New York City Department of Parks & Recreation

Congratulations to Jonathan Kuhn, our Director of Art & Antiquities, for receiving one of the most prestigious honors in New York City government – the Sloan Public Service Award.

This award, given to six outstanding civil servants each year by the Fund for the City of New York, honors those who have gone beyond the call of duty to deliver an extraordinary level of commitment to the public.

Jonathan is a worthy recipient of the award, known throughout the city for his encyclopedic recall of city history and his relentless “boots-on-the-ground” approach to government. He will bike to sites across the city, saying, “you never know how a place functions until you go to the place.”

Over his nearly four decades of service, he has secured millions of dollars in funding for our city’s monuments and revolutionized their care with the establishment of the Citywide Monuments Conservation Program.

We were thrilled to be able to honor him at his workplace, as Parkies joined the President of the Fund for the City of New York and others from the selecting committee in the Arsenal Gallery to recognize Jonathan for his work.

Reflecting on his years of public service, he remarked that he often receives the same two questions: “When will you retire?” and “When will you write a book?” With a smile, he answered the questions, “Not now,” and “When I do retire, I will!” Tentative names for the book include “40 Years in Wilderness” and “After the Ribbon is Cut.” We look forward to reading it after many more years of dedicated service!

Join us in celebrating the legacy of Jonathan Kuhn and our agency’s public art and history.

Happy Friday from 📍 Calvert Vaux Park!

This weekend, get your hands dirty and discover the proper planting techniques behind natural areas restoration with our Stewardship team in Queens!

Learn more: https://on.nyc.gov/49scASk

Join us for a free flick near you! Bring your blankets to cozy up to one of our Movies Under the Stars across the five boroughs all summer long! Plan your next movie night out: https://on.nyc.gov/4feYqWb

Don't miss your chance to get the best sunset photo of the year - catch Manhattanhenge, when the sun lines up perfectly with the city streets for a few minutes. It only happens twice a year, so don’t miss this stunning view this Thursday and Friday!
on.nyc.gov/manhattanhenge

Ahead of Memorial Day, our Monuments Conservation team spent weeks caring for war memorials across the five boroughs, helping preserve places of remembrance across our parks. At the Flanders Fields Doughboy Memorial, we honored those who served and sacrificed. 🇺🇸 On Memorial Day, we hope that you stop by our monuments to reflect on those we’ve lost and their commitment to serving the nation.

Beach season is also piping plover season 🐦 These tiny endangered shorebirds nest and raise their chicks on beaches each summer. Help us share the shore as beaches open tomorrow: respect fencing and nesting areas, keep beaches clean, and admire wildlife from a distance. Learn more: https://on.nyc.gov/42Mzhgn