Dear members,
I went to do some laps in Central Park today (Wednesday 6/25/03) and was shocked to find the drive entirely barricaded by police near 65th Street on the East Side. They closed it off due to the JP Morgan Corporate Challenge. I left the park and attempted to enter at Engineer's gate at 90th Street, only to see the entire road used for this running event.
When the New York Road Runners Club has events, they are civic-minded enough to block off the lanes they need so others can use the drive.
I find it disgraceful that a corporation can close off the park to do a publicity event. If you are as angry as I am, do the following:
* Call the New York City parks office at 212-408-0100
* Contact the JPMorgan Corporate Challenge organizers themselves. Their email address is '[email protected]'.
Regards,
Ned Lenihan
JP Morgan closes Central Park Drive for Corporate Challenge
And on days like these the mornings are about 15 degrees cooler than the nights.... let the 14,000 who may or may not run have the park to themselves in 95 degree heat
while i still fully stand by my comments above, i must acknowledge one of the main reasons (some might say the only reason) i recognized the high horses other posters were riding was that i was seeing them eye-to-eye, while riding my own high horse.
i guess it really does take one to know one.
Three nights a yesr they got about a zillion runners doing 3 1/2 miles... of course they close the road and you shouldn't be so indignant
Okay, I rushed to judgement.
However, if they are going to close the road, they should announce they will close the road. They only announce that the road will be 'very busy' from 6PM to 9PM.
Of the 10000 participants in this event, less than 10% actually run the 3 1/2 miles. The rest of the group walk - and for most of these people, the distance is the most they've ever walked in their lives. My company participates in at least 1 of the 3 events, and I'm happy they do - it's one of the few occassions I get to socialize with co-workers outside of the work environment. I used to try to race this event, but with the crowds, it's usually a futile attempt. So, I just try to have fun.
Most of us ride to stay fit. I would think that we would be more understanding of any event that encourages fitness and exercise. Granted that a huge percentage of those who did the corp challenge will never walk or run for another year, at least the intent is there.
For 3 nights of the year, we could share the park.... hmmm?
Hi,
Rode CP laps Tues. 7:30pm, I saw the flier announcements via the 72nd St. entrance. Since I couldn't ride CP Wed. night, I rode my (ugh) trainer. Listening to Led Zeppelin made it bearable (push...push..push)
Central Park was partially closed May 3 in the morning for a Women's Race that started at Times Square.
"Liane wrote: ""Of the 10000 participants in this event, less than 10% actually run the 3 1/2 miles. The rest of the group walk - and for most of these people, the distance is the most they've ever walked in their lives.""
Maybe at the start of the race many people have to walk because of the congestion, but once the crowd begins to thin out, probably at least three quarters run. And how many people are out there who haven't walked more than 3.5 miles at one time in their lives?"
Don (who runs more than he rides)
I agree with the first thread. Every year in early november I want to have a leisurely bike ride over the verrazano narrows bridge, only to find a surprising number of runners blocking my way.
"""
When the New York Road Runners Club has events, they are civic-minded enough to block off the lanes they need so others can use the drive.
...
* Contact the JPMorgan Corporate Challenge organizers themselves. Their email address is '[email protected]'.
""
According to the original post, the author seem to praise NYRRC as the good guy and big corporations like JPM the bad guy. hmm.. the organizers seem to have a nyrrc.org email address. Guess what? The event was organized by NYRRC and sponsored by JPM and a few other companies and organizations. It is a world wide event and the money raised benefits not-for-profit organizations. The NYC one benefits Central Park Conservancy. Yup, I was one of the 14000+ participants that shocked at least one cyclist yesterday."
What about those selfish musicians who dare to take up the entire Great Lawn with their concerts of music by dead white guys. How can I sit on the lawn and enjoy a nice quiet evening when the New York Philharmonic and close to 100,000 people are monopolizing the space 2 or 3 times a year.
Don't they know, I have rights too!!
Tom Laskey and sarcasm. I'm shocked. Dead white guys? Isn't Jagger still alive?
On these nice light evenings, you could always ride across GWB and take a quick spin up to state line and back, or even Piermont or New York, on those three evenings when the park can't be used.
The original poster is hardly going to win over any supporters for taking a sideswipe, based on misinformation, at a corporation that donates to park conservancy which, in return, is allowed to hold an event there on three evenings in the year. It is such donations that enables us all to enjoy the park, as well as the generosity of the public.
As Rob rightly pointed out, all of the entrances had large notices about the closure for at least a week, so is it really beyond the wit and imagination of people to go somewhere else on those three evenings of the summer?
Just occassionally, when people ride into the park, it is worthwhile having a look at the notices to see if there is some important information of relevance to riders.
What's the betting we'll get another whinefest this time next year on the message board when JP Morgan holds its first big run, started by somebody who can't be bothered to read notices?
Maybe, as regular cyclists who use the park, we ought to individually consider making a tax deductible donation to the park's conservancy to help keep the park for its citizens, as a way of a thank you. And, as Rob said, it would also be highly constructive to campaign to get cars out of the park permanently.
Yes, and if Jose Boricua pulls a Budweiser out of his cooler while strolling through the park after the Puerto Rican Day parade, he'd likely find himself spending the night in the 20th Precinct.
But some Chardonnay and Brie on the lawn goes oh so well with the Philharmonic, and draws not even a raised eyebrow from the constables on patrol.
It's class warfare, I tell ya!
"""But some Chardonnay and Brie on the lawn goes oh so well with the Philharmonic, and draws not even a raised eyebrow from the constables on patrol.""
No it doesn't, and yes it should. The offenders should be hauled off to the nearest wine shop and forced to purchase a hearty Bordeaux.
"
Actually not, a hearty Bordeaux is not a summer outdoors wine... doesn't go well with brie or sunshine (though roasted nuts, a strong blue cheese and a red are one of winters great pleasures). A chardonnay is generally wrong too as they tend to be overly oaky. But a Sancerre or a well made Savignon Blanc will be light enough and have good herbal qualities to fit the moment... I'm a fan of huge Cabernets and great Shiraz... but when out on the lawn in the summer a grassy, citrus-y white is just right
"The problem is not that the Corporate Challenge runs an event 3 nights a year, although that's certainly part of it. The problem is, three nights a year excluding most of the park for one private purpose, plus a few more for some other private purpose (such as New York Road Runners events) and a few more here for one charity, and there for another charity,and the Run for the Cure, and the Tour for Tourettes, and the March for Whatever We Haven't Cured Yet, and the jam the stressed park for this-or-that, and pretty soon the general public gets excluded almost entirely. However, when Chase does it, it's particularly offensive.
I tried to ride in Central Park last night, when suddenly a horde of runners, running counter-traffic, came at me. (I know there was a sign up, but the sign didn't say I was excluded from the park, just that the roadways would be crowded -- the lying bastards!)
But before the runners came a truck with a loudspeaker, and some junior hitler yelling, ""Bicycle Riders, Get out of the park. Get those bicycles the hell out of the Park!"" Nice. And it tells you what Chase thinks of you and the Litespeed you came in on.
If I told somebody to get the hell off this bulletin board, Tom Laskey would be writing irritated notes all over the place. Why should I get the hell out of the park? I live here, pay taxes here, and have a right to the peaceful enjoyment of a public facility.
I'll tell you who should get the hell out of the park. Chase Manhattan is who. They have multi-digit billions. Let them buy an estate in Westchester and truck the runners up there if they're so keen on corporate physical fitness. Or let them install gyms in every office building on which they hold a mortgage. That would help a whole lot more people a whole lot more often.
Unlike, say the New York Philharmonic giving a free concert, Chase is a profit-making organization, and if you don't think this event was about PR that contributes to their own bottom line, and about participating corporations trying to buiild espirit du corps despite devastating layoffs, I've got a bank account in Nigeria to sell you.
I know Chase contributes a parsimoniously tiny parcel of dollars in exchange for the return they get on their park use. I've got a better idea if we need to raise funds for park maintenance. Hit Chase and other Corporate Challenge participants with a corporate park tax for doing business in a livable city that attracts a superior work force, in part because of individual access to parks, and keep their events the hell out of park boundries."
Well, I suppose one should blame Con Edison for the Bike New York street closure and charge them corporate tax for SPONSORING an event on public streets and highways. Likewise, charge ING for this year's NYC marathon. I wonder what the French citizens think about their street closure issues during the Tour. I suppose they should charge USPS corporate tax for sponsoring a team to ride on their land.
t
Correctly: JP Morgan/Chase
"I tried to post these thoughts once before and my posting mysteriiously disappeared from the bulletin board --demonstrating, I guess, that if the webmaster doesn't like what you have to say, you're dead. But let me try again.
In brief, from what I remember of my attempted posting: If you take three nights for the Corporate Challenge here, and a few days and nights for NYRR events there, and a few handsful elsewhere for charitable events and whatnot, pretty soon the general public gets excluded almost entirely from the park.
However, it's particularly offensive when a for-profit corporation like Chase, in an effort to improve its bottom line through public relations efforts and events marketing, tells people they don't belong in the park if they're not contributing to the Chase effort.
The sign posted at the park entrances stating that ""roadways will be crowded"" was a flat out lie. The roadways were hijacked for the sole use of Chase and its events marketing.
I was in the park last night, trying to ride on the ""crowded"" road, just to exit the park on the West side, when a Corporate Challenge truck came by. Somebody aboard, with a loudspeaker, was blasting the following kindly message: ""Bicyclists get out of the park! Get those bicycles the hell out of the park!""
That should tell you what Chase thinks of you and the Litespeed you rode in on.
Listen, I am a citizen of this city. I have a right to the peaceful enjoyment of the park, any day, any hour. I shouldn't have to ride to New Jersey, as one post suggests, just because Chase Manhattan wants to confiscate public property for a night.
If Chase, with its multi-billions, wants to make a public-spirited effort to support physical fitness, let them install a free gym in every office building on which they hold a mortgage. That would benefit a heck of a lot more people, a heck of a lot more of the time.
Sure, Chase contributes, indirectly, a pasimonious handful of bucks for the right to self-promote at public expense and public inconvenience. Do we need more money to support parks? I have a better idea, then. How about a Corporate Park Tax on Chase and every other corporate participant that currently uses the event to promote espirit du corps in the face of massive layoffs.
This tax can be easily justified, while eliminating corporate events in the park. Here's how: This city attracts a first class work force because public parks help attract and hold first class workers. The tax would help to support these attractive parks and perhaps build new ones. And Chase could stick to its core competency, which is banking, not footracing.
Just thought I'd mention all this -- if the Webmaster doesn't decide again that he doesn't like my opinions.
"
Chase may sponsor the challenge but vitually all large corporations and many smaller ones field a team... those bastards should all be taxed for trying to preserve some esprit during layoffs (funny they hold the race in good years and bad).
I had trouble the other week when there was a breast cancer walk... we should tax all people with cancer as their charity walk clogs up the park, someone further up the thread mentioned that day in early November when the Verazzano and many streets including the park seem overtaken by runners (sponsored by the supposed good guys the NYRRC)... a tax should be added to the price of running shoes
As a citizen of the city you have the right to expect reasonable not unrestricted rights to the park. I think we have the park all but 3 nights and maybe 10 mornings a year. Sounds reasonable to me. Maybe you just don't like banks, maybe you just can't see beyond your own needs. Maybe you're very short sighted. Times are tough in NYC right now and corporations that make their home here contribute to the bottom line, both in taxes and jobs. I don't know what your sorry bitter self does for a living but you could be more accomodating and realize that the rights of 14,000 runners (not necessarily Chase itself) might just trump you 3 evenings a year. I am a loyal morning rider in the park, contend with cabs (a real enemy) and rather than fretting about the race last night I joined it.. of course I'm another capitalist pig trying to make a buck so I can afford a new lightspeed.
"""If you take three nights for the Corporate Challenge here, and a few days and nights for NYRR events there, and a few handsful elsewhere for charitable events and whatnot, pretty soon the general public gets excluded almost entirely from the park""
The general public gets excluded entirely from the park? Is this Central Park to which you refer? The place where I ride my bike almost every day? Surely you jest. And who by the way do you assume is participating in the Chase Corporate Challenge? Are you under some illusion it is anyone other than the general public?
As one who has run in many Corporate Challenges it is my opinion that such events and the city's willingness to allow them to be held only make NYC a better place to live and play. I'm sure there are many who fault the park authorities for allowing CRCA races and maybe even some who feel bicycles should not be allowed during certain hours or maybe not at all. Fortunately, most people are reasonable enough to accept that while there may be times when the park is closed to them, there are other times when they are participating in an event that denies or inhibits access to the park for others. I'm more than happy to find an alternate riding venue a few times a year if it allows for such great events as the Chase Corporate Challenge or the AIDS walk or any of the others."
Hi,
10:23 AM today (Saturday): I saw a flier announcement on the Hudson River Greenway. Tomorrow (Sunday) the bike path/walkway will be closed from 14th St. to Christopher St., from 12 noon to 12 midnight for Gay Pride events. I'm sure there's probably corporate backing but who cares in light of Morgan/Chase Bank debacle.
This thread is quite remarkable. Perhaps the Editor can publish this in the Bulletin, along with accompanying photos and cartoons.
"""And who by the way do you assume is participating in the Chase Corporate Challenge? Are you under some illusion it is anyone other than the general public?""
Dear Mr. Laskey,
In case you haven't noticed, this is the Chase CORPORATE challenge. If you don't work for a corporation -- say because you are a member of the general public who lives on his bond interest, or who is an actor, a hooker or a day laborer, or who is unemployed, or who is old and retired, just to name a few possibilities -- you cannot join.
Besides, what does this have to do with my point, which is that a private corporation has hijacked the park for its own purposes?"
"Other than an event like the corporate challenge or a concert, when have you ever seen 14,000+ people in the park at one time? Sounds like the general population is pretty well represented when Chase ""hijacks the park for its own usage"" even if those who don't work for corporations aren't included. And there are many other nights during the year that non-corporate types can organize races that exempt corporate types.
Finally your point:
""Unlike, say the New York Philharmonic giving a free concert, Chase is a profit-making organization...""
Have you ever been to a Philharmonic concert in the park? If so, you may have noticed that one name stands out above all others. In past years it was EXXON, now it's AOL Time Warner. That's right, the concerts in the park are coporate PR events sponsered by profit-making organizations in the same way the corporate challenge is. One offers music, the other offers a race. I will maintain this city would be a poorer place if it weren't for coporate sponsorship of great events like the corporate challenge or concerts in the park."
"""Other than an event like the corporate challenge or a concert, when have you ever seen 14,000+ people in the park at one time? Sounds like the general population is pretty well represented when Chase 'hijacks the park for its own usage' even if those who don't work for corporations aren't included...""
I've seen 14,000 people in the park at one time on most fair summer weekends, usually around 4 pm. Each of them is doing his or her own thing, without the permission of Chase Manhattan Bank. Who the hell gave them the right to say who may and may not be in the park?
In addition, what difference do the numbers make if only some favored few are included? In a city of roughly 8 million souls, 14,000 are diddley squat, and they keep the other 7,796,000 from using the park.
I consider that a dictatorship of the few."
Every time I visit the bulletin board I find an excuse for another month's absence.
But I must comment...
I used to work for the BIG BANK that had the nerve to sponsor the event. They encouraged everyone to go and support their co-workers. Each department had a little picnic. Hangin' out in the park on a summer evening. It was great. The run was an afterthought.. And some participants had the nerve to walk. Golly, walking in Central Park of all places. Denying a cyclist the opportunity to get crushed in the stampede. Wonder what obscenity will occur next?
I don't think the National Guard was called out to keep the excluded 7.6 million victims under control.
It wasn't about corporations, it was about people.
Sometimes Corporations do good things. This is one of them.
my god, you all take yourselves so freakin seriously, you all sound so angry and mean,but most of all like little children.........grow up. we are here to ride, i dont know who you are, but i can say for sure i wouldnt want to ride with you
So wednesday night i turned from engineers gate, spun down 5th avenue, cut to the hudson esplanade at clarkson, rounded the battery, explored the financial district, found good pizza, cranked back up 6th ave, through the park from 59th to 90th, and home for 25 urban miles, found some new restaurants, and had a good workout, besides.
what's the big deal? Sometimes the park is too crowded for riding.
it is often necessary to change one's routines as an adaptation to circumstance.
how much Chase fined by the SEC this year?
Doing good? only after SEC fraud was finished...
"Fred Steinberg wrote: ""Each department had a little picnic. Hangin' out in the park on a summer evening. It was great. The run was an afterthought..""
Cool. They did the same thing last Wednesday night. Everyone has a right to hang out in the park. What they didn't have a right to do, in my humble opinion, was to literally fence off the main roadway from somewhere in the East 60s to about 75th Street, for the sole enjoyment of employees of participating corporations and firms, the fencing off enforced by armed police. I'm talking now not about the running event, but about the exclusive use of a very large part of the park after the event.
Again, they have every right to picnic there. And I have every right to ride my bike on the main roadway past the picnic on my way home, a right which I was denied.
The main roadway was impassable, by foot, bicycle or any other means, so that corporate people could have their picnic free of the gazes of the hoi polloi.
Incidentally, I find it extraordinary that members of the New York Cycle Club, including its president, are representing the rights of corporations (and of runners) over those of cyclists. When have you seen runners defending the rights of cyclists, or even getting out of the cycle lane and into the runner's lane during traffic hours in the park?
Only commenting."
Let's put this debate into perspective. We are talking about a 3 hour event that happens 3 times a year. So this discussion is about nothing more than part of the park drive being closed to cyclists for 9 hours out of an entire year.
This is not an us vs. them equation, it is about finding another place to ride for 9 hours a year to allow for a great event that thousands participate in and look forward to and enjoy tremendously. The fact that it is for runners and not cyclists or that it is sponsored by a for-profit corporation does not enter into the equation at all. Nor does it make any difference whether runners defend cyclists' rights, I argue for what I think is right regardless of who joins me.
Hey, why don't we all ignore this guy Etoian, whoever the hell he is. My guess is, he's an over-the-top liberterian, or maybe an Ancient Left commie. Bet he's not even a club member.
You don't have to reply to him.
"That's just outrageous. He can't even spell my name right, and then he resorts to his nasty little McCarthyite technique of calling me a communist in order to discredit me.
I happen to be a convervative libertarian. I believe the only business of government is national defense. You get the government into the park business and look what happens -- all kinds of special interest groups come in and try to grab exclusive use of the park for themselves. That's what's happening here. That's what guys like Lasky and Hochstein are defending.
Since all taxpayers pay for the park, anyone who pays taxes ought to have equal free and unrestricted access to the park.
That's my message, ""Petru."" Take it or suck on it."
Lets face it, cyclists are second class citizens in this park. Even during the 5 Boros Tours I got grief from runners, and we only one day a year.
I dot mind the use of the park, I do not appreciate being shoved by one of the runners as I tried to get out of the park. When the park is truly open to all ie runners in the runners lane during the week, and rollers bladers at least paying some attention, will I be open to anyone monopolizing the park like.
If the only business of the government were national defense all parks would in fact be private and only for the use of interests who can pay for them (read as JPMorgan/Chase and others) You would have nowhere to ride but on the toll roads which would also be owned and operated by for profit concerns for those able to pay... as the gov't is not in the transit business either. it is notable perhaps that the origins of the interstate highway system was for movement of atomic weapons during the early stages of the cold war...
clearly I hate being stuck at work (in a big stinking bank that is notorious for ripping off investors but also for donating big bucks to charities) on a night that would be better for riding
t
I may have misheard, but I could have sworn I heard somebody last week on NPR say that the park is entirely reliant on personal contributions and corporate donations and doesn't get a cent of taxpayers' money any more.
Actually, I was wrong, I've just checked the website and the contributions only account for 85% of the park's annual operating budget. So if you want to lecture us all about access to the park, please make a tax deductible donation first.
I'm a conservative Libertarian, but I'm not naive enough to think that there would even be a Central Park if the LOCAL GOVERNMENT was not in the Parks business, (the FEDS only business should be national defense and prosecuting interstate frauds- local govt can provide parks, if there is a market for them, and there seems to be quite a demand).
Take a look at an aerial view of Manhattan. Do you think one person or group, ages ago would have bought up the land that makes up Central Park, built the Park, (it was built, you know, nature didn't do it), with the roadway, just so you can do your laps without an occasional interruption? Of course not. That land would just be more of the same grid of buildings.
Then I guess you'd have to find an alternate riding habitat- 365 days/year.
It seems to me we've all been cooped up while waiting out the rain for way too long if one 3 hour interruption causes this much of a stir.
Prospect Park is usually less crowded and crazy than Central. For those in lower Manhattan it may make more sense.
"""Actually, I was wrong, I've just checked the website and the contributions only account for 85% of the park's annual operating budget. So if you want to lecture us all about access to the park, please make a tax deductible contribution.""
So let me see if I understand this: Your position is, freedom of speech is something that you purchase. If you have more money, you have a right to more speech. If you are impoverished, you have no right to speak at all.
In which case, any person who hasn't paid for the right to speak out (I think voting is a form of speaking out) is a criminal, and should be silenced.
We had something like that in the South a few decades ago. It was called the Poll Tax. It was declared unconstitutional, over the objections of the Ku Klux Klan.
The truth is, contributions help lessen the pressure on government to fund things that it should fund if those things (such as parks) are to be considered public. Of course, that would require higher taxes.
Some of my critics don't want higher taxes. They want lower taxes, but they want all the benefits of a tax-supported, government-managed bunch of public conveniences and entitlements. Consequently, those with money move in, and drive out those without money, in the name of public spiritedness. So we end up with the worst of both worlds. The government is responsible but favors only those who pay off (a form of corruption, perhaps?) and private interests in fact exert increasing control over public life. You are a great American!
Listen, I thinkI have a solution: We should just rename Central Park. Call it Morgan Chase Park. Anyone who is not a stockholder, employee, or Chase customer maintaining a minimum $50,000 balance should be kept out by armed Pinkerton's guards, or shot dead for trying to enter. Take it off the city's hands. I think that will make you happy, right?"
Hey Shrdlu, or whatever your name is, I'm on to you. Your politics are swinging wilder than an out-of-control wrecking ball. First you take a leftist position, then a far right position, then a populist leftist position again. Then a left-right combo. Yadda, yadda, yadda. Personally, I don't think you have any position at all, except to take the mickey out of people. Not that you're entirely wrong in what you say about park use. But you're entirely all over the place, which makes it difficult to agree with you even when I agree with you.
What's interesting is how many people keep taking your bait and arguing with you, some of them inserting foot firmly in mouth in the course of the intensely all-too-earnest discourse.
But not me, pal. I'm outta here. I'm kissing this particular thread goodbye. And maybe going for a ride in the park.
I love your solution if it will keep you out of the park permanently.
"Says Peter Hochstein, ""Your politics are swinging wilder than an out-of-control wrecking ball. First you take a leftist position, then a far right position, then a populist leftist position again. Then a left-right combo. Yadda, yadda, yadda.""
And yadda yadda to you, pal. My politics are perfectly consistent. It's your brain that's twisted. Incidentally, this morning, riders had trouble riding for a while because, guess what, yes another New York Road Runners event. I forget which jerk said big deal, it only happens three times a year. Guess again. It happens like cockroaches in a damp basement."
Etoain, you got your name out of a comic book. A good one, too. I'm disappointed that you've proven otherwise to have such an utter lack of humor.
I was going to object to your defamation of a classic Crumb character, but on second thought you're actuall y a lot like Etoain. He was a crank, too.
Thanks, you've actually made me laugh.|162.84.160.173
"Etaoin Shrdlu
1.The twelve most frequent letters in the English language.
2.The twelve easiest letters to type on a Linotype keyboard.
3.A ""stop here"" notation inserted by Linotype typists, after a typing mistake had been made, to finish the line and to indicate to the proofreaders that the line should be removed.
4.A phrase seen in newspapers and books printed before the 1960's due to editing marks inserted by Linotype typists and subsequently missed by the proofreaders."
"I do not wish to argue for the sake of argument. It may be that a linotype keyboard, whatever that is, or a stop here notation, whatever that is, uses my name.
However, Etoain Shrdlu is a perfectly good Montenegran name. Etoain is equivalent to your English ""Stephen."" Anyway, what does this have to do with the co-opting of public property (i.e. Central Park) by greedy banks?"
"5 days and counting this is a truely awesome thread, both in its breadth and insight.
A quick public service announcement though, from the NYRRC
""July 21 will commemorate Central Park's sesquicentennial. Some 150 years earlier, the New York State Legislature designated land in Manhattan for a great ""public place"" and called for the creation of a ""Central Park."" To mark the 150th anniversary, the Central Park Conservancy is organizing a day-long family birthday party, including this run/walk organized by New York Road Runners.""
If you are planning on riding in the park on the 21st be particularly aware of those street clogging, corporately charged children (ages 2-12 race at 10:00 AM)
--mike"
"""July 21 will commemorate Central Park's sesquicentennial. Some 150 years earlier, the New York State Legislature designated land in Manhattan for a great ""public place"" and called for the creation of a ""Central Park."" To mark the 150th anniversary, the Central Park Conservancy is organizing a day-long family birthday party, including this run/walk organized by New York Road Runners.""
If you are planning on riding in the park on the 21st be particularly aware of those street clogging, corporately charged children (ages 2-12 race at 10:00 AM)
--mike
I think this makes my point, Mike. The park is constantly being co-opted for single-interested events, most of them running events in nature.
If they had a Ban Road Running Day, it would be celebrated with a damn foot race."
