Sunday, July 27, 2003
As a runner (actually, now a walker) I am very upset that the photo, painting, letters from the Senate and other memorabilia regarding Alberto Arroyo have been removed from the Central Park Reservoir Gate House.
The materials were removed prior to the visit of Mayor Bloomberg to the gatehouse in regard to Conservatory sponsored renovations of the fence surrounding the reservoir. Probably someone wanted to "pretty up" the gatehouse. It may have "prettied" it up, but it was at the expense of a sense of tradition.
Alberto humanizes New York, and its sad that one of the true characters of our city has been pushed aside because of someone's mistaken idea of what is appropriate.
Alberto, 88 years old, is an inspiration to runners who see him everyday walking the reservoir track, cane in hand. Although he was never a postman, neither rain nor snow stops Alberto from making his daily rounds of the track.
Alberto has been at the track as long as I have been going there, and it is my understanding that he began running in the late fifties and hasn't stopped since.
He has been honored by the New York Road Runners Club, two mayors of New York, Henry Stern, and many others.
Part of the aura of Central Park is tradition. Alberto is a living tradition.
Can something be done to replace Alberto's plaque? If appearance is what is in question, a proper plaque should be installed on the wall of the Gatehouse.
Every runner who runs on a daily basis knows Alberto.
Buster Stronghart
The materials were removed prior to the visit of Mayor Bloomberg to the gatehouse in regard to Conservatory sponsored renovations of the fence surrounding the reservoir. Probably someone wanted to "pretty up" the gatehouse. It may have "prettied" it up, but it was at the expense of a sense of tradition.
Alberto humanizes New York, and its sad that one of the true characters of our city has been pushed aside because of someone's mistaken idea of what is appropriate.
Alberto, 88 years old, is an inspiration to runners who see him everyday walking the reservoir track, cane in hand. Although he was never a postman, neither rain nor snow stops Alberto from making his daily rounds of the track.
Alberto has been at the track as long as I have been going there, and it is my understanding that he began running in the late fifties and hasn't stopped since.
He has been honored by the New York Road Runners Club, two mayors of New York, Henry Stern, and many others.
Part of the aura of Central Park is tradition. Alberto is a living tradition.
Can something be done to replace Alberto's plaque? If appearance is what is in question, a proper plaque should be installed on the wall of the Gatehouse.
Every runner who runs on a daily basis knows Alberto.
Buster Stronghart
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