Flyers Doing It For Central Park

Come and join the fun on Sat June 12

for

Spring Fling, Weed and Beauty Day

The Flyers Central Park clean-up and beautification events -- last year dubbed the Summer Safari -- have blossomed and bloomed under the planning and leadership of Flyer Extraordinaire Heather M., and in cooperation with the Central Park Conservancy.

As runners in Central Park, we get to enjoy how each season showcases the beauty of the park in unique ways. But maintaining that beauty for the benefit of us runners and others involves a lot of work, many dollars, and much tender loving care.

We've already seen and will be reading more about some of the architectural wonders of Central Park right here on this blog thanks to Flyer Brian H. And for those interested in learning about the Park's many bridges and arches, Flyers Andreas S. and Scott S.  provide a fascinating annual guided fun-run tour of the park every summer.

But we can do more than look and learn. We Flyers can give back to Central Park. This year, Heather sought a Flyers assistant to help her plan and promote the upcoming Flyers Central Park clean-up and beautification efforts. I was going to write that I was inspired to team up with Heather because she brings cookies to the events. And, sure, cookies are important (ha!).

Yet in all honesty, it's meaningful for me to partner with Heather on this. It's easy to take the park for granted. It's always there for us. Yet Heather has also been there for the park, organizing these events each year as an expression of her love and caring and concern. While I have admired her initiative and dedication to the park over the years, it was also very rewarding for me when I served as one of her volunteers a couple of times last year.

Yes, the events are fun, as all Flyer events are, but they also are particularly important and fulfilling. They provide an opportunity to view the park from a different perspective. And while we may be inspired to volunteer as a way to do a good deed, it really is we who receive the biggest gift. We are gifted with the feeling of profound satisfaction from working together with other Flyers to show our respect and contribute to the beauty of our park. I encourage Flyers who haven't yet volunteered for one of these events to come on out and see for yourself.

For some context, I'll also write here a bit about the wear-and-care of Central Park. The NYC Department of Parks & Recreation is the NYC government agency primarily responsible for the care of Central Park. In cooperation with the City, the Central Park Conservancy was founded in 1980 as a not-for-profit organization to form a public-private partnership with the City to restore the Park to its former splendor after decades of neglect, and to manage and preserve it for present and future generations.

The Conservancy celebrates its 30th Anniversary this year, as we runners continue to celebrate Central Park. The Conservancy, as the official manager of Central Park, is responsible for the day-to-day maintenance.

Presently, 80% of the Park's maintenance operations staff is employed by the Conservancy, which provides 85% of Central Park's $27 million annual budget through its fundraising revenue. The NYC Department of Parks & Recreation retains policy control, has discretion over all user permits events in the Park and also provides 20% of the field staff.

Conservancy crews care for 250 acres of lawns, 26,000 trees, 150 acres of lakes and streams, and 130 acres of woods; install hundreds of thousands of plantings annually, including bulbs, shrubs, flowers, and trees; maintain 9,000 benches, 26 ballfields, and 21 playgrounds; preserve 55 sculptures and 36 bridges; remove graffiti within 24 hours; collect over 5 million pounds of trash per year; and provide horticultural support to City parks.

For more information about the Central Park Conservancy, including if you'd like to become a member (I recently joined!), you can visit www.centralparknyc.org. Flyers also can help support the Central Park Conservancy by participating in the Run for Central Park on July 17th

The Flyers have been fortunate to work at Central Park under the direction of Neddie H. of the Conservancy. Neddie provides all of the tools, equipment and information we need -- complete with kindness and a smile -- to help us make a difference in giving something back to the park that gives us so much.



Please join us at the next scheduled Flyers Central Park Spring Fling, Weed and Beauty Day on Saturday, June 12th, 10AM -- immediately following the NYRR Mini-10K. You can click right here to volunteer.

We'll work hard, have fun in the sun (although it's rain or shine), and leave feeling good about having given back to Central Park. And don't forget, there will be cookies (if I don't get to them first!). Don't miss out! - Dave K.