It’s finally here! September 19-27, 2009 marks National Parks Week NYC – a series of public events to celebrate the history and future of our country’s most treasured lands. Brought to the city by the National Parks Conservation Association, the weeklong celebration will be held in association with the release of Ken Burns' new documentary, The National Parks: America's Best Idea.
Dont't have time for all the events? Have no fear! If you can only spare one day, make sure it is Wednesday, September 23 for some exciting events to choose from.
Check out the events below which are all open to the public.
Obata’s Yosemite Exhibition
When: Saturday, September 19 through Friday, September 25
Where: Federal Hall National Memorial
In 1927, Chiura Obata (1885-1975) visited Yosemite National Park and the Sierra Nevada, where he made approximately 100 drawings in pencil, watercolor, and sumi ink. The following year, he returned to Japan for a visit and brought 35 of the drawings to be translated into color woodcuts.
This fascinating exhibition showcases Obata’s 27 prints and watercolors as well as a series of 20 progressive proofs, all depicting Yosemite National Park.
International Coastal Clean-up Day
When: Saturday, September 19 through Saturday, September 26; 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Where: Gateway National Recreation Area/ Jamaica Bay Unit/ Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge and the North Channel Bridge Parking Lot
The American Littoral Society is coordinating cleanups and plantings at many Gateway NRA sites in NYC. For a complete list with dates and times, visit www.alsnyc.org or call 718-471-2166 for more information.
Nature’s Air Show at the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Bronx Zoo
When: Saturday, September 19, Sunday, September 20; 10:00 am – 5:30 pm
Where: Bronx Zoo
Bring the family for an up-close-and-personal experience with eagles, hawks, falcons, and vultures during the Bronx Zoo’s Nature’s Air Show. Watch them soar overhead then visit with them up-close after the show. Get 50% off one child’s admission with one paid adult. For more information, visit Bronxzoo.com/Airshow.
Bears in National Parks
When: Sunday, September 20; 1:0 0pm
Where: Brooklyn Children’s Museum
Join Yosemite National Park Ranger Shelton Johnson for an interactive talk about everyone’s favorite wild animal – bears! Find out what they eat and where they live, and check out some ursine objects from the Museum’s collection. Everyone who brings a teddy bear (children and adults) will receive $1 off Museum admission on Sunday, September 20.
Film Screenings: Red Gold and Other Short Documentaries
When: Sunday, September 20 and Monday, September 21; 7:30 pm
Where: Picnic House, Prospect Park, Brooklyn, NY
Red Gold is an award-winning documentary film that follows the subsistence and commercial salmon fishermen of Bristol Bay, Alaska. Don’t miss this rare glimpse into the thoughts and fears of the men as they work to make a living while struggling with the proposed Pebble Mine – an open pit that could transform and one of the world’s last remaining intact wild salmon fisheries. The event is free of charge
Grant’s Tomb After Dark
When: Tuesday, September 22; 8:00 pm
Where: General Grant National Memorial
Take a candlelit tour of this historical memorial guided by a Park Ranger for a unique experience. Deep into the mausoleum’s underground crypt visitors can examine the granite sarcophagi of Ulysses S. Grant and his wife Julia. For additional information, call 212-666-1640.
Lantern Tour of Fort Wadsworth
When: Wednesday, September 23 and Friday, September 25; 6:30 pm
Where: Gateway National Recreation Area/ Staten Island Unit/ Fort Wadsworth Visitor Center
Grab your flashlight and head out on one of the most popular tours of Fort Wasdsworth. Rangers will guide visitors through the historic sites. Reservations are required. Call 718-354-4500 or visit the National Park Service website.
The Children’s Museum of the Arts
When: Wednesday, September 23 to Sunday, September 27; 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm; Thursday, September 24; 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Where: The Children’s Museum of the Arts, 182 Lafayette St., New York, NY
During the museum’s general hours, park-themed guided workshops will be available to create park art. Admission is $10 per person (1 to 65 years) except on Thursday when visitors may pay as they wish from 4-6 pm. For more information, visit the museum’s website.
Feel Free: A National Parks Celebration in Central Park
When: Wednesday, September 23; 7:00 pm
Where: Central Park; East Meadow
This is the signature event of National Parks Week NYC so don’t miss it! Highlights include clips from Ken Burns' The National Parks: America’s Best Idea and musical performances from Eric Benet, Gavin DeGraw, Jose Feliciano, Carole King, Alison Krauss and Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas and Peter Yarrow. The live show from Central Park will be shared via satellite to PBS affiliates and other partners around the country.
