GREENACRE PARK in midtown Manhattan was opened for the people of New York City by the late Mrs. jean Mauze, founder of Greenacre Foundation, on October 14, 1971 in the "hope that they will find here some moments of serenity in this busy world." Mrs. Mauze, the former Abby Rockefeller, dedicated the park to her brother, Laurance, and to his long time associate, the late Allston Boyer, in recognition of their invaluable assistance in its creation. The park, which is slightly smaller than a tennis court, is in the heart of the East Side commercial and residential area, on the north side of East 51st Street between Second and Third Avenues. Mrs. Mauze establiched Greenacre Foundation which built the park during 1970 and 1971 and continues to maintain and operate it. The park is open from March through December and is lighted in the evening during the summer. Attendants are on duty at all times to assist visitors and to see that the rules of the park are observed. Augut Heckscher, City Parks Commissioner at the time, said at the dedication: "It is the rarest of pleasures for me to be able to express the thanks and appreciation of the people of the City of New York for the privilege of using this green acre. It is a privilege which places no burden on the city, which makes no demands, which asks of us only that we cherish it." Greenacre Park is composed of three levels. Set into the rear wall of the lowest level is a 25-foot-high waterfall composed of huge sculpted granite blocks and a mass of falling water. The east wall is also of granite blocks in gentle relief, with water trickling down its face to a "brook" running from the sidewalk entrance to the dramatic waterfall. In the park's central area, paved with russet brick, are small tables and chirs set in a grove of honey locust trees. A raised terrace, along the west wall, is protected by a trellis roof of weathering steel beams and transparent acrylic vaults. Heating elements, built into the trellis roof, warm the sitting area below in cool weather. The park's snack bar is located in a small service niche at the entry to the park. Planting provides a green offset to the mass and color of the granite, brick and steel. Evergreens - rhododendron, azalea, Japanese holly and andromeda - are planted amidst a pachysandra ground cover. A star magnolia, azaleas and rhododendron provide spring blossoms. Colorful seasonal flower and follage displays fill th the urms which are informally placed about the park, and Boston Ivy on the brick walls turns a brilliant red in the fall. The park was designed by Hideo Sasaki of Watertown, Massachusetts, with New York architect Harmon Goldstone serving as consultant. Mr. Sasaki, former chairman of Harvard's Department of Landscape Architecture, has said that this design, as desired by its donor, "is to provide a place for the general public to gain special repose from the increasing city experience of noise, concrete and humdrum." The falling and running water helps to minimize traffic noise and the natural materials -stone, water and plants - bring nature into the city. To keep the "water sculpture" of the waterfall and the east wall going requires the pumping of 2,500 gallons of water per minute. The water is filtered and recirculated. The waterfall and fountain were provided through a grant from the Rockefeller Brothers Fund. Greenacre Park has received a number of awards for design and civic betterment from professional groups, including the Parks Council of New York City, The New York Society of Architects and the New York State Association of Architects. Greenacre Park is privately owned and privately mantained by the Greenacre Foundation for all the people of New York City to enjoy. The Foundation also sponsors summer programs for yound geople in Manhattan parks; support to community gardens; assistance to the New York City Department of Parks fro tree pruning and supplemental maintenance work; and, arthitectural assitance for park designs and restorations. Its reference center at 457 Madison Avenue at 51st Street, maintained in conjunction with The Municipal Art Society of new York, is open to the public and serves as a clearinghouse for information on urban open space, including the design and management of urban parks. GREENACRE FOUNDATION Room 5600, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, New York 100112 TRUSTEES Edward H. Auchincloss, Gail O'Neill Caulkins, Christopher J. Elkus, Marion G. H. Gilliam, Ruth T. Kuhlmann, kathryn M. McCarthy, G. Todd Mydland, Abby M. O'Neill, laurance S. Rockefeller, Anne P. Sidamon-Eristoff, Abby R. Simpson OFFICERS Gail O'Neill Caulkins, President; Abby M. O'Neill, Vice President; Ruth T. Kuhlmann, Executive Director; James S. Sligar, Secretary; Josephine Reyes, Assistant Secretary; Lawrence S. Rapoport, Treasurer