r e c r e a t i o n
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- Environmental activist and founder of the
- New York Restoration Project
- I founded the New York Restoration Project because when I moved
- back to New York in 1994, the city was dirty and distressed. I remember
- driving along the West Side Highway, and there was trash everywhere -
- everything was broken, and it seemed like it was broken out of rage.
- The morale of Manhattan was so low. So I called a friend in L.A.,
- Scott Mathes, who had set up something similar there, and he helped
- me put the group together.
- In six years we've removed more than 25,000 tons of debris and
- reopened Highbridge Park in northern Manhattan, which had
- become a dump. We're building the first new boathouse on the
- Harlem River in more than 100 years, and we've started an after
- school sailing program there.
- Last year 114 public gardens were up for sale. The Trust for Public
- Land Commission bought 63, and 51 were going to disappear; we
- bought them so they would remain public. Everyone has a right
- to green space; nature is where we find peace of mind. I did
- something because I could not stand idly by. It's the best thing
- Iever did for my soul, because it kept me from thinking about
- myself. In a way it's selfish, because it has given me
"And now it's Spring! Spring is here! It might as well be Spring! And all those other gorgeous song titles. Yes, it's a time of growth and renewal, of flowers and sunshine. Of hay fever and people in short sleeves with arms that jiggle. Hey, you gotta take the good with the bad. Do yourself a favor, go outside and enjoy! Buy a frisbee. Just remember to pick up after yourself.
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- In the weeks to come as you can see, I plan to expand
- upon our "Recreation" theme, with a whole host of areas!
- All of them involve "Bette!" and her efforts on behalf
- our our environment. Each of the categories will
- feature "lots" of pictures, small video files, and
- "Preserving Nature takes Great Vision"
- New York Restoration Project
- Painting the town . . . 'green!'
- Taking a tour ( the view )
- Bette buys land in Hawaii
- Tropical gardening ~ Hawaiian Style!