Community Board 12 M Parks Committee meeting slide show update on "Six to Celebrate" Inwood, Manhattan

Slide show update on the "Six to Celebrate" historic district process for 

Inwood, Manhattan:

Tuesday, December 6, 2011 at 7:00pm

Community Board 12 Manhattan Parks Committee meeting
701 West 168th Street, room 312 A&B, 

(bring photo ID required for entrance)

Chelcey Berryhill, Pratt Historic Preservation Graduate Student

Pat Courtney, Volunteers for Isham Park

Inwood, Manhattan was selected as one of the Historic District Council of NYC's 

inaugural "Six to Celebrate" communities for 2011:

http://www.hdc.org/6tocelebrate_Inwood1.htm

"Six to Celebrate" update for Inwood this week

Slide show update on the progress of the "Six to Celebrate" historic district process for Inwood, Manhattan
Community Board 12 Manhattan Land Use Committee meeting 

701 W 168th room 312 A&B
Wednesday, November 2, 2011 at 7:00pm
Chelcey Berryhill, Pratt Historic Preservation Graduate Student & Pat Courtney, Volunteers for Isham Park

Inwood, Manhattan was selected as one of the Historic District Council's inaugural "Six to Celebrate" communities for 2011

"Six to Celebrate" link: http://hdc.org/6tocelebrate.htm
Project description:

Each year, HDC will solicit submissions from neighborhood groups and individuals that feel their neighborhoods are worthy of preservation. The purpose of this program is to provide strategic help to the chosen neighborhood groups at a critical moment so that they can reach their preservation goals. The program will help local residents learn to use tools such as documentation, research, zoning, landmarking, publicity, and publications to advance a local preservation campaign. The selected groups will receive HDC’s hands-on help strategizing and implementing all aspects of their efforts.

From our long experience helping neighborhoods campaign for preservation attention, HDC will coach neighborhood leaders on:
• how to establish defensible district boundaries that recognize a neighborhood’s special character
• how to involve other community members
• how to formulate an argument for preservation and present their case convincingly
• how to create campaign goals and make plans to meet them
• how to develop education programming and public outreach, and
• how to secure the support of elected officials and other key decision-makers

A word about eligibility: the neighborhoods submitted for consideration must be distinct areas - not individual parks or structures. They must be located in New York City, and be architecturally, historically or culturally significant. Both organized groups and individuals may apply. Deadline for the 2012 round is November 2011.

*To view the application click here (pdf)

If you have any questions about this program, please don’t hesitate to call us at 212 614-9107 or contact Nadezhda Williams, HDC’s Director of Preservation & Research at nwilliams@hdc.org.

Finally, don’t worry - we’re not going away. HDC will continue to assist all our neighborhood partners in the efforts. This is just another way that we can help.

Six to Celebrate is generously supported by The New York Community Trust.

It's My Park Day yesterday in Isham Park

Yesterday, Saturday October 22nd was a great IMPD in Isham Park.  Pictured here are volunteers planting bulbs in the semi-circular bed below the Isham Memorial in the park - an area long neglected and overlooked for plantings.  Children and parents from Friends of Indian Road Playground planted Daffodils and Tulips in that bed. 

Dorothy Rowan, Parks Gardener for Isham Park brought us tools and plants.  She had planned the evergreen shrub planting for the Memorial Bench Garden planted originally last fall on Sunday October 31st 2010 for IMPD (see the post for that event described on Tuesday December 7, 2010).  The bed plantings look great and will hold the garden area throughout the winter months.  Bulbs were also once again planted in that bed as well.  Thank you Dorothy and to the volunteers who planted that area!

Children also took breaks from planting to color a special history of Isham Park in coloring booklet form.  Volunteers for Isham Park produced the booklet to specially highlight the gift of Isham Park in leading up to its centennial next September 2012.

Yesterday was the 4th successive IMPD in Isham Park held by Volunteers for Isham Park. 
We are so grateful that we have had perfect weather for all of our IMPD's!

"It's My Park Day" in Isham Park this Saturday October 22nd

The Partnerships for Parks & The New York City Department of Parks and Recreation have declared Isham Park a site for “It’s My Park Day” Saturday October 22^nd 2011 volunteer activities.

WHO:             - Children and their parents

- The NYC Parks & Recreation Gardener for Isham Park

- Friends of Indian Road Playground

- Volunteers for Isham Park

WHEN:           Saturday October 22nd 2011

                        9:00am to 12:00pm

WHERE:         Meet at the Isham Memorial above Broadway; from the 212^th Street and Broadway entrance to Isham Park, turn right at the big Ginkgo tree and follow the path up the stairs to the landing; turn to the north or the right, the work site is directly ahead

SITE:              Isham Memorial Bench garden

Activities:       Planting evergreens and bulbs, learning about the life spans of plants, and creating art work with images related to the history of Isham Park and its upcoming centennial

For More Information:

Go to:  http://www.nycgovparks.org/events/2011/10/22/its-my-park-day-at-isham-park

Website for Friends of Indian Road Playground: http://www.firp.org/

E-mail Volunteers for Isham Park: volunteersforishampark@gmail.com

Volunteers for Isham Park blog: http://volunteersishampark.blogspot.com

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

El  departamento de Parks & Recreation de New York City y la Alianza para los Parques, han  declarado  Isham Park uno de los sitios para actividades voluntarias en el “DIA DE MI PARQUE,” el sábado, 22 de octubre de 2011.

¡PARTICIPE!

¿QUIÉN?:      - Niños y sus padres

- El Jardinero de NYC de Isham Park

- Amigos del Indian Road Playground

- Voluntarios para el Isham Park

TIEMPO?:     Sábado, 22 de octubre de 2011,  de 9:00 A.M. a 12:00 P.M.

DONDE?:      Reunir en el monumento de Isham frente al Broadway; de la entrada al Isham Park por la calle 212 con Broadway, a la derecha (al norte), suba la escalera hasta la bifurcación y vire a la derecha (al norte) hasta el Isham Commemorative Garden

ACTIVIDADES: Plantando árboles de hoja perenne y bulbos, aprendiendo sobre el ciclo de vida de las plantas, y creando obras artísticas con imágenes relacionadas con la historia del Isham Park y de su centenario  en el 2012

Amigos del  Indian Road Playground website: http://www.firp.org/

Voluntarios para el  Isham Park Correo: volunteersforishampark@gmail.com

Voluntarios para el  Isham Park blog: http://volunteersishampark.blogspot.com

O visite: http://www.nycgovparks.org/events/2011/10/22/its-my-park-day-at-isham-park

 

Isham Park opened on September 28th 1912, 99 years ago

Wednesday the 28th of September is the anniversary of the original celebration of the gift of Isham Park to New York City in 1912. The park will be 99 years old.

Julia Isham Taylor was the generous donor of the first of what turned into a series of parcels of land by Isham family members in honor of her father, William Bradley Isham, who died in 1909. Mr. Isham had owned and occupied the northern Manhattan land since 1864.

A New York Times article, dated March 24, 1912, describes one fact all but unknown today: that the gift of Isham Park preceded the city's purchase of Inwood Hill Park. In fact, news of the gifts of land for Isham Park helped to inspire support for the purchase of the land that became Inwood Hill Park.

According to then Parks Commissioner Stover, as quoted in The New York Times on the day of the Civic Celebration in 1912, the gift of Isham Park was one of the first gifts of private land for the purpose of a public park in Manhattan.

Volunteers for Isham Park is dedicated to the history and physical improvement of Isham Park, in conjunction with the Partnerships for Parks, the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, the City Parks Foundation, and existing Isham Park volunteer groups, such as Bruce Reynolds Memorial Garden, and independent gardeners.

We hope you will join us in planning for a Centennial Celebration for Isham Park on September 28th 2012!

Invasive species removal went well...

The corner of Isham Street and Seaman Avenue saw a transformation on Saturday. Eight Volunteers, assisted by the Parks Department Gardener, removed huge weeds fed by the rains of Hurricane Irene.

The dry loose soil was a big help. But the greatest break for us was the fact that the composting operation at the same corner allowed us to dispose of most of the plant material discards.

The compost service operates from 8:00am to 12 noon during the Saturday Farmer's Market, so we sped up a bit and completed our removals by 12 noon.

A group of children playing with a broom saw my sleeve and screamed, which took me by complete surprise. Forgot it was covered common Burdock bristles so that it looked almost like the five o'clock shadow of a giant. They asked: "Does that hurt?"  I said no and explained what they were.  Then they picked the bristles off for me one by one!

Invasive species removal: Part II, tomorrow

Volunteers for Isham Park work day this week!

In April of this year, the VIP's removed Porcelain Berry vine http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/fact/ambr1.htm and other invasive species from the north end of Isham Park.  The battle has not been won by a long shot!

Come and join us this Saturday, September 17th, from 9:30am to 12:30pm, at the fenced garden at the northeast corner of Isham Street and and Seaman Avenue.  

We will assist the NYC Parks Gardener in Isham Park in the quest to remove invasive species from that corner garden.  If time allows, we will also work to remove weeds and garbage from the Inwood Marble outcrop in the same area.  

The Saturday Farmer's Market will be in full swing so it should be a festive occasion...please come out to assist us in this endless quest!

Wednesday, September 28th 2011 is the 99th anniversary of the Gift of Isham Park to New York City!  This next year there will be many work days in advance of the Centennial of the Celebration of Julia Isham Taylor's gift to New York City of the land that became Isham Park. Work will be on-going.  Please contact Volunteers for Isham Park at volunteersforishampark@gmail.com if you would like to participate.

Urban Design Week "Six to Celebrate" event at the HDC this Thursday September 15th at 6:00pm

Urban Design Week 2011

September 15 - 20^th

Urban Design Week is a new public festival from our friends at the Institute for Urban Design created to engage New Yorkers in the fascinating and complex issues of the public realm, and to celebrate the streetscapes, sidewalks, and public spaces at the heart of city life. Through an open-call ideas competition and a rich roster of discussions, tours, screenings, workshops, and events across the five boroughs, UDW will highlight the fact that cities are made by collective effort, and that each of us can play a part.

As part of the festivities, HDC will be hosting two events highlighting two of our Six to Celebrate….

~Inwood, Manhattan: Defining a historic district~

Thursday, September 15^th, 6:00 pm      

Neighborhood Preservation Center, 232 East 11^th Street

Pat Courtney and Cole Thompson of Volunteers for Isham Park will discuss the development of Inwood (including the important role of the creation of Isham Park) and the neighborhood’s efforts to preserve its unique geology, history and architecture.

This event is free, but space is limited.  Contact Sara Romanoski at sromanoski@hdc.org or 212-614-9107,x10 to RSVP.

Invasive plants removal part II: September 17th 2011

Volunteers for Isham Park work day this week!

In April of this year, the VIP's removed Porcelain Berry vine http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/fact/ambr1.htm and other invasive species from the north end of Isham Park.  The battle has not been won by a long shot!

Come and join us this Saturday, September 17th, from 9:30am to 12:30pm, at the fenced garden at the northeast corner of Isham Street and and Seaman Avenue.  

We will assist the NYC Parks Gardener in Isham Park in the quest to remove invasive species from that corner garden.  If time allows, we will also work to remove weeds and garbage from the Inwood Marble outcrop in the same area.  

The Saturday Farmer's Market will be in full swing so it should be a festive occasion...please come out to assist us in this endless quest!

Wednesday, September 28th 2011 is the 99th anniversary of the Gift of Isham Park to New York City!  This next year there will be many work days in advance of the Centennial of the Celebration of Julia Isham Taylor's gift to New York City of the land that became Isham Park. Work will be on-going.  Please contact Volunteers for Isham Park at volunteersforishampark@gmail.com if you would like to participate.

Money for WATER Service in Isham Park!

The check is in good hands!

   Today, Wednesday August 3rd, at 11:30am, New York City Councilmember Robert Jackson delivered a check for $750,000 to park volunteers and the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation to specifically be utilized to reinstall water service to Isham Park.
    This comes just a year in advance of the 100 year anniversary of the celebration of the gift of land from Julia Isham Taylor for a park to be named in honor of her father, William Bradley Isham. The celebration of Mrs. Taylor's gift took place on September 28th 1912. What a fitting tribute to Isham Park which has beautifully and quietly served New York City for just about a century...Thank you Robert Jackson!

Pictured above are from left to right: Councilmember Robert Jackson, Pat Courtney from Volunteers for Isham Park, Assembly Member Guillermo Linares, Manhattan Parks Commissioner William T. Castro, J. A. Reynolds founder of the Isham Park Restoration Program, and Jennifer M. Hoppa the Northern Manhattan Parks Administrator.

The HDC's first "Six to Celebrate" Walking Tour for Inwood, Manhattan took place on June 19th 2011

The Historic Districts Council organized the Inwood, Manhattan Walking Tour which was led by Justin Ferate http://www.justinsnewyork.com/ on Sunday June 19th. 

The tour immediately sold out as of nearly the first day it was offered on the HDC website, so Volunteers for Isham Park was unable to announce it.  The HDC promised to offer another tour for the area at a later date.

Volunteers for Isham Park added commentary and historic details about the gift of Isham Park to the tour at the Isham Memorial.    Once again the cool stones of the Isham Memorial and the marble benches made a natural resting and gathering spot.

The NYC Parks Commissioner visited Isham Park on IMPD May 21st 2011

Saturday May 21st 2011 was It's My Park Day in Isham Park.

Volunteers for Isham Park once again centered energy at the Isham Memorial in the park.  New plantings of Hostas, Impatiens, and blue Pansies were added to the beds started on IMPD last October 31st (see related post).  Once again we had the generous assistance of the Parks Department Gardener and the Partnerships for Parks.

We were honored with a visit by the New York City Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe and members of his staff including Jennifer Hoppa, Administrator for Northern Manhattan Parks.  The Commissioner reclined on the inscribed marble benches, finding the Isham Memorial an area of cool and shady respite on a warm afternoon.

We shared the water donated by New Heights Realty and the apples we had on hand from the Inwood Green Market, which takes place every Saturday on Isham Street just south of the outcrop of Inwood Marble in Isham Park, between the corners of Cooper Street where it meets Park Terrace West and Seaman Avenue.

Present members of Volunteers for Isham Park were told that Commissioner Benepe concentrated his May 21st  2011 IMPD visits in Northern Manhattan.  We want thank him for coming to visit Isham Park that day.

The Commissioner liked the inscriptions on the benches; his favorite was:
"IN THAT MANSION USED TO BE FREE HEARTED HOSPITALITY"

Summer update on Isham Park and "Six to Celebrate"

First an update on "Six to Celebrate" activities since our last post just before May 25th 2011.

As that post stated, the ceremony to celebrate Julia Isham Taylor's offer to New York City of land for Isham Park on May 25th 1911 was held at the Isham Memorial in the park exactly 100 years later, on Wednesday May 25th 2011.  Readings from news articles and writings related to Julia's gift were spoken by Isham Park gardeners and volunteers and a carrot cake with the outline of the shape of the first of what would later become six parcels of  land for the park were shared on a beautiful late spring day.

The first of the six parcels of land that make up Isham Park is shaped as shown above.

 

Earlier the same week in May, a Pratt graduate student in Historic Preservation who had offered to volunteer decided to organize a research effort for Volunteers for Isham Park on behalf of the Historic District Council's "Six to Celebrate" study for a potential Historic District for Inwood, Manhattan.  

She enlisted the assistance of five other graduate students in the same program to do basic building research for the project. An archeologist who resides in Inwood and had contacted us to volunteer contributed a portion of the research as well.  By the end of June, most of the built structures in the area had been surveyed, resulting in a custom database organized by block and lot number giving name of the building (if named), the date built, type of structure, style, and architect.  Many of these were accompanied by photographs which we now are in the process of associating with the entries.  This was a huge effort which is ongoing.  On behalf of Inwood and Volunteers for Isham Park, we thank these generous volunteers for their work on this important research tool for Inwood, Manhattan.
 
Last week, July 18th - 24th, as drought and high temperatures dominated in Isham Park the need for water in the park became undeniably obvious.  Great news about water for Isham Park is coming soon...

A ceremony in Isham Park , the 2nd gathering for “Six to Celebrate”

Next Wednesday, May 25th 2011, is the 100th anniversary of the date on which Julia Isham Taylor's letter offering land for the creation of Isham Park was presented to the Board of Estimate of New York City. To mark the occasion, a ceremony and second gathering for "Six to Celebrate" will be held in the park.  Mrs. Taylor’s letter to then Manhattan Borough President George McAneny was published in the New York Times on the day following its presentation. A cake and excerpts from the Times article and other related news accounts will be shared.[1]
 
When Isham Park was finally dedicated on September 28^th 1912, the gift of land by the Isham family had already changed the shape of rapid development in the area by preserving significant land for public use on a central high point which provided open views of the surrounding landscape.  Less known is the fact that the gift of Isham Park revived the discussion of the city’s purchase of private lands on Inwood Hill for additional city parkland.[2]  So, the gift of land from the Isham family can be credited with helping to preserve a greater portion of the geologic and historic features of Manhattan Island than the often overlooked boundaries of Isham Park suggest. 

Please join us to commemorate Julia Isham Taylor’s offer of the land for Isham Park to New York City:

Wednesday, May 25th 2011 at 6:30pm

Isham Memorial, Isham Park

For more details on “Six to Celebrate” go to:  http://www.hdc.org/6tocelebrate2011.htm

For more information please contact: volunteersforishampark@gmail.com
       

---

[1] Two Free Parks for a City, New York Times, May 26, 1911, Friday, page 12

[2] Plans Park for North End of Manhattan Island: Gift of Mrs.[sic] Flora E. Isham Revives the Unfulfilled Dream of Andrew H. Green for Acquiring Inwood Hill So the City Would Have a Park at Each End of the Island, N.Y. Times Sunday, March 24, 1912, (no author cited), Magazine Section Part Six, Page SM7

May 21st 2011 will be It's My Park Day again in Isham Park

Please come out and assist gardeners from Bruce's Garden and Isham Alley - in collaboration with the Volunteers for Isham Park along the Broadway side of Isham Park next Saturday May 21st 2011!

This spring we will clean up, paint fence rails and bench supports, plant, and mulch along the east or Broadway side of Isham Park up to the Isham Memorial path.

For the Partnerships for Parks description of the activities go to: 
http://www.partnershipforparks.org/get_involved/volunteer/impd_find.html?borough=M&qs=2011/05/21/its-my-park-day-at-isham-park

1st meeting for a future Inwood, Manhattan Historic District

Last Saturday April 30th, Volunteers for Isham Park held the first in a series of meetings related to the selection of Inwood, Manhattan as one of the Historic District Council's "Six to Celebrate."

The meeting, which was held in the auditorium of the Inwood Branch of the New York Public Library, drew about 20 participants who introduced themselves, described their interests, watched a slide presentation about the area, discussed pros and cons and the process involved in creating such entities, and heard a definition of "Historic District" given by an HDC staffer present.

Participants signed in and will receive e-mail updates and press releases about related future events.

One architect present has signed on to study the single family residences in the neighborhood. Others have already sent historic building information by e-mail to be added to a growing inventory of the built structures in the neighborhood.  Early last week, a local Historic Preservation Masters degree candidate volunteered to assist with the study overall and will begin contributing regular hours at the end of May.

The meeting was a positive start for the complex and painstaking process ahead. (Link to the press announcement in DNA:   http://www.dnainfo.com/20110427/washington-heights-inwood/inwood-preservation-group-takes-steps-toward-historic-district)

A second meeting is being planned for Wednesday, May 25th early evening at the Isham Memorial in Isham Park, the site at which Volunteers for Isham Park planted bulbs last fall for It's My Park Day on October 31st 2010.  Once the meeting details are confirmed, special notice will be sent out.

May 25th will also be the 100th anniversary of the publication of the first news article in the New York Times about Julia Isham Taylor's gift of land for Isham Park.  We will hold a small celebration of Julia's gift.

The Isham Memorial with its marble benches as seen last fall on IMPD

The Isham Memorial plantings this morning

A beautiful early morning photo of the Volunteers for Isham Park plantings at the Isham Memorial last October 31st was just sent in...just had to be shared with all and especially the Volunteers and passers by who worked on it!

Thank you to the Partnerships for Parks for providing event support and bulbs!  Thank you also to the Parks Gardener who is making such a vast difference in the park on an on-going basis...Thank you also the the Inwood Hill Park Rangers who provided additional native species plants now blooming in this and nearby areas.

Isham Park - Earth Day, Friday, April 22nd 2011

Volunteers for Isham Park invites you to attend an initial meeting to discuss and initiate the process of "Six to Celebrate": 

Saturday, April 30, 2011

Auditorium of the Inwood Branch of the New York Public Library

4790 Broadway, block north of Dyckman Street

2:00pm to 4:00pm
For more information please contact: volunteersforishampark@gmail.com

As announced in this blog in late December 2010, an application for "Six to Celebrate" on behalf of Inwood, Manhattan, was submitted to the Historic District Council (HDC) by Volunteers for Isham Park with the result that Inwood was selected as one of the "Six."  

The HDC is assisting The Volunteers for Isham Park and the community of Inwood, who will record and describe the history of the built environment.  This may lead, after a long process, to the creation of a historic district.  Even if a district is never created, the process of detailed historic description of the built environment will be of benefit to the community of Inwood, Manhattan and the City of New York.     

Last September, we described how, as part of our mission, members of Volunteers for Isham Park researched the history of Isham Park and its crucial role in the development of Inwood. Contemporary newspaper accounts reveal that the land for Isham Park was given by Julia Isham Taylor and her aunt, Flora Eliza Isham, for its views of the surrounding area, as it is a natural and central highpoint.  Also revealed is the fact that their gifts of land for Isham Park in 1911-12 re-ignited the discussion surrounding the purchase of land by the City for Inwood Hill Park, which eventually came about in 1916. 

All of this is well documented in news articles in The New York Times.  The built environment of Inwood was forever changed by the courageous acts of these two women.  Inwood has, as a result, some of the most beautiful park land and view corridors in New York City. 

On this beautiful Earth Day morning, we ask that you commit time to share in the exciting process of the historic discovery of Inwood.

VIP work day on April 3rd & bulbs planted for IMPD last October 31st

Thank you! Bulbs planted around the Memorial Benches in Isham Park last October are in bloom...
Porcelain berry vines no longer threaten from the barrier fence at the north end of Isham Park...

Winter is almost over!

After a winter overdose of snow, cold, and ice, spring is coming fast.  The Volunteers have been hard at work both out of doors and inside during the past three months. 

Outside, members have continued to work with the NYC Parks & Recreation Gardener assigned to Isham Park.  Several long neglected planting areas have been cleared of weeds and pruned.  Garbage has been collected, damages were monitored and reported to Parks, so that repairs could be made in a timely fashion during the ice and snow.

The fight to remove Porcelainberry vine http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/fact/ambr1.htm continues.  This invasive has sprung up all over Isham Park, along with Garlic Mustard http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/pubs/midatlantic/alpe.htm, and the saplings of Mulberry http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/fact/brpa1.htm and Norway Maple http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/pubs/midatlantic/acpl.htm trees.

This coming Sunday, April 3rd, the first work day for Volunteers for Isham Park will be held at the north western corner of Isham Park along Park Terrace West near 215th Street.  This will be to clear Isham Park's northern barrier chain link fence of all of the species described above.

Please come out to assist between 10:00am and 2:00pm.   The Partnerships for Parks and NYC Parks will provide tools and supplies.  The Parks Gardener will also be with us for the first 2 hours to instruct and assist.

It is very important to control these plants before growing season is truly under way.