Social Distancing in the Great Outdoors

When New York State shut down last Spring so many events that we had planned didn’t happen. We weren’t able to host our Annual Spring Fundraiser and we weren’t able to announce the overall winner of The Great Outdoors Photo Contest. 

 

So many people have been visiting Pelham Bay and Orchard Beach since the spring when we asked you to start taking pictures as you were enjoying the outdoors and social distancing in the park. It’s finally time to start submitting your photos!

 

We will be accepting photos in our last category, Social Distancing in the Great Outdoors from October 25th – October 31st.  Please submit your photos that were taken in Pelham Bay Park and Orchard Beach from March 16, 2020 through October 16, 2020.  Show us some new places you’ve explored or how you or others have been  using the park in a new way. Unlike other categories, this category requires your photos to have been taken during this time period.

 

Please submit one photo to friendsofpelhambaypark@gmail.com. Make sure to include a photo caption, subject of the image, the location where it was taken, the date photo was taken, and the name of the photographer. The rules and regulations for the contest are on our website (http://pelhambaypark.org/?p=1263).

 

If you choose to include recognizable people in your submission, you are responsible for obtaining the necessary releases from the individuals depicted, and you must be able to provide copies of those releases to the Friends upon request. Entrants must not submit images that involve human nudity, the willful harassment of wildlife, or damage to the environment by the photographer; place any individual or animal in danger; or infringe on the rights of any other photographer or person.

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The Great Outdoors Photo Contest

The Great Outdoors Photo Contest

In January, the Friends of Pelham Bay Park will be launching a photo contest for the best photographs taken in Pelham Bay Park’s Great Outdoors. There will be five categories that will run consecutively – Seasons, Wildlife, Secret Treasures, Explorers in the Park and Hidden History,

Photographers will be asked to submit their images digitally to friendsofpelhambaypark@gmail.com (only pictures submitted via email will be accepted).  A panel of Judges will choose their favorite photos from each group and these photos will then be posted on the Friends Facebook page, where visitors will be able to vote for their favorite photo in each category.

Once the winner of each category has been chosen on Facebook the contest goes back to our judges.  The Judges will decide the winner from the 5 category winners and the winner will be announced at the Friends of Pelham Bay Park’s Annual Fundraiser on April 2nd.  We will also exhibit the photos at our fundraiser, the City Island Nautical Museum and other locations.

 

Category Submission Voting
Seasons January 5 – 11 January 26 – Feb 1
Wildlife January 12 – 18 February 9 – 15
Secret Treasures February 2 – 8 February 23 –  29
Explorers in the Park February 16 – 22 March 8 – 14
Hidden History March 1 – 7 March 22 – 28
Overall Winner Announced April 2, 2020

 

Seasons

Winter, spring, summer, or fall, Pelham Bay Park is always beautiful. Show us the seasonal faces of New York City’s largest park!

Wildlife

Pelham Bay Park is home to a wide variety of wildlife! Turkey vultures, coyotes, seals, birds and owls, are just a few that spend time in our park.  Don’t get too close, don’t feed them, but do submit your favorite images of the animals that call Pelham Bay Park home.

Secret Treasures

Pelham Bay Park is filled with amazing treasures – miles of trails, habitats, some of the borough’s oldest trees, a landmarked pavilion and historic house.  Submit your photo of a favorite spot in Pelham Bay Park that others might not have discovered.

Explorers in the Park

Millions of people visit Pelham Bay Park every year. Hiking our trails, swimming at the beach, kayaking in the lagoon, swinging a golf club, or horseback riding on the bridle path.  For this category, we’re looking for a focus on the people who explore our Park.

Hidden History

From Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum to the Split Rock, Pelham Bay Park is rich in history—home of the Lenape and the location of the Battle of Pell’s Point, as well as the Bronx’s only public beach and the Victory War Memorial. Trace the history of the Bronx in Pelham Bay Park.

 

For all categories –

When submitting your photo, please include a photo caption, subject of the image, the location where it was taken, the date of the photo, and the name of the photographer(s). Please submit one photo per category. You may submit for multiple categories.

If you choose to include recognizable people in your submission, you are responsible for obtaining the necessary releases from the individuals depicted, and must be able to provide copies of those releases to The Friends upon request. Entrants must not submit images that involve human nudity, the willful harassment of wildlife or damage to the environment by the photographer; place any individual or animal in danger; or infringe on the rights of any other photographer or person.

 

 

2020 Photo Contest Rules and Regulations (google doc)

Photo Contest Legal Conditions (google doc)

Posted in The Great Outdoors Tagged with:

2019 Fundraiser A Great Success!

Supporters of the Friends of Pelham Bay Park gathered on April 24 for a wonderful evening at the Pelham-Split Rock Golf Clubhouse.  Everyone enjoyed the lovely spring weather, the tasty treats and giveaways, and especially the fun picture-taking board with summertime props provided! It was a great opportunity to honor Michael Benedetto, New York State Assembly Member; Anthony Ramirez II & Paul Ramirez, Co-founders of Mainland Media, From The Bronx, The Bronx Beer Hall & Taste of The Bronx; and Thomas X. Casey, President, Huntington Free Library. The festivities were led by special guest and emcee, Michael Max Knobbe, Executive Director, BronxNet.

Thank you to all attendees, and to our generous sponsors: New York City Council Member Mark Gjonaj, Five J’s Automotive, Schuyler Hill Funeral Home, Cummins Sales + Service, Pelham Community Rowing Association, and Bartlett Tree Experts.

A special shout out also to everyone who donated to our raffle prizes: The Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum Conservancy, Bistro SK, The Black Whale, The Bronx Beer Hall, The Bronx Equestrian Center, The Bronx Historical Society, Bronx River Alliance, Bronx Zoo/Wildlife Conservation Society, City Island Nautical Museum, From the Bronx, #LovingtheBronx, Morris Perk Coffee, NBC Universal, Pelham-Split Rock Golf Courses, Seashore Restaurant, and Turtle Cove Golf Center.

 

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Picture the Beach! Photo Contest with the Friends of Pelham Bay Park

orchard beach opens 2

 

 

 

 

 

 

When should you submit your image?

People at the Beach: Jan 1-8
Scenic Vistas: Jan 21-27
Wildlife: Feb 11-17
Infused by Bronx History: Mar 4-10
Seasons: Mar 25-31

Posted in Picture the Beach!

Picture the Beach! Photo Contest: Rules, Terms and Conditions

The Friends of Pelham Bay Park and the City Island Nautical Museum invite photographers to enter its Picture the Beach! Photo Contest.  As plans begin for the restoration of the landmark Pavilion at Orchard Beach, we want to celebrate the beach—one of the great treasures of Pelham Bay Park.

You must read the following rules, terms and legal conditions before submitting any photos.

The Friends of Pelham Bay Park Picture the Beach! Digital Photo Contest (the “Contest”) is open to ALL photographers at least 18 years of age, except employees of the City of New York/Parks & Recreation. The contest is open to all participants regardless of residence or citizenship, so long as the laws of their jurisdiction allow participation.

A panel of Judges will choose their five favorite photos in each thematic category; they will not know who the photographers are. The five winning photos in each category will then be posted on the Friends Facebook page, where visitors will be able to vote for the final winners. The contest then goes back to our panel.  The panel will decide on one overall Grand Prize winner from the five category winners; that winner will be announced at the Friends of Pelham Bay Park’s Spring Fundraiser on April 19, 2018.  All five category winners will be displayed at the fundraiser.

All photographs featured on Facebook for voting will then be included in an exhibition at the City Island Nautical Museum. Those contestants will be invited to the opening reception, when scheduled. The exhibition may travel to other venues. The photographs will be returned to their owners at the conclusion of the exhibition (s).

WHAT TO ENTER:

We are looking for striking images to celebrate the many assets of Orchard Beach – its inherent beauty, unique flora and fauna, interesting history and architecture, and how park users enjoy it in so many different ways.  The five contest categories are:

  • People at the Beach
  • Scenic Vistas
  • Wildlife
  • Infused by Bronx History
  • Seasons

If you choose to include recognizable people in your submission, you are responsible for obtaining the necessary releases from the individuals depicted, and must be able to provide copies of those releases to The Friends upon request. Entrants must not submit images that involve human nudity, the willful harassment of wildlife or damage to the environment by the photographer; place any individual or animal in danger; or infringe on the rights of any other photographer or person.

All photographs should accurately reflect the subject matter and the scene as it appeared. Photos that have been digitally altered beyond standard optimization (that is, removal of dust, cropping, reasonable adjustments to exposure, color and contrast, etc.) will be disqualified.  Images that do not meet these requirements may or may not be included in the contest.

HOW TO ENTER:

The Friends will ask for photograph submissions on its Facebook page and webpage. All images must be submitted via email to friendsofpelhambaypark@gmail.com during the period of submission for the category your photo falls into. Images must be submitted by the deadlines. When submitting your photo please include a photo caption, subject of the image, where it was taken, date photo was taken and name of photographer(s).

ELIGIBILITY AND JUDGING:

Entries may originate in any format including, but not limited to, digital files, digital prints, color transparencies, color prints, or black and white prints — so long as they are submitted electronically.  Please do not submit a photo you entered in our previous photo contest in 2015.

Submissions may be watermarked if desired, but the watermark should be inconspicuous enough to not interfere with the judging of the photo. A watermarked photo might not be honored by the competition (at the Friends’ discretion) if the photographer is unable or unavailable to provide a pristine, watermark-free version of the image when asked.

Images in each category will be judged by a Panel of three judges. Their five choices in each category will then be voted on by anyone who visits The Friends of Pelham Bay Park’s Facebook page. The Facebook winner of each category will be the photo receiving the most “likes.”   Once those winners have been determined, the Panel will choose an overall Grand Prize winner to be announced at the Spring Fundraiser on April 19, 2018.

DEADLINES:

People at the BeachSubmission: Jan. 1-8 and Voting: Jan. 13-20
Scenic Vistas–Submission: Jan. 21-27 and Voting: Feb. 4-10
Wildlife–Submission: Feb. 11-17 and Voting: Feb. 25-Mar. 3
Infused by Bronx History–Submission: Mar. 4-10 and Voting: Mar. 18-24
Seasons–Submission: Mar. 25-31 and Voting: Apr. 8-14

The Friends reserves the right to adjust any deadline(s) as the result of causes beyond its immediate control.

WINNING PHOTOS:

One photographer will be eligible to win in not more than two thematic categories.

The winners in each category, as determined by Facebook voters, will be mounted and displayed at our Spring Fundraiser. The Grand Prize winner will be announced at the Fundraiser and the photographer will receive a prize.

The finalists in all categories, as determined by the Panel, will be included in an exhibition at the City Island Nautical Museum, and possibly other venues.

YOUR RIGHTS:

Your photographs will help The Friends of Pelham Bay Park share the amazing diversity and beauty of Orchard Beach on our website, Facebook page and potentially in brochures, postcards, calendars, etc. Thank you for helping to further our mission through your photography.

If your photograph is posted on Facebook for voting, you grant The Friends of Pelham Bay Park a royalty-free, nonexclusive right, in perpetuity, to:

  • Use the photograph on the Internet in support of our mission.
  • Use the photograph in The Friend’s non-commercial communications.
  • Use the photograph for fundraising purposes on prints, postcards, calendars, and similar items.
  • Provide your photograph to other individuals and organizations for non-commercial use, The Friends-related use in news stories, newsletters, reports, slide shows, displays, web pages, and the like.
  • Use, in connection with the Photo Contest, your name in promotions and other publications.
  • Keep the files provided, and to archive the images on CD or in other electronic forms, so that your photos can be used to support our mission and be properly credited.

As conditions of this permission, The Friends shall credit all photographs with the caption “© Person’s Name” when the full name is available.

QUESTIONS:

If you have any questions about the photo contest, voting, etc., please send an email to friendsofpelhambaypark@gmail.com.

Posted in Picture the Beach!

Picture the Beach! Photo Contest: Panel of Judges

Jane Protzman has lived on City Island since 1991 but had already sailed for many years from the area.  Since retiring from AT&T she pursued a travel bug, primarily embarking on expedition ships and photographing as she went along. Her book, “Water Water Every Where” contains 30 images from 20 years of those trips. She has had exhibits of her photographs at the libraries of Larchmont, Mamaroneck, Port Washington and at the City Island Nautical Museum.

Deborah Wye is Communications Chair of the Friends of Pelham Bay Park and maintains the group’s website and Facebook page. She has taken a special interest in the Orchard Beach Pavilion, organizing an exhibition and lecturing on this historic landmark. Wye spent her career as a curator at The Museum of Modern Art, presenting some twenty-five exhibitions there.

Barbara Burn Dolensek has lived on City Island since 1976 and has been active in the City Island community for many years. She has been on the staff of The Island Current since 1985, an officer of the City Island Civic Association since 1992, and an officer of the City Island Historical Society and administrator of the Nautical Museum since 1995. She is also on the executive board of the Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum and a member of the Garden Club of City Island and the Friends of Pelham Bay Park.

 

Posted in Picture the Beach!

Picture The Beach! Photo Contest: Legal Conditions

By entering this contest, you agree to all of the terms and conditions relating to this contest and you are responsible for understanding Your Rights.

By entering, participants agree to indemnify, defend and hold harmless The Friends of Pelham Bay Park and The City Island Nautical Museum, Their respective subsidiaries, affiliates, directors, officers, employees, attorneys, agents and representatives, from any and all third party liability for any injuries, loss, claim, action, demand or damage of any kind arising from or in connection with the competition (collectively, “Losses”), including without limitation any third party claim for copyright infringement or a violation of an individual’s right to privacy and/or publicity right. The Contest is void where prohibited by law.

Each entrant in the Contest (each “Entrant”) is responsible for ensuring that he or she has the right to submit the photos that he or she submits to the Contest per these rules.

You agree that any and all disputes that cannot be resolved with the Friends, and causes of action arising out of or connected with this Contest, shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, before a court of competent jurisdiction located in Bronx, New York, which court shall apply the laws of the State of New York without regard for rules of conflicts of law. IN ANY SUCH DISPUTE, PARTICIPANT SHALL NOT BE ENTITLED TO ANY PUNITIVE, SPECIAL, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION ATTORNEYS’ FEES, OR ANY DAMAGES OTHER THAN PARTICIPANT’S ACTUAL OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSES (IF ANY) ASSOCIATED WITH PARTICIPATING IN THE CONTEST. YOU HEREBY WAIVE ANY RIGHTS TO HAVE DAMAGES MULTIPLIED OR INCREASED. The Contest and The Friends of Pelham Bay Park website and Facebook are provided “as is” without warranty of any kind, either express or implied.

The Friends of Pelham Bay Park is not responsible for any incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by website users or by any equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the photo competition, or by any technical or human error that may occur in the processing of submissions to the photo competition, including but not limited to any misprints or typographical errors. The Friends of Pelham Bay Park assumes no responsibility for any error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operation or transmission, communications line failure, theft or destruction or unauthorized access to, or alteration of, entries. The Friends of Pelham Bay Park is not responsible for any problems or technical malfunction of any telephone network or lines, computer equipment, servers, providers, computer on-line systems, software, or failure of email on account of technical problems or traffic congestion on the Internet or at any website, including injury or damage to participant’s or to any other person’s computer related to or resulting from participating or uploading images or information in the photo contest.

If, for any reason, the photo competition is not capable of completion as planned, including but not limited to, any reason of infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures or any other causes beyond the control of The Friends of Pelham Bay Park that corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper conduct of the photo competition, The Friends of Pelham Bay Park reserves the right at its sole discretion to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the photo competition.

Posted in Picture the Beach!

October Volunteer Dates!

Join the Friends of Pelham Bay Park and get your hands dirty keeping the park clean!

From 10 am to 1pm, come volunteer in our park!

Saturday, Oct 14 Removing invasive plants in the South Woodlands (Pelham South)
Saturday, Oct 28 Tree planting with NRG/Stewardship Program. Register here.

No experience necessary. Be sure to wear appropriate footwear and a long-sleeved shirt, and bring water and lunch.

For more information, or to check for a weather-related cancellation, contact Trail Committee chairperson Nilka Martell at nilkamartell@yahoo.com or 347-992-2860.

Posted in Uncategorized

Pelham Bay Park Featured on News12 The Bronx

The Hutchinson River Restoration Project in conjunction with NYC Parks took part in the International Coastal Cleanup organized by the Ocean Conservancy this past Sunday, September 17. Check out the coverage on News12 The Bronx (you may need a subscription to access this article)

We greatly appreciate all the volunteers and organizations, like the Hutchinson River Restoration Project, who help keep our park clean, wild, and beautiful. If you want to participate in future volunteer events, you can always contact us, or contact HRRP by phone at at 718 885 9653 or by email at HutchinsonRRP@aol.com.

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Summer So Far

It’s been a busy and exciting summer in Pelham Bay Park! Here’s what has happened so far:

  • On Thursday, June 22nd, NYC Parks brought SING to the park with Movies under the Stars.
  • Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr and State Senator Jeff Klein hosted their annual fireworks display on June 29th to celebrate Independence Day.
  • Family Fun Day kicked off the summer on July 8. We partnered with the Westchester Square Zerega Improvement Organization to bring an afternoon of fun and entertainment for the whole family.
  • The Pelham Bay Park Administrator’s Office brought juggling, comedy, puppet shows, and acrobats to the Playground for All Children in July and August.

    The Andrew Show at the Playground for All Children c Sam Halpern 2017

    The Andrew Show at the Playground for All Children (Photo: Sam Halpern)

  • The New York Public Library has been reading stories in the shade of the gazebo in the Playground for All Children, every Thursday at 11am.
  • On July 15th, the Pelham Bay Park Administrator’s Office and Bronx Recreation brought roller skating to Orchard Beach for families and adults.

    The Bronx Boogie Roller Jam c Sam Halpern 2017

    The Bronx Boogie Roller Jam (Photo: Sam Halpern)

  • Movies under the Stars came to Orchard Beach on July 21st with Rogue One, the latest movie set in the Star Wars universe.
  • NYC Parks brought Japanese drumming sensation Taikoza to the Playground for All Children on July 22nd.
  • The Bronx Arts Ensemble filled the park with the sweet sounds of Salsa and Afro-Cuban Music with Greg Diamond Band on July 28th.

    Beach Volleyball at Orchard Beach (Photo: Sam Halpern)

    Beach Volleyball at Orchard Beach (Photo: Sam Halpern)

  • On July 29th, Bronx Recreation and the Pelham Bay Park Administrator’s Office bring volleyball back to the beach.
  • Next up: Silent Disco at Orchard Beach on August 12th! RSVP here. [Edit: Silent Disco has been postponed. The event will be held on September 9!]

As always, join our newsletter to always stay up to date on what’s happening in our Pelham Bay Park

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