TWO YEARS WITHOUT BORDERS

Last month, Seward Park celebrated a very exciting anniversary - December marked the two year anniversary of the Seward Park Without Borders Project! 

The Parks Without Borders project was a part of Mayor Bill de Blasio's OneNYC initiative. Its goal was to change the role of city parks by making them more welcoming — improving accessibility, safety, and community engagement were all key factors. In 2016, park-goers chose Seward Park as one of the eight showcase parks for this initiative, and in December 2019 it became the first project to be completed.

The $6.4 million project made some amazing improvements to Seward Park. Our garden beds were expanded and new trees were planted throughout the park. The promenade was repaved and new curbs were put in. The park fences were lowered and new lighting was added.

In addition, many of Seward Park's fantastic amenities were a result of the Parks Without Borders project and have already been put to great use by our community. The fitness equipment is a popular addition to our basketball and volleyball courts. The wildflower meadow has flourished and is helping increase our park's biodiversity. And the brand new amphitheater in Library Plaza has become the go-to spot of story-time, community meetings, and even an impromptu wedding!

DID YOU KNOW?

We've told you the story of Togo, the sled-dog who led the longest leg of the 1925 Alaskan Serum Run, but do you know how his statue came to be in our park? Shelley Smith Curtiss, an animal sculptor based in Oregon, was commissioned to create the statue of Togo as part of the 2001 Seward Park renovations. Mrs. Smith-Curtiss cast a life-sized version of Togo in bronze, adding the sled-dog's harness for detail and depicting him in full gallop. The statue lived in the garden beds next to the playground before being moved to its own circle of honor near the meadow. 

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT

Thank you so much to all of our community members who supported Seward Park Conservancy during this year-end giving season! Seward Park is YOUR park, and it's your support that helps us keep the park open, beautiful, and safe for everyone. Thanks to many generous contributions, we're looking forward to another wonderful year in 2022!

AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD

NYC Parks is hosting Mulchfest, a citywide initiative to recycle Christmas trees, through Sunday January 9. The Lower East Side location is Corlears Hook Park.

The Seward Park Branch of the NYPL presents Meditation with Bruce Faithwick, a virtual meditation event, on Wednesday, January 12, 2:00pm - 3:00pm.

Andrew Strombeck will discuss his book, DIY on the Lower East Side: Books, Buildings, and Art after the 1975 Fiscal Crisis, in a virtual book talk. Hosted by the Tenement Museum, Tuesday January 25, 7:00 pm - 8:00pm.

Catch both the Paul Pretzer and Antonio Santin shows at the Mark Straus Gallery throughout January 2022.

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