t was converted into offices and was torn down in 1S70 to allow for the development plan of the Depart* merit of Parks* the Gity Court House was built in 1652, west of the Rotunda, and i t has been known periodically as the Marine Court, the Court of Sessions and the City Court. Trie County Court Houe© which f r on ted en Chaaber* Street in the rear of the City Hall was begun in 1361* I t s cost was estimated at 4116,000,000. In 1867 ths southern and of City Kail Park, having an area of 65,259 feet, was sold for 1500,000 to the Federal Government for a post office and Courthouse, which was reedy for occupancy in 1875. the *Go»8Boaw, as the park was termed under ths early regime of the Dutch, dating frost 1626, was uted as a parade ground for the Soldiers marching up from fort Amsterdam* During the Revolutionary far, American Soldiers were quartered and drilled la the Fields, and the area fortified. It was here in March 1776, that Alexander Hamilton became captain of Artillery and started on hie dis- tinguished career} here that the Declaration of Independence was read on i t s receipt en July 9th, 1876, t o an eager and waiting populace* In the early days the park was the focal point of official r e - ceptions, asong which were ths gala reception to i&fayette on August 16, I82fts the celebration of the opening of the iurie Canal on Noveaber 24th, 1825 j Oroton water celebration on October 14th, 1842 \ arid the eerenonles incident- al to the laying of the Atlantic cable in august, 1858 - lad - i DEPARTMENT O F PARKS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE A r s e n a l , C e n t r a l Park t £ '**\^' CTR ^ - IQ^/rf V T e l . Regent 4-1000 / / ^ TLD 0 I30JI -i The Department of Parks announces the plan of development of Randall's Island. This plan calls for the removal of eighty-seven hospital buildings and other structures. The four hundred patients in the House of Refuge are being moved to the state institution at Coxsackie.: These patients will vacate the Island before the end of the winter* at which time the buildings they now occupy will be torn down. Fifteen buildings are now being demolished under contract by the Triborough Bridge Authority. Patients from the City Hospital far the Feeble Minded and Tubercular are being distributed in other city institutions. All of the buildingsj except five needed for Park development, will be vacated by spring and entirely demolished by either the Triborough Bridge Authority or the Department of Parks. The Park Department's plan utilizes one hundred of the one hundred and fifty acres on the Island for active recreation. Thirty-two acres are occupied by roads, paths, buildings and landscaped areas. Eight- een acres are used for a tree-shaded promenade around the Islandi A landing dock for motor boats has been provided bn this esplanade. A ramp is provided from the Triborough Bridge to the Island at the meeting, point of the three arms of the bridge to the Boroughs' of Queens, Manhattan and the Bronx. This ramp is arranged to accommodate vehicles to and from each of the three boroughs without cross t r a f f i c . A vehicular road is planned from the ramp around the south.shore of the Island where a low level bridge is t o be built toconnect Randall's Island with Ward's Island to the south. Twenty-four acres of parking space have been laid out under the bridge. A bus station has been provided. Comfort f a c i l i t i e s , a gasoline station and a lunch c ounter are planned under the Triborough Bridge to serve both the bridge traffic and the Randall's Island Park. Four of the existing hospital buildingsTO.11be re-conditioned for park usage. One building will be converted into a restaurant, another into a recreational building and another into an administration building. An existing warehouse will be utilized as a park service building. A fifth building in the park will be moved and converted into a field house. Eight acres of the park area are laid out for tennis courts. They are built on each side of the New York Connecting Railway Viaduct. Twenty-three acres on the north t i p of the Island will be used as an athletic field and i t is large enough to accommodate three football fields or three full sized baseball diamonds. Twenty acres are set aside on the south side of the Island for another athletic field large enough t o provide four base- ball diamonds or three football fields. Two open play areas for adults take up seventeen acres. A children's playground adjacent to the central recrea- tion building requires two acres. One acre has been set aside for old people to play quiet games. The athletic fields and playgrounds have been laid out around a stadium on the westerly shore of the Island. This stadium occupies five acres of ground, and will be built around a quarter mile cinder running track. A full sized baseball diamond and football field have been laid out within the stadium. The stands will be approximately three-quarters of an ellipse in plan and while they will be constructed to seat 10,000 people they have been designed so that the capacity can be greatly increased if necessary. The stands look out over the last River and the new East River Parkway approach to the Triborough Bridge in Manhattan. All of the recreational f a c i l i t i e s on the Island will be fitted into the general landscaped area. Trees and shrubs will be planted to provide shade. The Park will be operated by the Department of Parks for organ- ized games and as a city-wide sports area. Athletic teams will use the area under permit from the Department. The Park Department is now operating one hundred and sixty baseball diamondsj three hundred and seventy-four tennis courtsj fifty-four soccer fields, forty-eight football fields and seventeen running tracks through- out the City. Additional f a c i l i t i e s planned in other City parks will include one hundred and forty-six baseball diamonds, three hundred and ninety-one tennis courts, ninety-four football and soccer fields and thirteen running tracks. They include a new running track in Central Park, a new stadium in Van Cortlandt Park, a stadium in Marine Park in Brooklyn, an athletic field - 2 - in Flushing Meadows in Queens, an athletic field in Alley Pond Park on the Grand Central Parkway and the athletic area in the Red Hook d i s t r i c t of Brooklyn* Many of the larger playgrounds have running tracks and facilities for field sports. These athletic fields are scattered all over the City and serve largely the local communities. The Park Department m i l develop athletic teams in the local playgrounds in each of the boroughs and organize borough championships for the several sports. The new spcri center in Randall's Island will provide a place for interborough competition. The plan of Randall's Island has been developed jointly by the City Park Department and the Triborough Bridge Authority, with a view to opening the new Park to public use when the Triborough Bridge i s opened to traffic on July 1, 1936, The Departrr/ent of Parks has sent to Arthur S. Tuttle, State Enginser of the Federal Public Works Administration the attached l e t t e r in relation to the developrient of Randall's Island. - End - February 5, 1935. * THE CITY OF NEW YORK DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ARSENAL CENTRAL PARK F e b r u a r y 5 t h , 1935. Mr, Arthur S o T u t t i e S t a t e SngJ.Keer P u b l i c Works A d m i n i s t r a t i o n 2 Lafayette Street New York City Dear Sir? In accordance with t h e terms of t h e Triborough loan agreement, t h e r e was apparently submitted to you by the T r i - borough Bridge Authority, s h o r t l y before January 1 s t , 1934,, a plan for t h e development of park and r e c r e a t i o n a l f a c i l i t i e s on Randall's Island. This plan was submitted before t h e Triborough Bridge Author- i t y was reorganized. I do not know who was responsible for i t s pre- paration. Apparently i t did. not o r i g i n a t e i n any of the existing city park departments or i n the old park board, although the park a u t h o r i t i e s ware and s t i l l a r e wholly responsible for t h i s develop- ment. This plan was merely a rough sketch by draftsmen obviously not familiar with proper park and playground planning. I t does not represent the f a c i l i t i e s required by the public, nor those which will a t t r a c t v i s i t o r s on foot, by car or by bus, t o Randall's Island, thus producing an important part of t h e revenues required t o make the Triborough project self-supporting. The o r i g i n a l plan was also made i n the absence of information as to t h e ramps on Randall's Island and t h e low l e v e l bridge t o Ward's I s l a n d . As a matter of information I am attaching the r e - vised plan for park and recreational developments on Randall's Island, on which work w i l l shortly be s t a r t e d by t h e Park Department i n co- operation with the Triborough Bridge Authority. The fixing of t o l l charges t o Randall's Island, so as not t o discourage public use and at t h e same time t o produce revenue, i s a matter which ¥ / i l l have to be ?/orked out with great c a r e . Yours very t r u l y , (Signed) ROBERT MOSES Commissioner 4 T DEPARTMENT APPKOVSD Br RANDALLS ISLAND PARK ~0F - PARK/ D.CLAB.KE NEW YORK. CITT ·WXAKLi ANDREW/ BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN EOBERl FEBRUARY SCALE OF FEET 300 1000 DEPARTMENT OF Wkm MtKS , N. / "N v ~^ \ EO^I For^Immediate Release ARSENAL CENTRAL PARK / ) /\S F*ebruary 1, 1935 REGENT 4-1000 Philip J . Cruise The Department of Parks announces an agreement between the Heckscher foundation for Children, the Department tef Health and the Department of Parks for the acquisition of the recreational and health clinic in Brooklyn, formerly operated "by the Heckscher Foundation* This development lies in the block bounded by Central Avenue, Grove Street, Wilson Avenue and Linden Street in the Bushwick section of Brooklyn* The Board of Estimate recently approved the acquisition of this property and instructed the Health Department, Park Department and Comptroller to negotiate for i t s acquisition. The property was purchased in 1928 by the Heckscher Foundation at a cost of $112,925*00 and the Park Department announces that by the payment of a f i r s t mortgage, amounting to $43,000*>00, the Heckscher Foundation is willing fco transfer t i t l e to the City. The Comptroller approved the purchase and a l l that remains is the formal execution of the necessary deeds and instruments of trans- fer* The Heckscher Foundation has spent #64,000.00 in the development of the property in addition to the original purchase price of $112,925*00. The Department of Health will undertake immediately the operation of a full health clinic in the existing building* The building was formerly run as a dental clinic with two fully equipped denial rooms* The clinical area will be rearranged to afford free services for an entire health center. The Park Department will u t i l i z e part of the building for a recreational area in conjunction with the playground* The area outside of the building is ideally arranged for a l£ acre playground. The playground will be modernized and rebuilt and opened to the public in the spring of this year*. The portion which is already equipped will be put into immediate operation under the supervision of the Department of Parks* -end- DEPARTIuENT OF PARKS FOR ILaLEDIATE RELEASE Arsenal, Central Park January 11, 1S35 Tel. Regent 4-1000. The Department of Parks-will'open an additional section ij of Leiv Eiriksson Park, Brooklyn, on Monday, January 14, 1935, | at 2:30 p.m. This area is bounded by 66th and 67th Streets and £ Eighth Avenue and Fort Hamilton Parkway. It contains a wading pool, complete playground apparatus and a recreation building between Eighth and Ninth Avenues, and a formal park extending to Fort Hamilton Parkway. Selections by the Park Department Band will open the program. The Honorable Raymond V. Ingersoll, President of the Borough of Brooklyn will be the principal speaker and preside during the exercises which include addresses by the Honorable Rolf A. Christensen, Consul General of Norway5 Major Sigurd J. Arnesen, representing the Norwegian Societies.; and Dr.C. O.Pedersen Rector of the Norwegian Hospital; and selections by the Norwegian Men's. Chorus. The color ceremony consisting of a call to colors and the playing of the National Anthem and the Norwegian Anthem will conclude the program. The official party will then inspect the area. The play facilities, bet-ween Fourth and SixtX Avenues were officially opened October 12, 1934. After the opening on Monday only the section between Sixth to Eighth Avenues remains to be completed. This area, wAch will be opened later in the year, will have a formal park between Sixth and Seventh Avenues and ten tennis courts between Seventh and Eighth Avenues. -end- * Page 16. NEWSPAPER RELEASES S4 7/29 268.. There w i l l be f r e e doncing on the ^ a l l pt Jacob R i i s Park' a t 8:30 P.M. t o 10:30 P.M. every Tuesday and Thursday evenings for the remainder of the season. 7/30 269. Checker f i n a l s w i l l be held a t 2 P.M. Thursday August 1st a t t h e , Heckscher Playground. '' * 7/31 270. New s e r i e s of p l a y s w i l l be given a t Macombs Dam Recreation Bldg, \ every F r i d a y evening at 8^45 P.M. commencing August 2nd by L i t t l e Theatre Group. ,'. , 8/1 271. Monthly program r e c r e a t i o n department of August, 1935. . ^ 8/6 272. .Tennis Tournament championship f i n a l gomes t o be held at] Central Park Tennis Courts Saturday, August 1 0 t h , a t 2 P.M." ' ,. · · · I '(· · l) 8/6 273. Horseshoe Pitching Tournement to be held Saturday, ^ug, 10 at 2 P.M, in the Heckscher Playground, Gravesend Playground,' Highland Park and Cloves Lake Park. ^8/7 274. Opening of Kissena Park Golf Course on Friday August 9 at 2 P.M. 8/7 275. Amateur Ballad Contests on Tuesday September 10, 1935. ^8/9 276. Development plan and print of recreational centre in Harlem. v V-8/12 277. Pept. of Parks is erecting in, the five boroughs a grsnhic index of progress in developing its program of pleyground construction. 7/MM//J 8/13 '278. Swimming meet at Betsy Head Swimming Pool, Bklyn, 8/14/35. 0 i · )I 8/21 279. Announce winner of Life Saving Contest - Joe Mrschenbaum. ·e/22 280. Choral and Dance Recital by Polish Singers All. on·Moll 8/25. u^8/22 281. Concert attendance in Parks and schedule for month of September. 282. Finals of Horseshoe Pitching Contest on Heckscher Pleyground 8/24/.* ), 8/22 283. Caddies on I'unicipar Golf Links will have a tournament 8/23 s 284. Playground children in a l l boroughs will ha've children's f e s t i v a l s . ,, 8/23 285. Dept. of Parks presents L i t t l e Theatre Group in the "Wicked World" , to be given on the ,^all August 26th. 286. Henry Hudson Parkway Authority bids opened at 3 o'clock.* 8/2 B 287. , Changes in concert schedule announced. · 8/28 288. Final baseball gams for N.Y.C. Park Playground championship to be held on the North Meadow in Central Park 8/30 at 2 P.M. 8/29 289. Finals of Golf Tournament of the caddies on August 30 at 2 : 30 P.M. 8/29 Announcement of winners of Jacks Contest. · i · · ' · . · · ¥ · · ·II 8/29 291. concert of the Naumburg Concerts to be held on Labor Day. e-r' Page 17. NEWSPAPER RELEASES 292. Opening of 6 new playgrounds on Labor Day and announcement of *, ceremonies, ,- f 293. Tournament on Golf Links of members of f a i r sex. $ · ·.: ·· . . - f · % 9/4 Finai, baseball game to be held in Central Park September 6, at '.»»'· ' ' · ' 7 295. Semi-finals of s o f t b a l l tournament b e g i n s on Saturday Sept. 7th · 9/6 296. Progress made in Shore Road e x t e n s i o n , ' ,,'·:, ...; 297. S o c i a l dancing i n parks continued t o October 1 5 t h . 9/9 298. F i n a l geme of Baseball League i n North Meadow Central, Park, 9/14 a t 10:30. 9/10 299. F i n a l s of American Ballad c o n t e s t on Mall a t 8 o ' c l o c k 9 / 1 0 . 9/13' 300.. Golf Tournament for men of Municipal Golf c o u r s e s . -- ' · , . , · · · 9/11 301. Mature Trail at Alley Pond Park opened on.September 14th.* ·9/11 302. Telegram by Comm. Moses to H. S. Johnson regarding work.relief. 9/12 303. Venetian Water Carnival on 72nd Street Lake Friday evening Sept. 13. ·9/13 304. Start construction of 19 playground^in Central Park.(Yv\*/vA*w«J- rw^'fa**" 305. Opening of Alley Pond - description of t r a i l dnd picture. 9/16 306. Announcement of play "The Wicked Yi?orldM to be given on Mall on September 18th at' 8:30 P.M. 307. Finals of Soft Ball League, September 21 at .3 P.M. on the Parade Grounds Brooklyn. -· : )i 9/19 308. Announcement of concert by Catholic War Veteran's National Band at Prospect ? ark Sunday September 22, at-8:15 P.M. 1/ ,9/19 309. Announcement of concert by Gaelic Musical Soc. on the Mall Friday September 20 at 8:30 P.M. i' 9/25 310. Harvest Festival a t Seward Park by^the Education All. 9/26 at 3:30 FM. ) I · 9/25 311. Inter-city horseshoe pitching match at Hecksch'er Playground on September 28 e t 2*30 P.M. bet. Paterson, New Jersey and N.Y. City, / 9/20 312. Opening of five playgrounds located in various boroughs. Mayor and Moses will officiate at openings. » , 313. Semi-finals of bocci tournament on 9/28 at Houston Street £lny&round. v 9/27 314. Mr. Mulholland will represent Park Dept. at Natione.1 Recreation conference to be held at Chicago from Sept. 30 to Oct. 4th. s · i Page 18. NEWSPAPER RELEASES a 315. Postponement" of Horseshoe pitching contest from 9/28 to 10/5 '* on account of weather. . \ ' "Av- 9/30 316. Harvest festival at Crotona Park children's gardens. 317. Bids in Albany by the Dept. of Public Works for the construction of a bridge for the Henry Hudson Parkway. · . i 318. Recreation division will conduct one-act plays contest for children on the Mall October 5th and 12th at 2 P.M. _ WAG 10/4 319. Harvest Festival at Fort Greene Park on October 5th at 2 P.M. 10/3 320." Monthly program of Recreation Department. VlO/7 321. Harvest Festival on the Mall in Central Park, October 8 at 8 P.M. ·10/8 322. Roller skating carnival to be held in Model Playground Jackson Heights 10/11 at 8 P.M. . .. · . · ,- ·10/10 323. Roller skating contest in park playgrounds during week of October 7 ' to 12th. , - 324. Series of indoor concerts to be held in Prospect Park and McCombs Dam Park. ^-10/10 325. Opening of Fort Tryon Park - Speakers: Mayor La Guardia, Moses,Johnson, Rockefeller Jr. . * . 326. Opening of 12 new playgrounds in various boroughs. ·10/10 327. One-act play contest at McCombs Dam Park on Saturday October 12,1935. · 10/19 328. Social dancing during winter at McCombs Extension Building and Picnic Eouse. 329. At request of Park Dept. and Marine Parkway Authority a public hear- ing will be held at the War Department for the construction of a bridge over,Rockaway inlet, ' 330. Halloween Show and Roller skating carnival on Mall-October 31st at \ 8:30 P.M. ^10/23 331. Park Dept. will develop a substitute for natural animal manure. ^LO/23 332. The Belvedere in Central Park is to be'marked by a bronze tablet. "16/24 333. Horseshoe pitching contest between Westchester and N.T. on October 26th at 2 P.M. X 10/28 334. Rededicate Washington Irving Statue at Irving Place on October 29, at 2:30 P.M. ... ZlO/29 335. Halloween to be celebrated by Park Dept. in the various boroughs on October 31st, 1935. j356J Chrysanthemum show at Prospect Park, Greenhouse on Sunday, November 3rd at 10 A.M. · Page 19, NEWSPAPER RELEASES . . ^ Dept. of Parks has planned a new playground with kindergarten ^ equipment. v v ·11/1 338. Roller hockey is being featured by the Park Dept, in the various · playgrounds. · · N i · · * · 10/28 339. Park Dept. with the Dock Dept. and Boro Pres. office arranged for . the redevelopment of Marie Curie Avenue from East 63rd Street } to last 70th Street, N Y City. ' > 11/30 340. Monthly program of Recreation Department of November 1935, . 11/4 341. Dept. of Parks traveling troupe, featuring Jiggs and Anne, Chimps and two Clowns and a Magician will tour the playgrounds. 11/6 342. Indoor dancing beginning November 8th at Carmine Street Gym. from i 7:30 to 10:00 P.M. 11/7 343. Annual Roller Skating contest at 2 P .11. N< ovember 9th Center Drive, Central Park. \ 11/15 344. Opening of bids in Albamy by Dept. of P. W. for the construction of a bridge carrying Henry Hudson Parkway under the east road- way of Riverdale Avenue. ·- -v vll/21 345. Opening of 7 new playgrounds Friday - 11/22 at 3:30 P.M. H.L.Hopkins W.P.A. Administrator will speak at the opening of O'Connor v Playground. · ^"11/22 346. Transit Commission took bids for the elimination of the West 79th St. grade crossing, which is being built as part of the Westside Highway. . . · * 347 Roller Skating Hockey tournaments, will close Thanksgiving Day, November 26th at 2:30 P.M. at the Roosevelt Playground, where City Championship is determined. 12/4 348 * Snow sculpture contest viill be a feature of the winter sports pro- gram of the Park Department' this year. Contest will be held from December 15th to February 1st,- 1936. 12/4 349 Monthly recreation program. 1 / 12/11 350 1000 posters are being placed in all bor and construction offices of the Parks Department. c=5Cx} ^ s . . · / / · 12/13 351 Announcement of location of ice skating rinks for the winter. . / / 12/13 352 Announcement that 23 Christmas Trees are being erected throughout the five boroughs, will be lighted at 5:30 Thursday evening, . December 19, 1935. · ^12/18 353. Announcement of opening of Jeanette Park Oyster Bar at Coenties Slip and South Street, will be opened Thursday, December 19th, 1935. · . . V12/18 354. Announcement of opening of 13 new playgrounds Thursday, December 19th at 3:30 P.M. bringing the total to 116 new playgrounds . since January 19, 1934._ s Page 20« ····'!. " ' * MWSPAPJER RELEASES 12/18/JU""555. Announcement that S3 Christmas Trees are being erected through- out the five "boroughs. 12/19 356. Jackson Heights Harmonica Band will glTe a concert at their playground. ' 358. Completed plans for a playground at the Casino in Central Park, released* 12/S& 361. Sept. of Parks released areas designated for coasting. 12/26, 360. Park Sept. will conduct Winter Sports Carnivals through the fire boroughs. v u 12/23 \ 359. Park Dept. submitted plans for a new Dyker Beach Clubhouse. 11 12/19 \357. Queens Park Dopt. Is staging a Christmas Play called "Snlckerty Hick.* ' ' . ·· ; . n 12/2? u36S.y Bids taken by the Henry Hudson Parkway Authority for the con» "" etructioa of a bridge carrying the Henry Hudson Parkway under West £3£nd Street. ' >-!'··' 12/2? 363* Park Dept. arranged for Christmas parties in the playgrounds dur* ing Christmas week*, ' h IS/30 364. Park Sept. will stage a monster winter sports carniral on con* sermtory lake» Sunday afternoon at 8 P. M# ), 12/30 365. Park Dept. will sponsor a Snow sculpture contest in all the play* grounds in Hew York. j. 12/31 366. Park Sept. announces that Metropolitan skating championship has been awarded to H. T» City. THE CITY OF N E W YORK DEPARTMENT OF PARKS THE ARSENAL S3O FIFTH AVENUE CENTRAL PARK THOMAS P. F. HOV1NG NEW YORK, N. Y. 1OO21 COMMISSIONER JOHN V. LINDSAY REGENT 4-1OOO MAYOR HENRY J . STERN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ALEXANDER W1R1N ·EPUTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 7/1 247* Opening of f i r s t farm garden at the DeUatti Playfield, StatenIsland ! L. .V 7/3/35 1:30 P.M. . '- . 7/2 248. July 4th Celeb r a t i o n s to &· held, in all boroughs* 249· Opening of Prospeot Park Zoo. 7/5 250*/ Announcement of program for/the portable Theatre in the various ·* ' parks. 7/5 251* Sooial danoing a± Colonial Park every Tuesday and Thursday with oolored band/ 7/5 252* Gilbert & Sullivan to be presented by the Portable Theatre in the parks* >v-re^~«^ &** "Tf-- S~t3 ' <"· 7/7 253* Soale model showing development of Orohard Beaoh on exhibition in Bronx Co. Court House* - 7/8 254* Aotual oonstruotion started at the bridge spanning a the Harlem Ship Canal* 7/8 255* Sooial danoing installed in the Boro. of Riohmond at the A. McDonald Playground 7/10* 7/11 256. Symphonio oonoerts will be given on Mall, Sunday afternoons through- out the summer. / 7/12 257* Munloipal baseball League - sponsored by Mayer - Listing of the scores of the various contestants* "- 7/12 .258* Development plan of Randalls Island - Map only. -/,. A . y 7^15 259* Sunday afternoon oonoert series on the Mall transferred to Prospeot Park on 7/21. \ 7/15 260. Monster horseshoe pitohing tournament organized in the $$ playgrounds in the five Boroughs. · 7/16* 261. Announcement that work on superstructure is well under way on West- side Highway also that plans for the struoture beyond 76th Street is being rushed. < ·> · · ' 7/18 *2624 Opening of Forest Park Golf Course, Thursday, July 18, at 8 P.M. t V__ J ' . l: \ > \ ·' . . " /.. '·* ·'· ·· 7/17 263. Portable farmyard transferred from Jaokson Pond to Anawanda on 1 8/6 to 8/9/35. v - · 7/18 264. Statement by H, Barle Andrews, that permits of all oaddies, re- fusing to abide by rules and regulations of Park Dept. will be revoked Friday, July 19. 1935* 7/18 265* Looations of sooial danoing in oity parks a iounoed and also that Miss Florenoe Riohardson will be guest onduotor on the Mall July 25th. 7/23 266. Opening of Alley Pond Athletio Field, - speakers - Robert Moses, A. E. Howland, Babe Ruth and Mayor F« H. LaQuardia < 7/26 267 Due to unfavorable weather conditions the opening of Kissena p a r k Golf course will be postponed to August 9. Offioial opening »t 2 Filii r "i DEPARTMENT OF PARKS FOR RELEASE ARSENAL, CENTRAL PARK MONDAY, .DECEMBER 23, 1935 TEL.. REGENT 4-1000 The Department of Perks has completed p3.ens for the development of a playground for small children ft the site of the Cesino in Centre! Perk. The development will occupy one and one-querter seres of land, which is epproximstely the eres now occupied by the Ccsino resteursnt building end the perking space thtt is set eside for the convenience of the Casino pe.trons on the knoll in the rerr of the bendstend et the Me11. The pleyground will include c lerge v/rding pool end will be equipped with kindergarten swings, send boxes ?,nd other smell apparatus for young children. Benches will be installed for mothers end nurses. The whole tret will be surrounded by tn £-rbor end new peths end lpndsctping will connect, the pltyground to the surrounding perk fee tares. The construction of the playground will require eight weeks of work end the building end shelter ctn be finished r month lc-ter. The Park Depertment is ready to stfrt construction on this development r.s soon as the Casino is v£cited. End ft DEPARTMENT OF PARKS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ARSENAL, CENTRAL PARK December 18, 1935 Tel. Regent 4-1OOO The Department of Perks announces the opening of thirteen new play- grounds Thursday, December 19, at 3:30 P M - bringing the tcte.1 to 116 new play- grounds sines January 19, 1934. The playgrounds to be opened in Manhattan ere: Houston Street between Sullivan and ErcDougal Streets jt aA Iklaccey Streets J>ffiv^JZ^Pjs-w*-^* 7 '"'S'East Houston, Mott end Elizebeth Streets In the Bronx two pleygrounds are at: ·/' ' Cedar Avenue between 178 Street end Sedgvick ^ Sehuyl'-r Park, Pennyfiold avenue end Shore Drive. Four playgrounds ere located in Brooklyn: )'b QProspect end Greenwood Avenues I"i >" 1 Heckscher - Grove to Linden Streets neer Wilson avenue ^ "3. Howard and Atlantic Avenues, and Mr if Hopkinson Avenue and Dean Street. In Queens tv.o playgrounds will be opened: / A Bowne Park Playground, 32 Avenue between 158 and 159 Streets and S.W. Corner Astoria Bouleverd and 90 Street. . ...pc* In Richmond tvro playgrounds will be opened: 5* A Clove Lakes Park (smell children's playground) at Clove Road g "fa Clove Lakes Park (junior playground area) at Victory Boulevard. Some of the funds used in the construction of the Bowne Playground were obtained through a bequest of the late Theodore Foulk of Flushing, who was particu- larly interested in playground development. Facilities end Equipment include-: 88 small swings; 72 large swings; 36 seesaws; 14 playhouses; IS large slides; 11 sand tables; 10 garden swings; 7 small slides; 7 small tables; 6 handball courts; 6 jungle gyms; 5 shuffleborrd courts; 5 wading pools; 4 parallel bars; 3 horizontal br.rs; 3 horizontal ladders; 3 horseshoe pitching, etc.; 2 basketball courts-, 1 shower. The Heckscher Playground in Brooklyn was purehasad from the Heckscher Foundation; the pleygrounds at West Houston and Essex Streets, Mcnhatten, and Prospect Avenue, Brooklyn, were acquired from the Board of Transportation. Simple ceremonies will mark the opening of all these playgrounds. END * im DEPARTMENT OF PARKS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ARSENAL, CENTRAL PARK December 1 8 , 1935 T e l . Regent 4-1000 The Department of P a r k s announced today t h a t the J e a n n e t t e Park Oyster Bar a t Coentles S l i p and South S t r e e t w i l l be opened Thursday, December 1 9 . This bar replaces one of the oldest oyster estab- lishments along the waterfront, the original having been in operation since 1849. It will be operated by Patrick J. O'Connor, who succeeded his father, in the old bar's manage- ment in 1905. The new structure, which i s recessed into the wall of the park is of brick construction. The walls and floors are of terrazzo and the equipment is modern throughout. The new building faces South Street and the East River. The concession will serve clams and oysters on the half shell, clam broth, oyster, clam and fish stews and chowders and fried clams and oysters. - END - « t THE CITY OF NEW YORK DEPARTMENT OF PARKS THE ARSENAL 83O FIFTH AVENUE CENTRAL PARK THOMAS P. F . HOVING NEW YORK, N. Y. I0O21 COMMISSIONER JOHN V. LINDSAY REGENT 4-1OOO MAYOR HENRY J . STERN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ALEXANDER WIRIN ·EPUTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR THE CITY OF NEW YORK DEPARTMENT OF PARKS THE ARSENAL 83O FIFTH AVENUE CENTRAL PARK THOMAS P . F . HOVING NEW YORK, N. Y. 1OO21 COMMISSIONER JOHN V. LINDSAY REGENT 4 - 1 0 0 0 MAYOR HENRY J . STERN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ALEXANDER WIRIN ·EPOTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DEPARTMENT OF PARK^T ARSENAL, CENTRAL PAm TEL. REGENT 4-1000 # FOR . _ . _ ^TMDlATE NOVEMOTR 2 NOVEMKR 21 RELEASE _ _ _ 1 ,, 11935 935 2.H C The Department of Parks w i l l open seven new playgrounds F r i - day, November 22 a t 3:30 P . M. Harry L. Hopkins, Federal Works Progress Administrator, Mayor La Guardia, Park Commissioner Robert Moses, Victor Ridder and George U. Harvey, Borough P r e s i d e n t of Queens, w i l l speak a t t h e opening of Ray- mond O'Connor Park Playground, 32nd Avenue and 209th S t r e e t , Queens. Including t h e s e , 105 playgrounds w i l l have been opened since January 1934. " ^ s ^ Three playgrounds are located i n Manhattan: Morningside Ave- nue and 114th S t r e e t (Morningside P a r k ) ; Sixth Avenue and Minetta Lane; and Thomas Jefferson Park (south portion) a t F i r s t Avenue and 111th Street. Two playground? in Brooklyn are at Aberdeen Street near Bush- ug] wick Avenue and at Third Avenue, Douglas and Degraw Streets, In the Bronx: Devoe YSirk (easr jasftplayground) at University Ave- nue and West 188th Street. / In Queens: Raymond O'Connor Park at 32nd Avenue and 209th Street. Facilities and equipment in these playgrounds include: 2 basketball diamonds, 1 basketball court, 4 bocci courts, 4 handball courts, 2 horizontal bars, 2 horizontal ladders and 3 horse shoe pitch- ing courts for adults; for the youngsters, 6 jungle gyms, 96 kindergart- en swings, 9 large slides, 72 large swings, 1 paddle tennis court, 4 parallel bars, 14 playhouses, 6 sand tables, 36 see-saws, 6 shuffle board courts, 4 small slides and 3 wading pools. The playgrounds at Minetta Lane, Manhattan, and Aberdeen Street, Brooklyn, were acquired from the Board of Transportation. The playground at Third Avenue and Degraw Street, Brooklyn, is being devel- oped on private property acquired on a permit basis. Djff.) -, Are. at 5 £5, *«i Boa, Jotm h. ^;3GInlay, : Irish of # PROGRAM OPENING CEREMONIES THOMAS JEFFERSON, PARK - SOUTH PLAYGROUND FjLrst Avenue -111th Street MANHATTAN FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22nd, 1935 AT 3:30 P.M. WILLIAM J. ALLAN ASSISTANT BOROUGH DIRECTOR, PRESIDING William J.. Allan, Assistant Borough Director, Introductory Remarks Address: Abraham V/einer, Principal, P. S. 85 Address* Miss Mary L. Herbert, Principal, P.S. 102 Horseshoe Pitching Games - By Playground Children and Young Men Shuffle Board Games - By Playground Children and Young Men Boccie Games - By Playground Children and Young Hen Group Games - By Playground Children and Young Men Ladder of Progress Eall to Colors Raising of Flag National Anthem Cutting of Ribbon - By Carmine Cangro Boy to accept Playground - John Massaro f DEPARTMENT OF PARKS FOR Arsenal, Central Park Monaay October £8,19^5 Tel. Regent 4-1000 The Park Department has arranged with the Dock Department and the Borough President's ofi'ice for the redevel- opuent of J&rie Curie Avenue from k&st 65rd Street to East 70th Street. The present street, 108 feet v.ide, from the veil of Rockefeller Institute ana Cornell uledical Center to the East River bulkhead line will be re--constructed v.ith an 18-foot sidewalk along the west side, a ^0-foot drivevay and a 50-foot promenade along the river. A double rov, of trees will be planted in the promenade and the v;alk between the trees and alon^ the bulkhead wall vill be lined with comfortable bencnes, facing the I'iver. This developuient v.ill i'uimsh an attractive rest spot and promenade in v«hat is nov, a di'ab dirty loading place for refuse scows. -end- THE CITY OF N E W YORK DEPARTMENT OF PARKS THE ARSENAL 83O FIFTH AVENUE CENTRAL PARK THOMAS P. F. MOVING NEW YORK, N. Y. 1OO21 COMMISSIONER REGENT 4-1OOO JOHN V. LINDSAY HENRY J. STERN MAYOR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ALEXANDER W1RIN ·EPUTV EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF P ^ j f l k FoAuEOIATii; KLLKASE Arsenal, Central P » F I M ^ e r 1, 1955 Tel. Kegent 4-1000 v Roller hockeyi the newest sport activity featured by the Department of Parks on its November athletic program, is occupying the youth of isiev York City. Playground teams, couched and trained by recreation leaders, are competing in a sectional elimination tournament %hich is scheduled to be concluded Saturday, November 9, Borough dinners v.ill then clash in a round-robin series for the city roller hockey title. The game is an exhibition of speed and skill on roller skates. Players, carrying wooden bladed sticks, bat a rubber or wooden puck toward eneiiiy ^oal cages. Six players compose a te&a. The rink is usually an asphalt stretch with a playing surface of at least 150 feet x 50 feet. Th© teams play three fifteen siinute periods v-ith ten minute intermission spells betv.een periods. Sixteen roller hockey sixes startea in the race for theft'ianhattanplay-off position. Eight determined teams S'.vung into action in each of the other boroughs. The bronx final v.ill be decided on the rink located at 164th Street between Kiver and Jerome Ayenues. As the embryo Bill Cooks, Ching Johnaons and frank Bouchers skate up and dov.n seeking & oais interest x*un high. The team usually bring vith them regiments of youthful sup- porters from home playgrounds. The action is fast every min- ute of play. Clean play prevails throughout. The tournament is expected to be an annual feature of the Recreation Divi- sion of the Department of Parks. J t · DEPARTMENT OF PARKS * · » FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ARSENAL, CENTRAL PARK OCTOBER 30, 1935. TEL: REGENT 4-1000 The Department of Parks has planned a new- playground with kindergarten equipment one of the most important factors. Children between the ages of three and six nay register. Attendance is not compulsory but every effort is nade to arouse the children's interest so they want to attend daily. Activities are held outdoors when possible. Programs set up by Playground Directors have contributed in a large measure to such popularity. Educational work and play are divided into periods psychologically and physically best for the chil- dren. Quiet sessions with blocks, beads and peg- boards may be followed by various forms of ball games. Story telling and dramatization build the imagination and tend toward self-expression. Hand- work of paper cutouts, pasting and coloring broadens the child's constructive power. Playground Kinder- garten equipment is used under careful supervision. Rest periods are intermittently well placed. Mothers are aware of the many advantages of these projects. Educational, moral, physical and social values alone guarantee their popularity. ( Too, parents have well founded security during the hours the children are supervised and taught. In - 2- several Centres, Mothers partake in the activities and willingly help the teachers. Some of the Kindergartens for pre-school children are located at the following places. Hours from 10 to 12 Noon daily, except Sunday. Attendance varies from 30 to 100 daily. Manhattan MeCray Carmansville Morningsido 123rd Sutro Hudson West 17th St. Sauer West 134th St. Gym. Highbridge 189th Carmine St. Gjnn. Brooklyn Betsy Head Heckscher McKinley New Lots Drier Off erman Gravesend Bushwick Kelly Memorial Lincoln Terrace 2:-3:P.M. Lindsay Bay Parkway Sheridan 3rd St.8c 4th Ave, Schermerhorn Red Eook I.l'cLaughlin Bronx 141st St.Brook Ave.Crotona East 163rd St. & Tinton Ave. St. Mary's East Crotona West Cauldwell Lyons Square Ciccaronc Echo St. James Zimmerman Mosholu Ma combs Ext. Tort #4 Q,ueens Jackson Heights John Andrews Von Dohlen Kissena Anawanda O'Connell Dry Harbor Richmond Faber De Matti Model Richmond Stapleton t DEPARTMENT OF PARKS - x. / FOR RELEASE ARSENAL, CENTRAL PARK^) / t > NOVEMBER 2nd, TEL: REGENT 4-1000 · The Department of Parks extends a cordial invi- tation to view its annual fall chrysanthemum show at the Prospect Park Greenhouse, Prospect Park West and 9th Street. Beginning Sunday, November 3, the ex- hibit will be open every day from 10:00 A. M. to 4:00 P.M. More than 4,000 pots of chrysanthemums are included in this display, which is one of the most magnificent exhibited. The ground bed is laid out in groups of various formations, with the popular large bloom varieties in all shades of pink, yellow, red and bronze. Some of the attractive plants are of the Pooketts, Turners, Johns S. Bush, Rise of Day and the Melba.- 75 varieties in small size chrysanthemums, such as the Pompons and Anemone, are banked on the sides of the show house. Some of the outstanding chrysanthemums to be exhibited are the Titan Tangerine Bronze, Norman Pink and Bronze, Mrs. Harrison Craig-Orange and Crimson, Betty Rose Pink and Yellow, Crimson Glow and Crimson Red. DEPARTMENT OF PARES For Immediate Release ARSENAL, CENTRAL PARK October 29, 1935 Tel. Regent 4-1000 Thursday, October 31, 1935 the Department of Parks will celebrate Hallowe'en in an elaborate fashion. Parties, shows, carnivals and festivals will be held in various playgrounds and recreation areas throughout all boroughs from morning until night. Children and adults will caper in the merriment of these events. An afternoon program will be presented by playground directors. A mystery play, magic shows and thrilling games will comprise the afternoon entertainment. Witches, cats and owls will create the proper atmosphere for the audience. All children are invited to come and enjoy a happy hallowe'en at parties in the following playgrounds: Manhattan Highbridge 180 Street 2:00 P.M. Riverside 96 Street 1:30 Payson Avenue 3:00 Isham and Seaman 3:00 Roosevelt Chrystie & Forsythe Sts. 4:00 Bronx Tinton Ave. E. 161 Street 11:00 A.M. Crotona West Fulton Ave. E 174 S t . 4:00 P.M. Brooklyn 27 Avc. & Bay 46 S t . 3:30 P .M. Drier Offerman Ave. S. - E. 14 S t . 3:30 Kelly 57 S t . - 18 Ave. 3:30 Gravesend & Dyker Q,ueens and Richmond 4:00 P .M. All Playgrounds An evening performance will take place on the Mall in Central Park from 8:30 to 11:00 P.M. with an exciting Hallowe'en show and roller skating carnival. This affair vail include all the usual settings appropriate to this Festival, rattling skeletons, shivering goblins, grinning pumpkins and hooting owls. A one-act play, "The Canterville Ghost", by Oscar Wilde, performed by the Little Theatre Group will open the program, followed by a good American Folk Dance. Various comedy acts of clowns, magicians and acrobats will be furnished by the Circus Unit of the Works Progress Administration. A large group of playground directors will do a rustic dance called the "Lancers". Music will be furnished by the Colonial Dance Orchestra under the direction of Mr. Arthur Thompson. The public is invited to take part in the procession of costumed skaters. Prizes will be awarded to those in most novel costumes. Skating acts will be exhibited by several popular city rinks. The remainder of the evening will be devoted to roller skating for the general public. All are invited to come to these festivities and enjoy a gala Hallowe'en. - and - -534 4 DEPARTMENT OF PARKS FOR RELEASE MONDAY ARSENAL CENTRAL PARK OCTOBER 28, 1935. Tel.' Regent 4-1000 The Department of Parks will formally rededicate the Washington Irving Statue at Irving Place between 16th and 17th Streets, New York City, at 2:30 P.M. October 29. Washington Irving High School students, accompanied by the Park Department Band, will open the ceremony with "America The Beautiful". Miss Aileen L. Bowdoin, ten year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Temple Bowdoin, grandson of George Sullivan Bowdoin, husband of Julia Irving Grinnell, who was a great niece of Washington Irving, will unveil the monument. Speakers include Edward C. Zabriskie, Principal of the Washington Irving High School; Dr. John H. Finley of the New York Times; Paul C. Jennewein, representative of the National Sculpture Society and member of the National Fine Arts Commission, and Allyn R. Jennings, Landscape Architect of the Department of Parks. In conclusion the band and students will render "America". Dr. Joseph Wiener presented the bust to the city in 1885. In 1888 ivi. C. D. Borden, president of the Board of Commissioners of the Department of Public Parks, recommended that the statue be placed in Bryant Park, where it stood until 1932- When the Federal Hall replica was erected in Bryant Park, the monument was stored under the Brooklyn approach to the Williamsburg Bridge. Friedrich Beer, who.died, 1859, was the sculptor. -end- SINGLES HORSESHOE PITCHING MATCH BETfiEEN ViESTCHESTER AND IEW YORK The **ark department announces that final arrangements have been made for an inter-city singles horseshoe -yVinhLng &&tch between Westchester and the City of New ^ork at Heckscher Playground, Central Park, October 26, at 2:00 P.M. The match vdll consist of three games Fifty points constituting each game. The contestant winning two out of three games will be declared the former. A gold medal will be awarded the winner and silver to the loser. A return match has been arranged for November 2nd at Mew Rochelle. The following players will represent the respective teams at both matches; NEffi YORK: Vito Felieccia John Wilkinson (alternate) WESTCHESTER: Dominick Sharkey Charles Seacord (Alternate) Following a: e the officials for the match at Heckscher Playground October 26th: DIRECTOR: Thomas P. O'Gara KEFEREE: James McCafferey Judges: Charles Harris ^ou Ziegler William S. SCORERS: Oscar *. Stewart John Myles Bernard Healy Joseph Murphy Thomas *'. Walsh Portable bleacher seats will be erected for this match to take care of the large number of spectators expected to attend. Keen com- petition is anticipated because the contestants are the champions of their respective cities. -end- Department of Parks For Inmiecliate Release Arsenal, Central Park October 23, 1935 Tel. Regent 4-1000 THE BELVEDERE - CENTRAL PARK The Belvedere in Central Park is to be appropriately- marked by The Department of Parks with a bronze tablet to be placed on the southwest corner of the building. It will contain a likeness of the founder and first director of the Municipal Weather Bureau, Dr. Daniel Draper, and the follow- ing inscription: BELVEDERE TOWER Erected in 1869 as a lookout tower now housing the New Yorlc Meteorological Observatory, founded in 1868 by Dr. Daniel Draper who was director of this Observatory until 1912 the work then taken over and continued by the United States Weather Bureau. A towerlike structure on the knoll at 79th Street was contemplated in the original design for Central Park by 01m- stead and Vaux, to afford facilities for the gathering and shelter of visitors at this picturesque and attractive point. Work on the Belvedere was commenced during June, 1867. The Belvedere, built of granite in the form of an old Victorian Castle, was constructed in 1867. The Weather Bureau, which now has its headquarters and instruments in the Belvedere, was originally established in the Arsenal in 1869, when the Commissioner of Parks was direct- ed to maintain a meteorological observatory within the park. Dr. Daniel Draper, whose family enjoyed a high reputation in the field of science, was placed in charge and directed its ac- tivities until his retirement in 1912. -531 f DEPARTMENT OF, PARKS "*) J J ARSENAL, CENTRAL PARK TELEPHONE: REGENT 4-1000 October 23, 1935, PRESERVING LEAVES FOR COMPOST Trie advent of mechanized equipment, with the consequent decrease in live stock throughout the eastern section of the country surrounding Now York City, has made it necessary for the Park Department to develop a proper substitute for natural animal manure. The cost of supplying the proper quantity of manure, moreover, on projects under construction is prohibitive. The Park Department, therefore, has been preserving leaves gathered from the various parks and building compost . piles near greenhouses, nurseries and other work areas of the Department in the five boroughs. The piles .are.usually made 6 feet wide and 6 feet high, the length depending on the location. A two foot layer of loose leaves is first laid down and a four inch layer of top soil with chopped sod spread over it. Hydrated lime or ground limestone is distributed over this layer at the- rate of one half pound per square yard. Another two foot layer of loose leaves and a three inch layer of manure are added. Each layer is soaked with water as it is added. TJus layering process continues until the pile, when compacted, is five to six feet high. The pile is left intact for 6 months, watered from time to time so that it will not dry out, then it is turned over by forking three times a year, t Page 2. The compost can be used after 18 months but for fine work it usually requires three years to thoroughly decompose. Animal manure is added for the development of bacteria to hasten the decay of the leaves and for each cubic yard of manure added twelve yards of leaf compost is produced after shrinkage has taken place. The material is used for mulching flower beds, deciduous plant areas, and most important, broad- leaved evergreens, such as Rhododendrons, Laurel and Azaleas, planted throughout the Park System. The Department favors allowing the leaves to remain where they fall in the shrub plantings on informal areas but removing them from lawn areas. Observation has shown that lawn areas "go through" the winter best without any protective covering. When leaves are left on the lawn the grass underneath the covering "sweats" and becomes susceptible to fungus, mold and general physiological breakdown. October k%$ file Bepartaent ol Paries will noid a EaUoweeil Show and Bailer Skating Caraiv&l, on the Mall la Central F&r^sj Thursdayj October 5i, at 8l5Q P > , The usual eerie settings peculiar to this ancient festi- val - a hug© cauldron, fancy Pitches, bright eyed cats aaa hooting owls -- »ill aecorut© tii© scene. Tiie Caaterviiifc Giioat by Oscai- ««ixuw, puri'oxiaed, by toe i»lttie Theatre tiroap will open the program^ i"olio%«4 by «a Aaericaa Folk auuee, to tii@ tune of "Turiey-in-tiie-iitr&s, by tne Pis^ground directors* '/iiiisd corn^ay acts, inciuaiag cioftns, aagicitme and will be furalsijed h# the Gix-cus Onit oi" the forits Progress A large ^roup will a&ace The Lance.i-s, Mu&ic sill be furniished b^ tiie Colojaitil Dstuce Orchestra uuaer dirocti^ya of fcr» Arthur Thompson. The public is -.nvited to take part in a procession of costmae skuters. Prised will be ^sux-ded for the aost novel Seating acts will be ©xiiioitea by #eir©ral popular city rinks. The reaainaer or tae evening t«iH be aevot«d to roller for. taa gener&l pballc* All are invited to come ana en|oy a gala HaUOwe*ea* 4 DEPARTMENT OF PARKS FOR IMMSDIAIE RELEASE OCTOBER 18, 1935 Arsenal, Central Park Tel. Regent 4-1000 ··:# At the request of the City Park Department and the Marine parkway Authority, a public hearing was held today at the War Department in the Army Building for the construction of a bridge over the Rqckaway Inlet, to be known as the Marine Park- way Bridge, which will be a double leaf bascule type with a series of approach spans totaling 3600 feet in length. The clearance will be 50 feet when the bridge is closed, which is sufficient to accommodate all present water traffic without lifting the bridge. The bridge tower will not interfere with aviation and will be flood-lighted. This bridge is to be part of the Marine Parkway extending from Marine Park and Flatbush Avenue to Jacob Riis Park on the Rockaway Peninsula. The Marine Parkway Authority which is set up as a municipal corporation within the Park Department is authorized to issue bonds for Marine and Jacob Riis Parks and their con- nection by the means of a parkway across Rockaway Inlet. The cost of this project will be approximately $5,000,000.00 and will be amortized by toll. T .-. .e ferry which, at the present, is the only means of access to the Rockaway Peninsula from Flatbush Avenue and surrounding territory affords a poor, facility for motorists due to limited service and long delays. The bridge is an urgent public necessity since present traffic routes on Long Island leading to the Rockaway Peninsula are overburdened with traffic and weekend peak-loads, cause traffic tie-ups and con- fusion. The bridge will not only shorten the traveling time to the Rockaway Peninsula for many thousands of motorists but will serve to relieve congestion that now exists on other arteries. The financing of the bridge and park and parkway facilities is being negotiated with a group of bankers. It is impossible to finance any bridge but a bascule or jack-knife bridge. A high level bridge or tunnel cannot be financed. -end- IKLIT PLOP05CD M.AWN THE CITY OF N E W YORK DEPARTMENT OF PARKS THE ARSENAL 83O FIFTH AVENUE CENTRAL PARK THOMAS P. F. HOVING NEW YORK, N. Y. IOO21 COMMISSIONER REGENT 4-IOOO JOHN V . LINDSAY HENRY J. STERN MAYOR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ALEXANDER W1R1N ·EPUTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Jf'OK Arsriela, Central Park October 19, 1955 Tel. Kegent 4-1000 The Department of Paries will hola indoor s dancing through the v.inter months, coiimeacin^ October kllst at the i"olxo'..ing loc&tiuas: Mondu/ and i.ediaesday - ^cCoiab's Dtji Jixtension, hecrci-vtion Building, 165th Street k Jerome Avenue, Bronx. Tuesdty and Thursday - Prospect Purk Picnic House ProtSiiect Purk k.est - Fifth Street Entrance, Brooklyn. Dancing v-ill s t a r t ,.t 8:^0 iJ.«i. ana l a s t until 11:00 P.M. The Knickerbocker Dance Orchestra conducted by Mr. Myron Ko.aun ana the Gotheua Dance Orchestra conducted by Mr. Harry Ritderaan will alternate weeJdy. The bands are furnished by the »ausic Division of the Dorics Progress Adiiiinis tra tion. -end- t October 10, 1955 PRESS RELEASE - CHILDRM'S ONE-ACT PLAYS The Department of Parks announces that the one-act play contests for children will be held on Saturday, October 12, at 2 p.m. at the Macomb's Dam Extension Building, 165th Street and Jerome Avenue, Bronx, instead of at the Mall in Central Park. The win/iers will receive a pennant in addition to a gold-pleted city seal medal for each member of the cast. THE CITY OF N E W YORK DEPARTMENT OF PARKS THE ARSENAL afeo FIFTH AVENUE CENTRAL PARK THOMAS P . F. HOVING NEW YORK, N. Y. 10021 COMMISSIONER JOHN V . LINDSAY REGENT 4-1OOO MAYOR HENRY J . STERN EXECUTIVE DIBECTOR ALEXANDER WIR1N ·EPUTV EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR "326 T Of FOR RELEASE Arsenal, Central Park OCTOBER 14,1955 Tel 4 Regent 4*1000 The Department of Parks will open twelve new play- grounds throughout the city on Monday, October 14th at 4:00 P.M. Mayor La Guardia, Park Commissioner Robert Moses, General Hugh S. Johnson, Victor Ridder, Bronx Borough President Jeuaes J. Lyons vdll speak at the opening of the Macomb's Dam Playground at Jerome and Sedgwick Avenues in the Bronx. Their speeches will be rebroadcast to the other playgrounds. Includ- ing these, 98 playgrounds will have been opened since January, 1954. J / T, C £> five playgrounds are located in Manhattan at, Wesit Houston Street between Sullivan and Thompson Streets; Essex Street betv.een Rivington and Delancey Streets; SJxth Avenue ** betv.een best Third Street and iiinetta Lane; the Southeast cor- ner on dinette Lane and Sixth Avenue; and Yorfc-'Avenue and 68th Street. The latter property v/as developed for adult and child recreation by the Park Department on a too year permit from the Rockerfeller Foundation. Besides the usual play apparatus it is equipped with handball and basketball courts. / , *~ Two playgrounds in Brooklyn are between E^st Third Street, Ocean Pfcrmvay and Avenue P, and at ulansfield Pluce, Avenues X and Y. y f In the Bronx they are at Hunts Point and Spoffard Avenues and Faile Street; East 164th Street to Teasdale Place East of Boston Road; Reservoir-Avenue bet\ een University and Webb Avenues (Fort Wo.4) and at Jerome and Sedgwick Asenues The tv/o playgrounds in Queens are at Bridge Plaa* wad Si2nd Street and Bridge rlazaw at Crescent Avenue and 27th Stz**t* Three playgrounds have wading pools, six have handball courts, four have basketball courts and eight have jungle gyms, swings, slides, seesaws, and other outdoor gymnasium equipment. -end- # r.o DEPARTMENT OF PARKS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE AF.SENAL, CEHTRAL PARK OCTOBER 10, 1955 TEL. R K E J T 4 - 1 0 0 0 FQRT TRY.QN PABX Fort Tryon Park, an area of seventy acres of natural terraces, rocky- cliffs and wooded slopes, at the end of Washington Heights in Manhattan, will be opened by the Department of Parks on Coluabu* Day, October IS, at noon. The speakers will include Mayor L&Quardia, Park Gofflaissioner Robert Moses, General Hugh S. Johnson and John D. Rockefeller, Jr. The aaia entrance to the park where the exercises will be held is at the northerly end of Fort Washington Avenue. The park area extends northerly to Dyckaan Street, including the playground at the corner of Dyckaan Street and Broadway, which has been in use for several months. This new park was formerly the estate of C. K. G. Billings and was acquired by John B. Rockefeller, Jr., some years ago. The design of the park is by 0lasted Brothers who have supervised its construction for Mr. Rockefeller. The Bepartaeat of Parks has installed conduits, paving and other utilities. It is understood that the total cost to Mr. Rockefeller is acquiring and Improving the property, now deeded to the city, was 17,000,000. The Department of Parks has spent more than $800,000 on roads, paths, waterlines and drainage. A concession building is located about 500 feet north of the entrance, occupying the site of the old Billings stables. Like most of the walls end buildings of the park, it is constructed of natural stone takes froa a fifty foot cut carved through a hill la the middle of the park to provide access from Riverside Drive. One of the most interesting features is the series of terraces constructed oa the site of the Old Billings castle, which was destroyed by fire in March 1985. Tfcese terraces rise forty feet supported by walls of native stone atfft resemble somewhat the original Fort Tryon which at one tiae occupied the site. v ; · t Fort Tryon was the northerly outpost of old fort Washington aad was so naaed by the British after ita capture on Soveaber 16, 1776. It played aa important part in the defense of Manhattan Island. Three small eix-pauader cannon supplementing a battalion of Virginia aad Maryland soldiers about 600 in amber essayed to check 4,600 Hessians armed with a battery of howitaers. Two attacks were repulsed but the final charge resulted ia a butchery if the garrison witnessed by Washington himself. The heroism of Margaret Corbin, the first American woaan who took as active part in actual warfare in defense of American liberties, forms a chapter ia the story of the defense of Tort Tryon. She accompanied her husband aad shared with him his life as an artilleryman. On the occasion of the assault she was aiding him la loading and cleaning one of the guns when, at the most critical aoaentk he was killed. She immediately took charge of the cannon and loaded and fired it herself with "skill and vigor" until she herself was wounded. A fine granite and bronze monument dedicated at the time of the Hadsaa- Fulton celebration in 1909 commemorates the defense of Fort Tryon and bears the following inscription! On this Hilltop Stood Fort Tryen The Northern Out-work of Fort Washington Its Gallant Defence Against The Hessian Troops by The Maryland and Virginia Regiment 16 November 1776 was shared by Margaret Gorbiix The first American woman To take a Soldier's Part In the War fee Liberty Erected under the Auspices of The American Scenic and Historic Preservation Society This park area is situated on one of the highest points ia Manhattan and commends aa impressive view across the Hudson River to the Palisades and northerly up the Hudson far into Westcheater end Rockland Counties. Despite Its very rugged terrain, the park contains mare than a aile of aot«r drives ( I connecting both Riverside Drive and Fort Washington Avenue, eight miles of walks and ten acres of broad latms. It is & spot of natural beauty and abounds in fine trees, including hundreds of good specimens of eiss, oaks, hickories, maples, beeches, syesaore, sassafras sad large quantities of dogwood. An alpine rock garden has been laid out on the easterly slope of the park. A profusion of trees, shrubs, plants and flowers have been planted and the slopes have been cultivated and improved fith rock Hewers, shrubs and vines. "The Cloisters", a branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and containing & museum of medieval art and architecture, is being constructed within the park with funds also supplied by Mr* Rockefeller at a cost of approximately $2,500,000. This structure is expected to be completed in about two years. End OF PARKS FOR MvLbDIATa RELEASE Central Park October 12, 1955 Tel. Regent 4-1000 The Departiaent of Parks is initiating a new series of indoor concerts commencing October 15th, as i'oiiots: McComb's Daia Extension Buixciing - Qi'60 tU 10 P.ti. - Tuesdays and Thursdays Prospect Park, Picnic iiouse - 8:oU to 10 !*.#» i«edne&day£> and Fridays The Paric Depco-tiaent bund is furnished by the iiusic Division, Vsorics Progre&s Adiainietri-tion. Mr. G. I&seili is conductor of the 56 piece bund. A series of musical selections is planned at these locations during the winter Months. The inauguration of the first indoor concert series is in keeping v;ith the policy of thie* Deportment to furnish as niany recreational programs for adults as ·possible. -end- OF PARKS t FOR IMMEDIATE MfoKASE Central Park October 11, 1955 Tel. Regent 4-1000 *K The annual Holier Skating Contest v.ill be conducted in every park playground throughout the five Boroughs during v.eek of October 7 to 12th. Boys and girls 16 years of age and under are eligi- ble. This age group iu divided into two classes according to height viz; 5 ft. 5 inches and 4 ft. 8 inches* Eliminations will be held in all the playgrounds to determine the pl&yground representatives. These representa- tives v.ill compete in Borough finals x'or the purpose of select- ing those boys and girls who v,ill represent their respective boroughs in the interborough contests at v,hich the City Champion ship i.ill be decided. The program of the various contests is as follows: Eliminations in all playgrounds, all boroughs during .v;eei of October.7 to 12th. Brooklyn - Borough Finals - October 19th - Z:00 P.M. at City Park Playground. Queens - Borough Finals - November 2nd - £:J0 P.M. at Jcxicson Heights Playground. Manhattan -Borough Finals - iioveaiber *ind - JiJQO P.M. at Centre i^rive, Central Park. Bronx -Borough Finals - October 26 - 2:00 P.M. at 164th St. caid Jerome Avenue. & Kiver Ave. Richmond - Borough Finals - October 26 - Z:QO P.M. at iiartlings Kowi, Clove Lakes Park. Inter-Borough finals v.ill take place on Woveiaber 9 at ZiQQ P.iii. at Centre Drive, Central Park, -end- DEPAtfGJ&NT OF PARKS FOK IMiiflKDlATE Arsenal, Central Park October 8, 1955 Tel. Regent 4-1000 A Costume Koller Skating Garnival will be staged by the Department of Parks at the Model Playground, 84th Street and 50th Avenue, Jackson Heights, Friday October 11th, at 8 P.ai. Roller skating enthusiasts are invited. Partici- pants itiust be costumed. There will be general skating and exhibitions of fancy skating. The prettiest and funniest costumes v.ill receive prizes. Av.ards v.ill be -aade for the following: Prettiest J^ady Htudsomest Man Prettiest Couple Funniest Lady Funniest Man Funniest Couple Prettiest Oiri under 15 years Funniest Boy under 15 years riost Novel. Forward entries, to Kecreation Burcuu, Dopartment of Parks, Kev, Gardens, L.I. The Department of Parks Band v.dll play. The area v.ill be suitably decorated. Adaission is free. -end- yv \ DEPARTMENT OF PARKS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ARSMAL CENTRAL PARK OCTOBER 7, 1935. TEL. REGENT 4-1000 The Department of Parks will conduct a large outdoor Harvest Festival on the Mall in Central Park, Tuesday, October 8 at 8 P.M. The stage will be decorated to depict a typical harvest scene. The bounty of harvest, corn stalks and autumn leaves will form a setting for the folk dances of many lands which will be performed by adult groups from the Park Department and the Folk Festival Council in national costumes representative of the leading nations. 75 trained singers from the Music Division of the Works Progress Administration will sing Harvest songs and hymns. The Manhattan Concert Band will be furnished by the Concert Division of the Works Pro- gress Administration, .... Cooperation has been received by.the following or- . . ganizations: ' '" The Folk Festival Council The American Folk Group Swedish Folk,Dance Society Friri'ds of Swedish Folk Dance , ........ . Finnish Folk Dance Society of Imatra Ukrainian Dancers' Club Don Avion's Greek Dancing Group The Music and Concert Division of the . Works Progress Administration National Recreation Association Program is attached. · HARVEST FESTIVAL The Mall, Central Park, New York October 8, 1955 8:00 P.M. PROGRAM Presented by the Department of Parks in conjunction with The Folk Festival Council and The Music and Concert Division of the Works Progress Administration * Overture - "Finlandia" Sibelius Manhattan Concert Band Prologue - Growth of Crops, The Elements, The Reapers - Playground Group Processional "Come Ye Thankful People Come" "Turkey in the Straw" American Folk Dance Playground Group Russian Harvest Hymn Chorus Don Avion's Greek Dancing Group a- The Kalamatiano b- The Hasapika Corn Shuckin' Song Chorus Alice Higney a- Irish Hornpipe b- Irish Jig "Down South" - Myddelton Manhattan Concert Band Finnish Folk Dance Society of Imatra a- Sappo b- Uhtuankatrill Song of the Reapers Chorus Ukrainian Dancers' Club a- Kolomeyka b- Dance of the Wind "Songs of Old Folks" - Lake Manhattan Concert Band Alice Higney Irish Reel Home on the Range Chorus Swedish Folk Dance Society and Friends of Swedish Folk Dance a- Fjallnaspolska b- Schottis i turer "Yankee Rhythm" - Lake Manhattan Concert Band American Folk Group The Lancers Parts 1 & 5 Recessional "Alleluia" · . f f DEPAHTalEMT OF P M K S FOR IMMEDIATE WiLMSE ia"senai, Central Park October o, 1955 Tel. Regent 4-1000 The Department of Parks announces that the hecreation Division ^ill conduct for the first time a One-i\ct Play Contest for children, Vvhich \dll be held on the Mull in Central Park, October 5th at 2 P.J»I., and October 12th .at 2 P.M. Five plays vail be presented each Saturday. Casts comprise playground children from all boroughs and the plays will be rated as follows: 1. Type of Play (suitable for children 2. Plot 5. Acting 4. Phonetics 5. Scenery 6. Costumes The following are the plays to be presented: October 5th, October 12th Lianhattan:i Doll Pageant The Three Bears Brooklyn Betty Behave The Snov. Vjitch Bronx The Pot Boiler Tea in Algebra Queens Mistress Mary The Knave of Hearts Richmond This-a-V»ay and The Prayer of the That-a-Viay Forest Spirit The following have been invited to act as judges: Co.naissioner Paul *4oos Department of Licenses i«liss Madeline Stevens National hecre&tion Assoc. Miss Joy Higgins Little Theatre Group Miss Sue Ann Vnilson Savage School for Phy.iid. ·rirs. Lionel Sutro V;omeas International League for Peace and Freedom For the past year the field of dramatics has been stressed as a part of the recreational program. Several excellent children's plays htve been produced by the Playground Directors to bring out the children's inherent ability. Elimination contests have been held in all boroughs for the past fev> months. The above dates asxk the final contest to determine the best children's performance from the city playgrounds. It is to be hoped that this contest v;ill serve as an incentive for better and increased children's plays. -end- 9 T OF PiUtKS fFOh Arsenal, Central Park October 1, 19L5 Tel. Ke 6 ent 4-1000 The Department of Parks announced today the opening of bids in Albany by the Dei>artiaent of Pubxic works for the construc- tion of a bridge carrying the Henry Huason Parteay under a park road in Van Cortiandt Park, The low bid submitted for the Park hoad bria^e was by N&clerio Construction Cvinpany, Inc. with a bid of :.,ii<:8,9^6.80. This bridge will be 170 fuet long and have a clearance of 15 feet. The contract also includes approximately a aile of grading. The State, in conjunction v.ith the Department of Parks of the City and the Henry Hudson Parkv.ay Autnority, is constructing tiie parkway from the citj' line to the intersection of Spuyten Duyvil * &nu Kiveraaie iivenue. From tiiis point to Kiversiue Drive the project v.iil be built and finuiced froa i'unas supplied by the Henry Hudson Ptxxi.ay Authority, of -n-hich Coamiosioner .«ioses is sole The plan of the p&rjcwuy includes service road©, parkv-ay p g , and the ©liMnc/ticn of street intersections. with toe letting of the present bridge contract & tottJ. of four have been designed and advertised by the State. The briaoes at Fieldston iio&d, Broudvay and Yonkers Division of the Mei, York Gentral Rail- roaa, are already under conetruction. Contracts have been let by the Authority for the £1,200,000 single arch bridge across the Hsa-lca hiver at Spayten Duyvil and the grade elialn&tion bridges a.t Eyckjatn and iiappock Streets. Construc- tion is moving on schedule ana the Heury Hudson P«rK-..ii.y should be opened in 1967. The p&rk\.ay uill by-pess the bottlenaeck at the Bro&d\.&.y dra\.bridge, ^.nerc there is ;auch congestion, and v*ill connect the Bronx and Vestehester directJ^' vdtti Kiverside Drive, the George \>fesnington Bridge arid Lest Side Express High; ay. hhen completed the parkv.ay vill be the aost direct route to upper Ne*«. Zork State uad Hew En&land. -end- , 4 UPl-M RECEIPT v*1./ »- I DEPARTMENT OF PARKS VJ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ARSENAL, CENTRAL PARK SEPTEMBER 28TH, 1935. TEL. REGENT 4-1OOO Mr. James V. Mulholland, Director of Recreation and Maintenance in the Department of Parks, has been designated by Commissioner Moses to represent the Department at the National Recreation Conference which will take place in Chicago, Illinois, from September 30 to October 4, in- clusive. Mr. Mulholland has had considerable experience, not only in the Department of Parks but in the Department of Education in Nov: York City and has held every position in the Extension Division of the Department of Education from Junior Assistant Teacher to Supervisor of Playgrounds and Community Centers. During the course of his experience in recreational work, he has also been a teacher in the elementary schools, junior high schools and high schools under tho Department of Education and has acted, at different times, as examiner of candidates for playground licenses in the Board of Education. A strong advocate of wading pools for playgrounds, he installed the first wading pool in Manhattan in 19S3. Ho believes in all- year playgrounds and the widest possible use of all recreational facilities in the City of Now York. Ho is the founder of the New York City Recreation T Conference which will be held this year under the auspices of Ne. v York Uni- versity. Mr. Mulholland has recommended to Commissioner Moses a broad recreational program for the public parks and many of his recommendations have been accepted. H'; also acts as a consultant to the Division of Design of the Department of Parks in laying out recreational facilities under its juris- diction. -2- Mr» Mulholland 'will speak at the National Recreation Congress on the subject: "To What Extent Has the Emergency Program Developed the Wider Use of Facilities Which Were Never Before Operated for Recreation? To What Extent Will This Emergency Use Contribute Toward Their Permanent Availability?" He has also been invited to speak before The Woman's City Club of Chicago on the major recreational facilities in Ncv York City, anl how they are conducted. END DEPARTMENT OF PARKS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ARSENAL, CENTRAL PARK SEPTEMBER 20, 1955 Tel. Regent 4-1000 The Department of Parks announced today that five playgrounds located in the various boroughs throughout the City will be opened with appropriate ceremonies September 23 at 3:30 P. hi. Mayor LaGuardia and Commissioner Mosesywill participate in the opening of the north playground at Thomas Jefferson Park, 111th Street and First Avenue. This is an area of about three and one-half acres, equipped with a riding pool, two soft ball diamonds, a roller skating track wJ?lav house?, seesaws, jungle gyms, etc. In Brooklyn, the Sunset Park Playground at Fifth Avenue and 44th Street, a little over an acre in size will be equipped with the usual apparatus for small children. In the Bronx a playground at Ceuldwell Avenue between East 161st and 165rd Streets will be equipped with a wading pool, shuffle board court, handball courts, swings, slides, seesaws, etc. Two playgrounds will be opened in Queens: the Jackson Pone Play- ground in Forest Park, located at Myrtle Avenue and lOjth Street, where facilities will consist of a wading oool end the usual small children's play apparatus ;md the. Middle Village Playground, 68th Road and 79th Street, where there will be two handball courts and the usual children's play facilities. Four of these properties slxmjs have been under the jurisdiction of the Department of Parks but .were never developed. The Middle Village Playground was obtained on a permit basis from private owner?. - end - \ * · ·· 4 ' ?AMS DEPABTMlsNT OF PA^CS FOR IM&fSDIATft RILEAoE Arsenal, Central Park ^ v -- September 15, 1935 Tel. Regent 4-1000 The Department of Parks announce--; that the net- nature tra.il at Alley Pond Park, Queens, "will be opened v/ith appropriate ceremonies Saturday, September 14 at 5 P.M. Exercises y.ill be held at the playground north of the \ Grand Central Parkway, off Springfield Boulevard. Adiirea-;es rill be made by several speakers inter- sted in the construction and operation of nature trails. Princes.: Yollo" Lose Yellow liobe fill talk on Indian life along the trail/: and tell Indian stories. Girl Scouts, under the direction of ' lissj K. Ford andraembernof Boy · Scout Troop #89, accompanied ty llr. J. I, Britton, Ayot. Scout Executive of "ue^no, will take purt in the exercises. Park employees have been developing tho nature trail during the past fev months to have it ready for inspection tomorrow. The trail ic about one taile long. A Talk approximately four feet I ·side has been cleared so that students nay viev the specimens with- ·- out difficulty. 250 la.bels have been placed on the apecisens giving the name? of trees, shrubtj and other item;.: of interest. The main part of the trail is devoted to plant.1*, birds;, and geology and is laid out about tvo of the kettle hole pondc winch are frequent in this section on Harbor Hill Moraine. Another section including a deep kettle hole, though mostly dry, has betn marked specially aa a geology trail. Nev; specimens will be added from time to time. During the cosaing Fall and rlnter, typical plants from different sections of Long Island till be planted so that \,hen this work is finished there will be tx crou? section of all plants found on Long It-land. At the conclusion of the exercises Saturday a tour of the trail will be made under the direction of tv.o Perk Department guides, who have been assigned to this work. -end- ~;;;S :>..£· in itt teatty ««% «tf ftam ta® vimt of «rt»'--« tfetf Hillside Park, adj. to Parking Field. AB Richmond N. E , cor. Jewett & Castleton Avenues. Sept . b AB Manhattan S. W. cor. Riverside Dr, & Bfway. N.E. cor. Fort Tryon Park Sept . 14 ABc Manhattan Chrystie & Forsythe Sts. bet. E. Houston & Canal Sts, (Sara D. Roosevelt Parkway) Sept . 28 AB c Manhattan N. E , cor. 6th Ave. & W, Houston Street. AB it E. Side 1st Ave. bet. Houston & 1st Streets. Oct. 5 AB S. Side E. Houston St. bet. Essex & Norfolk Streets. Oct. 12 AB n Baxter, Mulberry, Baird & Park Sts. N. sec. Columbus Park AB Bronx Reservoir Ave, bet. Sedgwick & Webb Ave. N. end of Old Fort #4 Park. AB0 Brooklyn Bet, 4th Ave. & 6th Ave. 66th to 67th Sts. N, lh end Leiv Eiriksson Park (2 blocks) AB Queens N, E. corner Corona Ave, & 102nd Street Oct. 19 A B C Manhattan S. W. cor. Monroe and Gouveneur Streets. A B S. side Delancey St. bet. Columbia & Sheriff Sts. Oct. 28 AB c Brooklyn S, W, cor. Fulton & Classon Streets. AB tf S. W. cor. Park & Taafe Place c Nov. 5 A Manhattan N, side of 150th St. bet. 7th and Maeomb's PI, Nov. 9 AB Brooklyn Dreier-Offerman Playground. W. side Cropsey Ave., S. Bay 46th Street, A B c Queens S. S. cor. 149th St. & 25th Avenue, Flushing, Dec. 10 AB Richmond W. Side Harbor Road. S. of Richmond Terrace 19 3 5 Jan. 15 ABC Brooklyn Bet. 8th Ave. & Ft. Hamilton Pkway., 66th to 67th Sts, (2 blocks) Leiv Eiriksson Park) Feb. 1 B Queens 243rd Road and 43rd Avenue March 8 ABC ft Poppenhausen Ave, 119th St., College Point, AB Manhattan S. Side 28th St. bet, 2nd and 3rd Avenues, ABc Bronx Tinton to Union Avenues, bet, 161st & 163rd Sts. AB tf W. side Reservoir Ave. bet. Strong & 197th St. Fort #4 AB c Brooklyn S. E. cor. Nostrand Ave. & Montgomery St. March 15 AB Bronx Bark Ave. bet. 150th and 151st Street. -3- April 1 A B C Brooklyn N. E. cor. Vandervoort & Anthony Streets A B Queens 52nd Ave. bet. 106th & 107th Streets April 17 A B C Manhattan Fort Washington Ave. & 173rd St. J. Hood Wright Park May 1 AB c Manhattan E . Houston bet. 1st & 2nd Ave. AB c Brooklyn Union, Hamilton & Van Brunt Street Iviay 15 B c Brooklyn S. E. cor. Remsen Avenue, Rutland Road B c tt E. H.Y. Ave., Remsen & Utica Avenue AB n W. S. Remsen, E. 52nd St. to Winthrop Street tt AB W. S. Remsen, Winthrop to Clarkson Streets. May 16 A B Manhattan N. E. cor. of Rutgers & Henry Streets May 24 A B c Brooklyn New Utrecht Ave. & 71st Street May 29 A Manhattan Downing & Carmine Streets June 5 A B Manhattan 180th St. & Amsterdam Ave. W.Central part of High- bridge Park B c tt W.S. Washington bet. Horatio & W. 13th St. B n W.S. Washington - 12th" to Leroy St. (3 parcels) AB c Brooklyn S. side Schermerhorn St. June 8 B c Manhattan 100th Street - North Meadow, Central Park June 9 AB Bronx S. E. cor. Jerome Avenue & 193rd St. II.W. cor. St. James Park June 20 AB Manhattan N. E, cor. East End Avenue & 84th St. Carl Schurz Pk, July 26 B c Queens Alley Pond Park Recreational Field August 9 A tt Newtown Playground, 56th Avenue & 92nd Street The Park Department has planned lJLO playgrounds with relief funds furnished by the Temporary Emergency Relief Administration and they will be constructed with relief forces supplied by the Works Progress Administration. Thirty-seven of these to be built with relief funds replace old makeshift and inadequate playground areas in centers of congested population with modern, fully equipped recreational centers and 73 are on new areas added to the system. The following is the program of the Department of Parks for the opening of these one hundred and ten playgrounds in the five boroughs: August 23 ABC Queens Highland Park Playground. t» A B Laurelton Playground. Brookville Blvd., S.of 136th Ave. A B Brooklyn Riverdale, Van Sinderen and Snediker Aves, ABC Bronx Crotona lark Playground. W.S. 173rd St. & Fulton Ave. August 27 ABC Brooklyn Avenue U and Stillwell Avenue Sept. 6 A B C * Brooklyn McCarren Park Playground. Driggs Ave. & Lorimer Street A B 3ronx Cauldwell Ave. bet. E, 161st & 163rd Sts. Sept. 14 A B C * Manhattan Thos.Jefferson Playground. 1st Ave.to E.River & E.lll to E. 114th Street. A B C * Brooklyn Sunset Park Playground. 5th Avenue & 44th Street Sept. 20 A B * Queens Jackson Pond (Forest Park) Kyrtle Ave., 109th St. ABC » Corona Golf Playground. 47th Ave. & 111th St. Sept, 27 A B Brooklyn Bet. S. 3rd St., Ocean Parkway and Avenue P Sept. 28 ABC Bronx Hunts Point & Spoffard Avenues, Faile Street -4- Oct. 4 ABC Brooklyn Bedford Avs. to Mansfield Place, Aves. X and Y AB Bronx E. 164th Street to Teasdale 3?1., E.of Boston Rd. Oct. 10 AB * Bronx Reservoir Ave. bet. University & Webb Aves. Fort #4 AB Queens 68th Road, 79th Street and 69th Avenue Oct. 12 A3 c Manhattan 67th & 68th Streets, York and 1st Avenue tt E. Houston St. bet. Mott and Elizabeth Streets AB c « S. Houston St. bet. Elizabeth St. & Bowery AB W. Houston St. bet. Sullivan & Thompson Sts. AB n W. Houston St. bet. Sullivan & McDougal Sts. AB n MoDougal and Houston Streets Oct. 15 B Avenue A and 3rd Street Nov. 15 A Manhattan Essex St. bet. Rivington & Delancey Sts, A n Essex St. bet. Delancey & Broome Streets Mov. 21 B 0 Manhattan Circle Lawn. 106th St. & Central Park West A B * Richmond Rosebank Playground. Virginia to Clifton Ave. off Bay St. Nov. ,29 A B Manhattan S. E. Corner Kinetta Lane and Sixth Avenue A B * Sixth Avenue bet. 7J. 3rd Street and Minetta Lane A B w Sixth Avenue bet. 3rd Street and W. 4th Street. A Bronx DeVoe Park, University Avenue & W. Fordham Road DSCEICBKR A B Manhattan Sdgecorabe Avenue and West 169th Street AB * n Morningside Park Playground.Morningside Ave. & 114th St. ABC * w Hamilton Fish Playground. S. Houston,Stanton, Sheriff & Pitt St. AB tt Central Park Great Lawn - opp. 85th St.^.E.cor, C Brooklyn Smith, Carroll and First Place B it 10th Street, 2nd to 3rd Avenues c tt SEiith Street, Luqueer to Huntington Streets A Bronx S. I. cor. 176th Street, Bryant Avenue A B Queens 127th & 128th Streets, bet. 14th and 15th Aves, A B 35th Avenue bet. 33rd and 34th Streets. A B S. W, cor. Astoria Blvd. and 90th Street, JANUARY A B C * Manhattan Highbridge Park Playground.Amsterdam Ave. & W. 1936 189th St. 0 North Meadow, Central Park. 97th St. & Transvers. Road A * » Inwood Hill Park Playground. Payson Ave. & Dyckraan St. ABC Brooklyn 23rd Street between 4th arid 5th Avenues B C " Howard and Atlantic Avenues A B * Queens - Forest Park. 79th Street, Myrtle Avenue ABC " O'Connor Park Playground, 32nd to 33rd Ave.- 210th St. ABC Richmond Clove Lakes Park Recreational Area. Victory Blvd., Clove Rd. ABC tt Clove Road and Clove Lake Park A ]3 c Brooklyn Aberdeen Street near Bushwick Avenue. AB c* » Heckscher Playground. Grove & Linden Sts., Central 8: Wilson Aves. Bronx 253rd Street and Jerome Avenue AB c Queens Flushing Playground. 46th Avenue bet. 164th &. 165th St. AB c Richmond Mill Road, Weed Avenue MARCH A B C * Manhattan Chelsea Park Playground. 10th Ave. W. 27th & W. 28th Sts. A B C * " Isham Park Playground, Seaman Avenue & Isharn St -5- A B o Kent Avenue and Broadway B :Brook « A A * B 0 * McLoughlin Park Plgd, Bridge,Tillary,Jay &t«& Cathed- Tompkins Park Plgd, Tompkins & Lafayette Aves{ral PI, A B0 ft Prospect Ave. bet. Greenwood & Ft. Hamilton Parkway It 0 White ,McKibben & Bogart Streets A ft Sullivan Place west of Nostrand Avenue AB 0 ft Newtown Barge Ter. Plgd. Commercial & Dupont Sts« t» A B c Williamsburg Housing Development-Stholes St., Manhattan Ave. & Graham Ave, Bronx Parade Ground, 242nd Street to City Line AB tt E,146th St., Grand Concourse, Walton Avenue ABO Queens Springfield Blvd. bet. Sheffield & 147th Ave. APRIL A B C * Manhattan Seward Park Plgd, Canal,Hester,Essex & Jefferson Sts# A B C * S. half Tompkins Sq.. Plgd f 10th St. bet. Ave A & B. A B C * Heckscher Plgd. 62nd St. & W. Drive, Central Park A B C # Brooklyn Bushwick Park Plgd. Knickerbocker & Irving Avenues C 2nd Avenue from 36th to 38th Streets (& Starr St. ABC Blake and Euclid Avenues B C Ave. V t o Y , West 10th to W. 11th Sts. A BC Bronx Bronx Park Playground, Boston Road A BC tt W. l?8th S t . , Sedgwick & Cedar Avenue A B Queens Bowne Park Plgd. 32nd Ave, bet, 158 & 159th Sts. A B Bridge Plaza 1. Crescent & 27th Sts. bet. 42 & 43 Sts. C Bridge Plaza 2. 22nd & 23rd Sts. Bridge Plaza South ABC Astoria Park Plgd. Astoria Blvd. off 23rd Avenue ABC N. Conduit Avenue and 149th Avenue MAY ABC * Manhattan St. Gabriel's Plgd. 1st Ave.,35th to 36th Sts, '. ABC* tt Mt. Morris Park,120th to 121st St., Madison Avenue : BC * Brooklyn Seaside Park W. 8th St.W. 5th S t . , Seabreeze Ave. Ocean Parkway to Beach Front, ABC* Dyker Beach Playground. Two Units -1 86th St.& 7 Ave. 2 86th St.& 14 Av. ABC n Bayview,Neptune Aves, W. 25th to W.-31st» St# ' ABC Queens Crocheron Park Plgd. 35th A^e. & 214th Place ABC N. Conduit Ave. bet. 80th & 88th Sts. JUKE A B C * Manhattan C o r l e a r s Hook P l g d . C o r l e a r s , S o u t h , J a c k s o n & Cherry ABC Brooklyn C a n a r s i o Park P l g d . E. 93rd St.& Seaview Ave. ( S t s . B C Bergen Beach P l g d , Bergen A v e . , A v e s . X & Y A B C * B e t s y Head P l g d . Dumont-Livonia-'DovJl c~7 crrkimon and Blake Avenues, ABC * tt Bay Parkway, Avenue P , West 12th S t r e e t C Bronx W i l l i a m s b r i d g e Res. P l g d . E. 208th S t . & Bainbridg© ABC Queens N. Conduit Avenue b e t . 117th & 121st S t s , (Avo. JULY AB Manhattan Harlem Housing Plgd.W. 151st St. 7th Avo.-Harlem Riv. ABC tt Colonial Parlc,Bradhurst & Edgocombo i-ives. W.145 to (155th Sts ABC Randalls Island Park, East and Harlem Rivers ABC Brooklyn Red Hook Recreation Center. Foot Henry St» on (Gowanus Bay C Bronx Fort Schuyler, Throggs Neck, Ft. of Penfiold Avenue tt ABC Macomb's Dam Park - Entire Park t! A BC Rodmans Neck - Pelham Bay Park AB Queens Beach 73rd St. & Rockaway Beach-S. of R.B. Blvd. A BC Juniper Valley Park & Plgd. N.Y.C.R.R. to Dry Harbo^ Road, 62nd to 63rd Avenues. ABC Brooklyn Marine Park North of Avenue U BC n Prospect Park Parade Ground -6- # ' A In additiW to the playgrounds listed abovj^tho following 14 ;iJH to the playgrounds listed abovi^ areas will bo developed by the City Park Department and tho Long Island Stato Park Commission on excess land acquired for tho Triborough Bridge project and will bo opened by July of next year, GRAND CENTRAL PARKWAY EXTENSION B C Queens 135th Street and Union Turnpike it AB 58th Avenue and Marginal Street it B C 55th Avenue and Marginal Street W AB 52nd Avenue and Marginal Street BC H 49th Avenue and Marginal Street tl AB 46th Avenue bet, 111th Street and Marginal Street tl AB Pell Avenue and 37th Avenue tt AB 97th Street and Ditmars Boulevard EAST RIVER DRIVE AB Manhattan 119th and 120th Streets 1! AB 104th and 105th Streets It A 93rd Street and Pleasant Avenue tl B C 103rd and 104th Streets tt B A c 123rd, 124th and 125th Streets and 1st Avo. (under bridge) ABC " 107th Street Pier The following six playgrounds will be constructed on or adjacent to Health Center buildings by tho Department of Parks and the Department of Health and will be operated by tho Park Department: B J.X. Manhattan 115th Stroot bet* Lexington & 3rd Avos, (Roof) it AB Chelsea Park, 9th Avo, 27th to 28th Sts. (Roof) AB Bronx East of Alexander Avo, 140th to 141st Sts. tt A B North side of Westchestcr Avenue, Commonwealth and St. Lawrence Avenues, ii. B Queens 31st Street and 14th Avenue t. Brooklyn Baltic & Court Streets (Roof) The character of development of each playground has been care- fully studied to satisfy tho recreational needs of the neighborhood in which it is located. Some of these playgrounds are designed exclusively for infants and mothers, some for children of kindergarten ago, some for adults and adolescents and some for combinations of those groups. The general typo of use for which tho play areas are planned is indicated by letters opposite each unit on the above lists, "A" indicates a park for mothers and infants, "B" for older children, and "C" for adolescents and adults, Tho dilapidated areas to be relocated and rebuilt are marked by asterisks. (*) All of the piny areas constructed for adolescent or adult recreation will bo flood-lighted and constructed so that they may be open at night until bedtime. All are designed for use tho full year. They will bo planted with as many trees and shrubs as possible. In addition to the new playgrounds above described, all new out- door swimming pools will be so designed that they can be used in the Fall, Summer and Spring for play purposes, and so far as possible Winter play facilities will bo provided in connection with construction of bathhouses. ,1 * 2176 BEPARTC.5EHT OB PARKS FOR RELEASE ARSENAL, CEtftRAL PAEK FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 1935 T e l . Regent 4-1000 Tlie Department of Parks has determined the location and com- pleted the development plan of a major recreational center in Harlem. For over a year the Department has been searching this section of the city for an area large enough to provide space for the active play and recreation which it is providing in other neighborhoods, and which Harlem lacks. No area large enough to accommodate all the units re- quired and at a price the city could pay could be assembled. It was decided to convert Colonial Park from its present informal plan into a park for active play. Its location, between 145th and 155th Streets and between Edge- combe and Bradhurst Avenues, is ideal. The topography of the park is well suited to the various units to be built. Edgecombe Avenue is supported above the park by a high stone retaining-wall built on an escarpment along the west side of the area. The rocky slope occupies less than half of the park area and the east side along Bradhurst Avenue is level with the boundary street, ·The wooded steep slopes will not be disturbed and a ten-block long promenade will be reconstructed at the foot of the wall on the ledge. .The whole lower section will be rebuilt into active recreational units. An outdoor swimming pool and gymnasium will be built between 145th and 147th Streets. The pool will be 100 meters long and will be equal to Aiy other pool in the city. The roof of the modern bathhouse will be utilized for the deck of the pool and spectator seats will be terraced against the rock ledge. The area used for a swimming pool in the summer can be converted into an outdoor gymnasium during^seasons of no swimming. The south wing of the building will be built as a year- round athletic hall, modern gymnasium and general recreation center for * · Harlem. A music shell will be built into the north wing of the bathhouse and will center on a tree shaded concert and dance plaza which termin- ates a mall from 147th to 150th Streets. The existing comfort station at 149th Street will be renovated and enlarged into a play house and flanked by playgrounds for small children. The largest meadow in the park which extends from 150th to 152nd Streets will be devoted to field sports and other adult recreation. A third playground for larger children, which will include a wading pool, is located between 152nd and 153rd Streets. The entire area will be landscaped and liberally equipped with benches. Harlem will have a complete athletic center equal to any planned for any neighborhood in the city. Construction will be started this summer with relief forces. The park will not be closed to the public during reconstruction. A development plan of the reconstructed area is attached. -END- OUTDOOR GYM. B, A SWIMMING P O O L B BATH H O U S t * 1 N a D ?a B C MUSIC SHELL D DANCE f- CONCE.BT FLOOD. E C H I L 0 E E N 5 PLAVGUOUND F ADULT BECBLATION ft MfABIMfi P O O L · PV«YOFipUNI DEVELOPMENT PLAN * COLONIAL · BOROUGH OF MANUATTAN · DEPARTMENT OF PARK5 ' CITY OF NEW YORK. · OUTDOOR GYM. a A SWIMMING POOL 6 M T H HOUJt f " G Y M " -n?rr'=---~--,w, C MU3IC SHELL ;v D M N C E / CONCE.BT FLOOD. E CUILDBCN'S PLtyCllOUNO F ADULT EEC0E.»TION d MfAftlMS POOLkPLAYGROUMI DEVELOPMENT PLAN · COLONIAL PARK. » E>OROUGH OF MANUATTAN · DEPARTMENT OF PAHIO · CITY OF NEW Y O U * »" DSPARTilMIJOF PARKS l!)IATI] R3LSAS3 FOR IlHl5)IATI] R2L3A33 J *"?// ARSSIiAL CMTRAL PARK August 7 S 1935. Tel. Regent 4-1000 The Department of Parks announced today the opening of the new Kissena Park Golf Course in Flushing, located at the junction of the ITorth Hempstead Turnpike and Fresh J'eadow lane. At the official opening ceremonies, Friday? August 9 at 2:00 P.M., J'r. Ira strong, Presidents will represent the Broadway Chamber of Commerce of Flushing? Mr. Harry Lewis, Presidents will represent the Eissena Park Improvement Association; IIr. Charles L. ,/ises Vice President^ will represent the Flushing United and Kr. Harry Sweenys Jr., Borough Director of Parks in Queens and John R. Van IZleek. golf architects will represent the Park Department. The first foursome to play the course will be made up of representatives of various civic organizations. A foursome representing the various city golf courses, including Pelhams Glearview, Forest Park and Dyker Beach will follow the official foursome. Permit holders are invited to play on the opening day9 and will be started according to the system in force at all city golf courses. Reservations will not be made for August 10 and 11, but can be made for August 17 and 18 by telephone to the Borough Park Department oifice at the Overlook in Hew Gardens. -end- fflEPAmSTC OF PifiSiS ' y L, ly^0^ FQi JiMWlMB Mum, CLHTRiL. PAK ^ ^ JUEC 10, I08S Tel. Begwtt 4-1000. the Park Iteparitea@at aimotmced today the opaatag of the Forest Ptixk Golf Course, Qaeeae, fhti^sday, Jialy 18, a t WiiO P*l» Ha© Old Forest Perk eourse beoa ©atlrely TobQ«m golf Appropriate eereaeales, A i c h Includes a bugle caU to colors m& raising of the fl&gj Im^e bsea iupr®iif©dt Berou^. Director l a r r y Suoeny, representing ^@ P&ir^ Oej-iertffiwnt, reii! direct ·- the opening ceremonies, Morm^x Prosideat S&rrey v/Ui tec off tho f i r s t b a l l , A foii^ecia© rep^Dentiag "toe Queeas Golf C x£bt Tlui ClosrrieT Cblf Clab, ,er Be&ch Pars Golf Comb a»S Sbor© Tiei? Solf Club « i l l play t t e f i r s t round. Fciar professional golfers froa Ufa® follow'iag auaicipal golf omxems t d l l Pat Boyl© - f caay Grego - Goorge Jcaiaay · Joo KcMahoa Forest Park After tins official foursoaes have teoo off, -ttie cc-yrce rslll to© opened to a l l perait hoMeys for rAay or iaw^ctiaa # So resesratioas t i l l too accepted for S&turoay e»d Suadagr, Jaly tG sad fil, bat bc^inninc loa-.^r, JTuly -£, ixL«y;iag t i a e asy be reserved for *Uao following 5,,tauf.v a.%1 San-ay by teie^icae or othear»iso at tbe Perk office, Oireyloo^, Forest -ead- y Department of Parks * For Immediate Release Arsenal, Central Park July 16, 1935. Tel; Regent 4-1000 The Department of Parks announced today that work on the superstructure of the West Side Highway from 72nd to 76th Streets is well under way. The foundations for this section were completed several months ago. An interesting feature of the contract which has just been com- pleted is the connection of the steel for the new structure to that of the existing structure south of 72nd Street. The location of the steel of the temporary ramp at 72nd Street is such that a section had to be removed in order to make the connection of the new steel to the existing framework. In order to accomplish this with a minimum disturbance of traffic, the work was done at night, and was accomplished without incon- venience to motorists using Riverside Drive and the existing section of the Express Highway. The work under this, contract is being performed by Poirier and McLane, at a cost of approximately $1,172,000. The American Bridge Com- pany and the Harris Structural Steel Company have a joint contract for the steel work. The foundations were installed by the Atwell Company. Transition between the construction south of 72nd Street, which con- sists of long span steel girders and that north of 73rd Street in River- side Park, which consists of informal field stone walls, is being aocom- plished by structural steel arches. These arches intersect at an angle rather than being continuous, as is usual in this type of construction. Most of the arches have been placed and steel is arriving at an encour- aging rate, so that in a comparatively short time the superstructure up to 76th Street should be completed. Plans for the structure beyond 76th Street are now being rushed to Qompletion. DEPARTMENT PARKJ" NEW YORK. CITY RANDALLS ISLAND PARK GILAVOHE D. CLARKE W.EARLE ANDREW JUNE SCALE OF FEET 19-53 DEPARTMENT ~OF ~ PARKJ 1 NEW YORK CITY RANDAlXS ISLAND PARK (&iA, GILAVORE D. CLABKE W.EABLE ANDREWS ROBERT AOSES JUNE SCALE OF FEET 3 00 fOOO 1933 254 DEPARTMENT 0? PARKS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ARSENEL, CENTRAL PARK July 8, 1955 Tel. Regent 4-1000 . The Department of Parks announced today that the bridge spanning the Harlem Ship Canal, which was recently advertised end awarded by the Henry Hudson Parkway Authority, is actually under construction. The Thomas Crimmins Contracting Company, with a low bid of $272,678.50 on the substructure, is busily engaged in the construction of the south pier of the bridge. The entire contract, including the superstructure which was swarded the American Eridge Company, whoso low bid was $365,208.59, will be finished by January 1937. I DEPARTMENT OF PAHKS 0 ARSENAL,. CENTRAL PARK IMMEDIATE EELEASE Tel. Regent 4-1000 July 5th, 1935. Mayor LaGuardia's efforts to secure for the public well pro- duced plays that could be given outdoors, resulted in the experiment of the Portable Theatre Drama presentations in the P.ark last year. These were provided by the Drama Division of the Department of Public Welfare. The experiment proved to be so successful that several new productions have been added to the repertory, among these two Gilbert and Sullivan shows. Last year as many as 12,000 persons were recorded as witnessing one of the performances. With a larger cast prepared to give several operettas this summer, it is expected that the attend- ance record,will be increased. The shows are scheduled to begin in all Boroughs on Monday, July 8th at 8:15 P.I.o, with the exception of the Mall which will commence on July 15th. These plays will continue, daily, except Sunday, throughout the summer. Attached hereto is a complete list of park sites in the five Boroughs and the days on which the Portable Theatre will be seen at each. The following are the plays that be shown in each Borough this week; BROOKLYN "Pirates of Penzance" ·QUEENS "The Fall Guy" BRONX "The Rivals" MANHATTAN '"Button, Button" RICHMOND Vaudeville Unit #2 DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ARSENAL, CENTRAL PARK IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tel. Regent 4-1OOO July 5th, 1935. PORTABLE THEATERS Locations and Playing Days -- 1935 BROOKLYN Mondays Fort Green Park DeKalb Ave. & Cumberland St. Tuesdays Owl's Head Park Shore & Colonial Rds. 67 St. Wednesdays- Gravesent Park 18th Ave. & 56th St. Thursdays Wm. B. Kelly Mem. Ave. S. & 14th St» Fridays Prospect Park Gate #3 Ocean Ave. Lincoln Rd Saturdays Lincoln Terrace Eastern Pkwy. Rochester Aye. QUEENS Mondays Forest Park Park Lane So. & 89th St. Tuesdays Anawanda Grandview Ave. Stanhope St. Wednesdays Jacob Riis Park Rockaway Beach Blvd. Thursdays King Jamaica Ave. 150th St. Fridays Jackson Hts. 84 - 85 St. 30th Ave. Saturdays Astoria Park Hoyt Ave. & East River BRONX Mondays Franz Siegel 153rd St. Mott Ave. Tuesdays Crotona Park 175 St. Fulton & Arthur Ave. Wednesdays Bronx Pk. East Union Port Rd. & Sagamore St. Thursdays Pelham, Rice Stadium Eastern Blvd. opp. Westchester Ave. Fridays De Voe Park University Ave. Fordham Rd. Saturdays St. Mary's Park Trinity Ave. opp. 147th St. MANHATTAN Mondays . Mall, C.P. (7/15) 72nd St. Central Park Tuesdays Wash· Square Waverly Place & 5th Ave. ?/ednesdays Colonial Park 145th St. & Bradhurst Ave. Thursdays Chelsea Park 27th St. & 10th Ave. Fridays Corlears Hook South & Cherry Sts. Saturdays Roosevelt Park Rivington & Forsyth Sts. RICHMOND Mondays Clove Lake Park Slosson Ave. Victory Blvd. Tuesdays Silver Lake Park Eddy St. Forest Ave. Wednesdays Cardinal Bowl Roseb&ok Thursdays* Semlars Park Grant City Fridays Fitzgeralds Fields Nelson Avenue Saturdays Wolfes Pond Park Cornelia Ave. Holston St. Johnson Terrace ?0R OF B3.SDIATS RELEASE ARSENAL. CMT3AL July 3 ' l935 T e l . Regent 4-1000 The new Prospect Park Zoo, located on what was the Duck Pond, is one of the most modern and beautiful menageries in the country. The main entrance is on Flatbush Avenue, about 440 feet from the Lefferts Mansion. A stone stairway leads from the street to the lower level where the six brick build- ings comprising the zoo are situated. In the center of the building group is a seal pool, from which "walks radiate, giving the landscape the shape of an open fan. The buildings house lions, horned animals, monkeys and birds. The hippopotami and elephants reside in a large domed building in the center of the group. Two huge decorative cages display a hawk and eagle. A restaurant occupies a corner of the garden. Along the street level are two shelters for visitors. The bears' dens, of huge boulders simulating a mountain side, are built into the slope which rises toward Flatbush Avenue. To the spectator, nothing seems to stand between them and the animals. However, an 18 foot deep moat filled with water prevents the bears escaping. This is known as the Hagenbeck method of display, adopted by zoos in St. Louis, Washington and Chicago, Plans were prepared by work relief architects and engineers and the cost of construction and labor ?;as covered by work relief funds. The response to the appeal of the Brooklyn Citizens' Committee for the Prospect Park Zoo, formed by the Hon. Raymond V. Ingersoll, Borough President of Brooklyn, and the Eon. Robert I'oses, Commissioner of Parks, for the purpose of stocking the empty cages has been most generous. More specimens are needed and those interested are invited to communicate with Kr. Louis C. Wills, President of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, 26 Court Street, Brooklyn, N. Y. Hon. Alfred E. Smith is acting as "Renting Agent" for the zoo. A bronze tablet of acknowledgment will be placed on the cages of animals whose cost was borne entirely by an individual. DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ARSENAL CENTRAL PARK FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE REGENT 4-1000- . JULY 1, 1955. The Department °^ Parks announces the opening of its first children's farm garden at the De^atti Playfield, Staten Island, July 5 at 1:50 ^.M. This garden is artistically laid out with a stone garden house in the center and two plots on either side for little vegetable gardens. Shrubbery and trees, surround the garden. . Implements and insect mounts and other instructive and interesting garden reuisites have been supplied by the ^rk Department, as well as a garden teacher well versed in the ways of children and cut worms. Facilities for 100 individual gardens have been provided. -end-