Just In Time For Summer: Kathleen Henderson, Carroll Park's Playground Associate, Will Be Back This Friday

Kathleen Henderson

Kathleen's collage of summers past

For many neighborhood kids, Summer in Carroll Park means friends, running through the sprinklers, and Kathleen Henderson.
Just in time for Memorial Day week-end, Kathleen, our beloved Carroll Park Playground Associate, will be back for another fun summer with more games and arts & craft. She has been part of our neighborhood for many years now and has seen scores of Carroll Gardens babies grow into adulthood, mine included.

As a member of Friends of Carroll Park, I can only say wonderful things about Kathleen. During her summer tenures in the park, she has become the neighborhood mom, grandma, sitter, and friend to many.  She has even been honored as a New York Woman of Distinction in Albany for her work.

Kathleen is starting this Friday, so stop by to welcome her back.

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As Always, Carroll Park Halloween Parade Was Great Fun

I am currently out of town, so I missed the yearly Kids Halloween Parade in Carroll Park yesterday. Too bad.   I love seeing all the little princesses, superheroes and ghouls parading around the park and the neighborhood.  It must have been lots of fun judging by the photos sent to me by Gary Dolan, president of Friends Of Carroll Park
Gary reports:

There were over 300 participants. Weather was great, mostly cloudy but warm and no wind. Kathleen Henderson led the parade. We had an auxiliary police escort with a vehicle front and back. The parade headed out of the park on President near Smith, went west on President to Henry, to First, to Smith, and back to the park. Residents along the route were delighted, some surprised, some waiting for it. We had a drummer and Kathleen handed out 200 noisemakers. There were several large puppets that Pearl lent to us. We played Halloween music and served refreshments afterward -- water, apple juice, milk and cookies and pastries and apple slices. Local politicos handed out candy. We assembled in the park at 11:30, headed out at noon and wrapped up the post-parade refreshments about 1:45.

Hope all the little Carroll Gardeners got to participate.
Thanks to all the Friends of Carroll Park for organizing the event and thank you also to Smith Canteen on Smith Street for sponsoring the fun

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Kathleen Henderson, Carroll Park Playground Associate, To Be Honored In Albany Tonight

Nobody is more deserving of this!
Kathleen Henderson, beloved Carroll Park Playground Associate, will be honored in Albany tonight as a New York Woman of Distinction. She has been selected by NY State Senator Squadron as this year's 25th Senate District honoree. Way to go, Kathleen.
As a member of Friends of Carroll Park  for the last twenty years, I can only say wonderful things of Kathleen. During her many years in the park, she has become the neighborhood Mom, Grandma, Sitter, and Friend to many. She has turned her job into more than a job and improved Carroll Park in ways no one anticipated. We have seen the park go from being a neglected and avoided park to becoming the heart of the neighborhood and Kathleen has had a lot to do with that. The kids who spent time with her, connected to the park in ways we had not seen before so that we have very little graffiti or other vandalism and increased community spirit and support for the park.

Below is the award announcement by Senator Squadron's office.

Tonight marks the New York State Senate’s 15th annual Women of Distinction celebration. This year, Senator Squadron is proud to honor Carroll Park Playground Associate Kathleen Henderson as the 25th Senate District's Woman of Distinction.You all know how invaluable Kathleen is to our community. Over the last 16 years, the community has seen Carroll Park turn from a neglected and avoided park to become the heart of our neighborhood -- and Kathleen has been a key force behind that transformation. Kathleen is a treasure to the Carroll Gardens community, and a most deserving honoree.Created by the Senate in 1998, the Women of Distinction program recognizes the historic contributions of New Yorkers as part of National Women’s History Month.In a celebration that recognizes outstanding women throughout the state, the Senate will be honoring Kathleen in Albany tonight with a ceremony and reception at the State Capitol.Senator Squadron looks forward to hosting Kathleen and her family at tonight's celebration of notable New York women -- whose contributions continue to shape our communities and our state and inspire our residents.

As promised, here are some photos of the event from Senator Squadron's office.

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Whole Lot Of Kids Learning To Ride Bikes In Carroll Park

Jose Rivas and Kathleen Henderson of NYC Parks And Recreation

Perhaps you walked through Carroll Park on Saturday morning at about 10 Am and saw a whole lot of kids on bikes in the ball field. They were taking part in a free "Learn To Ride" event sponsored bt the NYC Parks And Recreation department. The program teaches" fundamentals of bicycling, preparing riders for years of safe and confident riding."  (Adults are also welcome.)
What a great idea. If you missed this session, don't worry. The Parks Department has scheduled others throughout the city this the summer. For more information, click here.

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Great News! Kathleen Coming Back To Carroll Park On May 1st For Another Fun Summer In Carroll Park

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Another indication that summer is right around the corner. Kathleen Henderson, the wonderful New York City Parks Department Recreations Coordinator in Carroll Park, is starting another season of fun on May 1st. As many in the neighborhood know, Kathleen organizes games, arts and craft projects, turns the park house into a fun play house on rainy days and distributes countless hugs. 

Kathleen has been a part of Carroll Park for many years and has seen neighborhood toddlers grow into teens if not adults. She knows most of the kids by name and for the little ones, a visit to Carroll Park in the summer would not be the same without her. The community and the park is extremely lucky to have her.

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Great News! Funds Restored For Kathleen, Carroll Park's Playground Associate

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Great news: Funding For Kathleen has been restored! Will return as soon as Monday!

What a testimony to this neighborhood and for its love for Kathleen Henderson, Carroll Park's much beloved Playground Associate. When it seemed as though funding for Kathleen would not be found for her position as recreational organizer this summer, local residents immediately reacted by reaching out to the Park's Department and to local politicians.

Thank Councilman Brad Lander for reaching out to

Brooklyn Borough Park's Commissioner Kevin Jeffries and Chief of Staff Marty Maher

to help restore her position. Below is a statement from Brad's office:

Councilmember Brad Lander

June 9, 2011

I'm very pleased to let you know about the restoration of the Carroll Park playground associate position of Kathleen Henderson, better known to many of you as the "den mother of Carroll Park." Kathleen is a treasure of the Carroll Gardens community. She not only does fantastic arts and recreation projects with the kids, but helps keep Carroll Park safe & welcoming for all.

As soon as I heard from some of you that her position had not been renewed for the summer, I reached out to the Brooklyn Parks Department. I'm very happy to report that Brooklyn Borough Commissioner Kevin Jeffries and Chief of Staff Marty Maher were immediately responsive, and found a way to restore her position starting Monday, June 20th. Thanks so much to them for helping to make this happen.

But we are not out of the water here. The Parks Department has been cut deeply over the past few years -- from about 8,000 employees in 2007 to fewer than 5,000 today. And Mayor Bloomberg is proposing substantial additional cuts for the budget year that starts July 1st, including cuts of more than $10 million for seasonal workers like Kathleen. If those cuts go through, we may shortly find ourself right back in this position.

Right now, the City Council is busy negotiating (in this case, a nice word for fighting) with the Bloomberg Administration over this year's budget. We are trying to find a way to restore many of the cuts the mayor has proposed -- 4,000 teachers, 20 fire companies, over 10,000 day care slots, public library closures and hour reductions, and on and on, including playground associates. There are other, better, smart choices ... including tapping into the City's rainy-day fund, controlling contract spending, and extending the "millionaire' s tax" (which is set to expire on December 31st).

You can help. Call Mayor Bloomberg at 311 and ask him to restore funding for playground associates like Kathleen (and, while you're at it, for teachers, fire companies, day care, and libraries). Hopefully, with enough pressure, we will be able to pass a budget by June 30th that restores funding for Kathleen's position (and much else) for next year.

For now, I'm thrilled that Kathleen will be back in Caroll Park on Monday, June 20th.

Brad

I am sure you will join me in thanking our Councilman, Borough Parks

Commissioner Kevin Jeffries and Chief of Staff Marty Maher

for understanding how important Kathleen is not only to Carroll Park, but also to the community.

See you in the park on Monday for a 'Welcome Back Party' for Kathleen, everyone?

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After More Than A Decade As Carroll Park's Playground Associate, No Funding For Kathleen Henderson This Summer

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UPDATE

Great News: Thanks to everyone's prompt response,Kathleen's funding has been restored.

Click here for more

Sad news for many kids in Carroll Gardens! The Friends of Carroll Park have just learned that our much loved Playground Associate, Kathleen Henderson has not been funded for this year. Due to substantial cuts to the Parks Department budget, there will only be 3-4 Playground Associates in all of Brooklyn. There is always a chance that the NYC Council may restore some funds but we should not count on this. We should, however, write to our
elected officials and Parks Department managers to express how important Kathleen and her programming has been for Carroll Park and our community. We could also contemplate raising funds to hire Kathleen through the Parks Department on our behalf. Any ideas or donations are
welcome.

Councilman Brad Lander
456 Fifth Avenue, 3rd Floor
Brooklyn, NY 11215
718-499-1090

Assemblywoman Joan Millman
341 Smith Street
Brooklyn, NY 11231
718-246-4889

Honorable Marty Markowitz
Brooklyn Borough Hall
209 Joralemon Street
Brooklyn, New York 11201
(718) 802-3700

Commissioner Kevin Jeffrey
Borough of Brooklyn
NYC Parks and Recreation
95 Prospect Park West
Brooklyn, NY 11215
718-965-8900

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Another Summer Season Of Fun With Kathleen Henderson Ends In Carroll Park

This is a sure indication that summer fun is coming to an end and that school is about to resume.

Kathleen Henderson, the wonderful New York City Parks Department recreations coordinator in Carroll Park, just finishing another successful summer season on Monday. She will be back in spring, but until her return, neighborhood kids will have to wait for the organized games, arts and craft projects and riding toys which Kathleen provides in the park during the warmer season.

Kathleen has been such a part of Carroll Park for so many years that she has seen neighborhood toddlers grow into teens. She knows most of the kids by name and for the little ones, a visit to Carroll Park would not be the same without her. The community and the park is extremely lucky to have her.

For those of you who would like to say goodbye to her, she will be in the park house till Friday.

Have a great fall and winter, Kathleen. See you in April.

Related Reading:

Inside Carroll Park's "Playhouse"

Joyful Day In Carroll Park! Kathleen Is Back

The Goblin Parade In Carroll Park, 2008

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Joyful Day In Carroll Park! Kathleen Is Back

Kathleen Henderson is back for another fun Spring/Summer season In Carroll Park

Great news in Carroll Park. Monday was Kathleen Henderson's first day back and the children were excited. For those of you who are new to the neighborhood, Kathleen is our very own New York Park's Department recreational person and this community is so lucky to have her.

Her return after a long winter always brings much happiness.

For many years now, Kathleen has entertained the littlest Carroll Gardens park goers with arts and crafts and organized games during the spring and summer. In the fall, she turns the park house into a wonderful playhouse and organizes sign language and spanish classes.

Kathleen knows many of the children by name and distributes many hugs during the day. Often, neighborhood teens will stop by to say hello to her, because they have known her since they were tots.

It just wouldn't be spring in Carroll Gardens without Kathleen.

Related Reading:

Inside Carroll Park's "Playhouse"

For Home Page, click Pardon Me For Asking

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A Day Of Fun, Art And Games In Carroll Park

The fun started early on Tuesday in the ball field in Carroll Park



There were board games


and ball games,


and little duckies to fish out of the water
(and maybe win a prize).

To make a scary or funny mask?
How difficult it was to choose.


Little tiny fingers were busy stringing shiny beads


Or if one wanted,
one could just have fun doing one's own thing.

The New York City Parks Department organized a day of fun for the children in Carroll Park yesterday. Judging by the number of kids who showed up with their parents or caregivers, it
was a much welcomed event before the start of school next week.
As always, Kathleen, our very own Parks Recreations person was on hand, to help coordinate some of the games and prizes.
Later in the day, a clown was to appear, but this blogger could unfortunately not stick around to take more photos.

Judging by the many smiling faces, the day was a big success.



For Home Page, click Pardon Me For Asking

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