Friends of the Parks Council meeting

JJ Brennan and I attended a meeting of the Friends of Parks Council at the office of Councilwoman Helen Diane Foster on Monday, September 6. This group usually meets the 1st Monday of each month, but was changed because of the holiday.

The guest speaker was Ms. Stacy Kennedy, Coordinator of the Tree Census of the Parks Department. This is the Trees for Public Health Program of mass planting of trees in the Morrisania area of the Bronx. This group has identified one area in each borough that it will target to plant trees to address the asthma health concerns of our citizens.

We urge you to get involved with this group by contacting Liza Rosen at 718-760-6895 or liza.rosen@parks.nyc.gov
Because this group addresses street tree planting only, we were unable to obtain a commitment of support for the “Save Our Parks” campaign to block the Yankees from removing trees and taking over Macomb’s Dam & Mullaly Parks. However, this does seem to be a viable organization and can certainly help in the beautification of our streets.

Additional items for your consideration:

The Sanitation Department will loan tools for a volunteer clean-up program (BX - Lot Cleaning Division 4401 3rd Avenue between 180th & 181st Streets – 718-295-1438 or 39).

The National Arbor Day Foundation (www.arborday.org) will give away 10 free trees to anyone who joins with a $10.00 donation. These include Flowering Dogwoods, Crabapples, Redbuds, etc.

2005 Daffodil Project 5-Boro Bulb give-a-ways (Saturday, October 8 {10 a.m. – 1 p.m.} at Joyce Kilmer Park). Visit www.ny4p.org for more information.

The Dred Scott Bird Sanctuary & Park at 1294 Grant Avenue; Troy Lancaster - Director. E-mail for an appointment: dsbs@optonline.net.

--posted by Joyce Hogi