* ·'·· -3J21 1 2 '3/2.% 2 3 Index - January to December 1942 1/5/42 I 3 acre Playground opened on north side of Shore Parkway 1/6 1 Reconstructed half acre playground in Middle Village, Queens, opened 1/7 z Bids opened for construction of traffic divider on Interboro and Grand Central Parkways 1/9 1/9 « Gracie Mansion to be permanent residence for Mayors 205 Park areas set aside for ice skating 5 1/16 fc Admission to spectators at the City Building during free period for the children will continue 1/22 7 Gracie Mansion being converted to residence for Mayor 1/24 8 New playground at York Avenue and East River Drive 1/28 £«l0M-12042 155 DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ARSENAL. CENTRAL PARK For Re/ease , RESENT 4-1000 June 19, 1942 The Department of Parks ninth annual "Learn to Swim" campaign will start on June 20 at a l l of the department's seven- teen outdoor swimming pools. Since the inception of t h i s cam- paign in 1934, over 100,000 boys and g i r l s were taught to swim. The rise in the number of children taught to swim in the Park Department's pools, closely parallels the report of the American Red Cross Director of Water Safety which indicated a steady decrease in the number of drownings in New York City in the past few years. Beginning June 20, the outdoor pools under the depart- ment's supervision will be open daily from 10 A.M. to 6 P.M. A free period for children fourteen years and under will be held each day from 10 A.M. to 12 noon and during t h i s period classes will be organized for beginners. This free period will continue throughout the entire summer. * * * M-111841 155 M DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ARSENAL, CENTRAL PARK Thursday, TEL. RESENT 4-1000 June 18,194£ See attached sheet for names & pix no.of prints The Department of Parks announces that the 8th Annual American Ballad Contest for Barber Shop Quartets will take place on the Mall, Central Park, 71st Street and Center Drive on Thursday, June IS, at 8s30 P« IU In the event of fain the contest will be held on Tuesday, June 30, at the same time and place. As a special feature attraction of this year's program, there will be a separate division for Service Ments Quarteta representing the U. S. Marines, the Merchant Marine Academy, Coast Guard, Coast Artillery, Infantry and Anti-Aircraft "Units. Another highlight of the evening's entertainment will be the famous radio quartet, "The Southernaires", -sfoo will be on hand to en- tertain the thousands of lovers of harmony by singing some of the popu- lar southern melodies* The judges are composed of experts in the field of song, and others who have qualified through past service. William C. Handy, com- poser of the famous old song "St. Louis Blues* and top tenor in a Barber Shop Quartet, which traveled throughout the country as part of a minstrel show back in 1897, has consented to be one of the judges. His associates at the judges* table will be Mayor LaGuardia, Governor Al Smith, Park Commissioner Robert Moses, Geoffrey CHara and Jack Norworth, song com- posers, George E. Eea, President of the New York Curb Exchange, James I1. Ivans, Director of State Parks, Paul Hfinslow of the Taconic State Park Commission, Frank W. Snith, retired President of the Consolidated Edison Company, Charles U. Powell, retired Engineer in Charge of Queens Topographical Bureau, and harmonica virtuoso, and Douglas Paige, During the past two weeks, the preliminaries were held in each of the five boroughs. After listening to a rendition of such popular American Ballads asi "Dear Old Girl", "Let Me Call You Sweetheart", "Take Me Out to the Ball Game", '^Sandy Lee", "Yankee Doodle Dandy", and other songs made famous by the harmonizers of the old tonsorial parlors in the early part of the present century, the judges of the respective borough contests decided that 13 quartets qualified for the city-wide finals on June 18 besides the 6 quartets representing -2- the armed forces. The selection was predicated on. a comprehensive variety of factors including rhythm, intonation, tone quality, dic- tion, precision, dynamics, voice blending, harmonic originality, phrasing, costune and stage presence. The 13 groups of civilian balladeers are composed of men drawn from every walk of l i f e embracing commercial, industrial, social and civic organizations. w The St. Mary's Horseshoers" quartet, which won the cham- pionship in one of the previous contests, will be there to retrieve the crown of harmony. In addition, we will have such quartets as "The Paramount Four", "Club Harmony", "The Ridgewood Clippers" and "The Four Overtones"» Each quartet will be permitted to sing two numbers, both of which shall not exceed eight minutes duration. Appropriate prizes will be awarded to each member of the quartets, in both the civilian and service men's division, which attain f i r s t , second and third places. Music for the evening's entertainment will be furnished by both the Park Department Band and the U. S. Coast Guard 17-piece orchestra, under the leadership of Thomas MacLauren, with Dick Judge, the orchestra's vocalist, who was formerly associated with the famous name bands of Teddy Powell and Richard Himber. The public address system will be supplied by,the Muni- cipal Broadcasting StationTOTTC.Various portions of the program will be broadcast according to the following time schedule! WIG - 9:15-9:45 P.M. WEVD -10:00-10:30 P.M« * * * * Ooaot ArtiUsjqr, Aubl'Ali'Ui'im^ W.-TiHtBg^Uaeens Ufeit to fight) Vl £ T o l 0 o a s t A^iHe^y* Anti~Aircraft, I t . Totten, Queens (left to right) Privates; John King, Willard Gould, Arlee Fee, Robert Addeo A 15"0^Merchant Marine Academy, I t . Schuyler, Bronx (left t o right) Cadets: C. E. Steel, B. D. Bishop, A»T. Philpotts, S. M. Mooaie ' Ridgewood Clippers, Queens (left to right) , Vincent DeMorinis, John H. Redderson, Charles J , Redderson, Otto Bauer Marines, Issqr Ya-T^BfStoklyn (l&£*r>tic right) Miller ** TJ. S. Marines, Navy Yard, Brooklyn (left to right) Pvt. William Cummings, Sgt. Frank lessor, Sgt. Frank Irwin, Pvt. F.C. Harry Hanoher 72 Infantry, First Battalion, Brooklyn (left to right) Pvt. Silvester, S/Sgt. Thomas G i l l , Pvt.F.C. Toussiant Ayers, Sgt, George Miller <* *) ^ 1 ^ Paramount Four, Bronx (left to right) Johnny Sicignana, Jimmy Sicignana, Al Sicignana, Bail Abramson Q^ | J Brooklyn tie ft to right) Raymond LaPrelle, Lloyd Vittory, William LaPrella, Albert LaPrelle(Guitar) A/SO 3 , Club Harmony, Bronx (left t o right) Joe Spie3iaan, Walter Morris, Dick Dewhurst, Bill Ruddy F1 , St. Mary's Horse shoe r s , Bronx (left to right) "Frank Maier, Leo Lecomte, Fred Moynihan, Frank Miller ' * Bay Shore Home Downers, Manhattan (left t o right) Fred Timinella, Marty Kletcka, Anthony Catalanotto, Gordon Taylor "i. · * · F a r * 26-lOlf-12042 DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ARSENAL., CENTRAL PARK TEL. MSMMT «-l»00 For He/ease Monday»' June 15, 1942 The Park Department announces a series of concerts with dancing in the various parks throughout the city» This series will be given by the Consolidated Sclison Company and the public will be admitted without charge* The series will be inaugurated Tuesday, June 16, at the Mall in Cen- tral Park by Raymond Scott and his orchestra. The last concert will be held September 7. Large open dance areas will be surrounded by bleachers for those who amm to hear the music and watch the dancing. Following is the schedule- for June: June 19 - Mitchell Ayres, Colonial Park, 153 Street & Bradhurst Avenue, Manhattan June 22 - Cab Calloway, Prospect Park, H Street & Prospect Park West, Brooklyn June 25 - Mitchell Ayres, The Mall,, Central Park, Manhattan June 26 - L o u Breese, Prospect Park, 11 Street & Prospect Park West, Brooklyn Starting June 30 these concerts and dances will be run five nights a week from 8:30 to 10:30 P.M. in various parks throughout the city. Two nights per week the program will be broadcast by Station 1NYC. In each case provision will be made for dancers and spectators. Before the season is over the public will have an opportunity to hear such bands as Benny Goodman, Glenr. Miller, Cab Galloway, Clyde Lucas, Ray Kinney, IJanmy Dorsey, Charlie Spivak, Claude ThorHhill and others. Following is a list of the parks where these events will take place during the summer: In Manhattan: Central', Colonial, East River, Hudson, Chelsea and Highbridge In Brooklyn: Prospect, McCarren, City, Bushwick, Leiv liriksson9 Betsy Head, Lincoln Terrace and Avenue P playground In Queens: Woodside, Forest and Jackson Heights In the Bronx: St. Mary*s, Crotpna, Mullaly and Williamsbridge Playground and the playground at Watson, G-leason and Noble Avenues The final schedule of dates for these locations will be announced IV · ,f Form 86-10M-12042 ^ k 155 % U DEPARTMENT OF PARKS * 3:\oPAl ARSENAL. CENTRAL PARK fo RdeOSP. FRIDAY w TEL. RESENT 4-1000 ' " June 1 2 / 1942 The Eastern Lawn Tennis Association in oooperation with the Department of Parks will present a clinic on tennis at Mullaly Park, East 164 Street and Jerome Avenue, Bronx, on Sunday, June 14, at 10 a.m. Eleanor Tennant is a nationally known tennis coach whc coached Alice Marble, Gene Marko and Wembly Van Horn from California public parks'players to national and international titles. "Teach" as she is known to racquet wielders from coast to coast, has been conducting similar clinics throughout the country for the past couple of years, assisted by nationally known stars. The olinic will consist of a match between Frank Shields, a ranking American tennis star and Ladislaw Hecht, former member of the Czeohoslovakian Davis Cup Squad. At the completion of the match, Shields and Hecht will pair off with two local placers for a doubles match. Miss Tennant will call for volunteers from her audience and analyze their game. There will be no admission charge and room for over 500 spectators has been provided. This Friday evening "Sports for New Yorkers" your park pro- gram on 1NYC from 6 to 6:30 p.m., will have as their guests Miss Tennant, Alice Marble, Frank Shields, Ladislaw Hecht and Dave Eisenberg, sports writer for the Journal American, in a around table discussion on "Tennis for All". *** *** **· Form 26-SM-60241 155 DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ARSENAL., CENTRAL. PARK For Saturday, TBU REGENT 4-1000 June 6, 1942 The Department of Parks announces that after the evening session on Sunday, June 7, at the New York City Building, Flushing Meadow Park, Queens, the roller skating rink will be closed for the summer season. Since the combined ice and roller skating rinks were opened on September 14, 1941, 300,000 people have availed themselves of these f a c i l i t i e s . During the free periods each Saturday moming, 35,000 children attended the sessions* The roller rink w i l l re-open early in September and the ice rink in October. * * * Form 26-10M-1Z042 <*^fo» 155 DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ARSENAL, CENTRAL PARK Mjr|k V . Fdr ReliMSP. Friday. Bt 98-106 Location plan fear a l l 3 playgrounds \ The Department of Parks announces the completion and opening to the publi6 on June 5 of three new playgrounds in Brooklyn. BL 98-105 At 2nd Avenue from 55 Street to 56 Street, the Triborough Bridge Au* : #E1433 thority, in connection wi^h the Gowanus Parkway development, acquired the property in order to provide more adequate and.modern neighborhood recreational f a c i l i t i e s . Several three and four story residences were demolished to make room for the new addition which extends to 55 Street. - i The new play area of about one acre contains the following equipment grouped in fence enclosed subdivisions! combination wading pool and volley ball court, brick comfort station, irrigated sand pit, kindergarten slides, swings and seesaws, slides and pipe frame exercise unit, combination b-asketball and volley ball court, roller skating area and handball courts. The improvement also includes a flagpole, drainage, irrigation, park lighting, benches and tree planting, BL 166-731 At Shoro Parkway. East 12 Street. William Court and Homecrost Avenue, ; jr&14t97 ---- t h e new two a c r e playground was a c q u i r e d by condomnation f o r r e c r e a t i o n a l p u r p o s e s in the proceedings for the acquisition of the Belt Parkway right-of-way. A con- siderable amount of side-slope f i l l and 350 lineal feet of retaining wall at the southwest cosUQr of the plot was required for the bridge approach and to permit pedestrian connections between the playground marginal walks and the parkway path system. The playground consists of three main sections with subdivisions bor- dered by chain link fence, block-surfaced panels, benches and trees. The north section, approximately 200 feet square contains: a brick comfort station, a con- crete wading pool, kindergarten apparatus, an irrigated sand pit, apparatus for pi O older children, and four concrete surfaced handball courts. -2- The central, asphalt surfaced section contains a bastefball court with removable goal posts to permit r o l l e r and ice skating. The area has been graded to a low central point to facilitate flooding and drainage. The south' section, extending to the parkway, is also asphalt surfaced and is laid out as a softball diamond. EL 157-105 At Avenue S from East 16 to East 17 Streets, an unused portion of #81529 21590 Water Supply, Gas and Electricity property, was acquired by transfer in 193? for recreation purposes. Here the area has been developed entirely for children and provided with a comfort station, wading pool, sand p i t , kindergarten play ap- paratus, swings and slides; for older children; volley ball courts and a roller skating rink. Because 218 temporary playground directors, 185 assistant gardeners and 90 temporary attendants who are normally hired every year to handle addi- tional summer usage of playgrounds, parks and beaches have not been provided for in the budget these areas will be opened only from 10 A.M. .to 7:00 P.M. The personnel to man these areas will be drawn from Prospect Park Parade Grounds, Owl's Head Park, Lincoln Terrace Park Playground, Kelly Memorial Field Playground, Dyker Beach Playground and the playground at Avenue L and' last 18 Street, thereby causing a curtailment of the operating hours of these older playgrounds. They will nc*r operate from 8 A.M. to 8 P.M. The work was performed by the Work Projects Administration from plans prepared by the Department of Parks. In 1934 there were 119 playgrounds in the five borfcughs, 65 of which have been reconstructed. There are now with these three additions 471 playgrounds in the park system* * * * Form 26-5M-60241 ° ^ ^ > 155 _^BEPARTMENT OF PARKS ""** ARSENAL, CENTRAL PARK pQf JRefegS? Thursday, TBL. REGENT 4-1000 ' }. 1942 The Department of Parks announces the birth of a baby seal in the Central Park Zoo and a bison calf in the Prospect Park Zoo. Both were born on June 3rd. The pup seal, weighing ten pounds, is the offspring of Barker, the father, now deceased, and Flappy, the mother of four other additions to the Zoo since 1938* The bison calf weighing forty-five pounds is the daughter of the father, Nickel, and the mother, Wicolette, both of which were born in the Central Park Zoo. This is the f i r s t bison calf to be brought into the world in the Prospect Park Zoo» * * * * Press photographs may be taken at any time. 57 Form 155 DEPARTMENT OF PARKS IP ARSENAL, CENTRAL PARK for RpJP.g,P. TEL. RESENT 4-1000 June 4, 1942 City tennis facilities available to members of the Army, Navy and Marine Corps in uniform Special arrangements have been made by the New York City Park De- partment for the use of public tennis courts by soldiers, sailors and marines in uniform free of charge from Monday until Friday inclusive except on holidays. Tennis courts are located at Manhattan; Central Park-93rd Street and West Drive East River Park-Rivington Street, Stanton & East River Drive 63rd Street and York Avenue Harlem Housing Playground-150th Street & Seventh Avenue Randall's Island-last of Triborough Stadium Ft. Washington Park, West 172nd Street & Riverside Drive Riverside Park, West 161st Street & Riverside Drive Inwood H i l l Park-207th Street & Seaman Avenue Brooklyn: Coney Island-Neptune Avenue & West S5th Street Fort Green-DeKalb Avenue & Washington Park Gravesend-56th Street & 18th Avenue Kelly Memorial-Avenue S & East 14th Street Liev Eiriksson-66th Street & 7th Avenue Lincoln Terrace-Sastern Parkway & Buffalo Avenue McCarren-Lorimer Street & Driggs Avenue McKinley-75th Street & 7th Avenue Marine Park-Fillmore Avenue & Marine Parkway Prospect Park-Prospect Park West & 9th Street Red Hook-Columbia & Halleck Streets Sunset-5th Avenue & 43rd Street Bronx; Bronx Park-Brady Avenue & Bronx Park East Crotona Park-East 173rd Street & Crotona Avenue Mullaly Park-East 164th Street & Jerome Avenue Pelham Bay Park-Rice Stadium St. James Park-East 193rd Street & Jerome Avenue St. Mary's Park-East 146th Street & Trinity Avenue Van Cortlandt Park East-233rd Street & Jerome Avenue Van Cortlandt Park-242nd Street & Broadway Williamsbriage Oval-Bainbridge Avenue & 208th Street Queens: Alley Pond-Grand Central Parkway, Winchester Boulevard Astoria Park-25th Avenue & 21st Avenue, Astoria Baisley Park-155th Street & 118th Avenue Brookville-Brookville Boulevard & South Conduit Highway, Rosedale Crocheron-East of 215th Place & South of 33rd Avenue, Bayside Cunningham-Union Turnpike, North of 193rd Street, Jamaica Flushing Memorial-150th Street & Bayside Avenue, Flushing Forest Park-Park lane South & 89th Street, Woodhaven Highland-Jamaica Avenue & Cleveland Street, Ridgewood Howard Beach-Nolan & Thetford Avenues Kissena-Rose Street & Oak Avenue, Flushing Liberty Park-172nd Street & Liberty Avenue, Jamaica Wayanda-Hollis Avenue & Springfield Boulevard, Hollis Equity Playground-89th Avenue & 90th Street, Woodhaven Richmond: Walker Park-Bard Avenue, Delafield Place, Davis Avenue Silver Lake-Hart Boulevard, Silver Lake Park DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ARSENAL, CENTRAL PARK K^TMf /R y J u n e 4-1000 f » WUIJUTL ^ / ^ , ~ 3,1942 The super-heated group around Flushing Meadow Park needn't worry about the demolition of the Japanese Building. The Park Department announced long ago that this was scheduled. Salvageable material from the interior was taken out during the winter. The interior will be torn down as soon as the necessary men and equipment are available* Birch wood from the paneling has already been used in repairing many Of the slides and other pieces of playground equipment throughout the city. Plumbing, electrical and ventilating equipment have been salvaged and much of it is in use at various places throughout the city. The thin brass trimming below the eaves was salvaged during the winter and turned over with other scrap to the Department of Purchase. It has undoubtedly been sold by this time. What socalled local civic workers call "a monument to a treacherous enemy" is a hollow shell. The Department has just one crane which must do all our work in all five boroughs. During the spring it has been in use salvaging top soil for the restoration of lawn areas and other planting and dig- ging clay for tennis courts and playgrounds throughout the city. As soon as this can be spared and the necessary Park Department men can be released from the rush of spring work, the shell of the Japanese building will be demolished and remaining salvageable material will be put to good use in the department, or turned over to the Department of Purchase. .-·' For many years before last December 7, the Japanese consistently purchased scrap metal from the United States and made use of much of our waste material. We have taken a leaf out of their book. 65 Form 73-5M-12042 155 CITY OF NEW YORK DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ARSENAL, CENTRAL PARK FOR ESHAS1S TUESDAY, JUNE 2 , 1942 28, 1942 Mr. R. G. Geist Secretary, College Cycle Club 260 West 260th Street New York City Dear S i r : I have your l e t t e r of ;esMng various arrangements for t h e accommodai icyclists oV parkways, both on Long Island and i n As you have p1 .n the local papers, arrangements have been mad l i s t s to travel over the causeways from s Beach* As ths1 on long Island and within the City pedeVCrians' use i s light, bi~ cycling will signs will be placed to indicate where this ar: orce. to permit bicycling on the board- .ch on week-end mornings during the sunmer* [boardwalks at Rockaway and Coney Island is certain hours in the wintertime because these fees where, under normal conditions, local b i - de with safety. There would be no point in opening up the boardwalk at Jones Beach for bicycling when, to reach i t , the bicyclists would have to ride at least five and a half miles. W e believe that a person riding a bicycle to Jones Beach i s using the bicycle first as a means of trans- portation, and that when he gets to Jones Beach he i s interested in some other form of activity for recreation. As to the Bronx River Parkway, we cannot agree to open any portion of i t to bicycling at any time. I t i s narrow, winding, and traffic has not yet dropped to the point where bicycliag would be safe. Mr,. B. C. Geist -2- May 28, 1942 As to Pelham Parkway, the service roads have always been available to b i c y c l i s t s , and bicyclists have always been permitted to continue on Eastern Boulevard and the roads in Felham Bay Park to both City Island and Orchard Beach. At Orchard Beach we have maintained parking racks for .-bicyclists for several years* i ' ''· We recognize that as the use of automobiles becomes less and less, due to the effects of rationing and deterioration, the use of bicycles will probably increase in proportion. As the preponderance of use changes from one to the other, regula- tions governing the use of parkways and related facilities will of necessity have to be adjusted to meet the demand. Very truly yours, /s/ ^ROBERT MOSES Commissioner COPY · · COLLEGE CYCLE OIDB 260 ISEST 250TH STREET NEW YORK CITY May 23rd, 1942 Park Commissioner Robert Moses The Arsenal Central Park . New York ! Dear Commissioner: Now that the Sunday auto traffic has greatly decreased on the parkways would it be possible to change the highway regulations and permit bicycles to use at least one parkway in each borough on Sundays for exercise? You have provided Brooklyn and Queens with adequate bicycle paths but Manhattan and the Bronx have practically nothing in the way of a long path. Manhattan has the mile path in Central Park. The Bronx riders have been deprived of the aqueduct path due to war conditions. May I therefore suggest that:- 1. All side paths on Long Island and Ne?; York City parkways be opened to cyclists at all times ) 2. The" Jones Beach Causeway be opened to cyclists I . · ' · . · ' *: 3. That cycling be permitted on the boardwalk at Jones Beach each v Saturday and Sunday u n t i l noon -4 4. Bronx River parkway be opened to cyclists, at least one lane on * each side | 5* Pelham Parkway to City Island be opened to cyclists. May I please hear from you, K Very truly yours, . - / s / R. C. Secretary P»S. Many of the highways in and around New York were b u i l t with funds contributed by the old League of American Iheelauitt back in 1890. .1 !6-10M-12042 1SS DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ARSENAL, CENTRAL PARK EL- SATURDAY 30, 19tf The Department of Parks announces that the Park Department puppeteers will give a series of open air puppet and marionette shows including "Peter and the Pirates" and "Jack and the Beanstalk", (daily except Sunday), during the month of June to July 4th r inclusive, in various Park playgrounds throughout the five boroughs from a t r a i l e r stage especially constructed in the department's .work shop. The f i r s t showing will be made beginning Monday, June 1st, at Jay Hood Wright Playground, 175 Street and Port Washington Avenue, Manhattan, at 11:00 a.m. and 3*30 p.m. "Peter and the Pirates" consists of three acts lasting for ftooroxiffistelj 45 minutes, while "Jack and the Beanstalk"' consists of three acts and lasts about 50 minutes. Both shows will be given at each of the morning and afternoon performances. The shows will continue to be presented at the various boroughs accord- ing to the attached schedule: Manhattan - June 1 to 6 inclusive Bronx - June 8 to 13 " Brooklyn - June 15 to 20 " Queens - June 22 to 27 " Richmond - June 29 to July 4 inclusive For the past three months recreation personnel, charged with the r e - sponsibility of putting on the shows, have .been attending regular rehearsals, where they practiced the various speaking-'parts peculiar to the characters of both plays. Besides voice cultivation, they have developed the faculty of timely and skillful manipulation of the suspended figures. -2- Preliminary to all these dramatic preparations, this group had the added burden of revising the original fairy tale texts, suitable only for reading, so as to make them adaptable to a puppet theatre, as well as acting in the capacity of craftsmen by carving, molding, painting and costuming the various figures to a likeness becoming its particular part in the drama. The trailer stage, is 11 feet 10 inches high, 8 feet 6 inches wide, and 14 feet 4 inches long. It is equipped with electrical wires, lighting fixtures, amplifiers, colored scenery, storage room and an overhead horizontal platform for the puppeteers. Every contrivance, necessary for a first class puppet .and marionette theatre has been pro- vided for. On the exterior of the stage, characters and objects, familiar to every reader of Grimm's Fairy Tales, are painted in variegated colors. Lengthwise, on the face of one side, and to the right, the design portrays the Ginger Bread House, and Hansel and Gretel in a woodland scene; and to the left,Jack and the Beanstalk, and Humpty-Dumpty; on the reverse side, Snow White, Little Bo Peep., and Little Red Riding Hood. On the front panel, there is depicted a performing seal and clown; while the rear panel contains a representation of the Three Bears and the Grandmother's House of Little Red Riding Hood. CITY OF NEW YORK DEPARTMENT OF PARKS SCHEDULE OF TRAILED MARIONETTE THEATRE June 1942 "PETER AND THE PIRATES" & "JACK AND THE BEAN STALK" MANHATTAN Monday June 1 Jay Hood Wright Playground 11 a.m. - 3:30 p.m 175 St. & Ft. Washington Ave. Tuesday June 2 Kelly Playground 11 a.m. - 3:30 p.ra 17 Street near 8 Avenue Wednesday June 3 Riverside, 148 Street Park 11 a.m. - 3:30 p.m Thursday June 4 Mt. Morris East, 11 a.m. - 3:30 p.m 120 Street & Madison Avoxme Friday June 5 Heckscher Playground 11 a.m. - 3:30 p,.M 65 Street & Central Park Saturday June 6 Columbus Park - 3:30 p,iL< 11 a.m. - Baxter & Jorth Streets BRONX Monday June 8 Watson,Gleason & Noble Avenues - 3:30 p.tr, 11 a.m. - Playground Tuesday June 9 Uaterbury, Edison, Bradford & - 3:50 p.m 11 a.m. - LaSalle Aves4 Playground Wednesday June 10 St. Maryrs East Playground 11 a.m. - - 3:30 p.m 146 Street & Trinity Ave Thursday June 11 Crotona Park, Playground # 9 11 a.m. - 3:30 p,m Crotona Park So. & Clinton Ave. Friday June 12 Van Cortlandt Stadium - 3:30 p,rr. 11 a.m. - 240 Street & Broadway Saturday June 13 Claremont Park North Playground - 3:bO p . r 11 a.m. - Teller & Mt, Eden Avenues BROOKLYN Monday June 15 Red Hook Playground 3:30 paru Clinton, Bay & Henry Streets Tuesday June 16 McCarren Playground 3:30 p.ru Driggs &, Lorimer Avenues Wednesday June 17 Bushwick Playground 3:30 p.m. Putnam 8c Knickerbocker Aves. Thursday June 18 3:30 p.m, New Lots Playground Riverdale Avenue & Sackman Street Friday June 19 3:30 p.m. Kelly Memorial Playground Avenue S & East 14 Street Saturday June 20 Sunset Playground, 6 Ave. & 44 St, 11 a .m. - 3:30 p.B) QUEENS Monday June 22 Maurice Playground, Maurice, 11 a.m. - · 3:30 p.E Borden & 54 Aves., Maspeth Tuesday June 23 Playground at Broadway & 73 St., 3:30 Jackson Heights Wednesday June 24 Crocheron Park 11 a.m. · · 3:30 p.x 35 Ave. & 214 Place Thursday June 25 Forest Park Music Grove 3;30 Polll. Main Drive & Woodhaven Blvd. Friday June 26 Liberty Park Playground 11 a . m . ·· 3:30 pj 173 Street & Liberty Ave. Saturday June 27 Cunningham Park, Grand Central 11 a . m . · - 3:30 p..' Pkwy., 193 St., Hollis IgCH^OND Monday June 29 Levy Playground, Port Richmond 3:30 p.m. Tuesday June 30 Westerleigh Park, Willard & 3:30 p.m. Main Avenues, Westerleigh Wednesday July l Lincoln Avenue Playground, 3:30 p»m» Midland Beach Thursday July 2 Clove Lakes Park, Victory Blvd. & 3:30 p.m. Clove Road, West Brighton Friday July 3 Silver Lake Softball Field 3:30 New Brighton Saturday July 4 Schmul Playground, Wilde Avenue 11 - 3:30 Travis Form 26-1OM-12042 155 DEfPARTMENT OF PARKS For May 29, 1942 The Department of Parks announces the opening of the seventeen outdoor swimming pools on Memorial Day, May 30, 1942, at 10 A.M. The pools are located as follows: Manhattan: Hamilton Fish Pool -East Houston and Pitt Streets Colonial Pool -Bradhurst Ave., West 145 to 14? Streets Highbridge Pool -Amsterdam Avenue and 173 Street Thomas Jefferson Pool -111 to 114 Streets and First Avenue 23rd Street Pool -23 Street and East River Drive Carmine Street Pool -Clarkson Street and Seventh Avenue 60th Street Pool -60 St. between Amsterdam Ave. & 11 Avenue John Jay Pool -78 Street and East River Drive Brooklyn: Sunset Pool -7 Avenue and 43 Street McCarren Pool -Driggs Avenue and Lorimer Street Red Hook Pool -Clinton, Bay and Henry Streets Betsy Head Pool -Hopkinson, Dumont and Livonia Bronx: Crotona Pool -173 Street and Fulton Avenue Queens: Astoria Pool -19 Street and 23 Avenue Flushing Meadow Amphitheatre-Flushing Meadow Park Richmond % Faber Pool -Richmond Terrace at Faber Street Tompkinsville Pool -Victory Boulevard between Bay Street and Murray Eulbert Avenue From May 30 to June 19 the pools will be open for week-ends only and from June 20 until the end of the season they will be open daily with the follow- ing operating schedule: On week days and Saturdays from 10 A.M. to 12:30 P.M. there will be a free period for children under 14 years of age, during which hours no adults will be admitted to the pool area. After 1 P.M. on week days and all day Sundays and holidays there will be a 9$ charge for children under 12 years of age and a 25£ charge for older children and adults. Groups in swimming, diving, contests and water shows will be organized at all pools. Classes in life saving and first aid will also be included in the Aquatic Program in addition to the yearly "Learn to Swim" campaign which will start on June 20. · Orchard Beach, Pelham Bay Park in the Bronx, Jacob Riis Park Beach and Rockaway Beach in the Rockaway Peninsular, Queens, Coney Island Beach, Brooklyn, and South«Beach and Wolfe's Pond Park in Staten Island will also open for bathers on Memorial Day, May 30. Bathhouse accommodations are available at Jacob Riis Park and Orchard Beach. At Orchard Beach there i s a total of 7796 lockers for bathhouse patrons and parking space is provided for 6,000 cars. At Jacob Riis Park the bathhouse ac- commodates 10,000 people and the parking space 14,000 cars. Parking at both beaches will be 250 per car, bathhouse fees 150 for children's lockers and 250 for adult lockers. Dressing rooms are available at Jacob Riis Park for a fee of 500 per per- son. Recreational areas at Jacob Riis Park and Orchard Beach providing shuffle board, paddle tennis and handball are available to the public. The charge for the use of these f a c i l i t i e s will be 100 per person, per half hour. Besides these games areas at Jacob Riis Park there i s also an eighteen hole pitch and putt golf course. A charge of 500 i s made for each round of golf, which includes clubs. A 500 deposit i s required on golf b a l l s . In addition to these games areas, a special schedule of events is planned for Jacob Riis Park; there will be calisthenics on the beach each day at 2 P.M.; each Wednesday, begin- ning July 1, will be Children's Day; races, contests and games will be staged in the outfield of the softball area. These special a c t i v i t i e s are free and patrons of the beach are invited to join in the fun. Similar a c t i v i t i e s have been scheduled for Orchard Beach* Beginning Monday, June 15, at Jacob Riis Park, there will be twilight softball games every week day except Saturday, the games starting at 6:30. On Saturdays and Sundays a single game will be played starting at 2:30 P.M. Two leagues have been formed and spectators are sure of fast, interesting softball. Bleachers have been provided for 1,000 persons. Beach chairs and umbrellas may be rented at Orchard Beach and Jacob Riis Park at a nominal charge and beach shops are provided where bathing accessories can be purchased, * * * Form 26-10M-12042 155 DEPARTMENT OF PARKS , ARSENAL. CENTRAL PARK Rp.lpV7.SP. 29 194S ' (Prf) The Park Department announces that the first Naumburg Concert of the season will be held on the Mall, Central Park, on Saturday, May 30, at 8:15 P. M. The orchestra will be under the direction of Max Rudolf* The soloist, a soprano, will be Cleonice Montvare, who will sing an aria from II Trovatore, "Tacea la notte" and a Strauss Waltz "Roses from the South". This concert series is contributed by Mr. Walter W. Naumburg and Mr. George W. Naumburg in'memory .of their father, Elkan Naumburg, who donated the bandstand on the Mall in Central Park. The Naumburg Concerts for the season are Memorial Day, May 30; Independence Day, July 4; July 31 and Labor Day, September 7. * * Form 26-10M.12042 «affiBa» 155 DEPARTMENT OF PARKS t f ^if-tA^lu^ ARSENAL., CENTRAL, PARK PQr Rplpggp Friday ? TEL. RESENT 4-1000 45-108 Delivered 5/28/42 45-109 4:30 P.M. 21532 The Department of Parks announces that on Friday, May 29, a t 4 P.M, the new diving pool at the John Jay Swimming Pool at 78 Street and the East River Drive, Manhattan, will be officially opened. The Hon. Irving Y. A. Huie, Work Projects Administrator for the City of New York and the Hon. Fiorello H. LaGuardia, Mayor of the City of New York will speak. The Hon. Robert Moses, Commissioner of Parks, will act as chair- man. Following the speeches there will be an aquatic show. John Jay Park, one of the older City parks, located between East 76 and East 78 Streets, adjacent to and overlooking the East River Drive, has been entirely reconstructed. The new diving pool was built adjacent to the swimming pool, thus re- lieving some of the congestion which has existed in t h i s small pool. The con- cession building has been relocated and a completely equipped playground re- places the previous inadequate f a c i l i t i e s . The southerly half of the area has been paved but will continue as an open area for court games. A portion of Cherokee Place has been closed so that the existing old bath building now l o - cated at the northwest corner of Cherokee Place and 76 Street i s tied into John Jay Park. Alteration plans have been completed for t h i s structure pro- viding a recreation room, gymnasium and auditorium but delivery of materials held up because of p r i o r i t i e s has delayed completion of the work. Numerous benches have been installed under existing shade trees and additional trees have been planted. Concrete bleachers have been provided around the pool. The work was performed by the Work Projects Administration from plans prepared by the Department of Parks. In 1934 there were 119 playgrounds in the five boroughs, 65 of which have been reconstructed. There are now 468 play- grounds in the park system. * · * Form 'ARTMENT OF PARKS SSENAL, CENTRAL PARK pnr Dp]pn<.p Wednesday, The Department of Parks announces that the first Novice Boxing Champion- ships, under the auspices of the Park Department, will take place at the Tri- borough Stadium, Randall's Island, Manhattan, on Thursday, May 28, at 8 P.M. Ad- mission is free. These championships were originally scheduled for Friday, May 22, but were postponed because of rain. All the boxers, who will take part in the bouts next Thursday evening, are novices. They have trained at Park Department boxing centers, under the supervision of park personnel, and have survived the eliminations of a city-wide tournament, just completed* The standard weight classifications will be contested, ranging from featherweight to heavyweight. Competitors have been further classified into two age groups: Junior (16 to 18 years); Senior (18 years and over). Judges are Henry Young, Metropolitan Ass'n, A.A.U., and Fred Delaney, Flushing Y.M.C.A. Prizes have been donated by Bernard Gimbel. A point trophy, donated by Edward F. Wagner, will be awarded to the boxing center whose represen- tatives score the greatest number of points. The National Anthem will be sung by Roberta Keene Hunt, of AtiBrica's Good Will Union, and the Color Guard will be provided by the Boy Scouts of America. Music will be rendered by the Park Department Band, The names of the competitors, together with the Park Department centers they will represent, follow: JUNIOR DIVISION 112 1b, class Dominick Miceli, Crotona Play Center,- Bronx William Richardson, Colonial Play Center - Manhattan 118 lb. class Salvatore Giordano, Crotona Play Center - Bronx Gerald DeRosa, Cromwell Play Center - Richmond 126 lb. class Leo Milito, West 28 Street Gymnasium - Manhattan John Peden, McCarren Play Center - Brooklyn 155 lb, class Abraham Hirsch, Crotona Play Center - Bronx Cyril Dixon, Cromwell Play Center - Richmond 147 lb. class Richard Fuxjazas, Astoria Play Center - Queens William Hampton, Colonial Play Center - Manhattan 160 lb. class Buddy Sorensen, Crotona Play Center - Bronx Roy Spangler, Cromwell Play Center - Richmond 175 lb. class Erick Schauer, East 54 Street Gymnasium - Manhattan Jerry Logan, Crotona Play Center - Bronx SMIOR DIVISION 118 l b . c l a s s Thomas McG-uinness, Crotona Play Center - Bronx Hayward Chisholm, Colonial Play Center - Manhattan 126 lb. class Arnold Gee, Cromwell Play Center - Richmond Percy Hampton, Colonial Play Center - Manhattan 155 lb. class Leo Matalon, Crotona Play Center - Bronx Anthony Conenno, Thomas Jefferson Play Center - Manhattan 147 lb. class John Farina, Cromwell Play Center - Richmond Sam Brown, West 28 Street Gymnasium - Manhattan 160 lb. class Donald Braithwaite, Colonial Play Center - Manhattan Vincent Lacopola, Astoria Play Center - Queens 175 lb. class James McGuire, East 54 Street Gymnasium - Manhattan Vincent Miller, McCarren Play Center - Brooklyn Heavyweight Class Joseph Byrnes, East 54 Street Gymnasium - Manhattan Cavaignac Augustin, Colonial Play Center - Manhattan Randall's Island can be reached by the pedestrian'walk across the Tri- borough Bridge or by Bus. From Manhattan: Bus at 125 Street and Lexington Avenue - fare^ 50 From Bronx: Bus terminal at 134 Street and Cypress Avenue - fare 50 From Queens: Bus terminal at 31 Street and Astoria Blvd. - fare 100 Parking i s free on Randall's Island. There are accommodations for 5,000 cars. * * * Form DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ARSENAL, CENTRAL PARK ^1 ,A FoT R P./.P.atP. HOBDAY TEUREGENT4-.000 -T / t ··- May 25, 1942 « BL 42-107 Pii: 21493 BL 42-108 21494 \' \ \ ·»--'·· The Department of Parks announces the completion of work in connection with the reconstruction of the 6-| aore playground at Gravesend Park located west of 18 Avenue, between 55 and 56 Streets, Brooklyn. This will be opened from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. The old play facilities which were located in four fence enclosed units had become worn and unserviceable. The apparatus area divided into two sections contained a central brick comfort station and typical pieces of apparatus which were widely spaced around the border of a gravel surfaced combination free play area and basketball court. Two handball courts with ancient wooden backstops and a gravel surfaced baseball field without backstops were located in the adjacent central area. The south end of the field was provided with eight poorly surfaced clay tennis courts. The new development permits greater utilization of space by segregation of smaller compact use areas equipped with increased facilities. A oantral tree shaded bench lined mall extends from the main park gate to the existing comfort station which has been given a new setting of H o o k pav- ing, trees and a flagpolgji On both sides of the mall two main fence enclosed sections, approximately 1 acre each, are subdivided into various use ar/eas. Al- ternate benches and trees are spaced in a five foot block* paved border extending along the inside of the fence enclosure. The following items are contained in these units: Combination roller and ice skating rink & shuffleboard &nd 2 handball courts Wading pool with sanitary foot bath Play swings 1 pipe frame exercise unit 2 Play slides Horizontal ladder, horizontal bars and parallel bars Combination irrigated aand pit and sitting area 8 kindergarten seesaws 2 kindergarten slides Kindergarten swings Two Softball diamonds with hooded backstops have,been provided in an adjacent two aore asphalt surfaced enclosure with entrances from the comfort sta- tion plaza. The tennis courts remain within the same enclosure but have been resurfaced. The work was performed by the Work Projects Administration from plans prepared byithe Department of Parks. In 1934 there were 119 playgrounds in the five boroughs, 64 of which have been reconstructed. There are now 468 play- grounds in the park system. *** *** *** Form 26-10M-12942 ojjgfc. 155 DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ARSENAL, CENTRAL t»ARK ' · , fQr ,, g l m ,, m TEL. REGENT 4-1000 , "" ' ^V *>Git fixi S3M9 Ifeliwed 5/21/48 12 Noon , 21©S6 - * · · · · . , The Department of Parks announces that the f i r s t Novice Boxing., Championships, under the auspice^ of the Park Department, will take place at the Triborough Stadium, Randall's Island, Manhattan, on Friday, May 22, at 8:30,P.M. In the event of rain, they w i l l be held on the following night, i Saturday, May 23, at the same time and place. Admission is* free. All the boxers,, who will take part in these championships, are novices. They have trained at Park Department boxing centers, under the super- vision of park personnel, and have survived the eliminations of a city-wMe tournament, just completed. · The standard weight classifications v a i l be contested, ranging from the featherweight to the heavyweight division. Competitors have been further classified into two age groups: Junior (16 to 18 years); Sonior(18 years and over). ._ Judges for these championships include: John J. Deignan, Metropolitan Association, A.A.U., Fred Delaney, Flushing Y. M.C.A., Stephen Byrne, Trinity Club. ' · i Prizes have been donated through the courtesy of Bernard G-imbel. A point trophy, donated by Sdward F. Wagner, will be awarded to the boxing center whose representatives acquire the greatest number of points. The National Anthem will be sung by Roberta Keene Hunt, of iterlca*s Good Will Union, and the color guard will be provided by the Boy Scduts of America* Music will be rendered by the Park Department Band. .§§ fc Randall*s Island can be reached by tho pedestrian walk across the Tri- ; ijlBorough Bridge or by Bus. . From Manhattan; Bus. at 125 St, and Lexington Ave. -.fare 5$ From Bronx: Bus terminal at 134 St. and. Cypress Ave, - fare 5$ , From Queensj'Bus terminal at 31 St, an,d Astoria Blvd.. - fare 100 Parking i s free on Randall's Island, There arefeceoBBBOdationsfor 5,000 cars. "* Form 26-10M-12042 -tffljft- 155 DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ARSENAL, CENTRAL PARK For Rp/p/lfP X»OOO TEU.REWWT4.tO00 fyj&y g l , 1942 21519 Plaja j ML 81-183 B*liw«d 5/81/48 21581 ML 81-853 at (,P.M. 81588 81583 81534 The Department of Parks announces the completion of work in connection with the reconstruction of Oracle House and i t s immediate surroundings in Carl Schurz Park, Manhattan, as the official permanent residence of the Mayor of the City of New York and his successors. < For some time the present administration had been in doubt as to the proper permanent use of t h i s historic residence. In 1923 the newly incorporated Museum of the City of New York was granted the use of the building for the purpose of displaying exhibits presenting the chronological history of New York City l i f e . The house was repaired in 1927 and fitted with furniture and accessories typical of New York interiors from 1800 to 1860. In 1934 the reorganized Department of Parks, as part of i t s program of the construction and restoration of monuments, memorials and historic buildings, carefully restored the Grade House based on painstaking research. Until recently i t has been operated as a small post-Colonial museum furnished with pieces loaned to the City either by individuals or by the larger institutions. Rugs and draperies were never made available. Visitors were few and no justification was apparent for wasting thinly spread funds in an unsuccessful competition with the finer exhibits in other large City museums. The present Mayor and the Board of Estimate agreed that the best use of the property would be as a permanent residence for the Mayors of New York City. The Park Department directed the preparation of the plans for the con- version of the house and the adjacent park grounds. The work was started early in February of t h i s year by the Work Projects Administration using materials purchased by the City. -2- The old building, erected in 1770, is a two-story frame building with a piazza around three sides in the style of New York's early Dutch settlers. Although it has been essential in the restoration to make some concessions to the needs of modern living, very little was done to disturb the existing floor plans. Great care was taken to preserve the simple charm and dignity of the structure. Containing nine rooms and two generous sized foyers on the two floors with accommodations for servants in the basement, the building, exclusive of the porches, is about 50 feet by 65 feet. Exterior building work consisted of minor repairs and complete repainting. Very little change was made to the first floor except to modernize the pantry* The entrance hall, library and dining room were repainted and the floors scraped and stained. The living room, to the right of the entrance hall has been similarly treated. The custodian quarters on the north end of the second floor were removed to permit the restoration of two larger bed rooms. The master bedroom with four windows overlooks the park and river to the east and north. This room and the adjoining converted sitting room which centers on the east facade are the only two rooms -with wall paper. Three smaller bedrooms, one of which will be reserved for guests, occupy the other building corners thus providing cross ventilation and wider views. These rooms, painted in colonial blue and white with stained floors, each have baths and closet space- A central hall reached by a winding staircase provides direct connections to all rooms. A considerable amount of wood trim and doors were installed to match the original. All of the woodwork and floors were repainted. · · i , -3- The heating plant and electric system which were provided in 1934 required l i t t l e change. Where the building construction permitted, hidden convectors were installed. In many of the rooms free standing radiators have been r e - tained. New electric outlets have been added for radio and u t i l i t y purposes. The entire f i r s t floor, except the service portion, and the guest bedroom have been provided with furniture and art pieces of the Colonial, Revolutionary and early .19th Centtncy periods. These items are permanent loans from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of the City of New York, the Brooklyn Museum and private donors. All the items have been thoroughly re- paired and the furniture coverings newly reproduced. The private quarters of the house on the second floor were furnished by the Mayor. In furnishing the main rooms of the house, an attempt has been made to bring together furniture and decorations to suit the severly designed back- ground of the neo-classic period. In these high ceiled rooms where the archi- tectural enrichment is concentrated at the fireplaces, cornicos, and architraves, the furniture made after the designs of Hepplewhite, Sheraton, and other inter- preters of the Adam style finds an appropriate and logical setting. Upon entering the house a broad reception hall opens before the v i s i - tor by reason of the unusual plan wherein a graceful spiral staircase rises against the far wall. At the left of the entrance is a fireplace framed by a mantel carved with fans and reeding in the typical Now York style. Opposite is a satinwood commode and pair of armchairs of the Louis XVI period. This kind of furniture was typical of the finer houses of the new republic; i t may be recalled that Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson brought back from France furnishings for their use in New York and Philadelphia, and Alexander Hamilton ordered furniture closely following French models for his house, the Hamilton Grange, overlooking the Hudson. .On the walls flanking the entrance stand a pier table and a pair of shield-back chairs of mahogany and satinwood, American interpretations of Hepplewhite designs* Reflected in the convex mirror above the commode i s a portrait of De Witt Clinton, three times Mayor of New York City; the likeness is believed to be a contemporary one by Samuel L, Waldo. At a bond in the staircase landing a handsome grandfather clock, i t s mahogany case ela- borately inlaid with holly and satinwood, strikes the hours. Upon the floor, as in the other principal rooms of the house, i s a Turkey carpet, the name given to the variety of Oriental rugs which were brought from the Near East for early American houses in the eighteenth century. In the living room at the right the same spirit is evident in tho style of furnishing as in the entrance h a l l . Grouped around tho white marble mantel of the fireplace are a mahogany and caned settee from the workshop of Duncan Phyfe, and several Hepplewhite oval and shield-back armchairs, upholstered in figured haircloth similar to the original upholstery. The trimming of brass nails also repeats the old style. Between the east windows which give long vistas of the river stands a light mahogany writing desk with tambour doors and delicate framing of inlay.. Two carved drop-leaf pedestal tables, probably from the workshop of Duncan Phyfe stand against a pair of modem upholstered sofas, and several easy chairs carry out the rose, yellow and gray colors which are used on the upholstery and window hangings in the room. A variety of small tables- Pembroke, tripod, and "lazy Susan" types, of mahogany and kingwood, are put to various uses here.. To the right of the entrance door hangs a portrait of John Alsop King who was born in New York in 1787. The portrait i s a copy after John Trumbull and shows the subject as a young boy. On the west wall i s a series of aquatints in green and gray tones representing views of the Hudson · · -5- Valley selected from The Hudson River Portfolio, engraved by I, Hill after paint- ings by W. G, Wall. Opposite the fireplace, a convex mirror framed with carved and gilt -wood is lighted by four candle branches hooded by simple purple glass shades. In this glass are reflected a pair of modern crystal chandeliers which light the room. Among the smaller ornaments here are a French bronze of Washington on a gilt pedestal,- and a collection of blue and white Staffordshire pottery with American scenes, Chinese export porcelain, such as was imported for early American houses, and several pieces of French porcelain in the classical taste arranged on the glazed shelves of a wall cabinet. A pair of silver candlesticks and several old Chinese and Persian oil jars provide the bases for lamps. In the dining room the cool, oyster-white walls are an excellent foil for the portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Munro and their daughter Olivia Roe Munro which were painted in New York about 1825 by an unknown artist. The furniture is of fine mahogany. In the middle of the room is a double pedestal table and twelve chairs in the style of Duncan Phyfe. The chairs were made for the City Hall about 1815 and are still owned by the City of New York. Above a serving table slightly earlier than the chairs hangs a looking glass framed in green and gold in the neo-olassic style, and on the wall facing the fireplace a mahogany and satinwood sideboard of Hepplewhite design supports two oval satin- wood knife boxes decorated with painted festoons and flowers. In the middle of the room above the table hangs a finely chiseled bronze chandelier, a copy of an original Louis XVI example in the Wallace Collection in London. Framing the hearth is a pierced and serpentine-shaped copper fender, brightly polished as metal work customarily was in early American days. A small French bronze bust of Lafayette centers on the mantel with a portrait of lilliam Dyckman above. Adjoining the dining room is the library. Three mahogany bookcases contain several hundred volumes dealing mainly with New York history, perma- nently loaned by the New York Public Library. A flat-topped desk, which was -6- probably made by Charles Christian for the City Hall in 1814, i s the most important piece of furniture, A pair of chairs with leather seats are of the same period as the desk and a large upholstered sofa and several easy chairs covered in leather make the room an inviting place for study and relaxation. Here, as in the living room, the fireplace is furnished with a brass fronted fire grate. Upon the walls may be seen several lithographs in color - among them "Panorama of the Harbor of New York, Staten Island and The Narrows," "The Life of a fireman, The Night Alarm" by N. Currier, and, a map of the State of New York which was printed in 1826. Ascending the graceful spiral staircase the v i s i t o r commands a full view of the park and the river from the windows of the guest room at the southeast corner. This well-lighted chamber, in addition to the comfortable beds and ample clothes press, contains a handsome mahogany bow-front chest of drawers with color- ful Battersea enamel drawer pulls, and a pair of Louis- XVI armchairs made comforta- ble by rose and white silk upholstery of classical design. A looking glass with a carved and gilded frame of the Federal period hangs above the chest of drawers. Hudson Valley aquatints, part of the living room series, afford interest to the south and east walls. The fireplace is furnished with a bright polished brass fender and andirons, and upon the mantel above them stand a pair of pewter whale oil lamps adapted to modern usage. Many of the important pieces of furniture were selected because they were in the style of 1799 when, it is believed, Archibald Grade largely recon- structed the original house. Standing on a rocky point of land at a bend in the East River about 40 feet above the water, the site permits a fine view northeast- ward over the river to Hell Gate. The property had many owners from early Dutch times through the eventful days of the Revolution and the War of 1812. Gracie, a wealthy New York merchant, Scottish born, was famed for his hospitality and formal receptions. Many famous Americans including literary men of distinction, as well as distinguished visitors from abroad, were entertained by Gracie. -7- The property was later sold by the Gracie family and passed through several ownerships when in 1891 the City condemned it for park purposes. Con- sisting of twelve and a half acres, it was f i r s t called East River Park but was · later renamed Carl Schurz Park for the German Revolutionary and close friend of Abraham Lincoln, The park was developed in the informal manner of the times with wind- ing paths bordering many tree dotted lawns. Providing passive recreation only the park remained essentially a sitting area u n t i l 1934 when a complete plan for a modern recreational development was prepared and the work started in conjunction with the restoration of the Gracie House. New bench lined walks and promenades divided the park into various use areas for both active and passive recreation. A large playground, wading pool and comfort station were provided for the children who formerly played in the adjoining s t r e e t s . No further alterations were made u n t i l 1939 when more than half of the park was redesigned and reconstructed in connection with the new East River » Drive which forms i t s eastern boundary. An attractive feature was a broad es- planade atop the drive now called John Finlay Walk. An adult court games area was placed adjacent to the playground, sand pit and sitting areas provided in offsets from the promenade and the adjoining informal areas tied in with the . new development by an integrated path system. The area around the Museum was regraded to permit a depressed t r e a t - ment of the l a s t River Drive thus preserving a proper setting and maintaining views to and from the Mansion. The new development of the grounds around the Mayor's House was ." planned for utmost simplicity and economy and in harmony with the building and dignified surroundings of the "entire park. The vehicular entrance to the north of the house utilized an existing gateway and drive leading from East End Avenue at 88th Street. Entrance to the new turn-around on the north side of the house is protected by a double gateway and police booth. The drive and -walks were adapted to existing conditions and the development required the removal of only a few sections of walk and the moving of two trees. New plant material consisting of broadleaf evergreens and the taller growing deciduous shrubs and small flowering trees, were added, to screen the drive and turn-around, to supplement the existing foundation planting and to provide a reasonable degree of seclusion for the Mayor. A 6 foot iron picket fence set adjacent to the broadly oval circumferential public walk supplements a retaining wall skirting the east la-ra. to discourage undue annoyance to the residents of the Mayor's House. The public comfort station formerly located in the basement of the Museum was removed. A modern brick comfort station is approaching completion, a few hundred feet to the south of the house near the west marginal park walk. A portion of the basement of the house will be used by park maintenance personnel who will also continue to maintain the grounds of the Mayor's residence. *** *** **% 26A-5M-73141 155 DEPARTMENT OF PARKS Monday, ARSENAL, CENTRAL PARK R P.ld/l.fP. May 1 8 , 1942 T E U REGENT 4-1000 Delivered Sat, 5/16/42 PIXJ 1955? City swimming facilities available to members of the McSOl Mc802 Army, Navy and Marine Corps in uniform Special arrangements have been made by the Oity Park Department for the use of public beaches and pools by soldiers, s a i l o r s and marines in uniform during the coming summer. At Jacob Eiis Park at Rockaway, Orchard Beach in the Bronx, and ; Wolfe's Pond on Staten Island, Army, Navy and Marine Corps vehicles will be parked free and soldiers, sailors and marines may use the bathhouse^ without charge. At the City swimming pools listed below the usual twenty-five cent charge will be waived, Manhattan{ Hamilton Fish Pool, East Houston and Pitt Streets Colonial Pool, Bradhurst Avenue West 145 to 147 Streets Highbridge Pool, Amsterdam Avenue and 173 Street Thos. Jefferson Pool, 111 to 114 Streets & First Avenue 23rd Street Pool, 23 Street and East River Drive Carmine Street Pool, Clarkson Street and 7 Avenue 60th Street Pool, 59 Street between Amsterdam & 11 Avenuos John Jay Pool, 78 Street and East River Drive Brooklyn: Sunsot Pool, 7 Avonue and 43 Stroet McCarren Pool, Driggs Avenue and Lorimor Stroet Red Hook Pool, Clinton, Bay and Honry Streets Betsy Head Pool, Hopkinson, Dumont and Livonia Avenues Bronx: Crotona Pool, 173 Street and Fulton Avenue Queens: Astoria Pool, 19 Street and 23 Drive Flushing Meadow Amphitheatre, Flushing Meadow Park Richmond: Faber Pool, Richmond Terrace at Faber Street Tompkinsville Pool, Victory Boulevard between Bay Street and Murray Hulbert Avenue · Pools are open to adults after Is00 P.M. on weekdays and Saturdays and all day on Sundays and holidays. Robert Moses Commissioner Form 26-10M-12042 , 155 DEPARTMENT OF PARKS 8 ARSENAL, CENTRAL. PARK TEL. RESENT 4-1 For Monday, May IS, 1942 PiXJ #21443 #21444 #21445 The Department of Parks announces the completion of a granite #21446 #1447 and bronze memorial to former City Comptroller W. Arthur Cunningham who #21448 #21449 died in 1934, at the age of 40, of a heart attack. Remembered as an able i and successful business executive, and for conspicuous service in the first World War, his untimely death ended ·what promised to be a notable career in public service. The monument stands adjacent to the Cunningham Memorial Flagpole which was erected and dedicated on the occasion of changing the name of old Hillside Park to Cunningham Park in 1934, This 550 acre country park is located on the Grand Central Parkway in central Queens, the borough where the young lawyer lived and was buried. The setting for the bronze bust executed by Sail Siebern was designed by the Department of Parks. Slightly over life size the force- fully modeled bust stands on a square monolithic shaft of polished- granite placed in front of a larger simple rectangular pylon of polished granite blocks. Centered pn the axis between the granite concession building and flagpole the monument has been built into the north retain- ing wall of the flagstone terrace facing northward into the semi-circular memorial flagpole area. The intimate scale and planting of this garden which overlooks the broad athletic field in the north meadow forms an appropriate setting. ' · · * * * 41 Form 26-10M-12042 % DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ARSENAL, CENTRAL PARK ^<" MavTO 194g" TEL. Rfeoewr 4--1000 The Park Department announces that after the evening session at the City Building, Flushing Meadow Park, on Sunday, May 10, 1942, ice skating will be discontinued and only ttu$ roller skating rink will be in operation. Patronage of the ice skating rink has decreased rapidly during the past three weeks, and with the recent warm weather, interest in this sport has become so low that the attendance no ilonger · justifies i t s continued operation. The ice skating rink will be re-opened early in the f a l l . The roller skating rink at the City Building will con- tinue to operate evening sessions from 7:30 to 11:00 P.M. every day; free morning session from 9:00 A.M. to 12 noon on Saturday; afternoon sessions from 2:30 to 5S30 P.M. on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays only. * * * * V Ifev J 7 1942 William H. Latham ' Richard C. Jenkins Coney Island - Flatting Earlier announceaeats stated that flatting waa permitted twenty-iour hours a day year round from the fishing bay on Steeplechase Pier, Coney Island. Because or diaout ragulations, l i g h t s on the pier have oaaa turned off for the duration and ma have deaaad i t advisable to close the pier at darkness. Fishing will be permitted from the pier during daylight hours only* i*irf casting has previously town permittsA i n bays adjacent tha pier on a twenty four hour basis during the winter months and from 10:00 P.M. to 8:00 A.M. during the soaraer months. I t i s aow advisable to prohibit any surf easting for the soasaer maths and to prohibit nie^t-tiae easting for the duration* R. C. JB&IHS Borough RCJ:MO ce: J.W. Heaalip, IT, A2. 3 pix -- Pix from Madigan ^fcmd & therefore WL /h,*, /J* - , /* j have no number. ^ ^P f 1 loc.-#BL-210-204 / FOR RELEASE - TUESDAY, MAY 5, 1942 Dels 5/2/42 12$ 30 noon ANOTHER SECTION OF GOWANUS IMPROVEMENT COMPLETED The Triborough Bridge Authority announces the opening for traffic of the section of the Gowanus Elevated Parkway along Hamilton Avenue from Prospect Avenue to Hicks Street, on Wednesday, May 6, 194.2. The Gowanus Improvement from Owl's Head Park to Prospect Avenue was completed last November. Other parts of the work have been delayed because of difficulties in obtaining materials due to priority rules. The new section extends from the presentterminusat Prospect " Avenue to the proposed entrance to the Battery Tunnel at Hicks Street. The tunnel will not be completed until after the war, and, in the meantime, the Gowanus Improvement will be made accessible by the widening of Hicks Street to Atlantic Avenue now under way. In order to eliminate tho. delays due to bridge openings, the Elevated Parkway was constructed at a high level over Gowanus Canal to pro- vide a clearance of ninety feet above the water. The elevated roadways accommodate three lanes of cars in each direction, divided by a center mall, and are limited to passenger vehicles. Commercial traffic will shortly be taken care of by the nearly-completed lift bridge over the Gowanus Creek and fifty-foot roadways on Hamilton Avenue on either side of the Elevated Parkway. Buses have been substituted for trolley cars on Hamilton and Third Avenues with the cooperation of the Board of Transportation. The parkway previously opened on November 1, 1941 > together with this new section, completes the Belt Parkway from the Bronx-Whitestone Bridge, in Queens, to Hicks Street and the future Battery Tunnel. The Gowanus Improvement was built by Triborough Bridge Authority at a cost of approximately $15,000,000 for land and construction. The lift bridge at Hamilton Avenue is being built by The City of New York under the direction of the Department of Parks. There remains only a comparatively small amount of construction, which is progressing rapidly, on the lift bridge and its approaches, on Third Avenue, and on landscaping, to finish the entire Gowanus Improvement. The Elevated Parkway will then be turned over to the Department of Parks, street roadways to the Borough President of Brooklyn, and the Gowanus lift bridge to the Department of Public Works. ·JBHHHHHS- Form 26-10M-12042 155 A DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ARSENAL, CENTRAL PARK For Release Monday, May 4 , 1942 2) 6 C-OVU..-V-, ·'· VML-J The records of the Department of Parks indicate a steady in- crease in the use of golf courses since 1936, The following are the comparative figures for the period ending May 2nd for the last seven years. 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 Rounds of golf for the week 10,224 12,003 19,367 12,790 22,218 22,371 20,026 Total rounds of golf 18,340 23,049 37,085 34,676 46,639 59,881 64,241 through May 2 This increase of more than 300$ can be accounted for in several ways: First, increase in the number of. courses; second, improvement of condition of the courses; third, reduction in the fee; and, fourth, gen- erally increased interest in the game. This year with the rationing of t i r e s and gasoline the city anticipates an even greater increase in the use of these courses as we get into the summer season. * * * Ao FOR RELEASE: Wednesday, April 29, 1942 The Long Island State Park Commission, Jones Beach State Parkway Authori- ty, New York City Park Department, and the Triborough Bridge Authority have for some time, been working with the military, naval, and civilian defense agencies in the metropolitan district on the summer use of state and city public beaches. Various steps have already been taken to comply with orders and requests as to lighting, blackouts, etc. It has now become necessary to give the public a clear picture of summer beach usage, especially as to closing and restrictions after dark. The attached releases by the City Park Department and Long Island State Park Commission should be readily understandable. In effect, it will be seen that Jones Beach will, for all practical pur- poses, be shut down at nightfall although the causeways must still be open. Park- ing fields, restaurants, the boardwalks and other recreation facilities will have to be closed at 9:00 p. m. The effect is the same at Jacob Riis Park. The Rockaway boardwalk must, of course, continue to be open but cafeteria and other facilities will close. This applies also to the boardwalk at South Beach, Staten Island. Wolfe's Pond Park, Staten Island, will be closed at 9:00 p. m. At Orchard Beach in the Bronx, the game areas will be closed at nightfall* Lighting will be drastically restricted, but the beach will be open until 10:00 p.m. (Signed) ROBERT MOSES Zf] LONG ISLAND STATE PARK COMMISSION BEIMONT LAKE STATE PARK BABYLON, L. I . , N. Y. For A d d i t i o n a l i n f o r m a t i o n , c a l l C. R. B l a k e l o c k at (day) Babylon 1000 o r ( n i g h t ) Babylon 1178. FOR RELEASE Wednesday, April 29, 1942 This summer, in order to cooperate fully with the Army and Navy, Jones Beach State Park will be operated only from 8:00 a. m, to 9:00 p. m., with no night activities. The Jones Beach swimming season will start on Saturday, May 23rd, when the West Bathhouse with heated salt water swimming and diving pools, vri.ll be opened. On the same date, the Marine Dining Room in the West Bathhouse will be opened for daily daytime operation. On Sunday afternoon, starting May 24th, and on Decoration Day, free pool shows will be presented at 3:00 p. m. in the West Bathhouse pool. The East Bath- house, which serves the still water bathing at Zachs Bay in addition to the ocean surf bathing in front of the bathhouse, will open for the season on Decoration Day, May 30th. A special program of spring concerts by Long Island high school bands will be presented in the Music Shell adjacent to the boardwalk on Saturday and Sun- day afternoons, starting May 16th and ending June 21st. The outdoor roller skating rink and various game facilities, including the pitch and putt golf course, are now in operation. Because of the elimination of night activities, there will be no outdoor dancing at t&a Music Shell and no water shows at the Marine Stadium on Zach3 Bay» Softball games which in the past have been held nightly under floodlights, will be played afternoons and early evenings. *** Form 26-10M-12042 ..JHttfc. 155 DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ARSENAL. CENTRAL PARK /fyf R t>Jl>.n.SP. W e a* 19 s d a y ? THL. RE3«HT 4-1000 April 29, 1942 The Department of Parks announces t h a t in o r d e r t o cooperate f u l l y with t h e Army and Navy, the following schedule of summer operation w i l l be e f f e c t i v e at p u b l i c beaches: 1. CONEY ISLAND, BROOKLYN The game areas and concession stands under the jurisdiction of the Park Department will be closed at nine o'clock so that no lights will be necessary for their operation. Arrangements have been made with the Department of Water Supply, Gas and Electricity to turn out many of the lights along the boardwalk and to shield the balance of the lights by painting the outshore portion of the globe so that the light will not be visible from the ocean. 2. JACOB R I I S PARK, QTJEENS The entire park will be closed at nine o'clock. This will include conces- sions, game areas, and parking fields, and will eliminate the necessity for lights. 3. ROCKAWAY BEACH, QXHEMS The game areas will be closed at nine o'clock. The Department of Water. Supply, Gas and Electricity is turning out every other light along the boardwalk and is dimming the balance of the lights on the outshore side so that they will not be visible from the ocean. 4. SOUTH BEACH, RICHMOND In cooperation with the Department of Water Supply, Gas and Electricity, every other light has been extinguished and the outshore side of the remaining lights have been painted so that, they will not be visible from the ocean. 5. WIFE'S POND PARK, RICHMOND This park will close at nine o'clock. 6. ORCHARD BEACH, BRONX Game areas will be closed at nine o'clock. The use of floodlights will be eliminated. All lights will be obscured on the outshore side. Otherwise, opera- tion w i n continue as usual until ten o'clock. * * * Form 26-10M-12042 DEPARTMENT OF PARKS 155 t ARSENAL., CENTRAL. PARK TEL.. RESENT 4-1000 For Monday, April 27, 1942 The Department of Parks announces the birth in the Central Park Zoo of a Llama calf on April 23, 1942. The new arrival, weighing 25 pounds, is the son of Racket and Blackie. Racket, the father, was born in the Central Park Zoo, August 5, 1934, and the mother was pro- cured from L. Ruhe in July 1938. The baby is on exhibition at the present time and photographs for press purposes may be taken immediately. * * * * Form 26-10M-12042 155 DEPARTMENT OF PARKS Monday, ARSENAL., CENTRAL PARK /'Of TEL. RESENT 4--1000 The Department of Parks announces that the preliminaries and quarter-finals of the Park Department City-wide boxing tournament will be held at the gymnasium located at 407 West 28 Street, Manhattan, on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, April 27, 29, and May 1 at 8:00 P.M. Admission i s free. This tournament i s open only to those novices who have received their training under the supervision of Park personnel at the various boxing centers operated by the Park Department throughout the five boroughs^ Competitors will be classified into two groups: 16 to 18 years, and over 18 years on the following weight basis: 112 l b s . , 118 l b s . , 126 l b s . , 135 l b s . , 147 l b s . , 160 l b s . , 175 lbs. The semi-finals will be held at Cromwell Play Center, Murray Hulbert Avenue, Tompkinsville, Richmond, on Wednesday, May 6, at 8:00 P.M., with the City championships scheduled to take place at the Triborough Stadium, Randall's Island, Manhattan, at 8:00 P.M., on Friday, May 22. Appropriate prizes will be awarded to the winners and semi- f i n a l i s t s in each weight division. * * * 37 W DEPARTMENT OF PARKS Friday, % ARSENAU. CENTRAL PARK FOr R P./.ParP. ^ P 1 ^ 1 24,1942 \ ' TEL. REGENT 4-1000 Plaas! J L ^ v W - ^I-VA-Ui- Qrlp- 99-6501 I ^ Bids were opened today by the Department of Parks at the Arsenal Building, ; Central Park on three contracts relating to the general park development of addi- tional sections of Flushing Meadow Park, Borough of Queens. The areas to be de- veloped are adjacent to Horace Harding Boulevard on both sides of the Grand Cen- tral Parkway. The work to be done comprises a portion of the revised four year program started in 1941 for reconstructing the former World's Fair site as a well rounded park and recreational development. The current work is part of the 1942 Capital Program designed to provide additional marginal active recreation areas and im- provements around the permanent buildings. Playground development will take pre- cedence over the less urgently needed passive recreation areas which will be built later to complete and unify the park. Existing facilities used during the Fair which will be removed in prepa- tion for the new work include: a comfort station, information booth, pump house, a temporary portion of Horace Harding bridge over Flushing Creek, flagpole and drink- ing fountain bases and miscellaneous service poles. This demolition work will be a part of the contract which provides for the general reconstruction of the area be- tween the New York State Amphitheatre and Flushing Creek. Also included are a new parking field, walks, drives, bicycle paths, fences, grading, water supply and drainage. A concession storage room will be built adjacent to the Amphitheatre food bar. A control station for under-water flood lights will also be provided in this building. The second contract provides for the general planting of the same area. The existing plants, comprising a portion of the trees and shrubs donated by the va- rious exhibitors, will be transplanted in conformance with the new development. This basic planting will be supplemented by new flowering shrubs and small trees, perennials and vines. Lawn areas will be started to complete the Amphitheatre section. The promenades, malls and walks around the completed play areas west of Grand Central Parkway and opposite the New York City Building will be provided with park lighting under a third contract. The existing system of underground ducts will be utilized and secondary feeders will be installed using cable salvaged from the Fair. No new material or equipment will be required for this work* It is expected that three additional contracts for the further develop- ment of Flushing Meadow Park will be let this year as provided in the Capital Pro- gram. These will provide for picnic areas south of Horace Harding Boulevard and vJ© # east of Meadow Lake, also affording access to the boat house on the east bank. New playgrounds will be developed along the east margin of the park between Fowler Avenue and Horace Harding Boulevard and the existing playground east of 111th Street opposite the New York City Building will be expanded to include a large a t h l e t i c field. The work to be done under these contracts involves no strategic material. The three lowest bids were submitted by the following on each of the three contracts: Contract No. 1 - General Park Development: 1. John Meehan & Son -$117,174.29 90 West S t . , New York City 2. Frank Mascali & Sons, Inc. 118,438.40 4634 Third Ave., Bronx, N.Y. 3. Ufa.. P . McDonald Construction Co.Inc. 128, 451.80 33-15 Lawrence Street, Flushing, N.Y. Contract No. 2 - Planting: 1. Roman Landscape Contracting Co., Inc. §19,946,10 551 Fifth Ave., New York City 2. Grant Park Construction Co. 22,261.55 65 Prospect Ave., Hewlett, N.Y. 3. John Gozo 24,770.70 171-08 84th Road, Jamaica, N.Y. Contract No. 3 - Electrical: 1. Rao Electrical Equipment Co., Inc. §1,700.00 150 l a s t 42 Street, N.Y.C. 2. Elco I n s t a l l a t i o n , Inc. 1,730.00 345 East 23 Street, N.Y.C. 3. Welsback Street Lighting Co. 2,780.00 42-30 24 Street, Lon^ Island City, N.Y. * * * Form 26-10M-I2042 155 DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ARSENAL, CENTRAL PARK For Release TEL. REGENT 4--1000 ?ril 84, 1942 The Department of Parks announces the birth in the Central Park Zoo of a male baby Aoudad on April 21, 1942, at 6 P, M. The new arrival, weighing four pounds, is the son of Bill and Tuts. The father 'was purchased from the Masker Zoo, Evansville, Indiana, August 28, 1940, and the mother, Tuts, was donated by the New York Zoological Society, April 28, 1930. Although the baby is not on exhibition at the pre- sent time, photographs for press purposes may be taken immediately. * * * Form 26-10M-12042 1S5 DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ARSENAL, CENTRAL. PARK For Release. FRIDAY TEL. REGENT 4-1000 April 24, 1942 The Department of Parks announces that "Pet Shows" will be conducted by playground children, in commemoration of "Be Kind To Animals" week, on Satur- day,, April 25, at 2:00 p.m. at the following locations: Manhattan Kelly Playground, lest 17 Street & 8 Avenue Riverside Playground at West 74 Street Mt. Morris lest Playground, West 122 Street & Nathan Davis Place Payson Avenue Playground Bronx Mullaly Playgroundp 164 Street & Jerome Avenue Yiilliamsbridge Playground, 208 Street & Bainbridge Avenue St. Mary's West Playground, 146 Street & St. Ann's Avenue Crotona $6, Crotona East & 173 Street Brooklyn Hecksher Playground, Srove & Wilson Avenue Kelly Memorial Playground, Avenue S & East-14 Street McCarren Park, Drirgs Avenue & Lorimer Street James J, Byrne Playground, Third Street & Fourth Avenue Lincoln Terrace Playground, Rochester k Buffalo Avenues Ocean Parkway & Avenue P Playground Prospect Park West & 11 Street The classifications of the pets, which are to form the basis of the judges' decisions, are many and diversified. Some of them are as followss the largest and smallest dog and cat; the dog or cat with the most beautiful coat; the cutest litter of puppies; the largest family of rabbits; the largest or most beautiful bird or fowl; best displayed fish; the most unusual pet. In addition, the attire and behavior of the pet will be considered under such headings as* the most comically dressed pet; the best behaved pet on parade, etc. Ribbons will be awarded for first, second and third place in each classification. In addition, a bronze medal, the special A.S.P.C.A* award, will be given for the "Best Cared For Animal in the Show," *** **** *** Forko 26-10M-12042 155 DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ARSENAL., CENTRAL PARK For TEl- REGENT 4--1000 April 33, 1942 The Department of Parks announces the schedule of tournaments, contests, athletic meets and special events including concerts, social and square dancing, which will be conducted in parksj playgrounds, and swimming pools under the juris- diction of the Park Department during the spring season of 1942. There will be city-wide tournaments in the following activities: Activity Age Group Finals _- Approximate_ Date Basketball Boys - 16 years and under May 3 Boxing Junior - 16 to 18 years May 22 Senior - 18 years and over Marble Shooting Boys and Girls - 14 years and under local tournaments in May and June Handball( Singles Boys - 16 years and under & Doubles) 17 to 21 years June 6 and 7 Men - 21 to 40 years 40 years and older HandbalK Singles) Girls - 16 years and older June 20 Held Hockey Girls - 16 years and older local tournaments in May and June Horseshoe Pitching Men and Boys - 17 years and older June and July (Singles) Athletic meets, during the months of May and June, Will be held in the various borough playgrounds for boys and girls between the ages of 12 and 19 years; the city-wide championships will take place at the Red Hook Athletic Field, Clinton, Bay and Henry Streets, Brooklyn, on Saturday, June 20, at 2:00 P.M. The annual Park Department "Learn to Swim" campaign, in cooperation with various civic, health, educational and recreational agencies, will be inaugurated in all outdoor swimming pools operated by the department on or about June 20. Some of the wading pools will be used during the spring of the year for the sailing of model boats. Amateur boxing was added to the department's program of recreational activities last December when eight centers were equipped with rings, mats, heavy O,J ·· -2- ·· and light punching bags, gloves, skipping ropes, etc. Several hundred boys and young men, from 14 to 32 years of age, have been regular attendants at these boxing centers for the past four months. A series of exhibitions has just been completed, at which the outstanding boxers at each center gave demonstrations in the finer points of the art of self defense. Beginning Monday, April 27, the preliminaries of a city-wide boxing tournament for both juniors and seniors in the various weight classifications will get under way, with the championships scheduled for Kay 22 at a location to be announced later. Model sailboat regattas will be conducted for boys and girls, 16 years of age and under on Saturday, June 6, at the following lakes: Manhattan - Conservatory Lake, 72 Street & Fifth Avenue, Central Park Brooklyn - Prospect Park Lake, Umpire Boulevard and Flatbush Avenue Queens - Linden Park Lake, 104 Street and 45 Avenue Bronx - Twin Lakes, Bronx Park, Mosholu Parkway & Webster Avenue Richmond - Martling's Pond, Clove Lakes, Victory Blvd. & Clove Road Children's Pet Shows will take place at designated Park playgrounds on Saturday, April 25, Ribbons will be awarded to the best animals in each class. A dance exhibition will be given by the girls of various playgrounds throughout the five·boroughs on Saturday, June 27, at the Sheep Meadow, Central Park. Each borough will be represented by three dances - folk, classical and interpretative. Special programs will be prepared by each playground director in com- memoration of Memorial Day, May 30, and also Flag Day, June 14. Amateur photography contest depicting "Youth and Age" in our city parks and playgrounds will be conducted for both children and adults beginning April 27 and running through September 21, 1942. All pictures submitted by the contestants must represent scenes in parks, parkways, pools, beaches or playgrounds under the jurisdiction of the Department of Parks during the year 1942. · · Entrants in this contest will be divided into age groups; up to 16 years and over 16 years. All pictures must "be submitted, during the contest period, to the Borough Director of the borough in which the contestant resides. Various rules and regulations regarding Park Department tournaments and contests are: Only competitors who are amateurs shall be eligible to compete in any of the recreational activities, tournaments and contests conducted by the De- partment of Parks. The winning of a city championship in any contest or tournament will be determined only after intra-playground, inter-playground and interborough eliminations. Prizes will consist of medals, pins and sweatshirts. While latitude has been given to all age groups in this recreational program from the standpoint of active participation in sports and contests, the Department of Parks, realizing that there are thousands of citizens, young and old, who desire periods of passive recreation, has made arrangements for series of concerts throughout the summer. The outdoor social dancing season of the Park Department will probably start early in June. Puppet and marionette shows including "Jack and the Beanstalk", TEansel and Gretel", "The Lonely Elm" and "Peter and the Pirates", and magic shows comprising hand puppetry, singing and music, have been given every Saturday at 11 A.M. and 3 P.M. since April 4 at various park recreation build- ings, and they will continue to be given every Saturday at the same time through May 16, when the outdoor schedule will commence. * * * Form 26-10M-12042 155 DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ARSENAL., CENTRAL PARK For Rr.lea.vfi MONDAY T E U REOENT A--1000 April 20, 1942 Nine of the c i t y ' s ten golf courses have been opened since April 4. At the Split Rook Course in Felham the fairways have dried out and the course was opened for play l a s t Saturday, April 18. Dur- ing the f i r s t two weeks, 22,152 rounds have been played on courses opened on April 4. Considering the changeable weather, t h i s i s a good, indica- tion t h a t a large number of plavers can be expected to use the munici pal courses t h i s summer. Below i s a summary of the t o t a l number of rounds played on the courses the f i r s t two weeks of t h i s year: Van ^ortlandt - 2082 Kosholu - 2673 Pelham - 2741 Clearview - 2834 Kissena - 2905 Forest Park - 2260 Dyker Beach - 4120 Silver Lake - 1426 LaTourette - 1061. *** *** **· Fona 26-10M-12042 155 jf fC-**' DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ARSENAL, CENTRAL PARK For TEL. REGENT 4--1000 April 17,1942 The Department of Parks announces that the five best One Act Plays, one from each borough, will "be presented on Saturday, April 18, at 2:00 P.M. at Mullaly Recreation Building, 165 Street and Jerome Avenue, Bronx. Approximately 825 children, ranging from 10 to 16 years of age, took part in 80 productions of the various drama groups in the Park Depart- ment playgrounds during tlie past fire weeks. On the basis of acting, diction, costumes and scenery, the follow- ing five plays were selected as the most representative for presentation next Saturday afternoon: "Remember Pearl Harbor" - Lincoln Terrace Playground, Brooklyn "The Modern Cinderella" - McDonald Playground, Staten Island "A Chinese Puzzle" - Corona, 102 Street Playground, Queens "Toby Helps Out" - Lyons Square Playground, Bronx "Benjamin Franklin, - Riverside and 74 Street Playground, Journeyman*1 Manhattan Pins will be awarded to the cast of each play. * * Form 26-10M-12042 155 DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ARSENAL., CENTRAL. PARK For TEL. RESENT 4--1000 April 17,1942 The Department of Parks announces that 168 baseball dia- monds and SAO softball fields throughout the five boroughs will be officially opened for play on Saturday, April 18, While there is no charge for the use of these recreation areas, permits are required and they may be obtained by applying %© the Borough Director of the borough in which the field is located. Each applicant must enclose a stamped self-addressed envelope with his request. · The names and addresses of the various Borough Directors follow: Mr. P. J. Cruise, Borough Director Arsenal Building 64 Street & Fifth Avenue New York City Mr. R. C. Jenkins, Borough Director Litchfield Mansion Prospect Park West & Fifth Street Brooklyn, N. Y, Mr. J. J. Mallen, Borough Director The Overlook Union Turnpike & Park Lane Forest Park, Kew Gardens, L« I. Mr. G. L. Quigley, Borough Director Bronx Park East & B ire hall Avenue Bronx, N. Y« Mr. A. M. Anderson, Borough Director Clove Lakes Park 1150 Clove Road West New Brighton, S. I* * ** 30 ····---·· -- - v # Tu M EMORANDUM THE BOARD OP ESTIMATE A p r i l 1 6 , 1942 0 N REDUCTIONS IN THE EXECUTIVE BUDCfET FOR THE PARK DEPARTMENT · The 1942-43 Executive Budget f a i l s to provide |>1,115,622,51 needed for operation and maintenance of 38 new and 12 reconstructed playgrounds, 968 acres of new parks, and 10 miles of new parkway* I t reduces the total summer operating personnel of the department by 981, which i s about 15% of the staff l a s t summer. This reduction will result in a serious curtailment of the c i t y ' s recreation program, and in extensive damage and heavy depreciation in the c i t y ' s parks and playgrounds. Following are some of the things which must happen if this proposed budget is approved,' Temporary Playground Directors who are hired every year to handle the additional summer usage of playgrounds will be decreased from 436 to 218. This means that 12 new playgrounds cannot be operated ^at a l l , and must be kept closed, and that 206 playgrounds will be open only six to eight iiovirs per day. In effect, this puts the city·s·recreational system back'to'where i t was in 1937, and throws into discard much of the progress made in playground develop- ment during the past eight years. In 1937 there were 8,109 juvenile accidents in the cityj in 1941 there were 6,000 such accidents. As the r e s u l t of closing these playgrounds we can expect an increase of 2,000 juvenile accidents during the forthcoming yeari because children for whomwe have provided safe f a c i l i t i e s will have to play in the streets and other dangerous, uncontrolled areas. From the 29 attached map and list of playgrounds it can be seen that this · condition will be felt throughout r.iost of the city. Attendants assigned to Coney Island, Rockaway and South Beaches will be reduced from 547 to 355. 'Each hot day during the summer, 1,850 cubic yards of refuse and garbage are deposited on · these beaches. Our experience has shown that the beaches cannot be kept clean with fewer men'than those provided last summer. This was demonstrated a few: years ago when the assignment of this personnel- was delayed, and conditions on the beaches became intolerable. With this reduction in personnel, 700 cubic yards of refuse and garbage will be left on the beaches every day to decay and putrefy. Each succeeding warm day will add its quota to this hotbed for the propagation of infectious germs. The 10 temporary Foremen hired only for the summer months, normally assigned to the beaches, have been completely eliminated, which means that the 355 Attendants still left in the budget will have no supervision. Without supervision reasonable efficiency cannot be expected of these'men. This will aggravate even further, the unsanitary condition of the beaches. The 14 temporary Auto Enginemen hired other summers, have' been completely eliminated, which means that tractors and other automotive equipment on the beaches must be operated by inexperi» 1 enced, incompetent help. The rate of accidents to the vehicles and to the public will be increased, deterioration of .vehicles will be' greatly accelerated, and these vehicles after they are worn out can- not be replaced,, even if funds are then made available, : - 3 - ' - · · . : · · 'v In order to reduce the cost to the taxpayers of operating park facilities, I recommended in 1936 that a charge be placed on the use of swimming pools^and other facilities, I asked that the income be placed in a separate -fund, to be used only for the cost of operating these facilities. We were, advised at that time that this .could not be done without legislation and that all revenue had to be deposited in the General Fund, As a compromise, the budgets for the last six years have shown the cost of operating these facilities as a charge against the Tax Levy budget. Last year it amounted to approximately $>9OO,Q00, The Income derived from the operation was : deposited in the General Fund and the anticipated receipts in the General Fund were increased accordingly. This year, in order to make the Tax Levy portion of the budget appear lower, this charge was entirely 'eliminated, and I understand that by a new kind of bookkeeping, the receipts are to be set up in a special account and the operating cost paid in this way* The operation of 11 Indoor swimming pool, bath -and gymnasium buildings in'Manhattan and Brooklyn ;will be reduced"--to one shift of eight hours per day, six days a week, by dropping 44 Attendants, 9 Licensed Firemen, and 2 Stationary Engineers now employed, and by reducing the time of 24 Licensed Firemen and 9' Stationery Engineers one day a week. During the second shift last year these buildings were used by 622,000 individuals. This will .also deprive 185,000 school children of their regular swimming instruction arranged in cooperation with the Board of Education, I * - 4 * - . · · · . · · . . ' / : · The heatingand other mechanical installations in these buildings are complicated, expensive pieces of machinery, which require constant care "by qualified mechanics. By throwing out 9 Licensed Firemen and. 2 Stationary Engineers and reducing the time of those remaining, the maintenance of this equipment cannot be kept up, and the city will be faced with repair bills out of all proportion to the slight saving gained by this so-called economy. Temporary Assistant Gardeners usually hired-for the- summer season for the care of lawns, shrubbery, and general mainten- ance work, have-been reduced by 185. This reduction means that no maintenance work can be done in a great many of the smaller parks and in 1500 landscaped street malls and triangles throughout the city. This includes such developments as the plats in the center : of Broadway above 59th Street in Manhattan, the landscaping of Major Deegan Boulevard in The Bronx, the malls on Linden Boulevard and Kings Highway, Brooklyn, the malls on Queens.Boulevard in Queens, and the malls on Drumgoole Boulevard in Richmond. The landscaping of the Hutchinson River Parkway Extension in The Bronx, and recently completed sections of Belt Parkway in Brooklyn, which cost 4250,000, cannot be touched. The lawns and shrubbery will grow up to weeds, and the slopes will^be eroded to such an extent that they will have to be reconstructed at some later date. There will be no men available for the elimination of ragweed, poison ivy, and other-noxious plants throughout the park system. It was difficult to keep up with this work last yearj it s will be impossible this year, ·# The dropping of these 185 temporary positions, from the budget is estimated to save (..201,452. The elimination of these 185 Assistant Gardeners from the summer maintenance force in the parks y/ill result in damage to park lawns and landscaping which it will cost at least that amount to repair or reconstruct; and this ' Is called economy, ' The elimination of 90 temporary Attendants normally assigned to public comfort stations throughout the city means that a corresponding number of such stations all over the city Y/ill be operated on o.ne eight hour shift instead of two shifts. As a result, many of the persons who normally would use these facilities will commit nuisances at the doorways and in the parks. The ensuing condition will be a health menace and a public nuisance which the reduced force will not be able to remedy. The department's request for a Foreman of Bridge Painters and 12 Bridge Painters was entirely disregarded. As has been pointed out to the budget authorities, during the past eight years the department has put into use bridges, viaducts and other steel structures, with a total paint surface of 5,494,000 sq. ft. This amounts In other terms to 126 acres, or approximately 50 city blocks. These structures must be painted periodically to preserve them and to save abnormal maintenance and repair costs. They cost millions of dollars to construct; and unless the older- ones are repainted immediately, repairs will be far in excess of the cost of mainten- ance. -6- This general reduction of park personnel, coupled with additional duties of the Police Department, which have reduced normal police assignments to parks, must result inevitably in increased vandalism, unsanitary conditions, assaults, violence and inability to assure the safety of the public. The recent crime wave in the northerly reaches of Central Park is still^in force, as evidenced by the assault and brutal beating and robbing of a 60 year old man in broad daylight only a few days ago. At the time of this occurrence the policeman responsible for the section of the park where the assault took place, had to cover 80 acres, the equivalent of 32 city blocks, and park employees were also attempt- ing to cover Impossible areas. The Executive Budget proposes also to eliminate I*f7 vacant positions in various titles. Failure to refill these positions, end the 140 vacancies caused by men called to the armed services, has already resulted in substantial damage to numerous park structures and developments because the remaining force was unable to make 'repairs when needed. This condition will become progressive- ly more serious as time goes on, It, is significant that even under the stress of the present emergency,' materials for maintenance and repair of existing structures are invariably exempted from procure- ment regulations established by the War Production Board and other Federal agencies. It is unfortunate that the city budget authorities are so short-sighted as to neglect the maintenance of the city's capital investment. · The proposed Executive Budget fails to recognize the additional burdens to be borne by the park forces because of the war emergency, A number of anti-aircraft and searchlight units are already housed within the park system and more are due. This usage places many additional responsibilities on us. In addition, all of our field men have been designated as Air Raid Wardens or as members of the Public Works Emergency Idylsion. All of the depart- ment's equipment" has been organized for service und.er the Public <»orks Emergency Division for demolition, cleanup, and decontamr* nation. Organization and training of these forces in first-aid and other duties has already taken thousands of man days out of the annual spring work program. It must be evident to the most casual observer that the parkways and parks are not kept clean of litter at all times, and that many standards of department, operation have already had to be lowered, and will now decline even more sharply. This condition of litter, shabbiness and neglect in the parks will be the subject of increasing public criticism. There are already indications that the use of our parks will be abnormally heavy this summer. Many people who were in the habit of finding recreation in the country will be kept at home because of the shortage of rubber and gasoline, war responsibilities and curtailed incomes. Thousands of people whose salaries are static will not be able to afford to send their families and children to beaches and camps this summer, and must get what -8- recreation they can within city limits. With .the present inadequate force the deterioration of parks from this overload-would, be.extremely heavy. With forces reduced as proposed in the 1942-43" Executive Budget, many parks will revert to conditions as bad or worse than those which obtained eight years ago. It cost the people hundreds of millions of dollars of-Federal, State and City funds to bring their park system up to its present condition during the past eight yesrs, and the prospect is that a substantial portion of this investment will be completely lost in the coming, fiscal year. C o m m i s s i o n e r Attach; PLAYGROUNDS MOT TO BE OPENED BROOKED? Playground Belt Parkway and 72 Street Playground Belt Parkway, 78 to 80 Streets Playground Belt Parkway/ 94 to 95 Streets Playground Belt Parkway, 98 to 99 Streets Playground Belt Parkway, 3 Avenue to 5 Avenue Playground 10 Avenue, 52 to 53 Streets Playground East 16, 17 Streets, North of Avenue S Playground 'Gowanus Parkway, 2nd Avenue, bet. 55 & 56 Sts, Playground Shore Parkway, E, 12 St. & Homecrest Avenue QUEENS Playground Central Avenue to 70 Street Playground 45 Street and 21 Avenue Parkway South 114 Street, South of World's Pair Boulevard PLAYGROUNDS I N PART-TIME OPERATION MANHATTAN Lillian D. Wald Cherry, Monroe and Gouverneur Streets Playground Essex and Houston Streets Corlears Hook Park Jackson and Cherry Sts,, East River Dr. Jasper Oval St. Nicholas Terrace, W. 136 to W. 138 Sts Yorkville E. 101 Street, between 2 and 3 Avenues Playground Cherry, Clinton and Water Streets Thompson Street 95 Thompson St., Bet. Spring & Prince Sts. St. Catherine's-Park 1st Ave., E. 67 to E. 68 Sts. Sauer E. 12 Street, between Avenues A and B Annunciation Park Convent Ave., Amsterdam Ave. & W. 135 St. Columbus Park Baxter, Mulberry, Bayard &· Park Sts. DeWItt Clinton Park 11 to 12 Ave., W. 52 to 54 Streets t Hamilton Fish Park E. Houston, Stanton, Sheriff & Pitt Sts. John Jay Park East River, Cherokee PI., E, 76 to 78 Sts. Tompkins Square Ave. A to Ave. B, E; 7 to E. 10 Sts. Carmansville Amsterdam Ave., W. 151 to 152 Streets Hamilton Pla ce ··· Hamilton Place and W. 140 to 141 Streets John J. Murphy Park Avenue C, East River Drive, E. 17 Street East River Drive E. 119 to East 120 Streets Playground 6 Avenue and West 3 Street Playground Houston and Sullivan Streets Playground Houston and 6 Avenue Playground Houston, McDougal and Sullivan Streets Playground 59 Street and 11 Avenue MANHATTAN continued ^ DeKovats East River Drive, York Ave. 91 to 92 Sts, Queensboro Oval W. of Sutton Place, bet. E. 59 to E.. 60 Sts. Washington Square MscDougal to V/ooster, Waverly PI., W. 4 St» Bernard Downing Columbia, Delancy, Sheriff and Broome Sts. Colonial Bradhurst Avenue and West 151 Street Harlem Housing Harlem River and 150 Street Carl Schurz E. 84 Street and East End Avenue Playground Lewis and Rivington Streets Playground E. 54 Street Playground 150 Street, West of 7 Avenue Playground 106 Street and 5 Avenue Playground 106 Street and Lexington Avenue . Playground Morningside Avenue and West 123 Street- Louis Covillier 1st Avenue to East River, E. 125 to E. 124 Manhattan Bridge App. Bowery and Bayard Streets Seward Park Canal, Hester, Essex & Jefferson Streets Rumsey Central Park, East of Mall Great Sawn Central Park Central.: Park 106 Street; Hudson Park Hudson, Leroy, Clarkson Sts. & 7 Ave. Playground Randall's Island Highbridge Park 167 Street and Amsterdam Avenue Highbridge Park West 173 Street and Amsterdam Avenue Highbridge Park West 180 Street and Amsterdam Avenue Highbridge Park West 189 Street and Amsterdam Avenue Thomas Jefferson 1st Avenue and East 111 Street · · MANHATTAN Continued St. Nicholas St. Nicholas Avenue and West 141 Street St. Nicholas Terrace St. Nicholas Terrace and W. 129 Street Inwood Hill West 207 Street "and Seaman Avenue. Riverside Park Riverside Drive and W. 74 Street Riverside Park Riverside Drive and W. 82 Street Riverside Park Riverside Drive and W. 97 Street Riverside Park Riverside Drive and W. 102 Street River sida-'Park Riverside Drive and -W. 105 Street Riverside Park Riverside Drive and West 107 Street Riverside Park Dyckman Street Riverside Park Riverside Drive and W. 148 Street Riverside Park Riverside Drive and W. 165 Street Port Tryon Park Riverside Drive to Broadway and Dyckman St. Port Tryon^Park Bennett Avenue Port Tryon Park 191 Street and Overlook Avenue BRONX Playground Bronx Blvd. and Rosewood Street Playground Bronx Park East and Reiss Place Playground Bronx Park East &nd Boston Road Claremont Park Clay Avenue and 170 Street Claremont Park Weeks and Mount Eden Avenues Crotona Park - #1 Crotona Park North and Crotona Avenue Crotona Park - #2 Crotona Park North and Marmion Avenue Crotona Park - #3 Crotona Park North and Waterloo Place BRONX Continued Crotona Park - #4 Crotona Park East, opposite 174 Street Crotona Park - #6 Crotona Park East, bet .Charlotte & Suburban Crotona Park - #8 Crotona Park' East and Wilkins Avenue Crotona Park - #9 Crotona Park South and Clinton Avenue : Crotona Park - #12 173 Street and Pulton Avenue Devoe Park University Avenue and West 188 Street Playground 150 Street and Park Avenue Lyons Square Aldus Street, and Longfellow Avenue Mosholu Parkway Mosholu Parkway, Northeast of Jerome Avenue Mullaly Park River Avenue and 165 Street Port Independence Jerome Park Reservoir & Sedgwick Avenue Playground 177 Street and Noble Avenue Orchard Beach Adjacent to Orchard Beach Parking Field Saint James Park Jerome Avenue m d East 191 Street Playground Watson, Gleason and Noble Avenues Playground East 183 Street and Rj^er Avenue Playground Teasdale Place and East 164 Street Louis Zimmerman Olinville Avenue, South of Britton Street Williamsbridge Esfst 208 Street and Bainbridge Avenue Van Cortlandt Park So. 240 Street and Broadway Vincent Ciccarone 188 Street and Hughes Avenue Playground 141 Street and Brook Avenue Playground Spoffard and Paile Streets Port Sehuyler Pennyfield Avenue and East River,Throggs Neck Playground East 182 Street and Belmont Avenue Playground Cauldwell Avenue BRONX Continued Playground- MacCombs Dam Road and Goble Place Mott Haven Health Cen, East 140 S t r e e t , East of Alexander Avenue Playground East 136 S t r e e t and Alexander Avenue Pelham Bay Park - #1 Eastern Boulevard and Willow Lane Pelham Bay Park - #2 Eastern Boulevard and Sands Place Saint Mary's Park W. East 149 S t r e e t and S t . Ann's Avenue BROOKLYN Mount Prospect Eastern Parkway and Flatbush Avenue Bushwick Park Knickerbocker and Irving Avenues : ·Bushwick Knickerbocker and Putnam Avenues Playground Lafayette and Reid Avenues Tompkins Tompkins and Maroy Avenues Playground Stuyvesant Avenue and Marian Street Brower Park Brooklyn and Prospect Avenues Rudd Aberdeen Street and Bushwick Avenue Playground Hopkinson Avenue and Dean Street Playground Bloke and Euclid Avenues Playground Pitkin and New Jersey Avenues Playground · Sullivan Place and Nostrand Avenue Playground Riverdale and Snediker Avenues Playground Elton Street and New Lots Avenue Canarsie Park' Seaview Avenue and East 80 Street Playground 95 Street and Avenue L · . Playground Avenue V and East 13 Street" BROOKLYN Continued Playground New York and Clarkson Avenues Playground Flatlands Avenue and East 38 Street Playground Marine Parkway and Nostrand Avenue Playground 23 Street and 5 Avenue Playground Port Hamilton Parkway and 52 Street Playground Prospect and Greenwood Avenues Playground 18 Avenue and 83 Street City Park Flushing and Park Avenues Carroll President and Court Streets x State Street Pier Foot of State Street McLaughlin Park Bridge and Tillary Streets Playground Union Street and Yan Brunt Street Playground Smith Street and Luqueer Street Playground Jay and Nassau'Streets Playground 4 Avenue and President Street Cadman Plaza Fulton and Tillary Streets Playground Park Avenue and Taaffe Place Lindsay Park Johnson Avenue and Boerum Street LaGuardia Havemeyer and South 4 Street Playground Cherry Street and Vandervoort Avenue Greenpolnt 'Franklin and Commercial Streets <. Playground Underhill and Prospect Avenues Williamsburg Bridge South 5 and Berry Streets Me Kibben White and McKibben Streets Playground Broadway and Kent Avenue Playground 2 Avenue and 56 Street BROOKLYN Continued Playground 2 Avenue and 39 Street Playground 16 Avenue and 70 Street Playground 38 Street and Dahill Road Playground : io Avenue and 42 Street; 1 QUEENS Woodhaven Park Playgd 88 to 89 Avenues, near 90 St., Woodhaven Playground 179 Place, north of Jamaica Avenue Flushing Meadow Park 114 Street, south of Horace Harding Blvd. Flushing Meadow Park 114 Street and 37 Avenue Alley Park No. of Grand Central Pkwy near 76 Avenue x. Alley Park Grand Central Pkwy, Union Tnpk. & Winchester Cunningham Park ' No. of Grand Central Pkwy at parking space Cunningham Park Grand Central Parkway opposite 193 Street Grover Cleveland Park' Grandview Avenue and Stanhope Street Grover Cleveland Park Stanhope Street opposite Fairview Avenue Juniper Valley Park 74 Street and 62 Avenue Juniper Valley Park Dry Harbor Road between 62 and 63 Avenues Newtown 56 Avenue and 92 Street Raymond M. O'Connor 32 to 33 Avenues Daniel M. O'Connell 113 Avenue and-196 Street, St. Albans Bridge Plaza- Crescent & 27 Sts., bet. 42 Road & 43 Avenue Bridge Plaza 22 and 23 Streets - Bridge Plaza South Astoria Park Ditmars Boulevard, 19 St., 25 Ave. & E.Rlvoi- QUEENS Continued Astoria Park Opposite '25 Avenue near Shore Boulevard Triborough Bridge App.-Hoyt Avenue North to South from 21 to 23 Sts. Triborough Bridge App.-Hoyt Avenue North, 29 to 31 Streets Albert C. Benninger Madison Street, West of Fresh Pond Road Chisholm Park Poppenhusen Avenue, East River Crocheron Park 35 Avenue and 214 Place Playground Atlantic Avenue, 125 to 127 Streets Flushing Memorial Fld.-Bayside Avenue, 25 Ave., 149 to 150 Streets Playground Braddock Avenue and 240 Street Playground 127 to 128 Streets bet, 18 and 20 Avenues Playground 15 to 20 Avenues, west of Whitestone Pkwy. Playground 115 Street & 114 Avenue, College Point St. Albans Memorial 174 Street near'113 Avenue Howard Beach Hawtree Basin-Shellbank Basin-Jamaica Bay Liberty Park 173 Street at 106 Avenue Liberty Park Liberty Avenue and 172 Street Liberty Park Liberty Avenue and 173 Street Forest Park - Overlook-Kew Gardens, Park Lane So. & Interborough Pky Forest Park-Victory Fid-Woodhaven Boulevard and Myrtle Avenue Forest Park Park Lane South and Freedom Drive Forest Park Park Lane South and 79 Street Forest Park Park Lane South at Metropolitan. Av^mtte RICHMOND Michael Js Mahoney Beechwood Avenue, Crescent & Cleveland Sts. Abraham Levy Memorial Jewett and Castleton Avenues Playground Lincoln Avenue & Midland, 10 & Boundary Aves Clove Lakes Clove Road Clove Lakes Victory Boulevard John E. White High St. to Lyman Av.e., bet. Sumner & Bay Sts. Playground Winter and Bismark Avenues Wolfe's Pond Holton to Cornelia Avenues on Rarltan Bay Paber Park Richmond Terrace, foot of Paber Street Nicholas De Matti Tompkins Avenue and Shaughnessy Lane Reinhard E.Kaltenmeler-Virginia Avenue and Anderson Street (Mariner's Harbor Harbor Road near Richmond Terrace Schmul Park Wild Avenue and Pearson Street Stapleton Hygeia Place and Grove Street Form 2610M-12042 ARSENAL, CENTRAL PARK TEL. RESENT 4--1000 The Department of Parks announces that boxing instruc- tion and training for the coming tournament leading up to city championships will continue until Saturday, May 16, at all the designated boxing centers including those situated in the swimming pool buildings. These centers are located as followss Colonial Play Center, Bradhurst Avenue & West 145 Street, N. Y. C. Thomas Jefferson Play Center, East 11 Street & First Avenue, N. Y. C. last 54 Street Gym, 342 East 54 Street, New York City West 28 Street Gym, 407 West 28 Street, New York City McCarren Play Center, Driggs Avenue & lorimer Street, Brooklyn Astoria Play Center, 19 Street opposite 23 Drive, Astoria Crotona Play Center, East 173 Street & Fulton Avenue, Bronx Cromwell Play Center, Murray Hulbert Avenue, Tompkinsville, Richmond * * · * 28 Form 2GA-5 DEPARTMENT OF PARKS · ,, # _ . ARSENAL., CENTRAL PARK 10t~ Release TEU REGENT 4.1000 April 10, 1942 Plan Blr-57-2801 Delivered 4/9/42 P.M. The Department of Parks will let contracts this spring for the develop- ment of the portion of Marine Park, Brooklyn, between Shore Parkway, Flatbush Ave- nue and Rockaway Inlet. Funds were set aside for this waterfront improvement by an. amendment to the Capital Budget which was. approved at yesterday's meeting of the Board of Estimate, following favorable action by the City Planning Commission. The amendment will now be forwarded to the Council for consideration. In order to compensate for the loss of the Barren Island section of Marine Park which was condemned by the Navy in connection with the expansion of Floyd Bennett Airport, it is planned to fill and improve the low marsh area west of Flatbush Avenue. The work will consist of the construction of an entrance road- way and parking field, approximately 1,000 lineal feet of bulkhead and a storage area for boats adjacent to the end of Deep Creek. Extending southward from Deep Creek and parallel with the shore development a mooring basin will be excavated approximately 1,200 feet by 2,200 feet. The excavated material will be spread over the adjoining low areas and land under water to provide usable park uplands. It is expected that construction will be started early this summer* The expansion of Floyd Bennet Field makes it imperative to remedy the traffic congestion on Flatbush Avenue between Avenue U and the Marine Parkway- Bridge. The Federal Public Roads Administration will construct this improvement as part of its program of access roads leading to defense areas. Adjacent to the Airport between the Shore Parkway and Marine Parkway Bridge, Flatbush Avenue will be widened approximately forty feet on ^ts westerly side. The new roadway treat- ment will consist of two, thirty-six feet wide roadways separated by a forty foot wide mall. A system of accelerating and decelerating lanes leading to turn-around points in the mall will permit access to the new park area and to the entrances to the Airport from both directions without a direct crossing of traffic. North of the Belt Parkway, in the vicinity of Avenue U, Flatbush Avenue will be widened on its easterly side. A five-span steel viaduct with approach ramps will be con- structed in Flatbush Avenue to carry through-traffic on Flatbush Avenue over Avo- nue U. This viaduct will be forty-oight feet wide and will havo two traffic lanes in each direction separated by a dividing curb. The New York State Department of Public Works is preparing contract drawings for the highway work and construction is scheduled to start this spring. * * * 2.7 For«o26-I0M-12042 . ISS DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ARSENAL. CENTRAL. PARK For April TEL. RBWHT 4-1000 1942 DEV:B-L-21O-2O3 LOCiB-L-210-204 Pix: #21568 #21369 #21370 The Department of Parks announces the opening of a Del: 4/7/42 2sOOp.ro. new playground at Third Avenue from 34 to .35 Streets, Brooklyn. This is one of thres areas acquired by the Triborough Bridge Authority in connection with the Gowanus Parkway and assigned to the Department of Parks for playground purposes. Slightly over one aore in area it lies immediately east of the Gowanus Parkway. The improvement includes new wide concrete sidewalks, a brick comfort station, a wading D O O I , a combination basketball and volleyball court, two groups of play apparatus and a large irrigated diggery for children bordered with benches for mothers. Also four handball courts are located in the rectangular offset at th® south end of the playground. The work was done by th© Work Projects Administration from plans prepared by the Department of Parks. In 1934 there were'119 playgrounds in the five boroughs, 63 of which have been reconstructed. There are now with this addition, 468 playgrounds in the park system. *** *** *** w ·»' # DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ARSENAL, CENTRAL PARK For Rf.fcflfP. MONDAY TBL.RB8mT4.ioee f April 6, 1942 Dev. B-l-28-1007 ^ f ^ ^ " ^ ) ^ , dn^^fi./7^ v , / / ^ ^ 1^ _ /jf*> Loo: B-L-28-1OOS '< ' ^ ^ Hrf*^ nr\ pix: The Department of Parks announces the completion of a new playground and #21371 ' · $21572field house-, part of the 40 acre recreational development now approaching completion #21372 Del: between the Belt Parkway and the Golf Course in Dyker Beach Park, Brooklyn* 4/4/42 12:50 noon The field house, a one story brick structure, approximately 44' x 100** is located at the east end of the athletic field in a paved plaza designed as a focal point for the park entrances and boundary walks. A central lobby and administrative office provides aooess to the building which contains comfort stations, showers and locker rooms. Exterior entrances to the comfort stations are provided at each end of the field house. The playground is subdivided into five fence-enclosed units containing a concrete wading pool, a free play area, shuffleboard courts, play slides, play swings, a pipe frame exercise unit, a sand pit, seesaws, kindergarten slides, and chair swings; also basketball, horseshoe pitching, paddle tennis, and handball courts. A battery of nine tennis courts -will be available. The adjacent development which will be completed later this spring con- sists of three main areas subdivided for various uses. A 30 acre athletic oval will be divided in half by a 100 foot wide tree planted mall flanked by two benoh lined promenades. The ,two fields are being developed symmetrically, each containing two regulation baseball diamonds, three softball diamonds, one football field with re- movable goal posts, and concrete bleacher with double wings. The entire field will be bordered by wide bench linrad walks with connec- tions to the Parkway path system and marginal sidewalks. A variety of trees and shrubs will be grouped around the grass surfaced fields which will not be opened for play until a suitable turf has became established. The work was performed by the TPork "Projects Administration from plans pre- pared by the Department of Parks, In 1934 there were 119 playgrounds in the five boroughs. There are now with this addition 467. playgrounds in the park system. *** *** *** Form 26-10M-12042 , 15S DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ARSENAL, CENTRAL. PARK ForRelease FRIDAY TEL. RESENT 4--1000 April Z, 1942 The Department of Parks announces the opening on Saturday morning, April 4, of nine of the ten municipal golf courses. The Split Rock Course in the Bronx -will not be opened until Saturday, April 18, because the fairfrays on this layout have not dried out sufficiently. At Van Cortlandt Golf Course, closed in part last year, the entire 18 holes will be available for play on Saturday, Permits for season play on the courses have been on sale at all the borough -offices for the past W o weeks. The cost of the season permit is the same as last year, five dollars. This permits the holder to play on any municipal-course on weekdays and an additional charge of 50/ per round is made on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. 7b£ is the cost of a daily -weekday permit and one dollar for daily permits on Satur- days, Sundays and holidays* Following are the courses to be opened on Saturday, April 4: Dyker Beach Golf Course - 86 Street & Seventh Avenue, Brooklyn Van Cortlandt Golf Course - 242 Street & Broadway, Bronx Mosholu Golf Course - Jerome Avenue & Holley Lane at Woodlawn, Bronx Pelham Golf Course - Shore R-oad, North of Hutchinson River Parkway, Bronx Forest Park Golf Course - Park Lane South & Forest Parkway, Forest Park, Queens Kissena Golf Course - North Hempstead Turnpike and Fresh Meadow Road, Flushing Clearvlew Golf Course - Belt Parkway, Bayside, Queens Silver Lake Golf Course - Silver Lake Park, Victory Blvd. & Park Road, Richmond LaTourette Golf Course - Forast Hill & London ftoads\, Richmond . *** *** *** , , » . DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ARSENAL., CENTRAL PARK For Release Wednesday, TO. RecatKT *-iooo . A p r ^ l 1 , 194S Loo. BL-195-104 V*r. BL-193-105 Ttl6 Pix* #21368 ^DePartiaen'fc °f Parks announces the opening of a new playground two acre #21367 ^ recreational development rapidly nearing completion and lo- cated in the block bounded by East New York Avenue, Albany Avenue, Lefferts Avenue ?« \* and Kingston Avenue, Brooklyn'. J 12s45 noon This property was formerly owned and operated by the Commercial High School Field Association for the exclusive use of the students of the Alexander Hamilton High School. Early in 1940 the property was deeded to the City for use as an athletic field and recreational area for the joint use of high school students and local residents on condition that the City maintain it in perpetuity for its prescribed use. The old field ?;as completely enclosed by board fence and contained a football field, two sections of bleachers, a small concrete block building with locker space and two handball courts. All of these items, were removed i · in preparation for the new development which consists of a greater variety of facilities'organized to permit more efficient uae and maintenance. The area has been completely enclosed by chain link fence, a portion of which, along the north and south property lines, is set on new concrete re- taining walls. These structures have permitted the grading and paving of level play surfaces. Two gate controlled entrance stairways from lefferte Avenue · will provide access to the one and one quarter acre grass surfaced athletic field, at the west end of the property. A new five-tier concrete bleacher extending along the north boundary of the field will also serve to retain the south sidewalk along Lefferts Avenue which is 3 to 5 feet above the athletic field. . . : -2- The three-quarter acre bituminous surfaced playground adjacent to Albany Avenue i s separated from the athletic field by a chain link fence with a connecting gateway. The play area is subdivided into the following units by fencing and block paved panels containing benches and t r e e s : - School Age Apparatus Area; Pipe frame exercise unit Play slides Battery of swings Shower basin Drinking fountain Pre-School Age Apparatus Area; Slides Battery of chain swings Seesaws Sand pit - continuous benches on three sides Court Games Area 2 concrete surfaced handball courts Basketball court with, removable goals Plans have been completed for a field house and comfort station to be built in the future between the athletic field and playground. The work was performed by the Work Projects Admini strat ion from plans prepared by the Department of Parks. In 1934 there were 119 playgrounds in the five boroughs, 63 of v/hicli have been reconstructed. There are now with this addition 466 playgrounds in the park system. * * ** Form 26-10M-12042 . 155 DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ARSENAL, CENTRAL PARK For Release SATURDAY Tsu. REsuwr A--1000 March 28, 1942 The Park Department announces the opening of the Annual Easter Flower Show at the Greenhouse in Prospect Park (Prospect Park West and 7 Street, Brooklyn) on Palm Sunday, March 29 at IOSOO a*m. The exhibit will be open to the public each day -thereafter for three weeks from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The exhibit this year is one of the finest of these annual shows. More than 300 varieties of flowers are represented by 5,000 specimens. The main feature of- the show is a huge cross 25 feet high,; made up of pure white Bermuda Lilies and beautiful light pink Azaleas and banked with Genistas, Shower of Gold Plant, and pink Rhododendrons at the base of the cross. Leading to the steps of the cross Is a path of grass with a Victory Garden of Azaleas in over 100 varieties. ' As a background for the central motive, the walls of the Green- house are banked with a colorful display of flowers in great varieties, among which are Cinerarias, Calceolaria's', Sweet Peas and Snapdragons. **# *** #%* ·Press photographs may be taken at any time. Form 26-1014-12042 ^ g £ » 155 DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ARSENAL, CENTRAL PARK TEU RECENT 4-1000 March 2 7 , 1942" The Department of Parks will present the "E2SEP-1M ROLLING 01 1942" at the New York City Building Rinks on Friday, March 27, 1942. As in the VICTORY ICE REVTOE presented at the building a few weeks ago, the program will include several ballet and group numbers, individual exhibitions, comedy acts and novelties. The performers are amateur Bkaters developed and trained at the City Building Rinks, and if the overwhelmingly successful ICE ESVtlS may be considered a criterion, this presentation should prove very interesting and entertaining. A musical accompaniment will be provided by the City Building's popular organist. The admission fee will be the customary evening rate of 40$? for everyone, and it will entitle patrons to the use of either rink before and after the show. There will be no in- terruption in ice skating during the REVOE, which will begin at 8:30 P.M. and last approximately an hour* The rinks may be reached via the I.R.T. or B.M.T. Flushing Lines, 111.Street Station. The ice rink will remain open through April, and the roller rink will continue to operate through May. * ** Form 26-10M-1204S 155 DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ARSENAL., CENTRAL. PARK For Release SATURDAY TEL. RESENT 4--1000 March 21, 1942 The Department of Parks announces that the New York State Indoor Speed Ice Skating Championships will be held on Sunday, March 22, 1942 at 5:30 p.m., in the skating rink at the New York City Building, Flushing Meadow Park, Queens. Three hundred and seventy-five amateur skaters from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and several other New England States, have registered for these championships, which are sanctioned bv the Middle Atlantic Skating Associa- tion Inc., Northern New York Skating Assooiation and "West New York Skating Asso- ciation of the Amateur Skating Union of the United States. Fourteen speed skating events, ranging from the quarter mile to the two mile race are included in the program for Senior Men and Women, Intermediate Bovs (under 18 years), Junior Boys (under 16 years), Juvenile Boys (under'14 years), Midget Boys (under 12 years), and Intermediate Girls (under 18 years). Three events, the half mile, one mile and two mile, closed to skaters who are registered members of the Middle Atlantic Skating Association have been included also in the ·program. > Some of the outstanding skaters in the Men1s Division who will compete are: Henry Yan Putten, present holder of the North American Indoor Speed Skat- ing Championship as well as the 1942 winner of the Inter-City Indoor Championship, and the Tri-State Outdoor Championship, and Roy Erickson, present title holder of the Metropolitan Indoor Five ^ile event. In the Senior lomen's Division, twenty year old Virginia Jahn, of Cres- 1 kill, New Jersey, a New York University student, winner o .-f the Silver Skates, 2 mile event, 1942 and the present holder of the 4 mile, Metropolitan Indoor Championship and Alice Burnham, 1942 Metropolitan Outdoor and Indoor Champion, and the winner of the § mile and 3/4 mile of the North American Championship, have registered for the New York Stata Championships. - -2- Champions in the other age divisions will also compete, including Frank ·Williams, Junior Division, holder of North American Indoor Championship and John Schneider, Intermediate Division, winner of the 1942 Silver Skates and the National Outdoor Championship, Gold, silver and bronze medals will be awarded by the Park Department to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winner of each event. Spectators wi 11 be admitted to the skating championships by paying the regular admission fee of 40^. fixtra seating has been provided. The roller skating r?.nk will be open to the public from 7:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. on the same evening upon payment of the 4Qi admission charge. Roller skates will be furnished without any additional cost. ' The cafeteria will be open during the course of the evening, and a variety of food and drinks may ,be purchased at.reasonable prices. . The New York City Building, Flushing Meadow, may be reached by:, 1.) I.R.T., B.M.T. and 2nd Avenue Lines to 111 Street Station, 2.) Flushing Ridgewood Trolley to Flushing Meadow'Amphitheatre - walk left into the park, 3.) Independent Subway,Train marked "E", "F" or "G" to Roosevelt Avenue Station,- Change for I.R.T. or B.M.*F. to 111 Street. The Park may be entered at the following gates: 111 Street and 54 Avenue; Horace Harding Boulevard, 800 feet east of the Grand Central Parkways Roosevelt Avenue, east of Grand Central Parkway. Adequate free parking facilities are available at both the north and south sides of the building. *** Fora 26-10M-1Z042 *tBtfc> 155 DEPARTMENT OF PARKS · *'ARSENAL, CENTRAL, PARK P i x : 21305 r g r Release MONDAY REoem-4-1000 21306 March 16 j 1942 The Department of Parks announces the completion of work in connection with the reconstruction of Bensonhurst Park and the addition of a new playground, baseball fields and other recreation facilities. This nineteen acre expanded park lies south of Cropsey Avenue between Bay Parkway and 21st Avenue extending to thi bulkhead at Grave*send- Bay, Borough of Brooklyn. Intersected by the Belt Parkway the north section had been partially developed along Cropsey Avenue with walks, promenades, grass panels and planting around a comfort station. The old park area has been increased in iize . Fifteen acres were added at the time, that the Belt Parkway was constructed. This was done by .pumping saftft beyond the seawall which was erected at the outshore end of the property. The two previously undeveloped triangular areas on either side of the parkway have been provided with play areas and ball fields. The north section has a large circular grass plot; a semicircular asphalt surfaced playground ad- jacent to Bay Parkway containing a concrete wading pool with removable goals for volley ball and basketball, an irrigated sandpit with benches on three sides, swinge, slides and seesaws, and a oipe fraaio exercise unit. Also a court game area at the northeast corner of this section of the park has bean provided with two double handball courts, two basketball courts, four shuffleboard courts, and a combination roller and ice skating area, A Softball diamond with hooded chain link fence backstop is located south of this area adjacent to the parkway. Between the parkway and the bulkhead prsmenade a large semicircular fence enclosed field has been seeded and developed with two softball diamonds. These however will not be open for play until suoh time as the turf -will withstand continuous usage. Bench lined asphalt walks.encircle this area and connect with the existing bulkhead promenade along which continuous benches have also been in- stalled facing the bay, . 2i£) -2- A battery of eight bituminous surfaced tennis courts have been built at the east end of this area adjacent to the Gravesend Bay boat yards and wharfs. Several hundred feet of riprap wall adjacent to the tennis courts and at the foot of Bay Parkway -were rebuilt. . 170 shrubs and over 200 trees including 40 flowering crabapples were planted along the paths, around the play areas and in groups about the newly seeded or sodded lawns. The project which was built by the Wort Projects Administration from plans ·prepared by the Department of Parks also included storage and maintenance buildings, drinking fountains, benches, flagpole, drainage, irrigation and lighting. In 1934 there were 119 playgrounds in the five boroughs, 63 of which have been reoonstruoted. There are now with this addition 465 playgrounds in the park system. *** *** *** Form 26-10M-12042 .155 ^P DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ARSENAL., CENTRAL. PARK For Release TKU REQEMT 4--1000 Friday, ' March 13, 1942 The Department of *arks announces that 3X5,436,000 flounder fry furnished by the United States Fish and Wild Idfe Service were deposited Utmrsday, Marbh 12, in the deep channels of Jamaica Bay in the vicinity of the boat house at Cross Bay Boulevard Bridge. The Bocicaway Chamber of Commerce also de- posited a similar amount in the waters adjacent to Beach Channel Drive* ** * Form 26-10M-12042 155 DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ARSENAL, CENTRAL PARK For Release Wedne sday, 4-1000 March U,1942 The Department of Parks announces the birth in the Central Park Zoo of a baby oamel oh March 9. The new arrival, weighing 65 pounds is the daugh- ter of "Artie"-and "Ally", 7 year old Bactrian camels. The father and mother valued at ^1500. were a gift tO'the Zoo by an anonymous donor on November 22,1941. The mother and her baby are doing well and are now on exhibition in the antelope house. Photographs may be taken at any time. * * * Form 26-I0M-12042 155 DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ARSENAL, CENTRAL. PARK TEL. REGENT 4--1000 For March 11, 1942 The Department of Parks announces that season permits for golf and ten- nis facilities will go on sale, Wednesday, March 18. The price of these permits ·will be the same as last year, five dollars for golf and three dollars for tennis. A season golf permit is good on week days, but on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays there is an additional charge of fifty cents to permit holders. The daily fee per- mit for play from Monday to Friday oosts seventy-five cents and one dollar for Satur- days, Sundays and holidays* A season tennis permit is ^ood for play at any time. A locker permit for the season costs five dollars for golf and two dollars for tennis. Applicants for permits must furnish photographs, one and one-half inch by one and one-half inch with filled out applications* Permits may be procured by application in person or by mail by applying to the various Borough Offices located as follows: Manhattans Arsenal Building 64 Street and Fifth Avenue Brooklyn? Litchfield Mansion Prospect Park last and Fifth Street Queens: The Overlook Union Turnpike and Park Lane Forest Park, Kew Gardens, L.I. Bronx: Bronx Park Bast and Birchall Avenue Bronx Park Richmond: Clove Lakes Park Clove Road, "West of Victory Boulevard . Due to the uncertainty of spring weather, definite dates for the opening of the golf courses and clay tennis courts cannot be set at this time. If weather conditions are favorable, it is expected that the golf courses ;will open on Satur- day, April 4 and the clay tennis oourts on Saturday, April 11. *#* *** *** 7 Form 26-10M-12042 a$gfc> 155 ^ H ^ fl^^ / DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ARSENAL, CENTRAL PARK TB RBa s/6/42 ~ TM* T 4"'000 ' March 6, 1942 Tho Department of Parks announces that the third boxing exhibition in 2 pix #21269 a series of eight will take place at tho Park Department Gymnasium locatod at #21271 342 East 54 Street, Manhattan, Friday, March 6, at 8:30 P.M. Admission is free. This exhibition will consist of eight bouts ranging from 118 lb. through the 175 lb. class. Bach boxer will be a novice, who has received his training - under tho supervision of park personnel, whose knowledge of and practical experi- ence in tho art of self defense, qualified them as instructors. Training for this exhibition began last Docembor, when the Park Depart- ment included boxing for tho first time in its schedule of recreational activities and adequately supplied 8 centers throughout tho five boroughs with all thoxneces- sary equiproGnt. During this comparatively short span of two and a half months, the rogular attendants at tho boxing sossions havo gone through a course of body building exercises followed by instructions in the fundamentals such asl the pro- per position of hands and feet, precision and timing of tho loft jab, loft-hook, upporcut, right hand cross, blocking, shifting, otc. While all thoso points are practiced on tho light and heavy punching bags, tho real test of thoir propor oxocution is obtained in actual bouts. Tho program for tho exhibition at tho East 54 Street Gymnasium next Friday night is'as follows: 105 lb... Class Thomas Wagner " vs. Micahol Kbtovka 120 lb. Class Louis Schuddlo vs. Anthony Gioia 118 lb. Class Poter Olmoz vs. Micha&l Tripono 150 jLb. .Class Silvio DiOrio vs. Josoph Alvarez 165 lb. Class . Albert Aquila vs. Erich Schauor Grant Panaroso ' vs. Eddio Nichols 147 Ib. Class James Scolard vs. ' Tamos Hyland 120 1b. Class Ossie Rodriqiuo vs. Angel Borgos 155 lb. Class Thomas Anzalono vs. Bernard Kenrick The official refcreo will bo Bon Carubbia, a student at the Savage School for Physical Education, and 1941 winnor of the Metropolitan A. A. U. 135 lb. Championship. Included among the guost reforoos will bo John Gaddi, an official refo- roe of the Metropolitan A. A. U., who won three National A. A. U. boxing champion- ships in one tournament at Newark, Now Jersey, in 1916; and, Arthur Siskind, popu- larly known among boxing enthusiasts, as "^oung Otto", who is the only profes- sional boxer to win 16 consecutive bouts by knockouts intone minute of the first round. Judging by the widespread interest and largo attendance at tho two pre- vious exhibitions, it is expected that last 54 Street Gymnasium will bo filled to capacity. A portable ring, constructed at the Park Department shops, will bo sot up in the center of tho gymnasium floor and extra seating has boon provided for. Tho remaining exhibitions arc scheduled as follows: Host 28 Stroet Gym, 407 West 28 Stroot, N. Y. C. - March 10 McCarron Play Conter, Driggs Avo. &. Lorimer St., Brooklyn - March 13 Astoria Play Center, 19 Street opposito 23 Drive, Astoria, Queens - March 18 Crotona Play Center, East 173 St. & Fulton Ave., Bronx - March 24 Cromwoll Play Conter, Murray Hulbort Avo., Tompkinsvillo, S.I.-. March 27 Upon completion of these exhibitions, preparations will be made for tho city-wido boxing tournament loading up to championship bouts in the lato spring, at which prizes will bo awarded to the winners of tho various weight divisions. * * * * DEPARTMENT OF PARKS . ARSENAL, CENTRAL, PARK Pix : 21284 For T«_ RE«NT 4-1000 pxaa: X-L-G-2801 March 5, 1942 The Board of Sstimate today accepted a gift of a large tract of land for a park in the Riverdale section of the Bronx. The new waterfront park was donated by the Dodge and Perkins families and is part of the estates which have been held by them for many years. It is one of the most important park gifts received by the city in re- cent years. The property lies on a high bluff overlooking the Hudson River west of Palisade Avenue'between West 247th Street and West S54th Street.- The gift comprises 42 acres of land valued at ^322,000. of which 37 acres will be used for park, and the balance for the opening of Palisade Avenue. Under the terms of the agreement, the city will acquire an additional eight acres of land to round out the park. This will be acquired by condemnation as an assessable proceeding. The combined area of the park gift and the parcels to be ac- quired by the city is 45 acres. An additional,gift of similar land by the Douglas estate south of the Dodge-Perkins donation is pending, and will be placed before the Board of Estimate in a few weeks. This ia a valuable addition to the park system since this sec- tion is completely lacking in recreational facilities. Riverdale has been developing rapidly with apartment houses and there are few large open properties left. Because of the high value of waterfront land for residential use, it is doubtful if the city could acquire such a large tract by other means* · The property is rugged in character and will be used primarily as a local scenic and recreational area to preserve its natural charac- ^ ·I'D teristics and the excellent view across the Hudson River, Form 26-5M-60241 155 DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ARSENAL, CENTRAL PARK T) J7QJ. Monday) TEL. REGENT 4-1000 ~* rr> The Department of Parks announces new arrivals in the Pros- pect Park Zoo, - twin lion cubs. These recent bundles of fur, weighing one pound each, are son and daughter of Rex I and Helen, The cubs are the third litter that Helen has presented to the Pi-ospect Park Zoo. The mother and her babies are doing well and are confined in special quarters, awaiting their debut on Sunday, March 8, at which time they will be placed on public exhibition in the lion house* Both the father and mother are ten-year old African, for- est-bred, lions. The father was presented to the Zoo in 1935 by Metro Goldwyn Mayer and the mother was presented in the same year by S. Klein. Press photographers may take pictures starting Ivbnday, March 2. H " Form 26-10M-12042 «^@i» 155 DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ARSENAL, CENTRAL PARK For Release Sunday, TEL. REGENT 4-1000 March 1 , 1 9 4 2 1 pix; Canarsie Pier #20706 p laa: CNT 97 B This year many fishing areas have been set aside by the Department of parks for salt water anglers and surf casters of New York City who, be- cause of the tire and auto rationing and the restrictions on off-shore fish- ing boats, must necessarily find their recreation in nearby boundary waters. The areas and their season and hours of operation, are located as follows; Jacob Riis Park, North Shore - at all times Cross Bay Boulevard Bridge - at all times Cross Bay Parkway Bridge - at all times *Jacob Riis Park Beach, Bay 1 3 - 8 P*M. to 8 A.M. *Rockaway Beach, Beach 17 to Beach 21 Streets - at all times *Rockaway Beach, Beacb. 21 to Beach 73 Streets - 8 P.M. to 8 A.M. *Rockaway Beach, Beach 126 to Beach 149 Streets - 8 P.M, to 8 A.M. RICHMOND *Wolfe's jPond Beach - October t o May, d a y l i g h t hours ; *South Be*ch - October t o May, d a y l i g h t hours « MgJHATTAN Southwest corner of R a n d a l l ' s I s l a n d - a l l y e a r , daylight hours 107 S t r e e t P i e r , East River - a l l y e a r , d a y l i g h t hours BRCJ2L Twin Island, Pelham Bay Park - all year, daylight hours Talapoosa Point, Pelham Bay Park - all year, daylight hours North of old Hunter Island Bridge, Pelham'Bay Park-all year, daylight hours Sea wall at parking field adjacent to Huntington Mansion, Pelham Bay Park - all yeaif, daylight hours Orchard Beacfo side of lagoon, Pelham Bay Park-October to May, daylight hours Point Park - all year, daylight hours ALs ?i«r - at all times 'Farkwgy, Waterfroat Promenade between Ft. Hamilton and B&y at all times . , i Steeplechase Pier (abutment) - at all times ve^U^U^T IAA.^^ ^ ^ Steeplechase Pier(both sides of Pier, North of building) - October to May, *Coney Island Beach - October to May, 24 hours Bay 14, East & West of pier - May to October, 12 Midnight to 8 A.M. Neptune Avenue & West 25 St.(Area on Waterfront Promenade) - at all times *SURF CASTING ,o * ** IJ r C Form 26-3M-60241 OgB> 155 '^"^T ~ ^ ^ " *""" ' *^-*^~~ ~ DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ARSENAL, CENTRAL PARK For Refea$e . S a t u r d a y , · TEL.REGENT*-iooo P i x : 19616(N.Y.O.Bldg.} February 28,1942 On Monday, March 2, at 8:15 P. K. a "FOR VICTORY ICS R37UE OF 1942" will be presented at the City Building in Flushing Meadow Park, Queens. Besides several ballet numbers by the entire cast of forty, all pa- trons of the rink, Irving Jaffee, Olympic Speed Skating Champion, Wilbur Meyer, Barrel Jumping Champion, Yvonne Sherman, U-year old sensational skater from Hew York Figure Skating Club, and Lois Goeller, 14-year old National Skating Champion, who is Cinderella in the Revue, will perform. In addition, Carol I 155 W # · W W AMR. HEASLII DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ARSENAL, CENTRAL PARK C* D I MONDAY TEL. REGENT 4-1000 Loe; B-L-216-1O4 February 9, 1942 Dev: BL-215-103 Q-L-301-104 Dais The Department of Parks announces the beginning of construction on li SO p.m. 2/7/42 tw^ playgrounds, one of which is located in Brooklyn and the other is Queens. The Brooklyn site is adjacent to Public school $35 located in the middle of the block bounded by Sumner Avenue, McDonough Street, Lewis Avenue and Decs at ur Street. It was acquired in July of last year by the Board of Estimate for school and recreational purposes. The olayground will be oper- ated jointly by the Board of Education and the Department of Parks. In preparation for the new ^ork eighteen two and three story brick buildings are being demolished. The playground, approximately 200 feet square, will lie Immediately west of the existing school which is being con- siderably expanded by the addition of a long wing parallel to McDonough Street. Access will be controlled by three gates, one leading to the school portal and one each to McDonough and Decatur Streets. The following facilities will be provided; softball diamond with hooded chain link backstop, one basketball court with removable standards, vyro concrete surfaced handball courts, two practice basketball standards and thirty-four units of park benches. Additional property was also acquired for a future playground east '/ of the school building at the corner of Lewis Avenue and Deoatur Street. ' In Queens adjacent to Public School $43 located in the block bounded by Brinkerhoff Avenue, 160th Street, 109th Avenue and Union Hall Street, the Board of Estimate acquired by condemnation the remainder of privately owned property at the south end of this block, slightly over one acre in extent. This parcel together with the 2-3/4 acres south and west of the existing school building, formerly acquired for expansion of the school and development of a playground, will permit more adequate facilities than originally planned. -2- Located in the South Jamaica section of Queens, a neighborhood of one and two story frame houses occupied by families of low income groups, the new supervised recreational area will provide much needed nlay facilities for this underprivileged community. The South Jamaica Housing Development, located two blocks west, accomodates 1500 persons, 20r? of whom fall within the ages of 6 to 20 and require additional playground service. The large playground at Public School ;^48 directly west of the Long Island Railroad tracks is inaccessible to this district. The new playground, to be operated jointly by the Department of Parks and the Department of Education for school and neighborhood play, will utilize the entire block except for the portion occupied by the school building which is now being expanded by the addition of a four story wing. Twenty-three one to two and a half story frame buildings are being demo- lished in preparation for the new development which will provide the fol- lowing facilities: eight concrete surfaced handball courts, wading pool, brick comfort station, irrigated sand Pit and sitting area, seesaws, slides and swings for pre-school and older children, a pipe frame exercise unit, two large open free play areas, three practice basketball standards, one basketball court with removable standards, two softball diamonds with hooded chain link backstops, three paddle tennis courts and three shuffloboard courts, Entrances will be easily accessible from the school building and the boundary sidewalks. The playgrounds are being constructed by the lorlc Projects Adminis- tration from plans prepared by the Department of Parks. *** *** *** Form DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ARSENAL, CENTRAL PARK For R*IP Wednesday. REGENT 4-1000 _ (^ 4 / January 28,1942 Bids were opened today by the Department of Parks at the Arsenal Build- ing in Central Park on a contract for the completion of the planting at the west end of Sast River Park, The existing mall opposite the Vladeck Houses south of East River Drive and extending from Montgomery to Jackson Streets was constructed in connection with the development of the 20 acre Corlears Hook section of East River Park. Approximately 85 feet wide and 1,200 feet long, the mall was pro- vided with a bench lined promenade and tree bordered grass panel. Unseasonal planting conditions made it necessary to defer the balance of the tree and shrub planting until this spring. Two hundred flowering shrubs and twenty-five addi- tional shade trees will be added to the park to screen the parking area and dock structures frpm the Drive and to provide seclusion for the sitting areas. Bids were also taken on a contract for the installation of a chain link fence along the south side of the mall to control pedestrian traffic between the adjacent apartments and the water front development. These two contracts together with a current ¥PA project for the con- struction of a small sitting park between East 12th and East 13th Streets at the north end of the Ig- mile shore front park will provide the finishing touches to this 55 acre recreational area* The three lowest bids on the planting contract were as follows: 1. Grand View Nurseries §3,912,00 6 Grand View Ave., Mt» Vernon, N. Y. 2. John Gozo 4,218.00 171-08 84th Road, Jamaica, N. Y. 3. Roman Landscape Contracting Co. 4,483.10 551 - 5th Avenue, N. Y. C. The three lowest bids on the fence contract were as follows; 1. Union Fence Construction Co. $2,030.00 342 Madison Avenue, N. Y. C, 2. Ross Galvanizing Works, Inc. 2,171.00 389 Kent Avenue, Brooklyn, N. Y. 3. Anchor Post Fence Co. 2,354.92 9 East 38th Street, N. Y. C* * * * * 39-N ^ * MEMORANDUM DEPARTMENT OF PARKS Date J§auary 2 1 , 1942 ft. M /* M M J TO: FROM: Prepare reply for my signature Prepare reply for signature of Reply direct See me on attached Give me memorandum on attached Send copy to For your approval X For your disposition For your information Note and send to General Files REMARKS DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ARSENAL, CENTRAL PARK DRAFT TOR t TEL. REGENT 4 - 1 0 0 0 The Department of Parks announces the completion of a new ijf acre triangu- lar playground located at the intersection of York Avenue and East River Drive extending from E* 91 Street to E, 92 Street, Manhattan. The site formerly occu- pied by a garage and gas station was acquired for recreational purposes by the City in connection with the East River Drive development. The playground consists of two main fence enclosed areas subdivided into ana .Her units by block paved panels containing benches and trees. At the west end along York Avenue is provided a wading pool and sitting area, irrigated sand if p i t , 4 seesaws, chair swings, slides, swings, pipe frame exercise unit, 2 shuffle- board courts and a free play area bordered with benches. In the triangular area adjacent to Bast River Drive are 4 concrete handball courts and combination free play area with r o l l e r and ice skating rink. A 4 foot high wrought iron picket fence has been installed in back of a new curb along the west side of York Avenue to control pedestrian access to the playground. The work was performed by the Work Projects Administration from plans prepared by the Department of Parks. In 1934 there were 119 playgrounds in the five boroughs. There are now with t h i s addition 4~G A--'playgrounds in the park system* * * * of Release - 10/20/41 Prepared by Mr. Thompson M-108-L N EW PIAYGHOBND EAST RIYBB D R I ^ & YOBK ATE. - MftHH&TTAN The Department of Parks announces the completion of a new 1-1/2 acre triangular playground loeated at the intersection of York Ave. and East River Drive extending from E. 91st St. to E. 92nd St. The site whiwh WF formerly occupied by a garage and gas station was acquiredJsy theCity in connection with the East River Drive development (?or recreational purposes/ The playground consists of two main fence enclosed areas subdivided into smaller units i t s by block paved panels containing benches and and trees. thefa^rW* end of the sewjtioHTrMiSff-t^^ York Ave. Irrigated sand pit, (' 4 Seesaws^ Chair swings a* Slides / a rat Swings,( Pipe frame exercise unit 2 Shuf fleboard courts ac e Play Area Bordered with Benches ^ a brlek ommtcmt station w Triangular area Adjacent to B. R. Drive 4 Concrete handball eour ^ _ Combination free play area^aiwd,roller skating and ice skating, rink «**n A 4 foot high wrought iron picket fence has been installed in back of a new curb along the west side of York Ave. to control pedestrian access to the playground. *· DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ARSENAL, CENTRAL PARK FOR RELEASE THURSDAY TEL. REGENT 4 - 1 0 0 0 January 22, 1942 The Department of Parks announces that -work in connection with the converting of the Gracie Mansion in Carl Schurz Park, Manhattan, into a permanent residence for the Mayors of New York City, will start on Thursday, January 22. In order to progress these alterations and pro- vide a vehicular entrance, the Mansion will he fenced off and the building closed to the public. The work is being performed by the l.P.A. from plans prepared by the Department of Parks. *** *** 7 Form 26-5M-60241 155 DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ARSENAL, CENTRAL PARK TEL. RESENT 4-1000 For Release. FRIDAY JANUARY 16, 1942 Admission to spectators at the City Building, Flushing Meadow Park, during the free period for the children on Saturday and holiday mornings, will continue, except that the specta- tors will only be permitted admission to the balcony; they will no longer be permitted ad- mission to the skating floor area. Admission price will continue the same as before, Hi inclusive of tax. %** *** *** 6 Form 26-5M-60241 DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ARSENAL., CENTRAL PARK TEL. REGENT 4-1000 For January y, The Department of Parks announces that 205. park areas ,in all, have been set aside for ice skating throughout the five boroughs. For the past three days, several thousand school children, adolescents and adults have used the ice skating facilities at the 15 tennis court .areas, 134 wading pools and 29 other suitable recreation areas, all of which were flooded for this particular winter sports activity. In addition, the following lakes in the large parks are open for ice skating: Manhattan - 59 Street Lake, Central Park Conservatory Lake, Central Park ( 72 Street ) Central Park at 79 Street and Transverse Road Queens - Bowne Park Lake, 159 Street and 32 Avenue, Flushing Crocheron Park Lake, 35 Avenue and 214 Place, Bayside Jackson Pond, 108 Street and 30 Avenue, Richmond Hill Linden Park Lake, 41 Avenue and 103 Street, Corona Pea Pond, Hollis Court Boulevard and Grand Central Parkway, Hell? Captain Tilly Park Lake, Highland Avenue and 85 Avenue, Jamaica Twin Ponds, Brookville Boulevard and Merrick Road, Rosedale Bronx - Twin-Lakes, Bronx Park North, Mosholu Parkway, East of Webster Avenue The other lakes will be opened as soon as the ice reaches the 4-g inch standard of thickness. Ice Skating will be permitted at all lakes and at large floodlighted areas until 11:00 P.M. Four ice'skating carnivals will be held on Saturday, January 10 at 2:00 P.M. at the following locations: Manhattan - Conservatory Lake, Central Park Brooklyn - Prospect Park Lake Bronx - Vancortlandt Park Lake Queens - Cunningham Park Lake (Sunday - January 11) Richmond - Clove Lakes near Victory Boulevard and Clove Road These carnivals will feature events for juveniles, juniors and seniors and special events will be included for members of the Middle Atlentic Skating Association. A citywide winter sports carnival will be held on Saturday, January 17, at the Conservatory Lake, Central Park, at which'the first five winners of each event in the borough contests will be eligible to compete. Gold, silver and bronze medals will be awarded to those who place 1st, 2nd and 3rd in each event. Twenty-nine hills in the various parks of the five boroughs have been designated for coasting, together with fifteen areas suitable for skiing. In the event of snow, a contest in snow sculpture and snow archi*- tecture will be held on Saturday, January 17. RELEASE: FRIDAY, January 9, 1942 GEORGE E. SPARGO EXECUTIVE OFFICER WILLIAM H. LATHAM DEPAIttMENT OF PARKS PARK ENGINEER ARSENAL. JAMES A. DAWSON 64TH STREET AND FIFTH AVENUE SENIOR PARK DIRECTOR CENTRAL. PARK ROBERT MOSES NEW YORK CITY J A M E S A . SHERRY COMMISSIONER CHIEF CLERK Plx#: 20988 2684 December 29, 1941 19586 2681 Plan: M L 81-200-- : Board of Estimate Municipal Building 1/8/42 New York City 4* SO p.m. Gentlemen: The Park Department has for some time been in doubt as to, the proper permanent use' of the Gracie Mansion, which was completely restored several years ago, ana has recently been operated as a small, post-Colonial museum. Most of the furniture has been loaned to the City,' either by individuals or by the larger institutions. We were never able,to obtain either ru^s or hangings. The'-attend- ance has been vary small, and there is no justification for main- taining this building in competition with much finer exhibits in the Metropolitan Museum, The Museum'of The City of New York, and elsewhere and in other fully furnished mansions of greater historic significance. y The suggestion has repeatedly been made that the Gracie Mansion be converted into a permanent residence for tha Mayors of New York. It is eminently suited to this purpose. The, present Mayor has concluded that this is the bost use for this property, and has requested the Pari Depart .neat to make plans for the con- version of the building. Mr. Aymar Embury, Consulting Architect of the Park Department has made these plans. ' The work can be done by the wPA. Certain furniture and fittings will be supplied by the Metropolitan Museum, The Museum of the City of Nevv York and the Brooklyn Museum whose directors have generously offered their advice and assistance. In converting the Gracie Mansion into the Mayors'residence, the public comfort station in the basement will be eliminated. A separate- comfort station is beinfe provided t-s part of the FfA pro- gran. The facilities required ior the police and the park mainten- ance forces will be provided in the basement. It is proposed that the building be heated and kept in repair by the City as it has bean in the past. It will be necessary to fence off the Mansion end to pro- vide a vehicular entrance. The Mayor has asked that t liir. matter b~ submitted to your Board for its consideration, with a resolution establishing the Grade Mansion permanently as the residence- of the Mayors of New York. Very truiy-yours, omnissloner WHEREAS, The Board of Street Opening and Improvement of the City of New York, pursuant to Chapter 320 of the Laws of 1887, did select, locate, lay out and acquire the park known as Carl Schurz Park in the Borough of Manhattan, City of New York, and WHEREAS, said park, as so selected, located and laid out, contains within its borders a residence known as the Gracie Mansion, and WHBREAS, this Board deems that a suitable and bene- ficial public purpose will be served if the Gracie Mansion be hereafter the official residence of the Mayor of the City of New York, NOW, THEitEFORL, BE Ii R2S0LV2D BY iK2 30A2D OF ESTHETE OF TEE CITY OF K M YORK: That the G-racie Mansion, located in Carl Schurz Park, is hereby designated and made available to the use of the Mayor of the City of New York, as the official residence of the Mayor and his successors during their incumbency in office. A T D BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Department of Parks is hereby directed to make such alterations in the Gracie Mansion as are necessary and required for its immediate occupancy as the official dwelling of the Mayor, and to continue to maintain and repair said building, reserving for the opera- tion and policing of Carl bchurz Park so much of the basement as may be needed. THE GRACIE MANSION HISTORY The Gracie Mansion is particularly fortunate in its situation, standing on a rocky point of land jutting into the East River and coromanding a beautiful view of Hell Gate. From Dutch times this point of land has been called Horen Hook, or Horn's Hook, and figured in the stormy days of the Revolution. In the seventeenth century, the first known owner was Sibout Claessen in 1646, who came from Hoorn, on the Zuyder Zee, and presumably named the point of land after his native village. The property passed through many subsequent hands until acquired by the well-known Delamater family in 1690, who in turn sold it to the Waldrons in 1710. * Samuel Waldron thus acquired a large farm of over a hundred and fifty acres, partly by purchase and partly by inheritance, a part of which was Horn's Hook, on which the Gracie Mansion now stands. The Waldrons owned this property for about fifty years. About 1760 Jacob Walton, at the time of his marriage to Polly Gruger, daughter of the Mayor of New York, purchased Horn's Hook from William Waldron and erected here an "elegant mansion" for his young bride. Here they lived on the site now occupied by the Gracie leansion until they were forced to leave at the time of the Revolution, when the house was corumandeered for the use of troops. Here the American forces erected a redoubt of nine guns, called Thomp- son's Battery, to protect New York from the English forces coming down* the river. In 1791 at the death of Jacob Walton, the property was inherited by his four children from whom in 1798 Archibald Gracie purchased it. It is not known whether Gracie enlarged Walton's house or had it removed and built a new one, but judging from the style, the house was remodeled about 1800. The con- struction of the fireplaces is similar to 18th century ones, and the window V embrasures in certain parts of the house suggest the period of about 1760. It is probable that Walton's house was used as a tavern during the period from 1783, when the Revolutionary soldiers evacuated Manhattan Island, to the time of its purchase by Gracie in 1798. Mention of such a tavern is made in "Annals of New York City" for 1786. If it had undergone such hard usage at the hand of troopers and then as a tavern, Gracie would most certainly have been obliged to renovate the entire house. The mantels and other ornamental detail show Sheraton influence and must date from a- bout 1800, at which time this style came into fashion. One white marble mantel with pillars in the Classic style would belong to an even later period. Archibald Gracie was a wealthy merchant whose ships were "familiar on every sea," flying a red and white private flag. The Gracie Mansion as his sum- mer home became noted for its gracious hospitality, and it is said that not in- frequently as many as fifty guests sat down to dinner. Here were entertained among many notables, Washington Irving, Josiah Quincy, and last but not least, Louis Philippe, of the royal house of France. Washington Irving came often to the fireside and his inspiration for "Astoria" was received and part of his labors were pursued here and at the Astor Mansion nearby. In 1813 Irving writes, "I find a very warm reception at the fireside of Mr. Gracie. Their country-seat was one of my strongholds lapt summer, as I lived in its vicinity. It is a charming, warm-hearted family and the old gen- tle has the soul of a prince." Josiah ...Quincy, after being entertained at the Gracie Mansion, wrote, "The mansion is elegant in the modern style and the grounds laid out with great taste in gardens." A.mighty elm tree that stood at the point of land, overlook- ing Hell Gate, was a landmark to every sailor and was considered the largest tree on the Island of Manhattan. In 1819 Rufus King, whose son, James Gore King, had married Archibald Gracie's daughter, acquired the Gracie Mansion, and he in turn sold it shortly afterwards to Joseph Foulke in whose possession it remained until his death in 1852. Tile following year his heirs divided the property into lots for sale and the house and land passed Through many hands until in 1891 the City condemned it for a park. It formed the northern boundary of East End Park and a new name was given it, "Carl Schurz Park." *** #** *** DEPARTMENT OF PARKS \ ,, _. T ARSENAL, CENTRAL PARK tor Release Wednesday. TEL. REGENT 4-1000 January 7,1942 Plan: Contract No. 0,-83-142 xuTiST*^ Bids were opened today by th© Department of Parks at tlie Arsenal Building ' in Central Park on a contract for the construction of a traffic divider on the In- terboro Parkway and Grand Central Parkway in the Borough of Queens. This safety device, which will be installed along the center line of the parkways, will provide a physical barrier between opposite moving vehicles. Mo- torists should be cautioned however that it will not prevent cross-over of uncon- trolled cars at high speed. The problems of designing this special center curb in- volved existing narrow rights-of-way between walls and under bridges which would not permit the widening of the pavement in preparation for the installation of a typical dividing mall. It was necessary to keep the width of the curb to a minimum which in turn controlled its height to prevent the scraping of bumpers and mudguards- For aesthetic reasons also it would not be desirable to erect high solid barriersB The new curb consists of a reinforced concrete section 20 inches wide and 14 inches high above the pavement. It will be poured in place in a channel 3 inches deep and 20 inches wide which will be cut along the center line of the existing pavement. Curved side walls will blend with the parkway surface thus permitting cars tra- velling at reasonable speed and direction to climb safely to the continuous circu- lar bumper rail which will force the wheels to return to the pavement. The new divider will connect with a similar installation constructed in 1940 at the western end of the Interboro Parkway in the Cypress Hills Cemetery sec- tion. It will extend easterly with branches throughout the Connecting1 Loop at Kew Gardens and along the Grand Central Parkway to the Nassau County Line, a distance of approximately seven miles. In order to maintain a safe flow of traffic during construction, the first item of work will be the painting of new white traffic lane markers. The exit road- way from Grand Central Parkway to Queens Boulevard will be widened and approximately 1,000 lineal feet of wrought iron fence installed on each side of the Interboro Parkway at Queens Boulevard. The contract, which must be completed in six months, also includes the removal and replacing of concrete curbing, concrete and bituminous sidewalk, stripping and spreading topsoil, transplanting trees and shrubs and alterations to drainage structures. The three lowest bids were submitted by the following: 1. Harris Grand §146,564.00 888 Montgomery St., Brooklyn, N.Y. 2. Gould & Kress 158,325.00 342 Madison Ave., Smithtown, L.I. 3. Melwood Construction Corporation 159,782.50 507 Fifth Ave., New York City Form 26A-5M-73141 155 DEPARTMENT CF PARKS Tuesday, ARSENAL, CENTRAL PARK For Rekasgannary 6 , -194a- TEL. REGENT 4-1000 The Department of Parks announces the completion of a reconstructed one lialf acre playground located at the east end of the block, formed by 78th Street, 79th Street, 63th Road and 69th Avenue in Middle Village, Queens. The old,development consisted of a dirt surfaced area enclosed by 8 foot high chain link fencing, a few pieces of play apparatus and a handball court with wooden backstop. The reconstruction provided for resurfacing the playground with asphalt to provide for all year usage and setting the existing boundary fence on a special concrete curb varying in height up to three feet. The purpose of the new wall which extends around the playground was to permit the grading of level play surfaces. A single gate controlled stairway en- trance provides access from 79th Street. The project included the installation of new facilities and the re- location of existing facilities as follovrs: Brick comfort station Free play area Relocation of 2 practice basketball standards . New double handball court enclosed by 16 foot high chain link fencing Kindergarten Apparatus Area Existing battery of swings protected by new 4 foot high chain link fencing Relocation of 4 seesaws One new slide Relocation of a battery of swings protected by new 4 foot high chain link fencing Two new slides . Relocation of pipe frame exercise unit A five foot tree planted border of block paving extends around three sides of the playground along the new wall, The existing concrete boundary walks were widened and a border of block paving installed along the property line. The work was performed by the Work Projects Administration from plans prepared by the Department of Parks. In 1934 there were 119 playgrounds in the five boroughs, 63 of which have been reconstructed. There are now 463 playgrounds in the park system. * ** Z Form 26A-5M-73141 155 DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ARSENAL, CENTRAL PARK 'For Released January 5, 1942 TEL, REGENT 4-1000 The Department of Parks announces the corapletion and opening of a new three acre playground located on the north side of Shore Parkway at the end of 17 Avenue on G-ravesend Bay in the Borough of Brooklyn. The ..-property was-acquired by condemnation in connection with the extension of Shore Park- way to provide something for the neighborhood in connection with the arterial improvement. This new recreational area serves the residents of the thickly populated section of Bensonhurst north of Cropsey Avenue. Located on a knoll on the center line of 17 Avenue extended is a serai-circular overlook sitting area commanding an unobstructed view over G-ravesend Bay and the Lower New York Bay. A concrete ramp skirts the brick surfaced retaining wall which supports the overlook and connects with a 30 foot wide tree and bench lined mall. This sitting area and pedestrian con- nection leads to the footbridge over the parkway and divides the playground into two fence enclosed play areas. The smaller western section which is subdivided into six use areas by fencing, benches or tree planted block paved malls, contains the following facilities: brick comfort station, shower basin, irrigated sand pit and sitting area, swings, slides, seesaws and play houses for pre-school children; a pipe frame exercise unit, swings and slides for older children; and paddle tennis, shuffleboard and horseshoe pitching courts in the court games area. East of the dividing mall is a grass surfaced softball diamond with hooded backstop. The northern half of this section contains two concrete sur- faced handball courts and two basketball courts-. In addition to these facilities which were constructed by the Work Projects Administration from Department of Parks' plans the following mis- cellaneous items were included in the improvement: 5 drinking fountains, flagpole in overlook area, park lighting and drainage, 44 Oriental Plane trees, 53 Norway maples, 1350 Japanese Honeysuckle for slope protection and 7 Boston Ivy on the brick comfort station. In 1934 there were 119 playgrounds in the five boroughs; 62 of which have been reconstructed. There are now with this addition 453 play- grounds in the park system. * ** I 7/1 66 9 more Name "Banu (jMjhds'tras July 2 - 14, sponsored by Con Ed 6? S u m np^chedule for outdoor swimiajp? pools > 7/3 Indepeftaence Day Program track and field championships 7/6 61 concerts to be sponsored by Pepsi-Cola Company 7/7 70 Athletic fields to be open for candidates for Police exam. 7/10 71 Horse sho© pitching tournament at Heckscher Playground, Central Park JUJy, | t 7/10 72» 3 new playgrounds opened in Queens 1942 - page 3 7/14/42 Con Edison sponsors concerts and dances with name band orchestras 73 July 15 - 23 7/25 74 5 new playgrounds as part of 2 and a quarter f. mile development fron Owl's Head Park to Fort Hamilton, Brooklyn 7/28 75 Closing of Orchard Beach due to July 27 downpour 7/28 76 Swimming championship for men of 3rd naval district 7/30 77 3rd in series of 4 Naumberg Memorial concerts, July 31, on the Mall 8/4 78 New outdoor roller skating rink at Rockaway Beach 8/7 79 Municipal Tennis Championships in Central Park to start August 8 8/8 2 municipal golf championships on Split Rock Golf Course, Bronx, on Aug 9 8/21 81 Annual Swimming championship at Flushing Meadow Amphitheatre 8/22 62 Finals in Boys and Mero'rsi Division of Municipal Tennis championship in Central Park 8/22 83 Municipal Golf Championships at Split Rock Golf Course rained out 8/8 to take place Aug. 23 8/26 84 Finals of Jacks Contest at Heckscher Playground, Central Park 8/26 85 Square Dancing at 105 St. and Riverside Playground 8/29 86 Harvest Dance contest for novices in all five borough^s 9/4 87 Robert Moses attacks Pierce Trowbridge Wetter for being active in I.W.W. i in 192*4 9/4 88 Finals of Paddle Tennis Tournament in East River Park 9/6 6S 17 outdoor swimming pools and 5 beaches closed on Sept. 7 9/6 SO Harvest dance contest eliminations announced 9/6 SI Last of Naumberg Memorial Concerts in Cental Park, Sept. 7 9/7 SL Completion of baseball field in four and a half acre plot at West Farms Road and East Tremont Ave., Bronx 9/8 S3 New St. playground to open and also dedication of memorial flagpole at Park Avenue and Floyd St, Brooklyn 9/12 eft New playground to open on Central Avenue at 70 and 71 Sts. Queens 9/15 96 Closing date of Amateur Photo Contest on Sept. 19 9/15 Fall Harvests at 10 department children's gardens in 5 boroughs 9/16 1 and a quarter acre playground completed at Aberdeen Street near Bushwick Avenue, Brooklyn 9/17 9ft Postwar sewage disposal and future bathing beaches and waterfronts at Coney Island, Riis Park, Rockaway Beach, Orchard Beach, South Beach and Wolfe's Pont 9/18 C|C| Chess and checkers tournament in Heckscher Playground on Sept 19 and 20 9/22 IOQ Harvest dance contest championship on Mall Central Park Sept 22 9/23 |O| New playground at P.S. 35 at Summer Avenue, McDonough St, Lewis Avenue and Decatur St., Brooklyn 9/27 tOZ. Finals of Softball tournament at Macombs Dam Park, Bronx 10/1 18$ Roller and ice skating rinks to open at City Building, Flushing Meadow Park, Queens 10/2 |Q4 Commemoration of opening of 21 playgrounds with special programs 1 1942 - page 4 10/9 toS Shuffleboard finals at North Meadow, Central Park Oct. 10 10/10 (O6 Marionette, Magic and Music Program in Mall, Central Park, Oct. 11 10/11 107 Recreation activities for Fall and Winter Season at gymnasia, indoor pools and playgrounds 10/16 102 one acre playground opened at Park Avenue, Madison Avenue, 108 and 109 Sts, Manhattan 10/24 Winners announced at Amateur Photo Contest 10/27 HO Bids opened on reconstruction of seawall on Randall's Island 10/31 III Closing of clay tennis courts Nov. 1 10/31 til Commemoration of opening of 12 playgrounds with birthday]/ party programs. 10/31 U3 Boxing exhibitions for Fall and Winter 11/7 \l4 Annual Fall Chrysanthemum show at Prospect Park Greenhouse 11/8 11/19 116 Baby aoudad born Central Park Nov. 17, 1942 11/19 116 New playground opened at Fulton and Truxton Streets, Brooklyn 11/20 117 Volleyball tournament for girls in Seward Park, Manhattan 11/25 New playground at East River Drive and 102 and 105 Streets, Manhattan 11/27 Finals Roller Hockey Tournament at 105 Street and Riverside Park Manhattan 11/29 11/28 (20 10 golf courses and the pitch and putt at Riis Park to close 11/29 .11/30 121 Anniversary of 9 playgrounds to be celebrated with birthday party programs 12/11 \2Z Ping Pong finals at Mullaly Recreation Bldg, the Bronx, 12/12 12/12 123 Thin ice warning to all to keep off ice of lakes and ponds 12/13 124 Christmas program of 26puppet and marionette shows depicting "Hansel and Gretel" J.2/20 126 21 Christmas trees in parks Dec. 17 fW18 |5LS 254 park areas set aside for ice skating. DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ' ·^ """" *'" " ' ' ' "f ' "m / iAL, CENTRAL PARK ' / REGENT 4-1000 FOR RELEASE SUEDAY December 20, 1942 JO »' ' The Park Department announces that ceremonies in connection with *bwenty-p.ne Christmas trees, which have been erected and decorated in parks throughout the five boroughs, will take place on Monday; December fiA, at 5:00 p.m. A special program will be held at the principal trees in each borough, which will be at City Hall Park, Manhattan; Borough Hall Park, Brooklyn; Joyce Kilmer Park, The Bronx; Queensborough Hall, Kew Gardens, Queens, and Borough Hall, Richmond. At City Hall Park, the ceremonies will be broadcast over Station WBYC. Mayor LaGuardia will deliver his annual Christmas message and will threw the switch lighting the tree at 5:25 p.m., officially starting Mew York City's observance of the Christmas season. Borough President Edgar J. Nathan, Jr. and Newbold Morris, President of the Council, will also participate in the exercises. Selections will be plaved by the (Department of S*Bks' Band and Christmas Carols will be sung.by the Police Department's Glee Club, and the Boys Choir of Saint Cecilia's Church. Borough Presidents Cashmore, Burke, Lyons, and Palma will light the trees in their respective boroughs where exercises will be conducted under the direction of the Borough Park Directors who have arranged a-ppropriate programs. A special decorative scheme depicting the Three Yvise Men proceeding to the Star in the East, centered in a holly wreath ten feet in diameter, will be erected over the main entrance of the Park Department Headquarters at The Arsenal, Central Park. 1flT"*'BBi8ffifs3^F^'i^T^^^^ she t r e e s w i l l b e l i g h t e d each evening from whatever hour in the afternoon it is dark enough to make them effective until (^BSSm^^ggSBSgBBSSSSSSm^a^· Christmas trees have been erected at the following locationsj 126 -2- Manhattan- City Hall Park Conservatory Garden - 104 to 105 Streets and Fifth Avenue Thomas Jefferson Park - First Avenue and 111 Street Roosevelt Park - Forsyth and Canal Streets Fort Tryon Park - Riverside Drive, Broadway and Dyckman Street Carl Schurs Park - 85 Street and East End Avenue Mt. Morris Park - Fifth Avenue and 124 Street Bellevue Hospital - East River Drive and 26 Street Bronxj Joyce Kilmer Park - 161 Street and Grand Concourse St. Mary's Park - St. Ann's Avenue and East 144 Street St. Janes'Park - East 191 Street and Jerome Avenue Brooklyn! Borough Hall Grand Army Plaza - Prospect Park Leiv Eiriksson Park - 67 Street between 4th and 5th Avenues McCarren Park - Driggs Avenue and Lorimer Street Queensj Queensbarough Hall - Kew Gardens King Park - Jamaica Avenue and 151 Street Flushing Park - Northern Boulevard and Main Street Forest Park - Park Lane South and 108 Street Highland Park - Jamaica Avenue and Elton Street Richmond; Borough Hall - Bay Street and Borough Place As in former years there will also be a Christmas tree in Flush- ing Meadow Park, Queens, located inside the City Building between the ice and roller skating rinks. MR. HEASLIP &KTME1TT OF PKxiKB AR3E,VAL, CE^RAL P T e l . REgent 4 - 1 0 0 0 FOR RELEASE FEtIDAY_ December 18, 1942 Sent: 12/18/42 6:15 p.m. The Department of Parks announces that 254 park areas have been set aside for ioe skating throughout the five boroughs. These facilities consist of 27 lakes, 8 tennis court areas, 40 flooded areas and 130 wad- ing pools which will be opened for skating when the ice is thick enough to be safe. Attached is a list of ice skating locations. In addition, 32 hills in the various parks of the five boroughs have been designated for coasting, together with 17 areas suitable for skiing. The attached list given the location of these various areas. In accordance with array dim-out regulations there will be no floodlighting of any of these facilities. In general, lakes, ponds and large flooded areas where park lighting is available will operate from 8 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Tli'here no lighting is available the facilities will be opsrated during daylight hours except on brifht moonlight nights. In the event of snow, a contest in snow sculpture and snow vi architecture will be held in the various lay grounds in January. Plans are underway to conduct Ice Skating Carnivals at the fol- lowing locations. Vieather pemitting, they have been tentatively scheduled for the weekend of January 9 and 10. Manhattan: Conservatory Lake, Central Park January 9 Brooklyn; Prospect Park Lake January 9 Queens: Victory Field January 10 Richmond: Clove Lake =^2 January 10 Bronxs Van Cortlandt Park January 1ft ATTACH DEPARTMENT OF PARKS CITY OF NEK YORK ICE SKATING AREAS 1942-43 MANHATTAN Lakes 59 Street, lake, Central Park near Fifth Avenue 72 Street lake, West Drive, Central Park Conservatory Lake, 72 Street and Fifth Avenue, Central Park Belvedere Lake, 79 Street and Transverse Road, Central Park Tennis Courts 93 Street and West Drive, Central Park East River Drive and Broome Street Riverside Drive and 148 Street Wading Pools Twenty-nine wading pools will be prepared for skating. BROOKLYN Prospect Park Lake Tennis _Cpurta Fort Greene Park, Myrtle Avenue and St. Edwards Street FloodedAreas Bushwick Playground, Putnam & Knickerbocker Avenues(baseball field) Playground, Douglas and Third Avenue(soffball areas) Gravesend Playground, 13 Avenue and 56 Street Home crest Avenue and Belt Parkway Playground Kelly Memorial Playground, East 14 St. & Avenue S(softball field) Lincoln Terrace Park, Buffalo & East New York Aves.(softball field) KcCarren Playground, Driggs Avenue & Lorimer Street Playground, Ocean Parkway and Avenue P Red Hook Recreation Center, Clinton, Bay & Henry Streets Seth Low, Bay Parkway & Avenue P Fifty-two wading pools will be prepared for skating BRONX Lakes Van Cortlandt Park, 242 Street, east of Broadway Crotona Park, Crotona Park East and East 173 Street Bronx Park Twin Lakes, north of Mosholu Parkway, east of Webster Avenue Tennis Courts St..James Park, Jerome Avenue and 19 2 Street St. Mary's Park, Trinity Avenue and East 145 Street Flooded Areas Pelham Park, Pelham Parkway, Eastern Boulevard & Middletown Road Pulaski Park, 133 Street and Willis Avenue Playground, Waterbury, La Salle and Edison Avenues Twelve wading pools w i l l be prepared for ice skating Lakes Alley Pond Park, Horace Harding Blvd. & Douglaston Parkway, Hollis Alley Pond Picnic Lake, Grand Central Parkway, 233 Street, Hollis Bowne Park Lake, 158 Street and 32 Avenue, Flushing Baisley Park Lake, Sutphin Blvd., 125 Street op-osite 153 Street Brookville Park Lake, Brookville Blvd. & 143 Avenue, Rosedale Crocheron Park Lake, 35 Avenue & 214 Place, Bar/side Jackson Pond, 108 Street & 30 Avenue, Richmond Kill Kissena Park Lake, Oak Avenue & Kissena Blvd., Flushing Linden Park Lake, 41 Avenue & 103 Street, Corona Oakland Lake, Alley Pond, Kollis Pea Pond, Hollis Court Blvd. & Grand Central Parkway, Hollis Captain Tilly Park Lake, Highland Ave., 85 Ave., 165 St., Jamaica' Twin Ponds, Brookville Blvd., and Merrick Road, Rosedale Tennis Courts Alley Pond Park, Grand Central Parkway & Winchester Blvd., Hollis Astoria Park, 25-21 Avenues, Astoria Cunningham Park, Union Turnpike & 192 Street, Kollis Wiyanda Park, Hollis Avenue & Springfield Blvd., Hollis QUEERS (contO_ Flooded Areas Playground, Atlantic A v e . & 88 Street, Ozone Park, (softball field) Playground, 95 Ave. & 125 Street, Richmond Eill, (softball field) Braddock Playground, Braddock Avenue & 240 Street, Queens Village Playground, Broadway & 78 Street, Jackson Heights, (roller skat- ing area) Playground, Central Avenue & 70 Street, Glendale (softball field) Chisholm Park, Poppenhausen Ave. & 115 Street, College Poiaxt Grover Cleveland Playground, Gra; dview Avenue & Stanhope Street Flushing Memorial Playground, 149 Street & 25 Avenue, Flushing Glendale Playground, 74 Street I. 78 Avenue Corona 111 Street, 111 Street & 46 Avenue, Corona Jackson Heights Playground, 84 St. &· 30 Avenue Playground, Jewel Avenue & Utopia Parkway (softball field) Liberty Park, Liberty Avenue & 172 Street, Jamaica (paddle tennis area) Long Island City, 45 Avenue & 21 Street, (softball field) Marconi Playground, 155 Street I, 108 Avenue, Jamaica Maurice Playground, Maurice, Borden t 54 Avenue, Maspeth O'Connell Playground, 196 Street & 113 Avenue, St. Albans Parkway llorth Playground, 114 Street L 37 Avenue, Corona Rockaway, Broadwalk & 80 ^treet Riis Park, Neponsit (Parking Field) Playground, 30.Koad & 45 Street, Astoria (softball field) Victory Field, Woodhaven Blvd. r F.yrtle Avenue Wading_ Pools Thirty-four wading pools will be prepared for ice-skating. RICHMOND Lake s Brooks Pond, Slooson Avenue off Clove Road Clove Lakes $=2, Victory Boulevard LaTourette Pond, Rockland Avenue i ?, Forest Hill Road hartlings Pond, Slosson Avenue L Clove Road Willowbrook Lake, Richmond Avenue & Victory Boulevard Wolfe's Pond Park, Holton L Cornelia Avenues Flooded Areas Silver Lake Golf Course, Parking Area, Victory Boulevard Wading P_ools Four wading pools will be prepared for ice-skating. DEPARTMENT OF P..RKS CITY OF EEli YORK SKI LOCATIONS 1942 - 43 MANHATTAN Central Park - Cedar Kill, 79 street f. East Drive Burns Lawn, 79 Street I Test' Drive BROOKLYN Prospect Park - Lookout Hill, Southwest of Music Grove, Empire Boulevard entrance Dyker Beach Golf Course, 92 Street I Seventh Avenue Clearview Golf Course fillets Pt.Blvd. ,7/hitestone (Tfhoro designated by Crocheron Park, 35 -"venue & 214 Street, Baysiae \ supervisor) Forest Park Golf Course, 3rd Tee, down to 2nd Fairway (for beginners) and 4th Fairway for more experienced skiiers. Kissena Park Golf Course, area designated by supervisor Alley Pond Motor Parkway, From Horace Harding Blvd. to Alley Pond Park BRONX Van Cortlandt Golf Course, 18th Tee and Fairway RICHMOND Silver Lake Golf Course, Forest Avenue & Silver Lake Park Roadway 7th Fairway LaTourette Golf Course, Rockland Avenue & Forest Hill Road 2nd, 14th, and 18th Fairways COASTI1IG LOCATIONS MANHATTAN Central Park - 83 Street & East Drive, Forth of Museum of Art 79 Street & East Drive (short run for small children). Pilgrim Hill, southwest of Conservatory lake, 72 Street & East Drive Cedar Kill, 79 Street & East Drive 72 Street north of boathouse 60 Street & Vest Drive (near Heckschere Playground) 72 Street <* , Vest Drive Burns Lawn, 79 Street & Vest Drive 72 Streot & ^ast Drive, southeast of Conservatory Lake East Meadow, 99 Street off 5th Avenue Henry Hudson Parkway, 83 Street East of Playground 108 Street 116 to 120 Streets J. Hood Wright Park, section of hill located on Haven Avenue side of park (west to east) BROOKLYN Prospect Park - louthwest of Music Grove (Lookout Hill), Empire Boulevard entrance Long Meadow, 3rd Street ft Prospect Park West entrance Long Meadow North, on east drive, Main entrance Maryland Monument Hill, 16 Street & Prospect Park West entrance Dyker Beach Golf Course, 92 Street c; Seventh Avenue Owl's Head Park, Colonial Road & 67 Street McKinley Park, Seventh Avenue h 75 Street QUEENS Alley Pond Motor Parkway, from Horace Harding Boulevard to Alley Pond Park Chisholm Park, Poppenhausen Avenue & 115 Street, College Point Clearview Golf Course, Villets Point Boulevard, Whitestone Crocheron Park, 35 Avenue t 214 Place, Bayside Forest Park Golf Course, old 18th Tee of Golf Course, Main Drive below Golf House, near 82 Street, Voodhaven Highland Park, Lower half of Snake Kill from turn to Jamaica Avenue, opposite Elton Street, Brooklyn Kissena Golf Course, area designated by supervisor B Van .2P22L Cortlandt Golf Course, 18th Tee and Fairway Bronx River Parkway and East 226 Street RICHMOND. Silver Lake Golf Course, Forest Avenue & Silver Lake Park Roadway 7th Fairway LaTourette Golf Course, Rockland Avenue & Forest Eill Road 2nd, 14th & 18 Fairways *#* #** *** DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ARSENAL, CENTRAL PARK FOR RELEASE _ TEL. REGMT 4-1000 December 1 3 , 1942 F i x : 19574 21919 Delivered 12^11/42 at 3:30 P.M. The Department of Parks announces a Christmas program of play- ground children's activities which will feature 26 puppet and marionette shows depicting the famous fairy tale "Hansel and Gretel". These shows will be given at 11 A.M. and 3:30 P.M., at centrally located playgrounds in the five boroughs, beginning Tuesday, December 15, and running through Thursday, December 31, in accordance with the attached schedule. With five scenes in "Hansel and Gretel", the entire performance will last approximately one hour. In addition, 29 magic shows lasting one hour and including a variety of magical tricks and hand puppetry will be given at other play- grounds in the five boroughs, beginning Tuesday, December 15, and con- tinuing through Thursday, December 31. Christmas trees will be provided for the various playgrounds where there are recreation buildings. Many of the tree decorations have been made by the children and Christmas parties have been planned for the youngsters, including games, songs, refreshments and last but not least, a visit from Santa Claus himself. The parties will be held at various times beginning December 23 and continuing through December 31. Attach. CITY OF NEWY ORK DEPARTMENT OF PARKS _SPECJAL_HOLIDAY MARIONETTE PROGRAM "HA1TSEL AND GRETAL" in Five Scenes Characters - Father, T'other Hansel, Gretel, Sandman, Witch and Good Fairy Richmond Tuesday Dec, 15 3:30 p.m. - Joseph H. Lyons R e c r e a t i o n C e n t e r , Murray H u l - b e r t Avenue & V i c t o r y B l v d . , T o m p k i n s v i l l e . Wednesday Dec. 16 - 5:?0 p.m. - Faber Park, Richmond T e r r a c e , P o r t Richmond Queens · Thursday Dec, 17 - 11 a.m. - - A s t o r i a Play C e n t e r , 19 S t r e e t o p p o s i t e 23 Drive 3:30 p.m. - Same a s above Friday Dec. 18 - 11110 a . m . - Von Dohlen Playground, 138 S t . & Archer Avenue · 3:30 p.m. - Same s s above Saturday Dec, 19 - 11 a.m. - Raymond O'Connor Playground, 32-33 Avenue & 210 S t ; 3;30 p.m. - F l u s h i n g Memorial Playground, Bayside Avenue & 25 Avenue a t 149 S t r e e t Manhattan Monday Dec. 21 11 a.m. m Mt. Morris E a s t , E a s t 120 S t . c Madison Avenue 3:30 p.m. - Harlem C h i l d r e n ' s C e n t e r , 28 "."est 134 S t r e e t Tuesday Dec. 22 11 a.m. - A n n u n c i a t i o n Playground, 135 S t . &· Amsterdam Ave 3:30 p.m. - Thomas J e f f e r s o n R e c r e a t i o n C e n t e r , E a s t 112 S t . & F i r s t Avenue Wednesday Dec. 23 11 a.m. ··· Gulick Playground, Delancy, Broome < ? · Sheriff S t s . 3:30 p.m. - E a s t River D r i v e , 11 S t r e e t &. E a s t River Bronx 11 a.m. - Mullaly Recreation Building, 162 S t r e e t &· Jerome Thursday Dec, 24 3:30 p.m. - Same as above (Avenue 11 a.m. - Williamsbridge Playground, East 208 S t r e e t & Saturday D§@, 26 - 3:30 p.m. « Same a.s above (Bainbridge Avenue 11 a.m. - St. Mary's Park West, East U'-6 S t . & S t . Ann's Ave. Monday Dec. 28 - 3:30 p.m. - Sam e as above 3rocklyn 11 a.m. - Children's Museum, Brooklyn Avenue £ Park Place Tuesday Dec. 29 - 3:30 p.m. - Same as above 11 a.m. - Red Hook Housing Community Center, 110 W. 9 S t r e e t Wednesday Dec. 30 - 3:30 p.m. - Sa.me as above 11 a.m. - Sunset Park Recreation Center, 6 Ave, & 44 S t r e e t Thursday Dec, 31 - 3:30 p.m. - McLaughlin Playground, Bridge c T i l l a r y S t r e e t s . CITY OF MW YORK DEPARTMENT OF PARKS SF3CIAL_ HOLIDAY PROGRAM "Christmas i s t h e time for cheer So come ye c h i l d r e n far and n^ar To m u s i c , magic and p u p p e t r y Songs and fun p r e p a r e d for t h e e , " BRONX Tuesday Dec. 15 11:00 a.m. - S t . Jsmes Playground, Jerome Ave, & 193 S t r e e t 3:30 p.m. - Fort $ Four Playground R e s e r v o i r , Sedgwick & Webb Avenues Wednesday Dec, 16 - 1 1 : 0 0 a.m. - Williamsbridge Oval, East 208 S t r e e t & Bainbridge Avenues 3:30 p.m. - Zimmerman Plavground, O l i n v i l l e Avenue & B r i t t o n Stree J Ave, Thursday Dec. 17 11:00 a.m. - S t . Mary's Park West, East 146 S t , &· S t . A n n ' s / 3:30 p.m. - Lyons Square Playground, Aldus S t r e e t , Bryant and Whitlock Avenues BROOKLYN Friday Dec, 18 11:00 a.m. - Lindsay Playground, Lorimer S t r e e t & Johnson Avec 3:30 p.m. - Vandervoort & Cherry S t r e e t s Playground Saturday Dec. 19 - 11:00 a.m. - Betsy Head Recreation Center, Hopkinson & Dumont Avenues 2:00 p.m. - B i l l Brown Playground, Bedford Ave, &. Ave. X Monday Dec, 21 - 11:00 a.m. - Bay Parkway Playground, Bay Fte r y, & Avenue P. 3:30 p.m. - James J, Byrne Playground, 3 S t r e e t & 4 J,venue MANHATTAN ton £.re«i Tuesday D e c , 22 - 11:00 a.m.. J. Eood Wright Park, West 173 St. & Ft. Washir.,4- 3:30 p.m. Highbridge Recreation Center, W , 173 Street c » Amsterdam Avenue Wednesday D e c , 23 11:00 <-,,m. MeCray Playground, 138 St. bet. 5th & Lenox Aves, 3:30 p.m. Yorkville Playground, East 101 Street & 2 Ave, Thursday D e c , 24 - 11:00 a.m. Sa.wsr Playground, East 12 St, bet. Aves A & B 3:30 p.m. Playground, 83 Roosevelt Street 4;30 p.m. Downing Street Playground RICHKOTO Saturday D e c , 26 - 1 1 : 0 0 a . m . Joseph E, Lyons Recreation Center, Furray Hul- bert Avenue < ?- Victory Roulevard, Tompkinsville 3$00 p . m . DeMatti Playground, Tompkins Avenue, Rosebank Monday D e c , 28 - 1 1 : 0 0 a.m. Levy Playground, Jewett & Castleton Avenue, Port Richmond 3:00 p.m. McDonald Playground, near Broedwey & F o r e s t Avenue West Brighton 3_UEES^ Tuesday Dec, 29 - 11:00 a.m. Grover Cleveland P&rk, Stanhope S t . , Grandview I', Fair view Avenues 3;00 Dry Harbor, 80 S t r e e t fr: Myrtle Avenue Wednesday Dec, 30 11:00 .»»m. Playground, Corona Avenue ? '102 S t r e e t 3, 3:00 p.m. Raymond O'Connor ~" > -yground, 32 Ave, 5 - 210 S t r e e t Thursday Dec, 31 - l i t 0 0 a.m. D. ¥, 0'Connell Playground, 113 Avenue & 196 S t r e e t 3:00 p.m. Von Dohlen Playground, 138 S t r e e t < ?- Archer Avenue DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ARSENAL, CENTRAL PARK FOR RELEASE Saturday, , TEL. REGENT 4-1000 December I S , 1942 THIN ICE With the advent of cold weather and ice skating, the Department of Parks requests the cooperation of all parents, civic groups, schools and others in cautioning children and instructing them in safety measures on ice» The first cold snap always serves as an invitation to youngsters to test thin and treacherous ice often with disastrous results. The Park Department has posted all lakes and ponds under its jurisdiction, with danger signs to warn children. Once the ice is safe for skating the Park Department will announce it in the daily papers. * * * 123 DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ARSENAL, CENTRAL PARK FOR RELEASE Fridayf TEL. REGENT 4-1000 December 11, 1942 Tlxe Department of Parks announces that the city-wide finals of the ping pong tournament will take place at Mullaly Recreation Building, 162 Street and Jerome Avenue, Bronx, on Saturday, December 12, at 2:00 P.M. Playground, district and borough eliminations have been going on for five weeks. The competitors in this tournament have been divided into the following age groups: Junior - Children up to 14 years Intermediate - Persons 14 to 18 years of age Senior - Persons 18 years of age and older Separate matches will be held for boys and girls in the respec~ tive age classifications. Prizes will consist of sweatshirts for the city champions and gold pins for the runner-up in each division; silver pins will be awarded to the borough winners. * * * 122 DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ARSENAL, C3FTHAL PARK FOR RELEASE Tel: REgent 4-1000 ¥ovember""~30 , *' T9~42* The Department of Parks announces that the anniversary of the offi- cial opening of nine Park Department playgrounds will be celebrated by the children of these recreation areas during the month of December by participat- ing in specially prepared Birthday Partjr programs. Yihile the regular schedule of daily recreational activities, includ- ing ping pong, paddle tennis, checkers, chess, group games, dramatics and dancing, will not be changed, the day's program will feature events of a patriotic and festive nature, such as: solo and community singing of the "Star Spangled Banner" and "God Bless America", salute to the Flag, recitations, concerts by junior orchestras, a junior commando exhibition and a variety of birthday party games, with refreshments and prizes for the winners. The December schedule for playground birthday celebrations is as follows: Time of Bojrough Playground and Location Opened Celebration Manhattan 82 Street & Riverside Drive Dec. 4, 1937 3{30 p.m. Highbridge Park, Edgecomb Avenue Dec. 5, 1936 3:30 p.m. &~West 167 Street Brooklyn Underhill & Prospect Avenues Dec. 3, 1938 3:30 p.n. McLaughlin Park, Tillary & Jay Streets Dec. 11, 1936 3:30 p.m. Heckscher Playground, Grove Street & Yiilson Avenue Dec. 19, 1935 2:00 p.m. Greenwood & Prospect Avenues Dec. 19, 1935 3:00 p.m. Bronx Watson, Gleason & Noble Avenues Dec. 4, 1939 4:00 p.m. East 177 Street & Noble Avenue Dec. 4, 1939 4:00 p.m. East 178 Street &. Cedar & Sedgwick Dec. 19, 1935 4:00 p.m. Avenues *** *** *** 1 21 TM / DEPARTMENT OF PARKS Arsenal, Central Park For R e l e a s e _ J ^ _ ___ T e l s REgent 4 - 1 0 0 0 Nore"mber 2 8 ' , ' 1 9 4 2 " The Department of Parks announces the closing of ten municipal golf courses and the pitch and putt course at Jacob Riis Park, at the close of play on Sunday, November 29th. During the past season, more than 558,929 rounds were played over the ten courses, and approximately 16,619 rounds were played on the prtch and putt course. The courses were open to the members of the armed forces free of charge and some 2,347 soldiers, sailors and marines took advantage of these facilities. The Park Department also announces that after November 29th and through the winter months, it will not be necessary to have permits to play tennis on the hard surface courts operated by the department, but players must furnish their own tennis nets. *** *** *## (J DHPMTMMT 0? PARKS ARSENAL, CENTRAL PARK FOR RELEASE TEL. R3GSCT 4-1000 November 27, 1943 The Department of P a r k s announces t h a t t h e finals of the R o l l e r Hockey Tournament f o r boys of Park playgrounds, who are under 19 y e a r s of age w i l l t a k e p l a c e a t 105 S t r e e t and R i v e r s i d e P a r k , Manhattan, on Sunday, November 29, a t 2:30 P.M. Interborough c o n t e s t s have been held during t h e p a s t t h r e e weeks and t h e teams r e p r e s e n t i n g Manhattan and Queens w i l l p a r t i c i p a t e in next Sunday's c o n t e s t t o determine t h e c i t y championship. S w e a t s h i r t s w i l l be awarded t o t h e winning team and gold p i n s t o t h e r u n n e r - u p . S i l v e r p i n s w i l l be given t o the borough w i n n e r s . * * * Form 26A-10M-I2542 TM i- -v W DBA?I DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ' ARSENAL.. CENTRAL. PARK TEL. REGENT 4-1000 The Department of Parks announces the opening of a new playground en the west side of last River Drive between 10aid Street and 105th Street, Manhattan* Approximately l£ acres in extent, the site is under the jurisdiction of the Hew York Oity Housing Authority as part of the last River Souses development. A former transfer of improved Department of Parks property, a portion of which occupied the new playground site, was based on the future development of a recreational area as part of the housing development. This new facility is now available to the entire neighborhood as well as the residents of the last River Houses* The Housing Project made necessary the ^JUHMfrLe of 103rd Street and 104th 1 Street between 1st Avenue and last River Drive* The Housing Authority constructed a low granite wall around three sides of the proposed play area providing three entrance points* A seven foot wrought iron picket fenee with gates has been set in a concrete foundation just inside the existing granite wall and along the last River Drive sidewalk. A 40 foot wide strip running east and west through the middle of the playground has been paved with concrete but will be reserved, clear of obstruction, for a future ramp approach to the proposed Wards Island footbridge* A comfort station will be built in the playground under this approach. The north half of the playground contains a concrete wading pool, irri- gated sand pit, sitting area, seesaws, slides, a battery of chair swings; pipe frame exercise unit and a battery of swings* The south end has been provided with court games including: basketball, shuffleboard and paddle tennis courts. The improvement ifeieh was constructed by the Works Projects Administration from plans prepared by the Deparfenent of Parks also included a drinking fountain, tool storage building, flag pole, drainage, irrigation and lighting. In 1934 there were 119 playgrounds in the five boroughs, (c&> of whieh have been reconstructed* There are now with this new addition 4-/^ playgrounds in the park system. · * * Form 26-5M-1I1841 , 155. DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ARSENAL., CENTRAL PARK For Release, TEL. REGENT 4--1000 November 20,1942 The Department of Parks announces tha^ the Volleyball Tour- nament for g i r l s of the Park playgrounds, who have not reached t h e i r seventeenth year, will take place Saturday, November El, at 2:00 P.M. in Seward Park, East Broadway and Canal Street, New York City. Interborough contests have been held during the past three weeks, and the teams representing Brooklyn and the Bronx will p a r t i - cipate in next Saturdays match to determine the city championship. Sweat shirts will be awarded to the members of the winning team and gold pins to the runner-up. Borough winners will be awarded silver pins. ** * * Form 26-5M-60241 (JBJt 155 · « · # # DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ARSENAL, CENTRAL PARK pQr TEL. REGENT 4-1000 .November 19, 1942 Pixs 21878 Plans s BL 219-104 21879 219-105 21880 "VJu^-o--J T'^.f.cU , 21881 in m i The Department of Parks announces the opening of a new playground at Pulton and Truxton Streets, Brooklyn. This property slightly over three and a half acres, divided into two sections by Sackman Street, is bounded by Eastern Parkway, Fulton Street, Truxton Street and Van Sinderen Avenue, Originally ac- quired by the Board of Transportation for subway purposes it was transferred in 1940 to the Department of Parks. Restrictions were placed on construction be- cause of the existing subway. The Board of Transportation, in connection with the building of a sub- way entrance, has provided concrete retaining walls around the larger easterly section coordinating this work with the Department of Parks playground plans. The development of the smaller triangle between Eastern Parkway and Sackman Street now open to the public, includes retaining walls and a stairway entrance; a sitting area with a memorial flagpole, a roller skating track; a comfort station; a sand pit, wading pool and several pieces of kindergarten play apparatus. The large triangle east of Sackman Street when completed will contain two basketball, six shuffleboard, three paddle tennis, three handball, two bocci, and four horseshoe courts, and a sitting area near the subway entrance. A large central open play area will serve for roller skating and softball. The construction of the playground was done by the Work Projects Admin- istration from plans prepared by the Department of Parks. In 1934 there were 119 playgrounds in the five boroughs, 66 of which have been reconstructed. There tre now with this new addition 484 playgrounds in the park system. *** 116 Form 26-5M-60241 155 DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ARSENAL, CENTRAL PARK For Release Thursday, TEL. REGENT 4-1000 November 19,1942 1 The Depaxtment of Parks announces the birth in the Central Park Zoo of a baby Aoudad on November 17, 1942 at 5:30 P.M. The new arrival, weighing six pounds, is the second offspring this year of Bill and Tuts. The father was purchased from the Mesker Zoo, Svansville, Indiana, August 28, 1940, and the mother, Tuts, was donated by the New York Zoological Society, April 28, 1930, The baby is on exhibition. * * * 115 Form 26-5M-60241 155 DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ARSENAL, CENTRAL PARK For Release Saturday, TEL. REGENT 4-1000 November 7,1942 The Park Department announces that tlie Annual Fall Chrysanthemum Show in the Prospect Park Brooklyn Greenhouse will open on Sunday, November 8, 1942, at 10 A.M. Tlie Greenhouse is located at Prospect Park West and Ninth Street, Brooklyn, and may be reached by way of the I.R.T. Subway, Grand Army Plaza Station; the In- dependent Subway, Seventh Avenue Station; and by the Vanderbilt and Smith Street car lines, Ninth Street stop, or by automobile direct to the Greenhouse by way of the east drive in Prospect Park. The Exhibit will be open every day from 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. for three weeks and tlie Park Department extends a cordial-invitation to view the display. More than four thousand pots of chrysanthemums will be on exhibition. 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 attrac- tive plants are the Pocketts, Turners, John S. Bush, Rise of Day and the Melba. Surrounding this feature of the display, banked on the sides of the Greenhouse are numerous smaller size chrysanthemums in 75 varieties, such as the Pompons, the Anemone and the Single Daisy type. In the class of varieties in all shades of bronze, red, yellow and white, some of the outstanding chrysanthemums to be exhibited are the Crimson Bed, Purple Q,ueen, Red Rover, Orchid Beauty, Cleopatra and New York. * ** Press photographers may take pictures on Friday, November 6, between 1 and 4 P.M. and Saturday, November 7, between 10 A.M, and 4 P.M. Form 26-5M-111841 155 DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ARSENAL, CENTRAL PARK 1\ TEL. REGENT 4--1000 October 31, 1942 The Department of Parks announces that a program of Boxing Sxhibitions nas been planned for the fall and ¥Jinter season according to the following schedule: November 13 - Colonial Play Center, 153 St. & Bradhurst Ave., Manhattan (Intra-playground exhibition) November SO - McCarren Play Center vs Faber Play Center at Faber Play Center, Richmond Terrace, Port Richmond,.. S.I. November 27 - East 54 Street Gym vs Crotona Play Center at Mullaly Playground, 161 Street & Jerome Ave,, Bronx December 4 - West 28 Street Gym vs Colonial Play Center at West S3 Street Gym, 407 West 28 Street, Manhattan December 11 - Crotona Play Center vs Thomas Jefferson Play Center at Thomas Jefferson Play Center, East 111 St. & First Ave., Man. December 11 - Colonial Play Center vs Carlton "2MCA, Brooklyn at Colonial Play Center, 153 Street &, Bradhurst Avenue, Man. December 18 - Astoria Play Center vs McCarren Play Center at McCarron Play Center, Driggs Ave. & Lorimar St., Brooklyn January 3 - East 54 Street Gym vs Astoria Play Center at Astoria Play Center, 19 Street opposite 23 Drive, Queens All the exhibitions will start promptly at 8J30 P.M. These schedules are a part of a boxing program for young men conducted at the above listed gymnasiums. The boxing is under the stipervision of Park personnel who have had train- ing in the art of self-defense. The program includes calisthenics, gymnastics, track athletics and the various styles of boxing. Boxing gloves, punching bags, skipping ropes, mats are provided by the Park Department at all locations. * * * * Form 26-5M-111841 155 DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ARSENAL, CENTRAL PARK For Release Saturday. TEL. REGENT 4--1000 October 3 1 , 1942 it> IT* fa The Department of Parks announces that tlie anniversary of tlie official opening of 12 Park Department playgrounds will be celebrated by the children of these recreation areas during the month of November by participating in specially prepared Birthday Party programs. While the regular schedule of daily recreational activities, including ping pong, paddle tennis, checkers, chess, group games, dramatics and basketball will not be changed, the day's program will feature events of both a patriotic and festive nature such as: solo and community singing of the "Star Spangled Banner" and "God Bless America1*, salute to the Flag, recitations and a variety of birthday party games, with refreshments and prizes for the winners. The November schedule for playground birthday celebrations i s as follows: Time of Borough Manhattan Chelsea Roof P l g d . , 9 Ave. & West 27 S t . Nov. 27, 1937 3:30 P.M. Harlem Housing, W. 150 St. & Harlem River Nov. 28, 1937 2:30 P.M. Brooklyn Playground a t Neptune Ave. & West 28 S t . Nov. 7, 1936 11:00 A.M, Shiplacoff P l g d . , P i t k i n Ave. & Powell S t . Nov. l l r 1937 11:30 A.M. Playground at Marion S t . & Hopkinson Ave. Nov. 24, 1933 4:00 P.M. Bronx Playground at East 183 S t . & Ryer Avenue Nov. 11, 1936 2:00 P.M. Devoe Park, University Ave. & West 188 S t . Nov. 22, 1935 4:00 P.M. Q,ueens Playground at 95 Avenue & 125 Street Nov. 1, 1939 2:00 P.M. Maurice P l g d . , Borden, Maurice & 54 Aves. Nov. 3 , 1940 3:00 P.M. Flushing Memorial P l g d . , Bayside Ave. Nov. 9, 1934 11:00 A.M. & 25 Avenue Corona 102 Street Playground Nov. 12, 1934 3:00 P.M. O'Connor Playground, 32 Ave. & 210 S t . Nov. 22, 1935 3:00 P.M. * * * Form 26-5M-1U841 155 DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ARSENAL, CENTRAL PARK POT Release Saturday t TEL. REGENT 4-1000 October 31, 1942 » K»/4 The Department of Paries announces the closing of the clay tennis courts on Sunday night, November 1, 194S. The hard surface courts will remain open u n t i l November 29th. After that date, players who bring their own equipment including nets, will be permitted to use these courts free of charge. During the 1942 season, 14,345 players took ad- vantage of the 525 courts scattered throughout the five boroughs by paying the §3.00- seasonal permit fee. * * * NEW SITTING AREA |- NEW BASEBALL DIAMOND NEW PLAYGROUND NEW PARKWAY ACCESS ROADS v 400 400 FEET Ul BOROUGH OF QUEENS Ave. 4 BE.LT ISU-AHD) \ }31 1+1 Form 26-5M-111841 15S DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ARSENAL, CENTRAL PARK Release TEL. REGENT 4--1000 October 27, 1942 1A f- 10 4 - Bids vrere opened today by the Department of Parks at tiie Arsenal Building in Central Paris: on a contract for the reconstruction of the stone seawall along the south and west shore of Randall's Island, Borough of Manhattan. The old wall i s approximately one mile long and extends from the Manhattan approach of the Triborough Bridge to the south end of the island at Iiellgate Bridge. Short sections of the wall are completely washed out and the entire profile is irregular from stones being dislodged into the river. This condition in addition to exposing the earth to erosion pre- sents an unsightly appearance from East River Drive on the opposite side of the Harlem River. The contract provides for new construction and rebuilding the dry masonry wall to a smooth profile following the contours of the island. Grass lawns will be developed adjacent to the wall on new f i l l and sections of the marginal park walk will be repaved. The three lowest bids were submitted by the following: 1. Nicholas Dit/Ienna & Sons §22,330.00 1525 Blonde11 Avenue New York City 2. Albert G. Maclnnis 24,990.00 15 Park Row Hew York City 3. F.P.S. Contracting Co., I n c . 28,185.00 2861 Coddington Avenue Bronx, New York * * * I/O Form 26A-10M-12042 155 DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ARSENAL, CENTRAL PARK TEL. REGENT 4-1000 The Department of Parks announces that out of 180 pictures in the Amateur Photo Contest conducted by the Park Department, the following were adjudged the winners. Junior Division -_ Jj42Jbo_,15_ XS&UL i?JLM&L 1st Place - "Sunday Artist" by Martin Kleinman, Age 14 years 1932 East 13 Street, Brooklyn 2nd Place - "Slide Susan Slide" by Gladys Klein, Age 12 years 1699 last 2 Street, Brooklyn 3rd Place - "For Defense" by Emanuel Turner,. Ag© 15 years 1055 Walton Avenue, Bronx Honorable Mention was given to the following contestants: Paul Hoffman, 1945 East 32 Street, Brooklyn George Horn, 1401 Avenue S, Brooklyn Senior Division - (pv_er_.A6_XeArAi)-?. a S®l 1st Place - "Ball In The Air" by Mrs. E. J. O'Connor 86 East End Avenue, Manhattan 2nd Place - "Girl Feeding A Pigeon" by Jack Garber 308 East 5 Street, Brooklyn 3rd Place - "Steeplechase Winner" by John P. Connolly 34 Hillside Avenue, Manhattan Honorable Mention was given to the following contestants* Morton Bernstein, 1752 Monroe Avenue, Bronx John P. Connolly, 34 Hillside Avenue, Manhattan Percy J. Hussakof, 380 Knickerbocker Avenue, Brooklyn Mrs. John J. Tehan,. 1503 Metropolitan Avenue, N. Y, C. Florence Ward, 238 Madison Avenue, Manhattan The prizes consist of the following: First Place in each division - flO in War Savings Stamps Second Place in each division- $5 in War Savings Stamps x Third Place in each division - $3 in War Savings Stamps Certificates of Merit will be awarded to the contestants receiving honorable mention. The judges of the contest were: Paul J. Wolf, Paul Schum, Joseph Cormier and B» V. Smith.. All the prize pictures, together with those credited with honorable men- tion, will be on display in the American Museum of Natural History, 79 Street and Central Park West, Manhattan, beginning October 22 and continuing through Saturday, October 31, from 10 A.M. to 5.P.M. with the exception of Sunday, October 25, when the hours will be from 1 P.M. to 5 P.M. Presentation of prizes to the winning competitors will take place on Sunday, October 25, at 3:30 P.M. at the Museum of Katural History. * * · Form 26-5M-111841 M ^ g * . 155 DEPARTMENT OF PARKS Friday, ARSENAL, CENTRAL PARK Delivered 2 P.M. 10/15/42 For Release October 16.1942 TEL. REGENT 4--1000 Pix: 21829 Plans: ML l§3-102 The Department of Parks announces the opening of a new one acre playground in Manhattan located in the eastern half of the block bounded by Park Avenue, Madison Avenue, East 108th Street and East 109th Street, The entire block was acquired by the City in 1941 for a school site and playground. Clearing the densely built up area of old four and five story brick and brownstone dwellings was started in September of last year. All buildings on the western half of the block were demolished by the Board of Education in prepara- tion for the future construction of a public school. The school site has been leveled and surfaced with a mixture of sand and cinders. The shortage of critical war materials which became acute after the con- struction of the playground was started made it necessary to omit temporarily all chain link fencing and metal goal standards and also prevented the completion of the brick comfort station. Because of the lack of bituminous material, concrete in various finishes was substituted for surfacing the play areas. The following facilities have been completed: four handball courts, three shuffleboard courts and a softball diamond. Paved areas for volleyball and basketball have been provided but will be used for open play until equipment is available. New concrete sidewalks and street trees have been installed around the playground but only a few of the required number of benches have been provided. Although the playground lacks necessary equipment it will serve in part the local recreational needs until material is available at the conclusion of the war. The construction of the playground was done by the Work Projects Adminis- tration from plans prepared by the Department of Parks. In 1934 there were 119 playgrounds in the five boroughs, 66 of which have been reconstructed. There are now with this new addition 483 playgrounds in the park system. i Aft * * * * 155 Sunday, DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ARSENAL, CENTRAL PARK l>, For TEL. REGENT 4--1000 The Department of Parks announces that a comprehensive program of recrea- tional activities has been planned for the fall and winter seasons at the various gymnasia, indoor pools, and playgrounds under its jurisdiction. All the gymnasia have adequate shower and dressing facilities and will be open from 2 P.M. to 10 P.M. daily with the exception of Cherry and Oliver, which will operate from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. The program of activities includes basketball, handball, shuffleboard, volleyball, badminton, ping pong, track, gymnastics, group games, magic demonstrations, puppet and marionette shows, club meetings, roller skating carnival, roller hockey tournament and calisthenics. Boxing will be conducted at seven designated Park Department indoor Recreation areas. The various gymnasia are located as follows: Borough Gymnasia and Locations Manhattan Carmine Street, Carmine and Tarick Streets Rutgers Place - 5 Rutgers Place Baruch - Rivington and Mangin Streets West 134 Street - 35 West 134 Street East 54 Street - 342 East 54 Street West 60 Street, West 60 Street, between 10 and 11 Avenues West 28 Street - 407 West 28 Street Cherry & Oliver - Cherry and Oliver Streets Brooklyn President Street - President Street and 4 Avenue Hichmond Cromwell Center - Victory Boulevard & Murray Ilulbert Avenue Tompkinsville, Staten Island Faber Park Recreation Building - Richmond Terrace at Faber Street, Port Richmond, Staten Island IO 7 * · ~2-- Basketball teams, desiring to use these gymnasia, are requested to apply for the necessary permit to the Borough Director at the following locations: Manhattan - Philip J. Cruise, Arsenal Building, 64 Street & 5 Avenue, Central Park Brooklyn - Richard C. Jenkins, Litchfield Mansion, Prospect Park West and 5 Street, Prospect Park Richmond - A. M. Anderson, Clove Lakes Park, 1150 Clove Road, West New Brighton,S.I, Indoor swimming pools, which may be used free of charge, are located in each of the gymnasium buildings, in the borough of Manhattan, with the exception of the one located at Cherry and Oliver Streets. In addition, there is a Park Depart- ment indoor pool at 23 Street and Avenue A, opened from 11 A.M. to 7 P.M. and one at Bedford and Metropolitan Avenues, Brooklyn, operating from 3 P.M. to 10 P.M. daily and 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. on Saturdays. Swimming classes are conducted for beginners at all these pools. At various intervals throughout the fall and winter seasons, swimming tournaments will be held for all age groups. Twelve of the outdoor pools have been converted into active play areas. These play centers are free to the public and are open from 2 P.M. to 10 P.M. daily except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays when the hours of operation will be from 10 A.M. to 6 P.M. Facilities will be provided for paddle tennis, basketball, shuffleboard, softball and various group games. * * * * \ Form 26-10M-12042 155 DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ^ ARSENAL. CENTRAL PARK Rdp.nsp. TEL. RESENT 4-1000 October 10, 1942 Department of Parks announces that a holiday program of Marionettes, Magic and Music for children will be presented on the Mall, 72 Street and Center Drive, Central Park, Manhattan, Sunday, October 11, at 2 P.M. In case of rain, the performance will be given on Monday, October 12. The main feature of the program will be "Peter and the Pirates", a marionette show. In addition, there will be clown acts, magic, a bag punching demonstration, a mock operetta, band selections and ventriloquism. These performances will serve as a climax for the series of open air demonstrations given by these special groups in the parks and play- grounds throughout the past season, to an audience of approximately 180,000 children. Besides the entertainment value of such demonstrations, the children have been instructed in the art of carving, moulding and costuming puppets from discarded stockings, rubber balls, and paper bags, as well as learning the technique of many magical tricks. Arrangements are being made for a series of indoor puppet, marionette and magic shows at designated recreation buildings for the remainder of the year. * *. * * /O6 v Form 26-10M-12042 o ^ t f p 155 ^ A ' '^^-*' /T' TA^^^X-j^O DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ARSENAL, CENTRAL PARK * , FoY ReleQSe 1*1^1* TEL. REGENT 4--IOOO J October 9, 1942 ·~*°(pcr~\ I The Department of Parks announces that the city-wide finals of the shuffleboard tournament will be held at North Meadow, 97 Street and East Drive, Central Park, Manhattan, on Saturday, October 10 at 2:00 P.M. There will be two divisions, one for men and one for women. The minimum age in both classifications is 18 years. Playground, district and borough eliminations have been going on for the past six weeks to select the champion in each borough to compete for the city championship next Saturday afternoon. Sweatshirts with the Park emblem, the sycamore leaf, will be awarded to the winner in each division. Gold pins will be given to the runner-up and silver pins to the borough finalists. * * * Form 26A-10M-12042 155 DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ARSENAL, CENTRAL PARK For Rp.le*s* Friday, TEL.. REGENT 4-1000 October 2, 1942 The Department of Parks announces that the children of twenty-one Park playgrounds will participate in specially arranged programs of recreational activi- ties during the month of October, in commemoration of the official opening of these play areas to the public. In addition to the usual activities such as basketball, volleyball, hand- ball, shuffleboard, football and roller skating, there will be a variety of special events consisting of novelty races, singing of community and patriotic songs, birth- day party games, salute to the flag, Junior Commando Specialty, square dancing, instrumental and vocal selections. The October schedule for playground birthday celebrations is as follows: . Time of Borough Playground & Location Opened Celebration Manhattan Heckscher Playground, Central Park, October 4, 1936 3:00 P.Mo 62 Street & West Drive Playground at Essex & Houston Streets October 5, 1934 3:30 P.M. Columbus Playground, Baxter & Worth October IS, 1934 4:00 P.M. Streets Colonial Playground, Bradhurst Ave. October 16, 1936 3:00 P.M:, and West 153 Street Lillian D. Wald Playground, Cherry, October 18, 1934 3:30 P.Ivt, Monroe & G-ouverneur Streets G-ulick Playground, Delancey, Broome October 25, 1934 3:30 P.M, & Sheriff Streets Brooklyn Playground at Gerittaen Avenue & October 2, 1936 3:30 P.M. Avenue X Carroll Playground, Smith & Carroll October 2, 1936 3:30 P.M. Streets Leiv Eiriksson Playground, 5 Avenue October 12, 1934 2:00 P.M. & 66 Street Bill Brown Memorial Playground, Bed- October 14, 1935 3:30 P.M. ford Avenue & Avenue X Crispus Attucks Playground, Fulton October 26, 1934 2:00 P.M. Street & Classon Avenue Taaffe Place Playground, Myrtle October 28, 1934 3:30 P.M. Avenue & Taaffe Place Williamsburg Housing Playground, October 29, 1937 4:00 P.M. Manhattan Ave. & Scholes Street Playground at Daliill & 38 Street October 29, 1937 4:00 P.M. Queens Baisley Park Playground, 116 Avenue October 19, 1940 3:30 P.M. & 155 Street Thompson Hill Playground, Greenpoint October 25, 1937 2:00 P.M. Avenue & 47 Avenue Bronx Pulaski Playground, East 133 Street October 11, 1939 4:00 P.M. & Willis Avenue Pelham Bay Park Playground, #1 & #2 October 11, 1941 3:30 P.M, Eastern Blvd., & Willow Lane Playground at East 164 Street & October 14, 1935 3:30 P.M. Teasdale Place Fort #4 Playground, Sedgwick and October 14, 1934 3:30 P.M. Reservoir Avenues Playground at Spofford Avenue and October 14, 1935 3:30 P.M. Faile Street * ** NEW SITTING AREA NEW PLAYGROUND NEW BASEBALL DIAMOND SCALE fEET BOROUGH OF QUEENS Form 26-10M-12042 155 "DEPARTMENT OF PARKS* ^ ' ** ' ' ARSENAL, CENTRAL PARK **** ^ I *b I f For Release Thursday, 0ctobeI> X 1942 > The Department of Parka announces that both the roller and ice skating rinks at the City Building in Flushing Meadow Park, Queens, will open for the 1942-43 season on Friday, October 2, at 8:00 P.M. Admission on the opening night will be free. There will be entertain- ment with exhibitions of dancing, roller skating and ice skating, free public dancing and free roller and ice skating u n t i l midnight. Music for the occasion will be provided by "The Soiling Styles" of Reggie Childs and His Orchestra fea- turing Loretta Vale and Paul Carley, furnished through the courtesy of the Consolidated Edison Company, The program i s as follows: Organ Music Call to Colors National Anthem and Raising of Flag Public Dancing Dance Exhibition by Park Department Harvest Dance Festival 194S Ail-Round Champions Park Department Harvest Dance Festival 1942 Jitterbug Champions Solo and Pair Roller Skating Exhibitions by National Champions Solo and Pair Ice Skating Exhibitions'by National Figure Skating Champions Ice and Roller Skating Since the rinks closed last spring the roller floor has been resurfaced and other alterations made so that skating may be enjoyed at i t s best. MORE -2- Starting Saturday, October 3, the building will be operated on the fol- lowing schedule: Free morning sessions for children under fourteen years of age, on Saturdays, school vacation days and holidays except Christmas day, from 9:30 to 12 noon; afternoon sessions, admission 200 including tax, on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from 2 to 5 P.M. and also on week days from 2:30 to 5:30 P.M.; evening sessions, 7:30 to 11 P.M., admission 40?? including tax. Ice skates can be rented at a charge of 50$, roller skates are issued .free of charge. General admission for spectators to the building is 9a' for children under twelve years of age and lie" including tax for all others. There will be a special speed ice skating session every Saturday evening from 5:15 to 6 P.M. with the regular admission of 400. There is no additional charge for checking clothes. Excellent eating facilities are provided at reasonable prices for the convenience of the patrons. There is also private dining room space on the balcony overlooking the skating rink where special banquet parties may be con- ducted by organizations and groups. In accordance with the department's policy established early this year admission to members of the Allied Forces in uniform will be free. The building may be reached via the following transit lines: 1ST, BMT subways to 111th Street, Corona Station. Pedestrian, walk to the building. Independent lines to Grand Avenue Station, Flushing Ridgewood trolley to Horace Earding Boulevard and Grand Central Parkway* Pedestrian walk to the building. Free automobile parking space is provided adjacent to the building, * * * Form 26-5M-60241 155 DEPARTMENT OF PARKS Sunda ARSENAL, CENTRAL PARK TEL. RESENT 4-1000 For Release y» September 27,1942 The Department of Parks announces that the city-wide finals in the Softball tournament for g i r l s 16 years of age and older and men over 21 years will take place at Macombs Dam Park, Bronx, on Sunday, September 27, according to the following schedule. In the g i r l s event the borough of Richmond will play Bronx at 12 noon. Simultaneously, in the men's division, the winning team from Richmond will play that of Brooklyn. The winner of t h i s semi-final game will play the team from the Bronx to decide the city championship at 2:00 p.m. Sweatshirts bearing the sycamore leaf emblem of the Park Department w i l l be awarded the members of the winning team and gold pins to the losers. Silver pins will be given to the borough winners. * * * IQ2. Form 26-5M-60241 155 DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ARSENAL., CENTRAL PARK For Rebate Wednesday, TEL. REGENT 4-1000 September 23,1942 Fix: 21812 Plans: BL 215-102 Dlivered: 2:30 P.M. 21813 BL 215-103 9/22/42 The Department of Parks announces the completion and opening to the public of a new playground adjacent to Public School Number 35 located in the middle of the block, bounded by Sumner Avenue, McDonough Street, Lewis Avenue and Decatur Street, Brooklyn. The site was acquired in July of 1941 by the Board of Estimate for school and playground purposes. During school hours the playground will be operated by the Board of Education and at all other times by the Department of Parks for general community use. In preparation for the playground, 18 two and three family build- ings had to be demolished. The playground, approximately 200 feet square, lies immediately west of the existing school which will be considerably ex- panded after the war. Access to the facility is controlled by three gates, one leading to the school and one each to McDonough and Decatur Streets. A softball field with hooded backstop, one basketball court with removable standards, two practice basketball standards and four handball courts have been provided. . < The construction of the playground was done by the Work Projects Administration from plans prepared by the Department of Parks. In 1934 there were 119 playgrounds in the five boroughs, 66 of which have been reconstructed. There are now with this new addition 482 playgrounds in the park system. * * * * Fona26A-10M-12042 155 DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ARSENAL.. CENTRAL PARK For Release Tuesday., TEI_ REGENT 4-1000 September 22,1942 The Department of Parks announces that the first city-wide championship in the Harvest Dance Contest will be held on the Mall, Central Park, 72nd Street and Center Drive, Tuesday, September 22, at 8:30 P.M. In the event of rain, the contest will be held at the same location on the following night. On the judges stand will be the following personages well known in the field of dancing: Arthur Murray, director of the Arthur Murray School of Dancing; Oscar Duryea, director of the Duryea Dancing Studios; Donald Sawyer, director of the Sawyer studios; Florence Doughty, director of the Florence Doughty Dance Studios and Lawrence A. Hostetler, Author of "The Art of Social Dancing" and faculty member of New York University. Also present as invited guests and Honora- ry Judges will be Mayor LaGuardia, Al Smith, Park Commissioner Robert Moses, Floyd L. Carlisle, Chairman of the Board of Consolidated Edison Company, Clarence L. Law, Vice-President, Consolidated Edison Company, Rear Admiral 1. J. Marquart, TJ. S. N., Commandant, 3rd Naval District, and Major General T. A. Terry, U. S. A., Command- ing General, 2nd Corps Area. During the past two weeks, the preliminary competitions were held in each of the five boroughs. Large audiences turned out to witness the terpschorean art in all its forms and expressions. The devotees of the waltz and the fox trot were hard pressed for audience interest by the up and going jitterbugs. The judges of the respective borough contests, after much deliberation, decided that ninaty-five couples qualified for the city-wide finals on September 22. This selection was predicated on a comprehensive variety of factors, including posture and appearance, tempo and rhythm, proper execution and variety. Throughout the preliminaries, two items of unusual interest have been: the special division for the men of the Armed Forces, and the Old Timers Waltz, whose finalists will appear on this same evening. Each couple will be permitted to demonstrate its ability in a limited period of time, and will be adjudged according to the Olympic Scoring System. Handsome prizes of substantial value will be awarded to each contestant who attains first place in each of the five classifications. In addition, there will be a trophy for the best all 'round dancing team. Dick Rogers and his orchestra will officiate for the evening with Sid Garris acting as Master of Ceremonies. To add to the evening's entertainment, Mr. Fred Carattini and Miss Bessie Larotonda, the winners of the recent Daily News Harvest Moon Ball, will give a demonstration of their technique which merited them first place* 106 · \ Form 26-5M-111841 . . 155 DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ARSENAL, CENTRAL PARK For Release. FRIDAY TEL. REGENT 4--1000 September 18,1942 Del: 9/17/42 - 1 p.m. Tho Department of Parks announces that the City-wide finals of the chess and checkers tournament will take place at Heckscher Playground, Central Park, on Saturday, September 19. The junior group, consisting of boys and girls who have not reached their 17th birthday, will begin at 11 a«m. The two remaining groups of contestants, ranging from 17 to 50, and those over fifty, will play at 2 p.m. Chess finals will be held at the same location on Sunday, September 20, at 10 a.m. Each borough has been conducting preliminary matches in each of those divisions for the past three weeks to deter- mine its two best players for the City-wide finals. Gold and silver pins will be awarded to tho first and second place winners in each division at the finals. Bronze pins will be given to borough winners* *** *** *** Form 26-10M-12042 o & f e . 155 'HBAII DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ARSENAL, CENTRAL. PARK TEL. RESENT 4-1000 September 17, 1942 D e l : 9/17/42 2 p i x : P"m* POST-WAR SEWAGE DISPOSAL #21810 |21811 . FUTURE BATHING BEACHES AND OTHER PARK WATERFRONT IMPROVEMENTS The City now has twelve miles of public bathing beaches located at Coney Island, Brooklynj Jacob Riis Park and Rockaway Beachi Queens 1 Orchard Beach, Bronxj and South Beach and Wolfe's Pond, Richmond. Each year these · beaches receive increasingly heavy use and it is generally recognized that in years to come they will be inadequate. The water at these beaches has been\affected little, if any, by the sewage pollution of the City»s bounding waters, "there was a time when safety of the water at Coney Island was seriously jeopardized, but this condition was remedied in 1935 by the construction of the first unit of the Coney Island dis- posal plant and will be entirely corrected upon the completion of the present program. There had been some slight pollution of the waters at Orchard Beach by the sewers at City Island, but the plant on Hart's Island started treat- ment of this sewage a few days ago, so that now there is no danger from pollu- tion of the waters at any of the public beaches. There are still many miles of undeveloped beach frontage in park areas which will be suitable for public bathing when pollution, brought about by the indifference of former administrations, has been removed. Much of this additional beach area is more readily accessible to congested neighborhoods, and when developed will make bathing available to thousands of people #10 are unable to use existing beachos. With the exception of the Coney Island and Hart's Island plants, the sewage disposal systems already in operation have had little effect on the condition of water at the established beaches. The other plants at -2- Ward's Island, Bowery Bay, and Tallman's Island v/ere intended primarily to clean up the indescribably filthy condition of the waters in the heart of the City. The post-war program of construction of public improvements con- templates the completion of almost the entire sewage disposal system in the City. Some of the additional plants are under construction and will be in partial or complete operation even before the end of the war, although only contracts presently in force can be completed because of priorities and other conditions incident to the war effort. Along the north shore of Jamaica Bay there are three miles of publicly owned beach. Taking advantage of the clean-up of the waters of Jamaica Bay,, the development of the upland area between Spring Creek Basin and Fresh Creek Basin, and the construction of a bathing beach at Canarsie Park, will be the first major step toward the development of Jamaica Bay for ·· recreation purposes. The development of tho upland areas will provide picnic grounds, parking fields and game areas, -while the construction of a beach at Canarsie will provide tho first bathing beach in these waters. This beach will form a part of the development of Canarsie Park, which is already partially completed. The Jamaica disposal plant now under construc- tion, located at the head of Bergen 3&sin, will be completed and placed in operation this year. The 26th Ward plant, just east of Canarsie, is under construction but cannot be completed until after the war. It is expected, however, to bo placed in partial operation next year. The immediate opera- tion of these plants will partially clear up tho pollution of Jamaica Bay, but the complete purification of the bathing area at Canarsie cannot be ex- pected until after the war, when the 26th lard Plant and the Rockaway Plant, to be built on Beach Channel just east of Beach 116 Street, can be completed. At Little Bay on tho north shore of Queens, and at Ferry Point Park in the Bronx, there are moro waterfront areas which are planned for bathing, to provide the additional facilities so badly needed in the Bronx and relieve the pressure and crowds at Orchard Beach. On the opposite side of the Bast River, south of Throggs Heck, Little Bay forms a natural location for a bathing beach. This development is adjacent to the Cross Island Parkway and the Clear- view Golf Course. The purification of the waters at these beaches depends upon the treatment of sewage coming from the northerly section of Queens, east of Flushing. This requires the construction of an intercepting sewer to carry the sewage to the Tallman's Island plant. The balance of pollution in this area will be remedied by the con- struction of the Hunts Point plant in the Bronx, which will serve the whole east half of the Bronx. Plans are now being drawn for the construction of this plant, but no construction can be undertaken until after the war. The completion of construction of the Rockaway, 26th Ward, and Hunts Point plants, and the north Queens intercepting sewer, will make safe bathing conditions for an additional mile and one-half of public beach. In general, it will take about two years for this construction, and one year thereafter for pollution of the waters to eliminate itself. This means that these beaches xd 11 be safe for public use within three years after the end of the war. AtDykors Beach it is not likely that tho construction of the Owl's Head plant will be sufficient to make the beach safe for bathing. The Passaic Valley sewer outfall at Robbins Reef, in tho center of the Upper Bay, dis- charges 150 million gallons per day of partially treated sewage, which un- doubtedly will still be felt at Dyker Beach. This sewer is specifically exempted -4- from the jurisdiction of the Interstate Sanitation Commission. Some years ago the City started legal action to clean up this condition,, but the case was thrown out of court because the City itself had accomplished little or nothing in the purification of its own sewage. With this as a precedent, it is apparent that the City must clean its own house before it can hope to force the New Jersey communities to take the necessary action to clean up this last major source of pollution of the City's recreational water frontage. However, to supplement the existing swimming pools and to serve the crowded areas of Dyker Heights and Bensonhurst, it is planned to construct a swimming pool in Dyker Beach Park. Together with additional playground and recreation facilities, this will complete the development of Dyker Beach Park, facilities of which have recently been increased by the field sports and playground areas along the Shore Parkway. Besides these beach developments, there are other waterfront park improvements under way or proposed. Sound View Park on the East Rivor at the mouth of the Bronx River, when completed, will not only be one of the most intensively developed waterfront parks, but also an example of what can be accomplished by regulated water and land fills jointly controlled by the De- partments of Sanitation and Parks. In addition to the general park areas for passive recreation and the playgrounds and game areas on its borders, designed for the use of the adjoining neighborhood, which includes the Clason Point Houses development, it will be provided with two large field sports areas, field houses, and ample provisions for spectators. Filling of this park is now well under way. The bulkhead which will border the waterfront promenade has nov; been completed and the Dopartmsnt of Sanitation is rapidly filling the area. -5- In Bronx Park, north of the Botanical Garden, in the area now being developed as a playground, we plan a swimming pool, provided proper arrangements can be made with the New York Botanical Garden. Hunter Island, one of the most intensively used picnic areas in the City, is scheduled for improvement. This native woodland with its attractive shore line will be developed with the proper facilities for handling even larger numbers of picnickers. It will be provided with additional fireplaces and tables, walks, sanitary facilities and concessions. At Ward's Island, considerable progress has been made in the program for clearing the island of the hospitals. A portion of the island has already been developed and plans for a pedestrian bridge to connect with the upper east side of Manhattan, have been drawn which will make the island readily accessible to the most congested neighborhood in the City. Eventually, there will be 207 acres of park recreation facilities available. The State post-war program will provide hospitals which will permit the removal of patients from Ward's Island and the completion of the park. In order to provide additional recreation for the southeasterly section of the Bronx, arrangements have been made to construct a pedestrian overpass which will provide access to Randall's Island for those now living in this section of the Bronx. It has been impossible to find areas of sufficient size to provide field sports, but construction of this overpass across the rail- road and the Bronx Kills, will be an ideal solution. At Inwood Hill Park, tho development of one of the most picturesque park sites in Manhattan has been substantially completed. A boat basin was created by straightening theHarlem River Ship Canal and joining the resulting island to Manhattan. A boat house and dock will be completed after the war. -6- Considorable progress has already been made in the conversion of Flushing Meadow Park from a fair site to a park and recreation area, by locat- ing athletic fields and playgrounds for neighborhood use along the boundaries. The next stage in the development will be the completion of the portion west of Grand Central Parkway between Horace Harding Boulevard and the Long Island Rail Road, and the development of additional areas in the vicinity of the Amphitheatre, now a permanent outdoor swimming pool, and along Lawrence and Rodman Streets. The development of the tidal swamp at Alley Park east of the Belt Parkway, will reclaim this area and provide recreational facilities, including field sports, small playgrounds for local use, picnic areas, and continuation of the Cross Island Parkway bicycle path. A part of the fill for this area has already been placed. With the completion of the development at Great Kills, Richmond, as a boat basin, bathing beach, and recreation area, Marino Park will provide one of the largest and most complete waterfront parks in the City. Several million additional yards of fill will have to be placed by the Department of Sanitation before other work can proceed. Meanwhile, funds have been provided for contract plans which will bo ready to let at the end of the war. For several years, the Park Department has requested funds for the construction of additional facilities in Marine Park, Brooklyn, to supplement playgrounds built by the WPA. Each year, Capital Budget request has been denied. However, as part of the post-war program, funds have now been provided to do ex- tensive work in this large waterfront park, and an adequate amount is available for detailed plans. In addition to the usual recreation and park features, a boat basin, golf course, and additional picnic areas are provided. This post-war waterfront program, added to what has already been done, will restore to public use New York's groatcst natural heritage. *** *** *** Form 26-5M-111841 , 155 DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ARSENAL, CENTRAL PARK For Rp.le.am>. WEDNESDAY TEL. REGENT 4--1000 September 16, 1842 The Department of Parks announces the completion of work in connection -with the reconstruction of a 1-J- acre playground on the north side of Aberdeen Street near Bushwick Avenue in the Borough of Brooklyn.. The Property was originally acquired by the City for subway pur- poses to permit the installation of ventilating structures. The Department of Parks was granted a permit in 1934 to develop the surface as a playground. A circular wading pool and playground apparatus were installed in a fence enclosed bituminous area built on two levels. The current project for reconstruction just completed included a brick comfort station, relocation of slides, swings and seesaws for kinder- garten and older children and a new irrigated sand pit. Repairs were made to the existing chain link fence and new sections and gates were added. The old benches were repaired and new ones installed. The work of reconstruction which was done by the Work Projects Administration from plans prepared by the Department of Parks also included drainage, irrigation and lighting. In 1934 there were 119 playgrounds in the five boroughs, 66 of which have been reconstructed. There are now 481 playgrounds in the park system. *** *** *** V Form 26-10M-12042 155 DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ARSENAL, CENTRAL PARK For R*l*asp. TUESDAY TEL.. REGENT 4--1000 September 15, 1942 7 ' J 5//^ ^'^ ^^e Department of Parks announces, the beginning of the fall harvests at the ten Park Department Children's Gardens in the five boroughs. On Wednesday afternoon, September 16, at 4 p.m., the Seward Park Gardens will hold its harvest. Sevrard Park, at East Broadway and Canal Street, is on the lower east side of the City, an' u. :.3L\kely spot to see corn, beets, broom corn, and peanuts growing* The crops to be harvested by the children from their individual 4' x 8f plots are: corn, beans, carrotss Swiss chard, beets, and kohlrabi. The seeds, tools, and instruction in gardening are furnished by the Department of Parks as part of its annual rec- reation program. Other small plots were planted with flowers, cotton, peanuts, broom corn, and other novelties. Children from the garden club of the Educational Alliance will also participate in the harvesting of the crops. *** #** *** Form 26-10M-12042 155 DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ARSENAL.. CENTRAL PARK tOT XUE.ti.UAI TEL. RESENT 4-1000 September 15, 1942 The Department of Parks announces that entries for the Amateur Photo Con~ test will be accepted until the closing date, September 19. This contest, consisting of two divisions namely, children through 16 years of age and persons 17 years and older, has for its subject matter pictures showing recreational activities of children or adults in playgrounds, parks, shim- ming pools, golf courses, tennis courts or zoos under the jurisdiction of the Department of Parks , Pictures submitted in the junior division need not be any special size, but must be mounted. The senior division entries must be 8" x 10" and mounted on stiff cardboard. When submitting entries the contestant should write his name, age., address and location where the picture was taken, on the reverse side of the mounting. All negatives should be kept available. Contestants may submit not more than five pictures. The Department of Parks shall have the right to repro- duce any picture submitted for Park purposes. Suitable prizes will be awarded in 3ach group. Entries may be submitted to: Manhattan - C. ^tark, Supervisor of Recreation, 64 Street & Fifth Avenue, N.Y.C. Brooklyn - J. Downing, Supervisor of Recreation, Litchfield Mansion, Prospect Park, Biooklyn, IT.Y- Bronx J. McCormack, Supervisor of Recreation, Bronx I'ark East h Birchall Avenue, Bronx, F.Y« Queens - J. UurrajJ-, Supervisor of Recreation, The Overlook, Kew Gardens, Queens Richmond - Mis-s McEvoy, Supervisor of Recreation, Clove Lake Field House, Hew Brighton, Staten Island *** *** *** Form 26-10M-12042 <^ffie» 155 DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ARSENAL, CENTRAL PARK FoY TEL. REGENT 4--1000 September 1 2 , 1942 delj 9/11/42 - 4s30 p.m. 1 loc. plan QL: 290-107 1 dev. plan QL: 290-103 1 pix: 7.1 7 Iff The Department of Parks announces the completion and opening to the public of a new playground on Central Avenue between 70th Street and 71st Street, Queens. A portion of this one acre rectangular plot was tranferred from the Board of Education to the Department of Parks and rounded out by the purchase of adjacent private property. The outmoded school building and private residences on the site were demolished to provide much needed recreational space for the neighbor- hood. The new development includes a brick comfort station, handball and basketball courts, a softball diamond and a free play area. Swings, slides, 'seasaws and a jungle jym have been installed for the children. The entire area is enclosed and bordered by shade trees. The work was performed by the Work Projects Administration frora plans prepared by the Department of Parks. In 1934 there were 119 play- grounds in the five boroughs, 65 of which have been reconstructed. There are now with this new addition 481 playgrounds in the park system. *** *** #** Oft 0 DEPARTMENT OF PARKS TUESDAY ARSENAL. CENTRAL PARK FoT / ? g / g / 2 . & 3 P t e m ' b e r Q > 194:2 TEL. REGENT 4-1000 > k^./ -7F V/7^o^F c 2 . f' ,, ,,/-· The Department of Parks announces the completion and opening of a t)i4-w^ ^ i n e w playground and also the dedication of a memorial flagpole at Park Avenue j. {&u- pl^and Floyd Street, Brooklyn, on September 8 at 4s00 pirn. Mayor LaGuardia, Borough President Cashmore, Assemblyman Robert J. Crews and Major Irving V* A. Huie, Work Projects Administrator for the City of New Ybrk, will participate as speakers. Robert Mosesj Commissioner of Parks, will preside. The one acre rectangular plot occupying a portion of the block be- tween Park Avenue and Floyd Street was acquired February 20, 1941 by condemn nation for playground purposes. It is located in one of the older under- privileged neighborhoods where no recreational facilities were available. Since the land for this playground was acquired, it has been decided to establish one of the new state housing developments in this neigh- borhood. As part of this plan, the new playground will be expanded so that when the housing development is completed the playground will be twice as large. Eight three and four story frame residences had to be demolished before work could start on the playground. The playground is built on two levels with a connecting stairway and with entrance gates provided on Park and Floyd Streets. It contains a brick comfort station, shuffleboard, basket- ball and handball courts, a roller and ice skating area, a wading pool and play apparatus. The memorial flagpole which will be dedicated contains the following inscription: In Memory of Private Samuel V. Crews World War "Veteran Transportation Corps Company 875 Samuel Crews was born April 30, 1887 and died July 13, 1929. He was a member of the 47th New York Infantry Post No. 147 and a brother of John R. Crews, Republican leader of Kings County and also of Robert J. Crows, member of the New York State Assembly. The work was performed by the Work Projects Administration from plans prepared by the Department of Parks. In 1934 there were 119 playgrounds in the five boroughs, 65 of which have been reconstructed. There are now with this addition 480 playgrounds in the park system. Form 26-10M-12042 155 · · DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ARSENAL, CENTRAL PARK Tj P.IP.(Z$P. MONDAY 4-.000 September 7, 1942 // 1 4 ' I £tci/tU -~4V~I ^e Department of Parks announces the completion of a regulation I J, hlCuqs ^ z e bsiseball field on the 4 jjr acre park at the corner of Yifest Farms Road -/ i,-)xf^r^ and East Tremont Avenue, Borough of the Bronx. This irregular shaped parcel, located in a bend of the Bronx River was acquired by the city in August 1941 by foreclosure proceedings. It Was then leased for parking purposes with a cancellation clause per- mitting development for public purposes. The property was assigned this summer to the Department of Parks for recreational purposes. A work relief project was immediately en- gaged in the clearance of the site including minor structures, and the salvage of automobiles and an assortment of scrap materials. This new park, which was opened to the public on Labor Day will serve a section of the Bronx lacking adequate recreational facilities, especially for baseball and other active games for older boys and adults. The future development will include a field house, bleachers and boundary tree planting* *** *** *** Form 26-5M-111841 155 DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ARSENAL, CENTRAL PARK Sunday , TEL. REGENT 4--1000 September 6, 1942 The Department of Parks announces that the last of a series of four Naumburg Memorial concerts will be given on the Mall, Central Park, on Labor Day, September 7, at 8J15 P.M. This concert series is contributed by Mr. Walter W, Naumburg and Mr. George W. Naumburg, in memory of their father, EUcan Naumburg, who donated the bandstand on the Mall. The concert will be given by the Naumburg orchestra, with Victor Bay as condxictor, and Private William Home as the tenor soloist. The program will include various selections from such famous a r t i s t s as: Tschaikowsky, Liszt, Bizet, Moussorgsky and Weber, * * * Form 26-10M-12042 15 s DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ARSENAL, CENTRAL PARK For Release gmagy» *. September 6, 1942 The Department of Parks announces that the eliminations for the Harvest Dance Contest will take place according to the following schedule: Brooklyn - Prospect Park, 11 Street & Prospect Park West Tuesday, September 8, at 8 515 P,M«. Manhattan - Mall, Central Park, 72 Street & Central Park Wednesday, September 9, at 8:15 P.M. Bronx - Poe Park, 192 Street & Grand Concourse Thursday, September 10 at 8:15 P.M. The winners in those borough eliminations will be eligible to compete in the finals to be held on the Mall, Central Park, on Tuesday, September 22, at 8J15 P.M. Suitable prizes will be awarded to the borough winners. * * # Form26A-10M-12042 DEPARTMENT OF PARKS 155 L ARSENAL., CENTRAL. PARK For Release TEL. RESENT 4-1000 September 1, 1942 The Department of Parks announces the closing of the 17 outdoor swimming pools and 5 beaches under its jurisdiction on September 7, 1942. No charge tfill be made for parking facilities after that date at either Jacob Riis Park or Or- chard Beach. The Pitch Putt Golf Course at Jacob Riis Park will remain open for play until November 30. Immediately after closing, the following listed pools will be converted into active play areas and reopened for use on Saturday, September 12. MANHATTAN ' Hamilton Fish Pool - East Houston and Sheriff Streets Colonial Pool - Bradhurst Avenue, West 145 and 147 Streets Highbridge Pool - Amsterdam Avenue and 173 Street Thomas Jefferson Pool - 111 to 114 Streets and First Avenue Sunset Pool - 7th Avenue and 43 Street McCarren Pool - Eriggs Avenue and Lorimer Street Red Hook Pool - Clinton, Bay and Henry Streets Betsy Head Pool - Eopkinson, Dumont and Livonia Streets BRONX Crotona Pool - 173 Street and Fulton Avenue OTICTiMfi Astoria Pool - 19 Street and 23 Drive RICHMOND Faber Pool - Faber St. between Richmond Terrace & K i l l Van Kull F a c i l i t i e s will be provided for paddle tennis, shuffleboard, basketball, soft b a l l and various group games. Leagues will be formed in these sports and regular scheduled games w i l l be held between the pool clubs* These play centers will be opened free to the public from 2 P»M. u n t i l 10 P.M. daily except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays when the hours of operation will be from 10 A.M. u n t i l 6 P.M. During the season, now closing, 1,955,966 persons have availed them- selves of the swimming f a c i l i t i e s provided by the 17 outdoor pools, of these, 583,680 were children admitted during the free periods; 792,796 were children who paid 9/ and 533,274 were adults who paid 25^ admission. 46,226 members of the armed forces were admitted free during the season. * * · · Form 26-SM-111841 , , 155 DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ARSENAL, CENTRAL PARK For TEL. REGENT 4--1000 September 4, 1942 The Department of Parks announces that the city-wide finals of the paddle tennis tournament for Park playground boys and girls will take place at East River Park at 10 Street on Saturday, September 5, according to the following schedule: Girls Junior Division!14 to 17 years) - 11:00 A.M. Girls Senior Division!18 years and older)- 2:00 P.M. Boys Junior Division(14 to 17 years) - 11:00 A.M. Boys Senior Division!18 years and older) - 2:00 P.M. Mixed Doubles Junior Group - 11:00 A.M. Mixed Doubles Senior Group - 2:00 P.M. Gold pins will be awarded to the finalists in each division and silver pins to the borough winners. * * · · Form 26-10M-12042 155 DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ARSENAL., CENTRAL, PARK For TEL. RECENT 4-1000 September 4, 1942 With further reference to Pierce Trowbridge Wetter, his lawyer, William Bradford Roulstone, and Battery Park. 1 I see that Wetter*s counsel has had time to catch his breath and to make some more mis-statements on behalf of his cliente We are now informed that Wetter was a young Quaker pacifist who got into bad company in the last war which he opposed on conscientious grounds. We are further informed that a wicked judge by the name of Landis sent him up for five years for no good reasons, and that a number of distinguished people, most of them now dead, subsequently gave Wetter a clean bill of health* This is a lovely story, but it happens not to be true. Wetter was one of a gang of thugs and saboteurs who interfered with the military and civil works of the United States in the World War, He was mixed up with such pleasant little pacificists as Haywood and other I.W.W. leaders. He did not have a single characteristic of a Quaker, and I never heard of a Quaker behaving as he did. . The testimony at his trial covers many pages and is a public record. The decision in the case was made not by a single judge but on appeal in a re- view of the entire proceedings, by the IT. S. Circuit Court of Appeals* Did Wetter behave like a Quaker after he got out? He did not. Let me quote two short paragraphs from an article in the New York Times of July 19, 1923, which will indicate that Wetter, then twenty-eight years old, was not much of a patriot and upholder of American institutions: The Times article was entitled "20,000 I,W.W.fs Move On Port Arthur, Texas." Here are the quotations; "According to Pierce C. Wetter, 107 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn, who is one of the leaders here, about 200 members of the Marine Transport Workers' branch have already started for the Texas town. Within a few days, he said, a second call would be sent out which would call the workers from the wheat fields of the Middle West. According to Wetter, 20,000 I.W.W.»s are expected to march on Port Arthur." "The plan, according to Wetter, is to 'overrun the town' with jobless I.W.W. 'S and thus create a problem for the local authorities. At the same time, resolutions of protest will be forwarded to the Mayor." Does this end the record? By no means. Only a few weeks ago Wetter was one of a group of people who made the wildest and most irresponsible charges against the present Mayor of New York, presented them to the Governor and asked that the Governor remove the Mayor. The Governor, of course, promptly dis- missed the charges as deserving no further action. Mr. Roulstone uses some choice mixed metaphors about stabs in the back, bricks back of the ear and hitting below the belt. It is obvious that he knows little of sports and sportsmanship. Hhen men of the Wetter type gratuitously fling mud on honest and conscientious public officials and pick a fight with them, they can't expect to get up a. new set of rules which will make them immune from a good public sock in the jaw, /s/ ROBERT MOSES Form 26A-10M-12042 155 DEPARTMENT OF PARKS 17 n / ARSENAU CENTRAL PARK For Release The Department of Parks announces a Harvest Dance Contest for novice dance teams, open to all novice dancers who are at least 16 years of age. The contest will consist of five separate divisions and teams may compete in as many classifications as they choose. The five divisions will be the Fox Trot, theTCaltz,the Rhumba, Jitterbug, and Waltz for Old Timers. In the V.'altz for Old Timers, the combined ages of the couple must total at least 75 years, but the ages of the individuals vail not be published. Entries are being received at the five borough offices of the Park Department, particularly from those dance areas that have enjoyed the City«wide program of social dancing, which the Department of Parks has been conducting in the parks of the five boroughs all summer. Entries will close on September 5th, and must be in the borough recrea- tion offices of the Department of Parks, on or before that date. Park Department Borough Offices: MAuHATIAF - Arsenal Building, 64 Street & Fifth Avenue BROOKLYN - Litchfield Mansion, Prospect Pe.rk 3R0EX - Bronx Park East & Birchall Avenue QUSEHS - The Overlook, Kew Gardens, Forest Park ·RICHMOND - Clove Lakes, New .Brighton, Staten Island No change in partners will be permitted after an application is filed. Acrobatic, stunt, and trick novelty dances will be barred. Suitable prizes will be awarded to borough winners, and to the City-wide winners in the finals. The following are the dates and locations of the elimination contests in the respective boroughs: BROOKLYN - Prospect Park - 11 Street & Prospect Park 7.est on Tuesday, September 8 at 8s15 p.m. li^'HATIAF - Mall, South of 72 Street, Central Park on Weduesday, September 9,at 8:15 p.m. BRONX - Poe Park - 192 Street & Grand Concourse on Thursday, September 10,at 8:15 p.m. QUEE1TS - Victory Field, Lyrtle Avenue & Woodhaven Blvd., Forest Park on Tuesday, September 15,at 8:15 p.m. RICHMOND - McDonald Playground, Forest .avenue near Broadway. West New Brighton on "Wednesday, September 16,:at 8:15 p.m. The winners in the borough eliminations will be eligible to compete in the Finals to be held on the Mall, Central Park, Tuesday; September 22. at 8:15 p.m. >|!>|=# Form 26-5M-1I1841 . 155 DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ARSENAL., CENTRAL PARK For Release. Wednesday, TEL. REGENT 4--1000 August 26, 1942 Pix: 21751 21755 21756 · >"V? ' ARSENAL, CENTRAL PARK , *"" -lP-(lSP T -. OCr TQ/IO TEU. REGENT 4-1000 JUJ.y BO, X**6 Pix: 21407) 21619-62 a t . #18776 21406)79 S t . 21617-Ridge Blvd. Xeea. Hap: HL 82A.-114 21405) 21613-99 S t . 21614-3 Ave. The Department of Parks announces the opening of five new playgrounds constructed as part of the two and a quarter mile recreation development from Owl's Head Park to Fort Hamilton along the Brooklyn shore of the Narrows. The playgrounds located between the old S&ore Road and the Sfrore Park- way section of the Belt Parkway are at 79 Street, 83 Street, Ridge Boulevard, 99 Street and 3rd Avenue. Besides the children's playgrounds the entire development i s completed except for a few items of work delayed because of p r i o r i t i e s . Included are 3 comfort stations, 1 field house, 2 athletic fields, court gansss area, bicycle paths, promenades along the upper level of Siore Road and the lower level of the Belt Parkway, A portion of the park between Bay Ridge Avenue and 72 Street was completed and opened to the public last summer. Here i s an excellent example of a parkway border turned into a shoestring park with recreation f a c i l i t i e s , pleasant vistas and offscapes. Benches and drinking fountains and irrigated sandpits have been placed along the promenades and in the play fields. Elms, Oaks, Planes, Hawthornes, Flowering Crab Apples, Beach Plums, Sweet Ferns, Elderberries, Bayberries, Sumacs and several varieties of bank binding roses have been used in the landscaping. Access to the waterfront promenades has been provided by parkway grade separations at Bay Ridge and 4th Avenue and by pedestrian bridges over the park- way at 80 and 92 Streets. Because of a reduction in the budget of the number of temporary play- ground directors, assistant gardeners and temporary attendants normally hired each year t o handle summer usage of playgrounds, parks and beaches, these play- grounds will be opaned only from 10 A.M. to 8 P.M. Personnel to man the f a c i l i - t i e s will be drawn from Marine, McCarren, Prospect, Owl's Head and Sunset Parks and fran the playgrounds at Neptune Avenue and West 25 Street, New Utrecht Avenue and 70 Street, and Avenue Y and last 14 Street, thereby causing a curtailment of the operating hours of these older areas. The work was performed by the Work Projects Administration from plans prepared by the Department of Parks. In 1934 there were 119 playgrounds in the five boroughs, 65 of which have been reconstructed. There are now with these five additions 479 playgrounds in the park system. * * * Form 26-SM-111841 155 DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ARSENAL, CENTRAL i*Of TUESDAY TEL. REGENT 4--1000 July 14, 1942 The Department of Parks announces the schedule of Name Band orchestras for the period July 15-23, as a continuation of the series of 53 concerts and dances sponsored by the Consolidated Edison Company in cooperation with the Park Department, in the promotion of i t s guaugsa?prfcgrar&iof music '«&& social fencing, at various large parks and playgrounds throughout the c i t y . Benny Goodman will open t h i s period on Wednesday, July 15, 8:00-10:00 P.M., at the dance area in Prospect Park located at Prospect Park West and 11 Street, and the program will be broadcast by the Municipal Broadcasting Sation WYG from 8:00-8:30 P.M. Georgie Auld w i l l appear at the following locations: July 20 - McCarren Play Center, Lorimer Street and Driggs Avenue, Brooklyn July 21 - Van Cortlandt Park, 241 Street & Broadway, Bronx July 23 - l a s t River Park, East River Drive and Rivington Street, Manhattan Ray McKinley w i l l play on July 16 at the playground located at 30 Road& 45 Street, Queens; Benny Carter on July 17 at Claremont Park, Clay Avenue near 170 Street, Bronx; and Hal Mclntyre, on July 22, at Jackson Heights Playground, 25th Avenue and 84 Street, Queens. All the orchestras w i l l start playing at 8:30 P.M. and continue u n t i l 10:30 P.M., with the exception of Benny Goodman's at Prospect Park on July 15 which will start at 8:00 P.M. and continue u n t i l 10:00 P.M. When the schedule of those Name Bands i s completed, i t will mean that 21 of the Consolidated Edison series of 53 dances will have been presented by orchestras of national reputation in the c i t y ' s parks since June 16. The schedule of other Name Bands in t h i s series will be announced as soon as the necessary arrangements have been completed. * * * * form 26-5M-111841 ttiggf* 155 f · · DEPARTMENT OF PARKS jv^- r D ARSENAL, CENTRAL PARK -l j * _^ ForRelease Friday, TEL. REGENT 4-1000 l l H l * , ' J u ] y 1 0 , 1942 Location: QL 141-105 The Department of Parks announces the opening of three new playgrounds in the borough of Queens. Dev» QJ» 292-103 At Far Rockaway Boulevard and. Mott Avenue, the one quarter acre parcel Plxs 21621 of land was transferred in 1940 from the Department of Public Works to the De- partment of Parks for recreation purposes. Located between a small public library and firehouse i t was necessary to demolish a one-story brick structure prior to the development of the playground· An existing brick wall along the library property line was retained. The remainder of the area i s bordered by chain link fence and block paved panels containing benches and t r e e s . A single gate controlled entrance provides access from Far Rockaway Boulevard. The development includes kindergarten swings, slides, seesaws, and an open play area which may be used for r o l l e r skating. B©T» QL 294-103 At Utopia Parkway and 73 Avenue, the property, triangular in shape, was Fix: 21675 acquired for park purposes by condemnation of private property and by transfer to the Department of Parks of an abandoned school s i t e . The old two story former school house was demolished and i t s former site converted into a grass surfaced softball diamond. Also included in the improvement are two basketball and two handball courts as well as fence enclosed play areas for various age groups con- taining a wading pool and typical play apparatus, A bench lined mall separates the active recreation area from the s i t t i n g area at the narrow end of the park. $L 141-103 At 45 Avenue and 21 Street, the one and a half acre rectangular plot Pix: 21676 extending from 45 Avenue to 45 Road was acquired in 1941 by purchase and condem- 21677 nation for recreational purposes. .4 A wide mall, lined with benches and trees in block paved panels, divides the area into two main fence enclosed sections. Gate controlled entrances are provided at each end of this mall leading to the centrally located brick comfort station and plaza, From this point access is provided to the various subdivisions of the playground. East of the comfort station and centered, on the plaza a World's Fair "Court of Communications" flagpole has been erected. A large wading pool cen- tered in the east half of the playground is flanked by apparatus areas for kinder- garten and school-age children. The western half of the playground is a large bituminous surfaced open play area designed for many uses including roller skating, ice skating, basketball and other group games. Because of a reduction in the budget of the number of temporary play- ground directors, assistant gardeners and temporary attendants normally hired each year to handle additional summer usage of playgrounds, parks and beaches, these three areas will be opened only from 10 A.M. to 8 P.M. Personnel to man the areas will be drawn from Rockaway Beach, Jackson Heights Playground and Cunningham Park thereby casuing a curtailment of the operating hours of these older areas* The work was performed by the Work Projects Administration from plans prepared by the Department of Parks. In 1934 there were 119 playgrounds in the five boroughs, 65 of which have been reconstructed. There are now with these three additions 474 playgrounds in the park system. * * * * Form 26-5M-111841 ^ f l k 155 DEPARTMENT OF PARKS T ) ARSENAL., CENTRAL, PARK * I I * I . I x -i _ For FoT Release /?e/efl!SC_ Friday, TEL. REGENT 4--1000 The Department of Parks announces that the city-wide finals of the horseshoe pitching tournament, singles and doubles, for boys and men, 17 years of age and over, will take place at Heckscher Playground, 62 Street and West Drive, Central Park, on Saturday, July 11, at 2:00 P. M. Several hundred have participated in the preliminaries, conducted at the 459 horseshoe pitching courts of the Park De- partiaea1»:j throughout the five boroughs, during the past three weeksg* Five doubles teams and five singles players, a l l of them winners of their respective borough contests, will compete for the city-wide championship next Saturday afternoon. Gold and silver pins will be awarded to the 1st and 2nd place winners respectively, in both the singles and doubles. * * * * 71 Form 26-SM-111841 155 DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ARSENAL., CENTRAL PARK For Release. Tnaartay, TEL. REGENT 4--1000 July 7, 1942 The Department of Parks announces that the following athletic fields, with running tracks, are available from 9 A. M. to 9 P. M. daily, for candidates preparing to take the physical test in connection with the Civil Service examination for Policeman: Manhattan - East River Park, 5 Street and East River Drive Brooklyn - Red Hook Stadium, Clinton, Bay and Henry Streets Queens - Jackson Heights Playground, 30th Avenue, 84 & 85 Streets Bronx - Macombs Dam Park, 161 Street and Ruppert Place Richmond - Clove Lakes Park, Victory Boulevard and Clove Road Each of these fields has also been especially furnished with dumb-bells, bar-bells, hurdles, barriers, vaulting", box and fence, in accordance with specifications officially established by the Civil Service Commission, for the examination. Of course, t h i s equipremt is likewise available for those candidates during the same hours. * * * Form o-an 26-5M-U1841 · # DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ARSENAL, CENTRAL PARK For Release^ Monday TEL. REGENT 4--1000 July 6, 1942 The Department of Parks announces that a series of 61 concerts by the Pepsi-Cola Band under the sponsorship of the Pepsi-Cola Company in cooperation with the Park Department, will be presented at various large parks of the city, beginning with the first concert on Monday, July 6 at the Music Grove, Prospect Park, and continuing until Tuesday, September 15, according to the attached schedule. Twenty of these concerts are listed for the Mall, Central Park, Manhattan; nineteen at the Music Grove, Prospect Park, Brooklynj ten at Forest Park Music Grove, Queens,and Poe Park, Bronx; and, two at Silver Lake Park, .Richmond. They will start at 8:00 p.m. and last until 9:45 p.m. Admission is free. The 45 piece Pepsi-Cola Band is under the direction of John Meiszner and it will be accompanied by prominent guest artists at various concerts during the series. CITY OF NEW YO3K DEPARIMENT OF PAI S PEPSI-GOIA BAND CONCERTS Mon, July- 6 - Prospect Park Music Tues, Aug. 11 - Central Park Mall Grove, Brooklyn Tues* July 7 - Central Park Mall Wed. Aug, 12 - Prospect Park, Brooklyn ·fed. July 8 - Prospect Park Music Thurs. Aug, 13 - Forest Park, Queens Grove, Brooklyn Timrs, July 9 - Forest Park, Queens Sat. Aug. 15 - Central Park Mall Sat, July 11 - Poe Park, Bronx * Sun, Aug. 16 - Poe Park, Bronx Mon. July 13 - Prospect Park, Brooklyn Mon. Aug. 17 - Prospect Park, Brooklyn j Tues, July'"l14 - Forest Park Music Grove Tues, Aug. 18 - Central Park Mall Wed, July 15 - Silver lake Park, S.I. mfed, Aug. 19 - Prospect Park, Brooklyn Thurs. July 16 - Central Park,Mall Thurs. Aug. 20 - Forest Park, Queens Sat. Ju3y 18 - Poe Park, Bronx Fri. Aug, 21 - Central Park Mall Mon. July 20 - Prospect Park, Brooklyn Sun. Aug. 23 - Poe Park, Bronx Tues, July 21 - Central Park Mall Mon. Aug. 24 - Prospect Park, Brooklyn Wed, July 22 - Prospect Park, Brooklyn Tues, Mig. 25 - Central Park Mall Thurs. July- 23 - Central Park Mall Wed. Aug. 26 - Prospect Park, Brooklyn Fri. July 24 - Forest Park, Queens Thurs. Aug. 27 - Forest Park, Queens Sat, July 25 - Poe Park, Bronx Fri, Aug. 28 - Central Park Mall Mon. Sun, Aug. 30 - Poe Park,"Bronx July 27 - Prospect Park, Brooklyn Mon. Aug. 31 - Prospect Park, Brooklyn Tues, July 28 - Hentral Park Mall Wed, July 29 - Prospect Park, Brooklyn Tues. Sept. 1 - Central Park Mall Thurs, July 30 - Central Park Mall Wed. Sept. 2 - Prospect Park, Brooklyn Sept, 3 - Forest Park, Queens :?ri. July 31 - Forest Park, Queens Thurs. r - 4- v-- a · · · Aug. 1 - Central Park Mall Fri. Sept, 4 - Central Park Mall Sun. Sept, 6 - Poe Park, Bronx t OU - ·.,-, .1 * Aug. 2 - Poe Park, Bronx t Mon. Sept, 7 - Silver Lake Park, S.I. Aug, 3 - Prospect Park, Brooklyn Tues. Tues, Sept, 8 - Central Park Mall Aug, 4 - Central Park Mall Wed, Wed, Sept. 9 - Prospect Park, Brooklyn Aug, 5 - Prospect Park, Brooklyn Thurs» Thurs. Sept, 10- Forest Park, Queens Aug. 6 - Forest Park, queens Sat, Fri, Sept, 11- Central Park Mall Aug. 8 - Central Park Mall Sun, Sun. Sept. 13- Poe Park, Bronx Aug, 9 - Poe Park, Bronx Mon. Sept, 14- Prospect Park, Brooklyn Mon, Aug, 10 - Prospect Park, Brooklyn Tues. Sept, 15- Central Park Mall Form 26A-BM-111841 155 DEPARTMENT OF PARKS ARSENAL., CENTRAL PARK For Release TEL. REGENT 4-1000 July 3, The Department of Parks announces that the Independeft&e Oay Program on Saturday, July 4, will be highlighted in the varioiss^-Kisroughs by borough-wide track and field championships, for playground boys and girls. They are scheduled to take place at 2s00 p.m. at tha* following locations^ 12 Manhattan> East River Park - Street & East Eivei* Dr-fve ·Brooklyn - Red Hook Stadium - Clinton, Bay, and Henry Streets Bronx . · Macombs Dam Park - 161 Street and Ruppert Place Queens ; -,·». Victory Field - Woodhaven Boulevard and Myrtle Avenue It is expected that several hundred boys and girls of various classifications, ranging from the 85 1b, to the unlimited c l a s s , will participate in these meets. All the competitors have demonstrated their superior athletic a b i l i t y by placing in the preliminaries oonducted in the various play- grounds throughout the boroughs. In addition, they have "been thoroughly trained in the fine points of dashing, long distance running, baton passing, broad jumping, and high jumping. Prizes will be awarded to those who place 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in each of the following events listed on the program. Boys Events 85 l b . class 100 l b . class 120 l b . class 50 yd. Dash 60 yd. Dash 70 yd. Dash Potato Race Running Broad Jump High Jump Unlimited 100 yd. Dash 880 yd. Dash 880 yd. Relay Girls Events 85 l b . class 110 lb. olass Unlimited 40 yd. Dash 50 yd. Dash 60 yd. Dash Potato Race There will be two separate events for service men including the 220 yard and 880 yard daah. Appropriate prizes will also be awarded to those who place 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in each of these events. *** * ***