Manor Park Campaign Meets $1 Million Goal:
May 15 Art Show to Thank the Community
by Judy Silberstein
 (March
6, 2004) After only one year of fundraising, the Manor
Park Society announced
it has reached its goal of
raising
$1 million for capital improvements and for establishing
a permanent endowment for the park. Over 500 donors participated
in the fund drive, providing contributions of all sizes
from $5 to $50,000. The next big effort will be a May
15 art show celebrating both the success of the drive and
the beauty of the park.
The impacts of the capital campaign will be immediate: this
spring, new attractive perimeter fencing will replace the
unsightly
chain
link topped
with
barbed wire, the west gazebo will get a face lift, and there
will be repairs to the seawall that suffered erosion during
this past terrible winter, reported Manor Park Trustee Rob
Snedeker, a co-chairman of the fundraising group. And, "as
a thank
you
to the community" the Manor Park Society will be holding
an art show on May 15 entitled: "Manor Park - In All
Seasons,"
said another trustee, Karin Sherman, who is organizing that
event. (For details and a registration form, click
here.)
"We were extremely pleased with the community's generosity,
which reflects people's caring for the park," said Snedeker.
Sherman is also amazed at the enthusiastic response to the art show. "We all
knew Manor Park was loved, but who knew there were so many
art works inspired by the park?" she commented. Already there
are dozens of artists registered, of all ages and ranges,
including award winning artists and photographers.
 Many villagers may not realize that the popular park overlooking
Long Island Sound is privately owned. Back in 1892, Larchmont's
original developers transferred ownership of Manor Park,
as well as nearby Fountain Square and four
small
traffic
islands, to the Larchmont Manor Park Society. This
private organization has owned, maintained and operated these
properties
for the benefit of the public since then. The park is open
to all, but the responsibility of the private society.
The
recent fundraising will support the Manor Park Society
with its stewardship of the park. Half of the campaign
proceeds will be dedicated to repair and
replacement
of major
park
infrastructure
including
seawalls,
paths, park structures, replanting of specimen trees and
fencing. Another $500,000 has been designated as the Manor
Park Endowment - a permanent funding source for maintaining
the park.
Larchmont Manor Park Society Trustees Dee Brown and Rob
Snedeker co-chaired the fundraising campaign and
formed a steering committee with another
17 trustees and neighbors. “This core group,” said
Ms. Brown, “was the key to our success- in the planning
stage which began over two years ago, in stepping forward
to make pledge commitments that got the campaign off to a
running start, as well as for follow through during the rest
of the campaign.”
Now that the funds are collected, the group is encouraging
people to take advantage of the park and of the Manor Beach
and Horseshoe Harbor
Yacht Club facilities. There are new sailing programs for
members and non-members at the yacht club (for information,
email Commodore Bob Rivituso),
and a new food concession and recreational programs at the
beach (email: manorbeach@aol.com).
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