PLOG EXCLUSIVE
In one of the first changes under Prospect Park’s new leadership, major cuts will be made to school programming at the Audubon Center and Lefferts Historic House. Sources tell PLOG that beginning in July, all programs that service visiting classes will be phased out at the two locations. Public offerings and events will not be affected. Several staff positions will be eliminated or reassigned after the changes, according to individuals who did not wish to be identified.
The plan comes from former DEP Commissioner Emily Lloyd, who was appointed as Prospect Park Administrator less than four months ago. Lloyd succeeded Tupper Thomas who retired after serving in the position for three decades.
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The park–which calls itself “Brooklyn’s largest classroom”–offers an extensive array of curriculum for visiting students. Costs to schools range from $195 to $850 depending on the type and number of classes. It is not known if officials explored raising fees before cancelling the courses. Agencies and departments across the city are under pressure to reduce spending as the administration says it faces reduced tax revenues and funding from the state and federal government. Both a public and private partnership, more than one quarter one third of the park’s operating expenses are funded by the city.
The cuts come as the park has embarked on a $70 million project to build a new skating rink and restore some of the park’s original design.
[...] a tightening budget, Prospect Park is eliminating some jobs and cutting school programming at the Audubon Center and Lefferts Historic House. [...]
Turn “Lakeside” into a nice greensward, table the rink indefinitely, and re-fund the ed programs. Yeah yeah I know–we can’t do that, the grant money is earmarked. This is not good news.
[...] As a former kiddie docent at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden I am well-acquainted with the results of “nature deficit disorder,” and [...]
Ever consider that the new Lakeside Center will actually provide some permanent jobs and include an educational element for the kiddies in addition to providing more recreational space and beautifying the park even more!? Maybe this should speak to people who enjoy the park actually donating to the Prospect Park Alliance in support of some of the great work they have done to revitalize the once neglected park.
PLOG, congrats on having apparently served as a primary source for the NY Times. (And yet they continue to belittle bloggers!)
Lakeside will certainly provide jobs; as for education, certainly the physical kind. It sounds like a great project. But it will be a shame if the core educational programs of the park get axed while this showpiece with its mega-bucks budget goes forward. Donating to the ProsPark Alliance is absolutely critical (I’m a member). Unfortunately, Big New Projects tend to get more sizzle (and more megabucks) than Wonderful Ongoing Programs when it comes to big donors, I’m betting.
I think it’s a disgrace that school programs are being eliminated at the ONLY urban Audubon center in the country and a CHILDREN’S house museum. I wonder if there’s anything we can do to help–a petition, for example.
The park responded to my request for more info, which I posted over at theQatParkside.blogspot.com
Thanks PLOG for calling attention. I think it’s wise to note the actual cuts vs. speculation. Still, a bummer indeed.
The information in the story is confirmed by the park’s press release. It was not based on speculation.
PLOG: Your post did not speculate. I’m referring to the comments here and elsewhere. Sorry if I offended.