{"id":43,"date":"2016-04-28T16:09:47","date_gmt":"2016-04-28T16:09:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.offpeak.coastalpreservation.org\/?page_id=43"},"modified":"2016-05-16T17:33:09","modified_gmt":"2016-05-16T17:33:09","slug":"the-parks","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.coastalpreservation.org\/?page_id=43","title":{"rendered":"The Parks"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"pl-43\"  class=\"panel-layout\" ><div id=\"pg-43-0\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-43-0-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-43-0-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_metaslider_widget panel-first-child\" data-index=\"0\" ><div id=\"metaslider-id-105\" style=\"max-width: 700px;\" class=\"ml-slider-3-107-0 metaslider metaslider-flex metaslider-105 ml-slider has-dots-nav ms-theme-default\" role=\"region\" aria-label=\"MacNeil\" data-height=\"300\" data-width=\"700\">\n    <div id=\"metaslider_container_105\">\n        <div id=\"metaslider_105\">\n            <ul class='slides'>\n                <li style=\"display: block; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-121 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2016-04-28 19:10:23\" data-filename=\"macneil-sign-640x274.jpg\" data-slide-type=\"image\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.coastalpreservation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/macneil-sign.jpg?resize=700%2C300&#038;ssl=1\" height=\"300\" width=\"700\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-105 slide-121 msDefaultImage\" \/><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-221 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2016-05-13 17:22:09\" data-filename=\"MacN-wetlands-cleanup-700x300.jpg\" data-slide-type=\"image\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.coastalpreservation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/MacN-wetlands-cleanup.jpg?resize=700%2C300&#038;ssl=1\" height=\"300\" width=\"700\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-105 slide-221 msDefaultImage\" \/><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-106 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2016-04-28 18:36:23\" data-filename=\"daffodils-at-macneil-700x300.jpg\" data-slide-type=\"image\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.coastalpreservation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/daffodils-at-macneil.jpg?resize=700%2C300&#038;ssl=1\" height=\"300\" width=\"700\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-105 slide-106 msDefaultImage\" \/><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-107 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2016-04-28 18:36:30\" data-filename=\"weeping-beech-at-Macneil-700x300.jpg\" data-slide-type=\"image\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.coastalpreservation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/weeping-beech-at-Macneil.jpg?resize=700%2C300&#038;ssl=1\" height=\"300\" width=\"700\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-105 slide-107 msDefaultImage\" \/><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-222 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2016-05-13 17:22:16\" data-filename=\"MacNeil-wetlands-w-kayaks_crp-700x300.jpg\" data-slide-type=\"image\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.coastalpreservation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/MacNeil-wetlands-w-kayaks_crp.jpg?resize=700%2C300&#038;ssl=1\" height=\"300\" width=\"700\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-105 slide-222 msDefaultImage\" \/><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-157 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2016-05-11 17:33:28\" data-filename=\"playground-macneil-700x300.jpg\" data-slide-type=\"image\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.coastalpreservation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/playground-macneil.jpg?resize=700%2C300&#038;ssl=1\" height=\"300\" width=\"700\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-105 slide-157 msDefaultImage\" \/><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-16 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2016-04-27 20:02:34\" data-filename=\"macneil-near-playground2_crp-553x237.jpg\" data-slide-type=\"image\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.coastalpreservation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/macneil-near-playground2_crp.jpg?resize=700%2C300&#038;ssl=1\" height=\"300\" width=\"700\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-105 slide-16 msDefaultImage\" \/><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-17 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2016-04-27 20:02:36\" data-filename=\"MacNeil-seagrass-and-kayakers_crp-700x300.jpg\" data-slide-type=\"image\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.coastalpreservation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/MacNeil-seagrass-and-kayakers_crp.jpg?resize=700%2C300&#038;ssl=1\" height=\"300\" width=\"700\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-105 slide-17 msDefaultImage\" \/><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-155 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2016-05-11 17:33:22\" data-filename=\"holes-path-600x257.jpg\" data-slide-type=\"image\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.coastalpreservation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/holes-path.jpg?resize=700%2C300&#038;ssl=1\" height=\"300\" width=\"700\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-105 slide-155 msDefaultImage\" \/><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-156 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2016-05-11 17:33:24\" data-filename=\"MacNeilParkChisholmMan1930-420x180.jpg\" data-slide-type=\"image\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.coastalpreservation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/MacNeilParkChisholmMan1930.jpg?resize=700%2C300&#038;ssl=1\" height=\"300\" width=\"700\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-105 slide-156 msDefaultImage\" \/><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-14 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2016-04-27 20:02:27\" data-filename=\"horseshoe-crab-at-macneil_crp-700x300.jpg\" data-slide-type=\"image\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.coastalpreservation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/horseshoe-crab-at-macneil_crp.jpg?resize=700%2C300&#038;ssl=1\" height=\"300\" width=\"700\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-105 slide-14 msDefaultImage\" \/><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-158 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2016-05-11 17:33:32\" data-filename=\"reconstruction-plan-588x252.jpg\" data-slide-type=\"image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.offpeak.coastalpreservation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/reconstruction-plan.jpg\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"View Slide Details\" class=\"metaslider_image_link\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.coastalpreservation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/reconstruction-plan.jpg?resize=700%2C300&#038;ssl=1\" height=\"300\" width=\"700\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-105 slide-158 msDefaultImage\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-154 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2016-05-11 17:33:18\" data-filename=\"family-earth-fair-macneil-700x300.jpg\" data-slide-type=\"image\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.coastalpreservation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/family-earth-fair-macneil.jpg?resize=700%2C300&#038;ssl=1\" height=\"300\" width=\"700\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-105 slide-154 msDefaultImage\" \/><\/li>\n            <\/ul>\n        <\/div>\n        \n    <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><div id=\"panel-43-0-0-1\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_black-studio-tinymce widget_black_studio_tinymce panel-last-child\" data-index=\"1\" ><div class=\"textwidget\"><h5>MacNeil Park<\/h5>\n<p>Hermon A. MacNeil Park in College Point, Queens, NY offers 29 acres of spectacular waterfront property with sweeping views of the East River, Long Island Sound, Whitestone Bridge, Manhattan skyline, and the Bronx. MacNeil is popular with walkers, dogs, runners, cyclists, families, and fishermen. The park is filled with majestic trees \u2013 Littleleaf Linden, Pine, Sassafras, Sycamore, Horse Chestnut, Gingko, Maple and more. It boasts a waterfront esplanade (reconstruction to begin by fall of 2016), baseball fields, a basketball and handball court, a playground, and a Sept. 11 Memorial Tree Grove.<\/p>\n<p>The histories of MacNeil Park and College Point are closely linked. In 1835, Rev. Dr. William Augustus Muhlenberg purchased 134 acres of land in the area as the site of a new Episcopal seminary. Due to the financial panic of 1837, plans for an expensive stone school building were abandoned and a wood frame building was erected instead. St. Paul\u2019s College, for which College Point is named, opened in 1839 but closed only 10 years later. The building was used for various schools (including a girls\u2019 school and a nautical school) until it was demolished in 1900.<\/p>\n<p>A stone building was ultimately built at the highest point on the grounds in 1848, but not for a seminary. Rev. Muhlenberg\u2019s sister, Mary Rogers, purchased the huge blocks of blue-gray stone that had laid unused and built a mansion as a wedding gift to her daughter, Mary, who married William F. Chisolm, a former St. Paul\u2019s student. The park was long called \u201cChisholm\u2019s Park,\u201d and is still called that by many long-time College Point residents.<\/p>\n<p> In 1930, the City of New York purchased the stone mansion from the Rogers family along with the surrounding 28 acres to create a public park. Influential and controversial Parks Commissioner Robert Moses spearheaded the project. The property was assessed at $346,000 at the time, and the mansion was assessed at $27,750.<\/p>\n<p> New York City Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia made the Chisolm mansion his summer City Hall in 1937, conducting his municipal business in July and August on the shores of the East River. The old mansion was ultimately razed in 1941. A flagpole at the top of the hill marks the site where it stood.<\/p>\n<p> The park was renamed in honor of American sculptor <a href=\"http:\/\/hermonatkinsmacneil.com\">Hermon Atkins MacNeil <\/a>(1866-1947) in 1966 on the 100-year anniversary of his birth. MacNeil\u2019s home and studio were adjacent to the park, on the site where Silverpoint and Riverview residences now stand. The renaming was the first local law signed by Mayor John V. Lindsay. MacNeil\u2019s sculptures can be seen throughout New York City, including at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/poppenhusen\/photos\/o.158601877501140\/427180022100\/?type=1&amp;theater\">Poppenhusen Institute<\/a> in College Point, on the\u00a0 <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Washington_Square_Arch#\/media\/File:Washington_in_War_MacNeil.jpg\">Washington Square Park arch<\/a>,\u00a0 and at the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.metmuseum.org\/toah\/works-of-art\/19.126\/\">Metropolitan Museum of Art<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The MacNeil Park esplanade has been closed to the public for several years due to a collapsing seawall and deep holes along the pathway. The NYC Parks Department is poised to begin a long-awaited, $3.9 million capital reconstruction of the esplanade in summer or fall of 2016. Beach access and a dedicated fishing area will also be added.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pgc-43-0-1\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-43-0-1-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-image panel-first-child\" data-index=\"2\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-image so-widget-sow-image-default-8b5b6f678277-43\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"sow-image-container\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.coastalpreservation.org\/?page_id=133\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t<img \n\tsrc=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.coastalpreservation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/CPN_map_only_website.jpg?fit=792%2C540&amp;ssl=1\" width=\"792\" height=\"540\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.coastalpreservation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/CPN_map_only_website.jpg?w=792&amp;ssl=1 792w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.coastalpreservation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/CPN_map_only_website.jpg?resize=300%2C205&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.coastalpreservation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/CPN_map_only_website.jpg?resize=768%2C524&amp;ssl=1 768w\" alt=\"\" \t\tclass=\"so-widget-image\"\/>\n\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><div id=\"panel-43-0-1-1\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-button panel-last-child\" data-index=\"3\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-button so-widget-sow-button-atom-e9f3ecd1e8db-43\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t><div class=\"ow-button-base ow-button-align-center\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\thref=\"http:\/\/www.offpeak.coastalpreservation.org\/?page_id=48\"\n\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"sowb-button ow-icon-placement-left ow-button-hover\" \t>\n\t\t<span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tPowell's Cove Park\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>MacNeil ParkHermon A. MacNeil Park in College Point, Queens, NY offers 29 acres of spectacular waterfront property with sweeping views of the East River, Long Island Sound, Whitestone Bridge, Manhattan skyline, and the Bronx. MacNeil is popular with walkers, dogs, runners, cyclists, families, and fishermen. The park is filled with majestic trees \u2013 Littleleaf Linden, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"templates\/template-full.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-43","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","post"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.coastalpreservation.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/43","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.coastalpreservation.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.coastalpreservation.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.coastalpreservation.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.coastalpreservation.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=43"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/www.coastalpreservation.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/43\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":259,"href":"https:\/\/www.coastalpreservation.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/43\/revisions\/259"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.coastalpreservation.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=43"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}