January 10, 2024
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Happy New Year from your friends at the Sutton Place Parks Conservancy (“SPPC”). 2023 was a busy year for SPPC and we are happy to report some new progress as we continue our mission to enhance and beautify our neighborhood parks.
First, the chain-link fence at 57th Street in coming down! If you have been in the area since Monday of this week, you will see that work is underway to replace the entryway that has been an eyesore for the past several years. While we wish the Parks Department had incorporated some of the design elements put forth by our neighbors in 1 SPS, we can all agree that the removal of the chain-link is a welcome sight.
Photo credits: Maureen Berman
Second, the East Midtown Greenway (“EMG”) opened on December 19th. Many of us were in attendance at the ribbon-cutting for Manhattan’s newest green space, right here in our own backyard! You can enter the EMG at 54th Street in the south or from the ramp at 60th Street at the north. Built by the City’s Economic Development Corporation, this newest addition to the Esplanade will be maintained by the Parks Department. Our neighbors to the north at the East Sixties Neighborhood Association advocated long and hard for this terrific new amenity.
Finally, our organization continues to grow and flourish. In 2023 we hired our first full-time employee. Laura Heckman, our Executive Director, comes to us with a rich background in the non-profit world, having worked at both the Riverside Park and Central Park Conservancies. We also expanded our Board of Directors, restructured our Committees and elected new Officers. They are: Christopher Collins President, Letty Simon & Maureen Berman Vice-Presidents, Carol Barry Secretary and Daniel Padnos Treasurer. Other Directors are Karen Nielsen, Maureen Leness, Lucy Lamphere, David Meister, Sandy Roth, Betty Daniels, Nancy Brown, Faith Bondy and Matt Bondy.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to our co-founder and outgoing President, Pat Scharlin, for her tireless efforts over many years to make SPPC a success. As a Board Member Emerita, we will count on her continued guidance. Thanks, Pat!
Sincerely,
Chris Collins