BY DONNA KLEIN, nyarm

On Wednesday, May 24, 2000 the New York Association of Realty Managers (NYARM) held its last monthly meeting of the season. The special guest speaker was Adrian Benepe, Manhattan Borough Commissioner, Parks Department. The dinner meeting was held at Frank's, a familiar west side steakhouse.

Commissioner Benepe brought Parks Department Commissioner Henry Stern's regards to NYARM. He had just left the commissioner at a meeting of the Historic House Trust, a group that takes care of the City's historic homes ranging in age from the 1650s to 1830s. He pointed out they have the same problems NYARM managers deal with, leaky roofs, poor drainage, etc.

Mr. Benepe pointed out that much of New York's priciest real estate is associated with trees and greenery: Park Avenue, Central Park West, Riverside Drive, Madison Square, Park Slope. This is not merely a coincidence. New Yorkers, like most people, enjoy being within the vicinity of nature. "We take it for granted that a building or business next to a park is going to be more valuable and a more desirable place to live and that a tree lined street is a street that you would like to live on."

Those things that make real estate desirable are the stock and trade of the Parks Department. Tree lined streets and safe, clean parks and recreation centers are assets to the city and the communities they serve. Neighborhoods command higher realty prices when they can boast such amenities.

Benepe has been with the Parks Department for 15 years and claims it has undergone a renaissance in the last six years. Thirteen percent of the City's total acreage (all five boroughs) is parks. The City tends to nearly 500,000 street trees. Nearly half of them are Norway maples and London planes. An additional 2 million trees are located in parks. There are 980 playgrounds, 614 ball fields and 35 recreation centers. "It's the largest urban park system in the world," stated Benepe.

TREES

Tree care alone takes up much of the Department's energy. In 1999 17,145 trees were planted citywide, 1,819 in Manhattan; 7,338 trees were removed, 322 in Manhattan and 47,623 trees were pruned, 3,111 in Manhattan. Benepe stated that ten years ago there was such a backlog at the Department, that it could take 2-3 years to get a dead tree removed! He proudly proclaimed that if you call in a request today, it should not take longer than 30 days to have a dead tree removed.

According to Benepe, it can take less than a year to have a new tree planted, possibly even the next season. The City has planted over 10,000 trees a year for the last ten years. In fact, so many trees have been planted that the local nurseries cannot keep up and the City has had to go to Canada.

"Let's say you can't wait for us to plant a tree," states Benepe. "You can call the One-Stop-Tree-Shop at 212-360-TREE (8733) and with one phone call and a check we'll get a tree planted for you."

Thanks to the City Council passing legislation, tree guards are now legal. Tree guards protect your tree from motor vehicles backing up into them, bicycle chains and dog waste. Call Parks Central Forestry, Street Tree Division, at 718-760-6793 to obtain guidelines for tree guards. Most iron work contractors will know how to put up tree guards, claims Benepe.

If you witness a truck killing a tree "call 800-201-PARK (7275) and report the license number and any description. We'll go after them. We've gotten awards of up to $20,000. We vigorously pursue the people who commit arboricide."

When you get a new tree water it, especially the first few summers. A tree needs 15 to 20 gallons of water per week, applied slowly. Don't prune your tree yourself, you need a permit to trim a tree. You can get a permit from the Forestry division (212-860-1844) or become a licensed Citizen Tree Pruner. Call Trees New York, 212-227-1887 to enroll in a training program.

COMMUNITY GROUPS

In conclusion Benepe mentioned the Partnerships for Parks which was founded in 1995. It is a joint initiative of the City Parks Foundation and the City of New York/Parks & Recreation. The Partnership works to increase community support of parks throughout the five boroughs. Programs range from working with small neighborhood groups who adopt a park to large corporate sponsorships of clean-up projects.

The number of supporters has grown from the original 500 in 1995 to nearly 40,000, and continues to grow. This database of volunteers is a critical tool in keeping people involved in their parks. "We figure that private people, between the money they raise and the labor they contribute probably do about $60 million a year on top of what the City spends. That's on top of $180 million a year for the expense budget of the Parks Department," stated Benepe.

ENGAGED CITZENRY

"Even with all the money in the world, if there isn't an engaged citizenry (homeowners, block associations, etc.) we couldn't get our job done," claimed Benepe. Block associations water the trees throughout the summer, sometimes planting around the trees.

Business Improvement Districts (BID) represent building owners and commercial properties. The Lincoln Square BID sponsors the Adopt-a-Mall program that has local businesses pay for the maintenance and plant material for the Broadway Malls. Union Square BID-LDC raises money for improvements to the park including new benches and high-tech lights. The BID hosts annual events that pay for Park Personnel.

Mr. Benepe related a touching story of a park once in disrepair and abandonment. The Straus Park on Broadway and 106^th Street is now a showplace of flowers, shrubs and trees thanks to the help of the community and particularly two neighborhood restaurants that have pledged $6,000 annually for the next ten years to hire a gardener and pay for plant materials. A perfect example of "engaged citizenry."

"I have the best job in the City and every day, even after a tough day, I go home and say I did my part to make the City a little nicer to live in," stated Benepe. He thanked NYARM members for joining him in that quest to make the City a nicer place to live.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Adrain Benepe has worked for more than two decades in a variety of public/private partnerships to protect New York City's natural and historic beauty. He was appointed Manhattan Borough Commissioner in January 1996. He is responsible for the management of more than 270 parks, playgrounds and malls - covering 2,619 acres - including 12 recreations centers, 17 swimming pools, 125 ball fields, 100 tennis courts, running tracks, theaters, playing fields and technical service support facilities.

In addition he shares responsibility for the allocation and management of $35 million in capital funds, which are used to rebuild parks and upgrade recreational facilities. With the help of 500 full time workers, 2000 seasonal and workfare staff, 12 community boards and more than 100 volunteer groups, Commissioner Benepe has the primary responsibility for the management of Manhattan's green infrastructure.

Prior to his present appointment, he served as Vice President for Issues and Public Affairs for the Municipal Arts Society. He managed all aspects of public relations while developing strategies for public advocacy efforts in city planning, historic preservation and public art.

From 1990 to 1993, Mr. Benepe served as Director of the Annual Fund and Major Gifts for the New York Botanical Garden. From 1979 to 1990, he held numerous positions with the Parks Department including park ranger in Central Park to Director of Natural Resources and Horticulture to Director of Arts and Antiquities. He helped create the Historic House Trust, mentioned above, a non-profit group of prominent citizens dedicated to the preservation and restoration of historic structures.