Flyers Volunteer in Central Park: Giving back. Getting more…

HEATHER MARCELLIS

In 2004, a group of eager Flyer members volunteered their time to “dig in the dirt” alongside the Central Park Conservancy for the very first time.🌳 This outing became a perennial favorite for the club and, Covid aside, has continued to this day. 

FLYERS VOLUNTEERING IN 2012

IN THE RAIN IN 2016

WITH CONSERVANCY'S CHRIS McDUFF

We reconvened this May - across from Tavern on the Green - to clear the cobblestones of unwanted weeds and greens.🍀 Chris McDuff, our enthusiastic leader from the Conservancy, likened the gardening activity to dental floss for the cobblestones.🦷 After a couple of hours of pruning with crack weeders, dandelion weeders, trowels, bags, and brooms, we could stand back and admire our work.

Besides the fresh air, the smell of cut grass, rich soil, sweet blossoms and flowering trees, one of the best parts of volunteering in Central Park is the not-so-instant, yet oh-so-satisfying gratification of seeing the fruits of your labor after the toil.

Over the years, the Conservancy has changed the hours, changed their personnel, registration and vetting process of its volunteer days, but what has remained the same in nearly 19 years of working in our beloved 843-acre “backyard” is the great feeling of a job well done and experiencing first hand just how much a difference a group of hard working individuals can make.

This urban green space boasts endless activities for the garden enthusiast. Our club alone has raked and bagged leaves, weeded endless flower beds, fence lines, fields and now cobblestones, painted park benches, and planted daffodil bulbs - to name a few of the jobs we’ve held. 

My all-time favorite was the day we filled potholes in the bridle path along the reservoir. For this, they gave us heavy pick axes to swing! Not at all easy. We used the axes to carve out larger holes, which we then filled. This was definitely the most vigorous of all our assignments (and that’s saying something for very fit runners) but our crew loved the challenge.  We also loved fixing that well trodden spot because we ran those bridle paths often and cursed the potholes that threatened to capture and contort our sacred ankles. Now, to now provide the cure (in part) to this hazard, was immensely gratifying.  The pictures were a hoot.

The history of the Flyers association with the Central Park Conservancy officially began during Gabi Diblasi’s presidency. I was Vice President at the time and took on the charge of organizing the events. To help reward the hard working volunteers, I started bringing cookies to the events.🍪 In 2010, I was blessed to receive a fabulous co-chair to help out. Dave Kleckner, whose enthusiasm has never waned in 13 years, is the true driver of these events today. Dave handles all the communication and advertising for our members and does most of the outreach to the Conservancy now, too. I still worm my way in for the love and nostalgia. and the cookie oven is still going, but full kudos to Dave who’s kept the event alive the last few years.  

2004 Volunteers
Heather Marcellis, Jim Nichols, Lloyd Hoo, Lara Kail, John Ward, Janet Hanson

And to all of the many volunteers (shout out to Richard Brounstein for being one of the most steadfast and loyal), thank you for your time, energy and enthusiasm. It is the members who take time out from their busy (and short) weekends to help nurture and maintain the greatest park in the world! 🌳🌲🌳

Please come join us for the next one!

-Heather Marcellis

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Revived Thursday Night Run Commemorates Early Flyer History

Michael R

When Frederick Law Olmsted founded the New York Flyers in 1854 he recognized that there were few suitable places for the growing team to run in the rapidly developing city.  The club first started running the open fields of Brooklyn but there were too many stone walls to hop over and often Frederick’s troubled left knee would give out as he landed.  He was frequently injured as a result.  That’s him, on the far left, with the original Flyers in the image below.

Go Freddie, Go!

Olmsted, being a visionary, knew that the Flyers needed more suitable running terrain.  When New York City announced a design competition in 1857 for the newly created Central Park, Olmsted and Flyer teammate Calvert Vaux jumped on the opportunity.  They crafted a plan for a runners’ paradise but positioned it as an, ahem, “cultural resource.”  For example, Olmsted needed a soft running surface for his knee but cleverly labeled it “Equestrian Path” (now the Bridle Path) in the design submission.  Seen any horses on it lately?

Fortunately, Olmsted and Vaux won the competition and we now have our stunning Flyers’ playground.  In fact, the park entrance at what is now West 106^th Street was originally named Flyers’ Gate (the name was changed to Strangers’ Gate by Mayor Koch in 1979 after a freak collision with a group of Flyers doing speed work on Harlem Hill).  To celebrate the win Olmsted designed the first Flyer uniform pictured below and modeled by his son Frederick, Jr.  Occasionally you can see some of our senior members sporting the original design as they run through the park on a weekend morning.  

Flyers Have Always Been Fashion Conscious

Why the history lesson? Because our newly revitalized Thursday Night Group Run through Central Park commemorates those celebrated early days of Flyer history.  It was well known that the Thursday night run was Olmsted’s favorite run.  Even back then, Thursday night was the new Friday night and he loved to throw back a few ales after the run with ye olde gang.  Below is a picture of a typical Thursday night out with the Flyers in the 1860s.  They were a bit more formal back then and there were no women.  That’s Vaux dancing.

Karaoke Was Not Until Later in the Evening

The Thursday night run has come and gone over the years but our Flyers Executive Committee, led by Siggy T, decided it was time to bring it back in style after a period of hibernation.  Flyer Claudia O ("O" for Olmsted?) suggested we add extra historical significance to the run by holding it on the Bridle Path to commemorate Olmsted’s soft spot for that soft surface.  Siggy and I coordinate this run and planning began in June.  We channeled Olmsted’s spirit to guide us (channel 262 on Time Warner).

Our inaugural run was on August 2.  It was a beautiful 5-mile jaunt along the Bridle Path, through the park, on a gorgeous summer day.  The present-day Flyers showed up in force.  We’ve met every Thursday since then and, as the daylight recedes, gradually moved the run onto the park drive.  There have been enough of us to spread out comfortably into a range of pace packs but we convene midway for water and again at Columbus Circle where the run begins and ends.  It’s a well attended, fun, casual, friendly run and a fitting tribute to Flyers founder Olmsted.

Thursday Evening Flyer Runners Strike a Pose

We also re-instituted Olmsted’s favorite night out- Flyers Third Thursday.  We held the first event after the group run on September 20 at the On-Tap bar in the Time-Warner Center.  The beer was flowing, the food was good and the company extraordinary! This will become a regular social event following the run on the third Thursday of each month. 

Flyers Doing What Flyers Do Best...

Enjoying Each Other's Company is What Flyers Do Best
(You Didn't Think I Meant Drinking, Right?)

Join us!  If you’re lucky, you might spot Olmsted’s ghost as he runs silently alongside us on the Bridle Path.  There have been one or two sightings already!

RUN DETAILS

• Meet every Thursday at Columbus Circle, 7PM (Merchants' Gate under the Maine Monument).  59th St and Broadway, 1, A, B, C, D trains
• Stow your stuff at The NY Running Company store in Time Warner Center (10 Columbus Circle, 2nd floor).

See you there!

-Michael R

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Running Central Park: A Design Concept

Michael R

I found the Flyers in a roundabout way while teaching a design course at Parsons The New School for Design.  The emphasis of the course is to base a design project on a careful understanding of human needs.  A group of students chose to work on improving the running experience in Central Park.  Their project piqued my curiosity about running clubs and ultimately led me to join the Flyers.  That was lucky for me!

The students who developed this project were Maria Dontas, Sophie Elliot, Jacob Stein and Helen Weselcouch.  They started with the basic observation that different types of runners use Central Park and that its 843 acres can be overwhelming for those unfamiliar with the park and lacking in some desirable features for more experienced runners.  They called the project Running Central Park (RCP).

The students spent time on different days and at different hours observing and interviewing Central Park runners.  Some were locals only a short walk from home and all the conveniences a home provides.  Some traveled from other parts of the city to enjoy the park’s beauty but they were away from their home amenities.  Others were tourists wanting to run through one of the most famous parks on the planet but not sure where to start (or finish!).  Runners varied in experience level, home proximity, frequency of use and familiarity with the park.  The students also uncovered a variety of running goals including weight loss, fitness, fun, socializing, de-stressing and of course, training for specific performance objectives like distance or time.

The students analyzed these runners’ needs and came up with a list of amenities and services for RCP that would improve the overall running experience through the park:

The students incorporated these key features into the overall RCP concept design.  The major components of the concept are the “main hub” and “mini hub” buildings.  A “main hub” offers a lounge/rest area, staffed information desk, trainer’s office, basic first aid, lockers, restrooms, showers, towels, beverages, snacks and basic toiletries.

A “mini hub” is similar but with fewer amenities and services.  It includes a lounge, basic first aid, restrooms, beverages and snacks.

The hubs are strategically located throughout the park at convenient access points and within easy reach of public transportation.  Entry to the hubs is restricted to RCP members. The students proposed four locations for the main hubs and three locations for the mini hubs (see map, below):

The students also created a web site to support the concept.  It highlights the services and social activities available through RCP.  The site is actually similar to the Flyers’ web site although it relates more directly to RCP’s focus on Central Park and its hub facilities within the park.

Finally, the students created a pricing /membership model for RCP that is designed to accommodate anyone from one-time tourists to regular park runners.

The Running Central Park concept represents one model for enhancing the running experience in Central Park.  It transforms the park into a huge health club for runners.   The ideas are based on a researched understanding of the needs of runners who actually use the park.  As a frequent park runner I would find a service like this very appealing.

Even though I live only a few blocks from Central Park, I’ve often been in need of a Band-Aid, working water fountain, storage space, cool-down or advice while using the park.  It also is easy to see how the concept would be useful to other runners with different needs be they regular or infrequent park users and whether they live nearby, one borough over or a continent away. It would be interesting to hear how other Flyers respond to the RCP concept.

-Michael R

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Flyers Scavenge in Central Park on a Beautiful Summer’s Day

Blogger Stephanie P Forgets it's July!

No, we didn’t get lost and miss the finish line…you might be asking, what were those Flyers doing running around Central Park after the Central Park Conservancy Run for Central Park (click on this link for Flyers race results) last Saturday? What, am I not making sense? Then you missed the fun this past Saturday, when 20 of your fellow Flyers could not get enough at the 4-mile race and decided to pair their running skills with their knowledge of Central Park.

So, you are probably asking, what was this Flyers Scavenger Hunt all about? Heather M was our leader who organized the event. Her team was responsible for coming up with the clues that were given to each team. It all started around 9:30 a.m. after the 4-mile race. Heather broke us up into teams of 2-3 Flyers. Each team received ten clues before we were set off on our way. The winner would be the first team to return to the designated post-scavenging picnic spot after using the clues to find all of the hidden items. We weren’t doing this for only the fun of it; oh no, we were told there would be prizes for the top three teams. (C’mon, it's not like we have any shortage of competition among Flyers!)

Heather M Discusses Rules with Ed A

Each team started at a different clue number and was instructed to go in order thru all ten clues. One clue was a “wild card,” and we were told we would figure that out quickly. Central Park encompasses 843 acres, and thank you Heather and team for not making us hunt thru all 843 acres! The clue locations ranged from the Amory South, to the Met at the North end, with the Falconer statue, William Shakespeare and the Bandshell as some of the destination spots.

One of the “easier” clues was to find the “place that running coaches like and runners generally dread…” with a reference to a cat (that would be Cat Hill!). Another clue was “a place where ABC Good Morning sometimes films” (Summer Stage). Once you figured the “spot” you had to find the trinket left there and put it in your scavenger collection. (These would be inspected by Heather at the finish to determine the winner!)

At Cat Hill, we were told by Julie W, “Sorry, you have to do a hill repeat first!” So, we had to turn around, run down to the Boathouse and back up the hill and only then were we rewarded with our booty – this time rock candy.

Julie W, relaxing, while sweetly commanding Cat Hill Repeats!

One of the more difficult clues had to do with the Met - did you know it was once a deer park? Well, many of the Flyers that day didn’t either as it stumped a lot of us! This contest challenged our Central Park knowledge and navigational skills! Teams worked together to get to the spot, and then find the trinket. At the Falconer statue, it took us a while to realize that the prize (a fake bird feather) was actually at the top of the base of the statue, which required a little trail climbing in addition to our running; we burned a lot of calories that morning!

The other items that we had to collect along the way were:

1. At the Arsenal...toy soldier

2. Poet’s Walk..Silent Willy (William Shakespeare statue)...heart ornament

3. Summer Stage...a star

4. The Bandshell...jazz beads

5. The Falconer statue...a feather

6. Loeb Boathouse...beer cooler

7. Cat Hill (repeats!)...rock candy

8. Cleopatra's Needle...buttons

9. The Metropolitan Museum of Art...had to bring back a museum bulletin, button or other identifying item

10. Wild Card: Hot Dog Cart...had to bring back sauerkraut

Some of the Scavenged Items

We did get a few stares from tourists as we ran (yes literally) around the park collecting our trinkets. And when we went to collect the “wild card” (we were given a baggie and instructed to bring back sauerkraut), my team was told by the first hot dog vendor that we went to that they didn’t have any! Hey, what’s up with that? So we ended up finding sauerkraut at The Boathouse restaurant.

It took the winners TEAM PINK (Sondra M, David B and yours truly) about an hour to complete the challenge, but we weren’t done yet. We were then given chalk by Heather and we had to produce some sidewalk art for her (a la James De La Vega) to claim our prize, three JackRabbit $20 gift cards.

"On the hunt" - Triumphant Teammates Sondra M and David B

The other winning teams:

Blue: Lara K, Celia K, Bob C - 2nd place. - Flyer s/s shirts

Purple: Shira Z, Rob A, and Justine A - 3rd place - $10 Starbucks cards

Trivia Winners - Steve K and Ed A - Flyer shirts

No specific prizes (beyond a magnificent free lunch!):

Red: Richard G and Victoria S (short one team member (Kudos to them as they DID get Museum question correct which was admittedly obscure!)

Orange: Ed A, Loredana D, Steve K

Green: Eric F, Sabrina G, Michael and Bo K- (also got Met question right).

As we all were famished after all the fun in the sun, Heather and team had prepared a picnic for us. There were delicious hand-made assorted sandwiches with lemonade, and there were even generous friends from Brazil who came bearing delicious Sprinkles cupcakes! Many Flyers came to hang out, with their friends, dogs, and babies -- and a good time was had by all.

Scavenger Hunt Picnic

Special thanks to the volunteers who put on this fun event!

Deb M (“great sandwiches”), Julie W (“the Queen of Cat Hill”) , Janet H (“clue planter”), Jens Hewerer (“picnic helper”), Scott S (aka the “brain trust”), Donna R (“picnic logistics”), Murat B (“picnic supplies” and his dog Papiko, Richard G, Richard B, and Dana M (“shameless promotion and advertising”).

-Stephanie P

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The Finish Line: Tavern On The Green

Brian H.

The New York City Marathon is in full tow as teams are finally to the point of doing their last 10 miles of the race and ending up at no other place than the finish line in Central Park.

And where is this special spot?

Located on Central Park West between 66th and 67th Streets, Tavern on the Green has a rich and meaningful story as the venue that hosts the finish of our beloved marathon.

The History

The Sheep Meadow

The Sheep Meadow in Central Park got its name from the a flock of sheep that occupied its lawn during the first part of this century. A sheepfold, to house the flock, was constructed across the drive, at the western edge of the meadow. In 1934, Parks Commissioner Robert Moses shipped these sheep off to Prospect Park as a scheme for beautifying the city into a better place.

This sheepfold was then converted into the restaurant we now know, on the west side of Central Park. The first incarnation of Tavern on the Green -- the restaurant -- was launched on October 20, 1934, with a coachman in full regalia at the door. In the late 1930s the building was taken over by the Civilian Patrol Corps as its headquarters until 1943, when the management of the nearby Claremont Inn on Riverside Drive took it over and renovated it to become a year-round restaurant. Tavern on the Green was showing some signs of wear by the 1950s, and the designer Raymond Loewy was hired for renovations to the building. The result was the addition of the Elm Room (now the Park Room), named after the tree it wrapped around. In the seventies the restaurant was renovated again. Hand-hewn rafters re-emerged and the vast vaulted ceiling above them was reopened after being hidden for decades by ordinary plaster. The Elm, Rafters, and Chestnut Rooms were paneled in very rare wormy chestnut.

In the Crystal and Terrace Rooms, the rustic baroque styling was changed to rococo. Tavern on the Green became the most glamorous venue to eat in New York City. Celebrities would flock to the famed Crystal Room, known for fantastic glass walls and sparkling chandeliers. Dining there wasn't just a meal but an event.

Always a work in progress, Tavern on the Green underwent yet another renovation in 1988 to expand the Tavern Store, relocate the bar, and create the Park Room and Garden. Later, the Crystal Garden that overlooks the Sheep Meadow was remodeled to accommodate dancing during the summer months.

In 1993, a "Menagerie of Topiaries", created by the Hollywood artists who also contributed to the fantastic greenery for the hit film Edward Scissorhands, were located in the Tavern's gardens.

The original Tavern on the Green closed its doors on New Year's Eve after 75 years. About three years ago, it was still one of the world's top-grossing restaurants.

Today
Plans to reopen the restaurant failed when a restaurateur and labor unions couldn't agree on a contract. A visitors center and gift shop are now open at the former restaurant. Today, the Crystal Room is gone, replaced instead by four trucks that pull up each morning and serve, tacos, dumplings, ice cream and sandwiches to Central Park visitors willing to sit outside at nearby tables and benches. - Brian H.

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The Architecture Of Central Park, Part IV

This month I focus on another very special building on Central Park's west side:

The Beresford

West 81st Street at Central Park West

1929, Emery Roth

The Beresford, completed in 1929, is one of four Roth apartment blocks on Central Park West including the El Dorado, the San Remo, and the Ardsley. In the race to build bigger apartment houses in the Roaring Twenties, the Beresford ended the decade as the clear winner. Its façade faces both Central Park and the patch of green that was called Manhattan Square in those days, and its twenty-two stories are topped by three towers, while most of its neighbors settled for two. It was among the first with elevators whose doors opened directly into the apartments rather than into the central hallways. The massive block is open to the west, giving it a U-shape, wrapped round a central court unique in every way in New York City. The Beresford was one of the first buildings in the city to have glass-door showers with multiple shower heads

More about the Beresford at Wikipedia.com

 - Brian H.

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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.

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The Architecture of Central Park, Part III

Today's post about architecture near Central Park is focused on one building, folks. It's a short one, but no less important. I'm sure you know this building to see it. It is the majestic, the beautiful:

The Ansonia Hotel


2109 Broadway (between W. 73rd and W. 74th Streets)

1904, Paul E.M. Duboy

The Beaux-Arts style was the name given to the newest neoclassical architectural style, as taught at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris. It became popular in the United States between 1880 through 1920. The Ansonia was a confection built for W.E.D Stokes, a finicky Upper West Side Developer, as an apartment hotel. Stokes had ambitious goals for the building - including a farm on the roof! He insisted on fireproof masonry construction and ordered that all of the apartments must be soundproof behind three-foot-thick walls, which made it attractive to such guests as singers Lauritz Melchior and Ezio Pinza, as well as conductor Arturo Toscanini and composer Igor Stravinsky. Showman Florenz Ziegfeld lived here, too, but a name not often mentioned in the Ansonia’s long and illustrious guest list is that of Babe Ruth. He was following a tradition already established by almost the entire New York Yankees baseball team. - Brian H.

Read more about the Ansonia Hotel at Wikipedia

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