FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: PHASE I OF MORNINGSIDE PARK POND AND WATERFALL REHABILITATION PROJECT COMPLETION
BY MITCHELL J. SILVER, COMMISSIONER, NYC PARKS
OCT 28, 2016
PHASE I OF MORNINGSIDE PARK POND AND WATERFALL REHABILITATION PROJECT COMPLETION
City Gardens Club of New York City Commits $150,000 to Three-Phase, Six-Acre Project
NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver, FAICP, joined City Gardens Club of New York City President Catherine Crane, State Senator Bill Perkins, Second Vice Chair of Manhattan Community Board 9 Victor Edwards, Suki Terada-Ports, students from P.S. 129 and community members to cut the ribbon on the Phase I completion for Morningside Park pond and waterfall rehabilitation project being led by the City Gardens Club of New York City.
“The rehabilitation being realized at Morningside Park’s pond and waterfall, one of the city’s most picturesque locations, goes a long way in providing Harlem with a special destination where they can benefit from the restorative power of green spaces,” said Commissioner Silver. “We are grateful that the City Gardens Club chose to celebrate their upcoming centennial year by caring for Morningside Park in this generous way.”
“The City Gardens Club is delighted to be working with the dedicated and skilled NYC Parks staff to rehabilitate and enhance the pond and waterfall area of Morningside Park for the pleasure of the Harlem community. Raising money for this purpose is our gift to the city in celebration of our Centennial in 2018,” said Catherine Crane, president, The City Gardens Club of New York City.
State Senator Bill Perkins stated: “It is Wonderful to join NYC Parks, The City Garden Club, and Steve Simon in celebrating with our youth and elders the resurrection and flowering of Morningside Park.”
Victor Edwards, second vice chair, Manhattan Community Board 9 said: “Morningside Park serves as an urban oasis to the residents living in the Morningside, Manhattanville and Hamilton Heights areas.”
The three-phase Morningside Park pond and waterfall rehabilitation project is led by the City Gardens Club of New York City, which, in celebrating their forthcoming centennial year, has committed to raise $150,000 for the park project.
Phase I consisted of the building of a paved viewing area along the soft edge of the pond, incorporating an observation nook in the pond, removal of debris on the two west islands in the pond, and planting 45 new trees including maples, dogwoods, tulip trees and Eastern white pines, as well as 200 shrubs and almost 1,000 perennials; this work began February 2016. Phase II of this project is underway this week and includes the waterfall, which will be fully operational in the spring. The final phase will be completed in 2018, and will encompass the six-acre site surrounding the pond.
NYC Parks supports this project with labor and has provided waterfall’s new $70,000 dollar pump.
Press Contact: Crystal Howard [email protected]
PHOTO CREDIT: Malcolm Pinckney, NYC Parks