No trees in New York, he said.
When I attended the University of Leeds during the mid-90s, the city didn’t have much to recommend it; it was just beginning to tout itself as the London of northern England (ehrmm…hmm…ooohkay). But I discovered a place that I adored, a refuge when I needed to calm myself and think (which was often, in those days): a forest-in-the-city known as Meanwood Valley. A perfect journey was to cross Otley Road and meander slowly through the reserve with one of my flatmates, winding up in Headingley and having a spinach croissant and hot chocolate at the Dare Cafe, with Nina Simone or Van Morrison on the speakers. I got to know the rambler within (probably inherited from my maternal grandfather, who was known to roam the family’s 100+ acres restlessly at all hours of the day or night); it was the one gift from my English sojourn that keeps on giving to this very day.
Rambling is an activity that I’ve hoped to share with The Scamp, and I’ve already begun with a treasure right here in Clinton Hill: the Pratt Institute Sculpture Park.
The Sculpture Park, the largest in New York City (believe it or not) is spread across the campus’ 25 acres and features a revolving array of about 50 sculptures (by artists including Robert Indiana and Richard Serra), curated by David Weinrib. The park was established 8 years ago, but somehow I didn’t fully appreciate it until I started walking through the campus regularly with The Scamp.
It has become our preferred meandering grounds; The Scamp practically bolts out of his stroller as we approach the entrance and cries out in protest when I strap him back in to leave. He has his favorite sculptures to visit, and he’d happily spend all day bird watching, flower gazing, and chasing after the squirrels who for some mysterious reason don’t want to stop to chat faccia-a-faccia. (It almost breaks my heart when The Scamp calls out an earnest “Hi!” and those distrustful squirrels turn tail and race up a tree.) I love to listen to the birdsong, feel the summer breezes, and gaze at the art. This one, by Susan Griswold, is my favorite lately.
The Sculpture Park will be a featured participant in the OpenHouseNewYork weekend in early October, but try not to wait that long to check it out if you haven’t already. I’d been planning trips to the Socrates Sculpture Park and Storm King — and we’ll still do those — but I feel incredibly lucky to have this little oasis of art and nature practically in my backyard.
August 8th, 2007 at 8:18 pm
We feel so lucky to live across the street from Pratt and love meandering through, whether it’s to get to the subway or to enjoy the oasis in the city. It’s been so fun this summer to see similar groups of parents and tots doing the same. It feels like we have our own secret community–especially before the summer students showed up and we were really the only ones around.