“Parks For All People” Event Celebrates Beauty

By Jennifer L. Warren

NEWBURGH – “It’s a great day to be in a park.”

These words resonated throughout Andrew Jackson Downing Memorial Park in the City of Newburgh Saturday afternoon. As a large crowd gathered near the Shelter House, in close proximity to Third Street, right between Robinson Avenue and Carpenter Avenue, enveloped by crystal blue skies, a sunny backdrop, and spring flowering bulbs, Pam Breeman, President of the Orange Club of Orange and Dutchess County delivered this message Saturday afternoon. The event, a Celebration of the 200th Birthday Anniversary of Frederick Law Olmsted, the man largely responsible for making Downing’s Newburgh dream park a reality, was made possible by the Garden Club along with Downing Park Planning Committee and contained a potent, increasingly relevant theme.

“I’m so happy the topic of today’s event is ‘Parks for All People,’ as the mission was that all people should come to this park for mental and physical health,” said Karen Eberle-McCarthy of the Downing Park Planning Committee. “Parks really are a community asset in so many ways.”

Andrew Downing, America’s first landscape architect, recognized the profound impact of outdoor landscape home décor as well as dire need for public, green spaces hundreds of years ago. Jackson acutely detected the dire necessity for public outdoor spaces, contributing to the health of all people on multiple levels. Tragically passing away in 1852 at just 36 years old, Downing had a large following of friends as well as other passionate park believers. One of them was Olmstead, founder of America landscape architecture, author, public official, urban planner and social reformer, who was able to give birth to Downing’s Newburgh dream park vision 30 years after his passing.

A tireless advocate for public spaces being accessible to all people, Olmsted saw the lasting, positive effects they can have on multiple health levels with his first park creation: The tangible realization of Downing’s sketch and vision for Central Park. His role in spearheading the Downing Park site, his last park design, was guided by an equally passionate belief in and determination for carrying out Jackson’s dream of public availability to beautiful, mutifaceted outdoor spaces

The result: Hundreds of people now enjoy the countless offerings of Andrew Jackson Downing Memorial Park. Such activities as; running, yoga, tai chi, nature walks, hiking, along with events, including Downing Park Day and The Newburgh Illuminated Festival have taken place in this outdoor haven. The onset of the Pandemic, further fueled the multiple, priceless offerings of parks as well as critical need to ensure their natural beauty with regular upkeep.

“Newburgh has deep, deep roots, and one of them is in horticulture; Downing Park is the greatest manifestation of the outdoor beauty we have here,” said City of Newburgh Mayor, Torrance Harvey at Saturday’s Program. “The theme of ‘Parks for All People’ is what is really important today.”

That inclusive mantra could be seen throughout Downing Park Saturday afternoon. Hundreds of spring flowering buds, planted by the Garden Club of Orange and Dutchess County as well as daffodils by local school students, dotted the Park’s landscape.

Meanwhile, singing entertainment was provided by the Newburgh Free Academy Madrigals as well as the San Miguel Academy Choir. A ceremonial “Tree Planting,” part of an ongoing Downing Park rejuvenation project, as well as seed bomb share took place following the Program. Regardless of age, background, skill level or any other category, all people had the opportunity to contribute to the park’s overall beautification as well as enjoy its numerous gifts. In many ways, it replicated the very scene both Jackson first envisioned for Downing Park and Olmstead implemented at the turn of the 19th century.

“This is just one of the many public spaces Olmsted created from scratch-designed by human hands-over 100 years ago, believing every person deserved a place to rest and relax after long days of work with the hope those who came after them would take care of it,” explained Anne “Dede” Petri, Keynote Speaker, Managing Director of Olmsted 200 and President and CEO of the National Association of Olmsted Parks. “He also believed public spaces can build strong communities; now, more than ever, it’s up to us to make sure these spaces are maintained.” Smiling big, Petri added, “Let’s do it for Fred.”