Conservancy Publishes 2013 Annual Report

The Conservancy published its Annual Report for 2013 today.  The report provides information about the organization’s accomplishments, 2013 financials, 2014 projected revenue and expenses and 2013 donors.

The Square is solely dependent on private donations for its operation. To continue helping to maintain and improve our Square and our community, the Conservancy’s donors and volunteers, as well as countless other supporters, are absolutely vital to the Square’s well being. Please see page 11 of the annual report to view our donors and other supporters in 2013.

The 2013 Annual Report is now available to view or download in a PDF format here.

Abingdon Square Announces Retention of General Counsel

The Conservancy announced the appointment of Collin Glidewell as its General Counsel on a pro bono basis today.  Collin is the first general counsel in the history of the Conservancy. 

A seasoned legal professional, Collin is currently the Manager of Contracts in the Clinical Trials Office of the Columbia University Medical Center.  Collin received his B.A. from Millsaps College.  He obtained his J.D. from Georgia State University College of Law and his LL.M. from Georgetown University Law Center.

The retention of a general counsel is another important step in the process of developing the Square into a shared and permanent neighborhood trust. Also, with the Conservancy’s application to become a non-profit public charity currently under review by the IRS, a general counsel is part of the infrastructure necessary to support a stand alone non-profit organization. The key responsibilities of the general counsel role include nonprofit corporate law and governance, compliance with tax exemption, contracts, fundraising law, municipal law and government relations. 

All Dressed Up for the Holidays: Thanks to Romp Family Christmas Trees

Continuing a neighborhood tradition, Abingdon Square is all dressed up for the holidays thanks to a generous in-kind contribution by Romp Family Christmas Trees, which has been serving joy and holiday decorations to the West Village since 1988.  Please support the businesses that support the Square.  Romp Family Christmas Trees -- at the corner of 8th Avenue and Jane Street -- sells trees of all sizes, wreaths, garlands, boughs and other holiday decorations.  And they deliver!  Again, a very special thanks to the Romp family!

7th Annual Pumpkin Patch: Thank You for a Smashing Success!

Thank you to all who carved pumpkins and hauled them to a balmy Abingdon Square last night.  Thank you to everyone that stopped by too.  We’re also grateful to Li-Lac Chocolates, which donated treats for the legions of girls and boys that paraded through the Square. (Please join Li-Lac for its 90th Anniversary celebration this Sunday, 1 - 6 pm at its store at 8th Avenue and Jane Street. You'll enjoy complimentary chocolate and wine pairings.)  We hope that all of you will be back next Halloween to bask in the glow and good cheer of the Conservancy’s 8th Annual Pumpkin Patch!  Thank you also to our Events Committee Co-Chairs, Board Members Jeanne Bucknam and Natane Boudreau.

Sharpen Your Knives: The 7th Annual Pumpkin Patch Pick-Up Starts Tomorrow!

Our 7th Annual Pumpkin Patch gets off to a spooktacular start tomorrow! Come pick up your free pumpkin at A-BOO!-ngdon Square beginning tomorrow at noon. We’ll have 40 pumpkins available first-come, first-served. Next, take home your ghoulish gourd and carve a fangtastic masterpiece. Finally, bring your jack-o’-lantern back to the Square anytime on Halloween day or night (Thursday, October 31) and we’ll bring it to life! 

What Do You Want?: Visitor Experience Survey

Thank you to the visitors who have responded so quickly after our last email. For those of you who didn't get the chance to give your feedback, we’d love to hear from you!  Please help us make the Square a better place for all and take the five minutes necessary to complete and submit this survey by clicking on the survey linked below. Thank you again for your support, and we look forward to seeing you in the Square! 

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/QJNHWXJ

Your Donation at Work: Keeping the Square Green and Clean

Earlier this summer, the board of the Abingdon Square Conservancy was receiving increased feedback about our ongoing  -- and losing -- war on trash, so we decided to step up our battle to keep Abingdon Square clean!

Since July 18, additional garbage control-related services are being provided in the Square once per day at mid-day during the work week and twice a day on weekends.  The services being provided include:

• Emptying City trash cans on the perimeter of the park and placing a liner in the can. (Three trashcans have been added to the sidewalks on the perimeter of the Square, bringing the total to 6 for the triangle in which the Square is located.)
• Emptying trash cans on the inside of the park.
• Sweeping up trash inside park.
• Picking up trash in the gardens inside the park.

This service has been contracted through the remainder of the Square's "high season," ending on September 30. The Conservancy board will evaluate the level of service, its benefits and the cost at the end of this trial period.  If park visitors find the services to be beneficial and fundraising levels permit us, we will resume the program in Spring 2014.

Your Donation at Work: Automated Irrigation System Repaired

Hot enough for you? On days like these, there's nothing like relaxing in the shade of a leafy tree with a nice cool drink of water. And that's what the flowers and trees at Abingdon Square were just treated to!

Our automated irrigation system was recently repaired, an important park improvement that was made just in time for what is traditionally the hottest, driest and most difficult time of year for the vegetation in Abingdon Square. It will assure that our park remains a lush and verdant oasis, no matter how high the mercury rises. And not just this summer, but for years to come.

This very necessary improvement to your Square could only be possible due to donations from you, our generous supporting members of the Abingdon Square Conservancy. The West Village wouldn't be what it is without Abingdon Square. And Abingdon Square wouldn't be what it is without YOU!

Please keep in mind -- and tell your neighbors and friends -- that Abingdon Square is completely dependent on donations for its maintenance and operations, we receive no public funding. It’s quick and easy to make a donation and join the Abingdon Square Conservancy— just go to abingdonsquare.org and click on the “Dough-nate” button, named in honor of our Doughboy statue, the centerpiece of the Square.

Once again, thank you for your generous support and enjoy cooling off in the Square this summer.

Abingdon Square Bruised by Another Boom and Bust Cycle

Susan Sipos, Abingdon Square’s horticulturalist, often receives compliments about the park. She usually bites her tongue and thanks the kind passersby.

However, Sipos has a different response to those who will stop, look, and listen. “It’s happening again. There are fewer tulips this year than last. The grass in our little meadow is now splotchy. The irrigation system is broken.” According to Sipos, the park is once again in a cycle of slow decline following its most recent renovation in 2004.

Susan’s employer is the newly revitalized Abingdon Square Conservancy, a non-profit park conservancy that has begun implementing governance and finance reforms designed to reverse the most current slide and ensure that all of the hard won progress in beautification and improvements lasts.

A Cycle of Boom and Bust...Read more: here

Thank You for Joining Us and Supporting Your Square!

Thank you for making Wednesday night’s Spring Tulip Gala a great success! We had over 140 attendees and raised nearly $28,000….and we have some additional donations in the works.

Thank you for taking care of Abingdon Square. Thank you for stepping forward to demonstrate that you care about your community and its town square, Abingdon Square.

Thank you to our primary Gala sponsor, Flank, and our sponsors, 632 On Hudson, Bakehouse, Diptyque, Imperial Vintner, Kazuya Morimoto, Li-Lac Chocolates and Phoenix Roze for making the Gala first possible and then wonderful.

With your support, we plan for the Gala to be an annual celebration. Kindly mark your calendar for the 2nd Annual Spring Tulip Gala on Wednesday, April 30, 2014!

On May 1, Become a Petal Pusher!

When: Wednesday, May 1, 2013, 7-9 pm

Where: 632 On Hudson (between Jane and Horatio)

Who: Abingdon Square Conservancy

RSVP: By April 24 to info@abingdonsquare.org or 212-408-5547

Cost: Members: Free. Non-members: Join at the door or at abingdonsquare.org at a reduced rate of $35 per person. (Or join at a higher level. More info available at the event.)

Primary Sponsor Flank, Designer and Developer for The Abingdon and 385 West 12th

Sponsors: Catering: Bakehouse; Gift Bag: Kazuya Morimoto; Jewelry Design: Phoenix Roze

Recruit a friend(s) to join the Conservancy and the party! New members are asked to RSVP and then can join at the door or at abingdonsquare.org at a reduced rate of $35 per person. 

Conservancy Publishes 2012 Annual Report

2012 was a landmark year in the 176-year history of Abingdon Square, the town square of the West Village. The community came together to reinvigorate the Abingdon Square Conservancy and begin building a strong and sustainable foundation on which our Square is widely supported. To learn more, please click here to access the Conservancy's 2012 Annual Report.

The Square is solely dependent on private donations for its operation. To continue helping to maintain and improve our Square and our community, the Conservancy’s donors and volunteers, as well as countless other supporters, are absolutely vital to the Square’s well-being. Please see page 9 of the annual report to view our donors and other supporters in 2012.