Nearly 400 people turned out last week for the annual Friends of Westchester County Parks gala fund-raising event at the Glen Island Harbour Club in New Rochelle.
The event combined a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Westchester County Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation (DPRC) with a tribute to the Friends’ 2012 Best Friend honoree, David Swope. Swope, a lifetime resident of Westchester, founded Teatown Lake Reservation, which is the largest non-government-owned preserve in the county. He was honored for his lifelong commitment and generosity to land preservation, conservation and Westchester open space.
“The success of our parks is the result of the vision and energy of countless individuals – and the generosity and commitment of partners like Friends of Parks, Con Edison and Turf & Landscape Association – and special patrons like David Swope,” said County Executive Rob Astorino.
The celebration of the Parks golden anniversary included a salute to County Executive Robert Astorino and to former county executives Andrew J. Spano and Alfred DelBello who attended the event, and to Andrew P. O’Rourke and the late Edwin G. Michaelian. Michaelian held the office in 1962 when the separate Westchester County parks and recreation citizens’ commissions were combined and brought into the county administration as the Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation.
“Each county executive since the birth of the Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation has been faced with tight budgets,” said Astorino. “But each of us found ways to enable our parks to survive and thrive.”
Two videos produced by the county were shown at the event. One is an overview of the 50 year history of the DPRC and the other is a tribute to David Swope.
Photo caption (left-to-right): Former County Executive Alfred DelBello, County Executive Rob Astorino, David Swope, Friends of Westchester County Parks Chair Elizabeth Bracken-Thompson, and former County Executive Andrew J. Spano