May 2, 2023 — The Westchester County Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation (WCDPRC) recently received two awards from the New York State Recreation and Park Society (NYSRPS). The awards were tributes to two exhibits at Lasdon Park and Arboretum in Somers.
Lasdon’s Hundred Acre Wood “Forest Friends” exhibit received NYSRPS’s Special Event Award, and its Dinosaur Garden was given its Program of Merit Award.
The Hundred-Acre Wood Exhibit “Forest Friends” ran from April 9 to May 29. It walked viewers through a storybook fantasy that featured the original characters of A.A. Milne and inspired illustrations of E.H. Shepard. Winnie the Pooh and his friends came to life with enchanting visuals that taught children about the importance of our forests and their inhabitants. Interactive signage coordinated with each lesson to give everyone a hands-on sensory experience.
The Dinosaur Garden debuted in 2018 and is one of Lasdon’s most popular permanent exhibits. It takes visitors back hundreds of millions of years and features footprints, plant specimens and life-size replicas of a tyrannosaurus, velociraptor and brachiosaurus. WCDPRC teamed up with the creators of the smartphone app Zappar, which gives visitors an animated, interactive experience as they roam through the dinosaur forest.
Westchester County Executive George Latimer said: “We are excited to learn that Lasdon Park and Arboretum has been acknowledged by a highly esteemed organization. The fact that it has been acclaimed with not just one, but two awards from the Society is a testament to the hard work and dedication that has gone into making this park and arboretum a true gem for the community. To receive such recognition is truly an honor and a source of great pride for us all.”
Westchester County Parks Commissioner Kathleen O’Connor said, “We are thrilled that we were a recipient in this series of coveted awards that pay tribute to people and organizations for their contributions to parks and recreation in New York State. The Hundred-Acre Wood Exhibit was and the Dinosaur Garden continues to be wonderful learning tools for children.”