New Yorkers for Parks Honors Outstanding Community Groups at 18th Annual Daffodil Breakfast in Battery Park
Living Memorial to 9/11 One of the Largest Volunteer Efforts in City’s History
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 25, 2019
CONTACT: Megan Douglas 212-838-9410 ex.310 / mdouglas@ny4p.org
April 25, 2019 (New York, NY) – New Yorkers for Parks (NY4P), the citywide independent champion of quality open space, honored outstanding Daffodil Project volunteers from every borough at its annual Daffodil Breakfast on Tuesday, April 23rd, at the Battery Park Gardens restaurant in Downtown Manhattan.
Co-founded by NY4P Board Member Lynden Miller and the New York City Parks Department in the fall of 2001 as a living memorial to the victims of 9/11, The Daffodil Project has given away over 7.5 million free daffodil bulbs across the five boroughs. By engaging over 100,000 young students, parks and gardens groups, civic organizations, and other New Yorkers, The Daffodil Project is one of the largest volunteer efforts in City history. An enduring testament to the resiliency of New Yorkers and a powerful tool for community engagement and education, The Daffodil Project inspired Mayor Michael Bloomberg to name the daffodil the official flower of New York City in 2007.
Every spring, NY4P honors volunteers for their participation and leadership in the Project at the Breakfast. The honorees each dedicate countless hours to improving their local green spaces, and plant bulbs from The Daffodil Project to care for these spaces and engage local residents in stewardship and community-building.
The 2018/2019 season Daffodil Project was one for the record books, with more people requesting bulbs than ever before. NY4P distributed over 500,000 free daffodil bulbs to over 1,300 groups and individuals, including 267 New York City schools, with over 33,000 children and teens participating.
“These volunteers put in countless hours improving New York City green spaces for the enjoyment of all, and yet all too often they don’t receive much recognition beyond their local communities,” said Lynn Kelly, Executive Director of New Yorkers for Parks. “The Daffodil Project has planted over 7.5 million daffodil bulbs across all five boroughs, and that success truly wouldn’t be possible without these dedicated New Yorkers. We are delighted to honor and celebrate their work.”
“Through our partnership with New Yorkers for Parks, every year the Daffodil Project ushers in spring across all corners of New York City,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver, FAICP. “It has been an honor to collaborate with New Yorkers for Parks and the thousands of volunteers whose dedication to their open spaces nourishes our city.”
In a Daffodil Breakfast first, Lynden B. Miller, NY4P board member, Daffodil Project co-founder, and acclaimed public garden designer, received a surprise honor from Capital Trees and Brent and Becky’s Bulbs, both based in Virginia, when they announced a newly registered narcissus named the “Lovely Lynden.” They named the daffodil in appreciation of Miller’s work to “beautify our world and the City of New York, for her glorious gardens, inspired beautification of public spaces, and dedicated teaching.”
This year, NY4P honored the following individuals and community groups:
The Lynden B. Miller Citywide Award: New York Road Runners
Having just completed the celebration of its 60th anniversary, New York Road Runners (NYRR) has been inspiring New Yorkers through running for decades, growing from a local running club to a global champion of the sport of running and its transformative power. As the world’s premier community running organization, NYRR serves people of all ages and abilities, from beginners to professional athletes: the young, seniors, and the underserved. Seeing a synergy between getting New Yorkers running and getting them active in caring for their local parks, NYRR’s Vice President for Government Relations & Community Investment Mike Schnall worked with NY4P, Partnership for Parks, and other local groups to organize the first ever NYRR Daffodil Planting Marathon - organizing daffodil plantings at NYRR Open Runs in parks across the five boroughs. The NYRR Daffodil Planting Marathon not only encouraged runners and walkers to visit new parks, but also inspired them to care for and engage with the spaces they run and walk in. NYRR plans to continue their involvement with The Daffodil Project in the future, and to support other organizations who share their commitment to provide safe and clean spaces for New Yorkers.
Bronx Daffodil Award: Roxanne Delgado, Friends of Pelham Parkway
When Roxanne Delgado noticed trash piling up in her park, she immediately contacted the Parks Department, and soon after launched her first park cleanup. That first gathering sparked the beginning of Friends of Pelham Parkway, a group dedicated to keeping the parkway safe and clean, while simultaneously encouraging park users to develop a love of nature. The Friends became involved with The Daffodil Project shortly after the group was formed in 2017, planting just over 100 daffodils that first year. The Friends group continued to grow, and in 2018, they planted over 1,000 daffodils throughout the parkway, beautifying their local park while teaching volunteers about the importance of caring for local green spaces. In the future, Roxanne hopes that the Friends will provide more educational programming, and help inspire others to create community groups for their own neighborhood parks.
Brooklyn Daffodil Award: Gregory Ingram, East NY 4 Gardens Inc.
Gregory Ingram has lived in East New York for over 50 years, and for 20 of those years, he has been a leader in advocating for and protecting his neighborhood’s parks, gardens, and open spaces. Though many of his peers initially did not understand Gregory’s passion for green spaces, he soon found others who shared his interests and formed East NY 4 Gardens Inc., a nonprofit organization focused on East Brooklyn, East New York, Brownsville, and Canarsie. Gregory and East NY 4 Gardens became involved in The Daffodil Project several years ago, after reading about the Project’s roots as a memorial to 9/11 victims. With the opportunity to honor the lives lost on 9/11 while also beautifying his community and improving his local parks, Gregory and his organization continued participating in The Daffodil Project year after year. In the future, Gregory hopes that with increased funding and community support, East NY 4 Gardens can expand its role in the community, engaging residents through urban horticulture and environmental issues.
Manhattan Daffodil Award: Luther Tari Stubblefield, A Magical Garden; NYCHA Baruch/Fulton Development
A NYCHA Gardener for over 30 years, Luther Tari Stubblefield founded “A Magical Garden” in the spring of 1996 in the Lower East Side, and then began living in Chelsea and working on a garden there. Friends of the High Line welcomed him to Chelsea with a grant and additional garden support, and Green Thumb also provided services to his garden, as well as others in NYCHA. In recognition of the garden’s success, "A Magical Garden" has received NYCHA’s First Prize Garden Awards nine times. Tari had been dedicated to the gardens in lower Manhattan for many years when he first became involved with The Daffodil Project. He has since received hundreds of bulbs each year that he has planted in his garden and also distributed to other NYCHA Gardener’s in Manhattan. This year with the help of Ms. Diane Blackwell he will reach more gardens in Harlem. Tari often likes to say, “I feel that all New York community gardens bring youth, adults and seniors together to communicate and plant gardens together…”
Queens Daffodil Award: Betty and Jameel Khan, Baisley Pond Park Block Association
Betty and Jameel Khan are not new to gardening and beautifying open spaces. Growing up in the lush, green environment of the Caribbean, Betty and Jameel were determined to instill the same values of caring for and protecting the environment in their children. To help better their community and get to know their neighbors, the Khans joined the Baisley Pond Park Block Association. When searching for affordable flowers to plant in their park, the Khans stumbled upon The Daffodil Project, and immediately wanted to get involved. Since 2017, Betty and Jameel have been planting bulbs with their children, Alayna and Raihan, throughout Baisley Pond Park. The Khans hope to increase activities in Baisley Pond Park in the future, and just last year hosted a daffodil planting workshop in the park for their kids’ school. Through these workshops, and planting with their own children, Betty and Jameel hope to teach kids about the importance of being good citizens, giving back to the community, and being a part of something good, lasting, and beautiful for future generations.
Staten Island Daffodil Award: Frank Mascia, Chief of Staff, Office of Council Member Borelli
A lifelong resident of Staten Island, Frank Mascia has always been passionate about nature and green spaces, exploring many local parks and taking his dog on outdoor adventures. When a colleague told him about The Daffodil Project in 2018, he was immediately interested, and requested over 1,000 bulbs. Partnering with four local public elementary schools in Staten Island, Frank organized a day for the students to plant the daffodils in their schoolyards and learn about the importance of open space stewardship and caring for their neighborhood. Through his position as Chief of Staff at Council Member Borelli’s office, Frank enjoys being able to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives, particularly in his home borough of Staten Island. Frank hopes to continue his partnership with The Daffodil Project and bring bulbs and environmental education to schools in his community.
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About New Yorkers for Parks
For over 100 years New Yorkers for Parks has been the independent champion for quality parks and open space for all New Yorkers. Through our research, advocacy, and the Daffodil Project, we work with communities and elected officials to create and preserve quality open space across the city. To learn more visit us at www.ny4p.org.
CONTACT: Megan Douglas 212-838-9410 ex.310 / mdouglas@ny4p.org