PARTNERS OF THE MONTH

Our Partners for the month of January 2003:

John White - Bronx High School for the Visual Arts - Pelham Bay Park

John White is the Service Learning Coordinator for the Bronx High School for the Visual Arts. John's goal in this "New Vision" school is to arrange meaningful and educational community service projects for the students. While a Humanities Teacher at Central Park East Secondary School, he brought his classes to the park to draw and write poetry. John states, "We want the students to have an experience outside the classroom where they can connect education to the real world." After John arranged the project with Maria Karpfinger - Youth Program Coordinator, six students enthusiastically signed up to work in Pelham Bay Park. These students, who are here with us today, are Ancil Farrell, Benji Morales, G.P. Nwankpa, Carlos Ramirez, John Rosello, Devin Vincenty and Joseph Wong. They work in the park on Thursdays, with Maria Karpfinger, who is very impressed with all they have accomplished. They perform a variety of tasks on each visit, including prepping handmade ornaments for a holiday fair, planting trees and seeds and journaling. John states, "I've been especially happy for this opportunity, because they are having such a good experience in the park that they are encouraging other students to go out and do something enriching and worthwhile." John was reluctant to accept this award, as he believes his students are the real champions. However, without John's dedication, his students would not have had the opportunity to shine.

Dale Charles - Pratt Area Community Council - Crispus Attucks Park

Dale Charles has lived and worked in the Bedford-Stuyvesant/Clinton Hill community for 27 years. She began volunteering at Crispus Attucks Park over a year and a half ago, because she desired to make the park safer for children in the community, including her own. Her work with the Pratt Area Community Council (PACC) allowed her to combine her organizing of a local merchants association with her love for the park and neighborhood children. With PACC Dale spearheads the merchant organizing and assists the Economic Development Director. Dale is also a Local Initiative Support Corporation (LISC) Americorps Volunteer. Dale has coordinated with the Friends of Crispus Attucks park and tirelessly works to build bridges between local civic organizations. Dale has organized several successful events in Crispus Attucks Park, namely - Fall and Spring "It's My Park Days", and an Easter Egg Hunt. Dale was instrumental in bringing City Parks Foundation's "Arts in the Park" to Crispus Attucks Park and actively worked on outreach for the event. She loved watching hundreds of children enjoy themselves, watching puppet shows and magicians. Using her connections, she has also rallied the merchants, on several occasions, to give in-kind donations for the park events.

MANHATTAN

Juanita Washington- Citizens of Courtney Callender Playground - Courtney Callender Playground

Juanita has lived in the neighborhood and has frequented Courtney Callender Playground for forty years. She is presently the President of the 130 Street Block Association and a member of the Abyssinian Neighborhood Advisory Council. While her children were growing up, she often brought them to Courtney Callender Playground, which she described as beautiful. She then watched the playground fall into disrepair and become overrun with drug dealers and prostitution. Four years ago, Juanita began volunteering in the park, to bring back the park to its former state. She is now one of the members of Citizens of Courtney Callender Playground. The group participates in many events, including Fall and Spring "It's My Park!" Days. Council Member Perkins and other elected officials were invited to one event, at which he committed money toward the restoration of the playground, in front of a New York Times reporter. Thereafter, Borough President, C. Virginia Fields gave money and a year later construction began. Because Juanita lives across the street, she was able to oversee the entire renovation of the playground. A Park Warden, Juaniata volunteers in the park daily, picking up litter, locking and unlocking the playground and informing Parks, if there are any problems.

QUEENS

Barbara Gillespie - Q4U (Queens for You) - Crocheron Park

Barbara Gillespie contacted Partnerships for Parks two years ago, expressing interest in volunteering in Crocheron Park, as well as Little Bay and Joe Michaels Mile. Her first interest was in maintaining the parks and organized a Fall "It's My Park!" Day project in Crocheron Park. In her many visits to the parks, she noticed a lack of programming geared towards young professional adults in the 30 + age range. Which is why she and her friend decided to form Queens For You (Q4U) - a nonprofit dedicated to providing adult fitness programming in Northeast Queens Parks. She organized a free 5-week "Indian Summer Adult Fitness" series in Crocheron Park and other parks in Bayside, Queens. Her programming consisted of yoga and self defense classes, rollerblading, and a 10-mile bike trip. A graphic designer in her professional life, she is currently working on a website and e-newsletter to promote community events in the Northeastern Queens area and its parks.

STATEN ISLAND

Anthony Marraccini - Turnaround Friends, Inc. - Seaside Nature Park

Anthony Marraccini has been volunteering at Seaside Nature Park in Staten Island since 1994. When the Parks Department acquired the land, which is now Seaside Nature Park, it was essentially a dumping ground for commercial and public garbage, stolen and abandoned cars and a haven for criminal activity. Anthony and his wife Shirlee, envisioned a paradise, where others saw a disaster. Together they founded the Turnaround Friends. Anthony serves as the President and his wife Shirlee, as the Vice-President. What began as the cleaning and planting of a 20' by 20' lot, has developed into a beautiful 5-acre seaside park, with hopes of expansion. The Turnaround Friends participate in city-wide volunteer projects, such as Spring and Fall "It's My Park!" Days and the Daffodil Project. Having been very successful in improving the physical aspects of the park, Anthony and the Friends are now actively involved in outreach and fund raising for their group and the park. Their accomplishments include - a beautiful wildflower garden, a 9/11-memorial garden and a "Grove of Healing". Thanks to Anthony's hard work and leadership, the Turnaround Friends have received such awards as the Lynne Robbins Steinman Foundation "Beautiful Staten Island Award", the YMCA Distinguished Community Service Award and the NYC Parks Emerald Award.

STATEN ISLAND

Anthony Marraccini - Turnaround Friends, Inc. - Seaside Nature Park

Anthony Marraccini has been volunteering at Seaside Nature Park in Staten Island since 1994. When the Parks Department acquired the land, which is now Seaside Nature Park, it was essentially a dumping ground for commercial and public garbage, stolen and abandoned cars and a haven for criminal activity. Anthony and his wife Shirlee, envisioned a paradise, where others saw a disaster. Together they founded the Turnaround Friends. Anthony serves as the President and his wife Shirlee, as the Vice-President. What began as the cleaning and planting of a 20' by 20' lot, has developed into a beautiful 5-acre seaside park, with hopes of expansion. The Turnaround Friends participate in city-wide volunteer projects, such as Spring and Fall "It's My Park!" Days and the Daffodil Project. Having been very successful in improving the physical aspects of the park, Anthony and the Friends are now actively involved in outreach and fund raising for their group and the park. Their accomplishments include - a beautiful wildflower garden, a 9/11-memorial garden and a "Grove of Healing". Thanks to Anthony's hard work and leadership, the Turnaround Friends have received such awards as the Lynne Robbins Steinman Foundation "Beautiful Staten Island Award", the YMCA Distinguished Community Service Award and the NYC Parks Emerald Award.

PARKIE OF THE MONTH

Mary Ellen Burtner, SPMO - The City of New York/Parks and Recreation - High Rock Park

Kathi O'Neill, the President of the Friends of High Rock Park has nominated MaryEllen Burtner as Parkie of the month for January 2003. MaryEllen has worked for the City of New York Parks and Recreation Department since 1977. She began as a seasonal park helper at beaches and pools. MaryEllen then worked at the Department of Housing until 1984 when she came back to the Parks Department becoming an APSW. Working in Manhattan at Riverside Park then at Union Square, MaryEllen eventually came out to Staten Island where she became a Park Supervisor. The Friends of High Rock Park have been in existence for 19 years, a small group of friends whose focus is High Rock Park clean-ups and plantings. Whether being involved with Spring or Fall cleanups as well as the Daffodil project, the Friends of High Rock state, "Maryellen has always given 110% of herself and her time." The group is very appreciative of a grant for which Mary Ellen applied and received, allowing a garden to be planted at the entrance of the park. As if this isn't already enough, MaryEllen also volunteers with the Tibetan Museum on Staten Island and the Cromwell Recreation Center events.