In Memoriam: Dorothy Dent Park (1912–2016)

Mrs. Dorothy Park, notable philanthropist and generous benefactor of Cornell Plantations and many other Ithaca-area nonprofits, died on June 18, 2016, at the age of 103.  In 1998 Mrs. Park gave Plantations a 10-acre parcel of land adjacent to Newman Arboretum and Fall Creek, to be forever preserved as a natural area.  Named Park Park at her behest, the preserve is used for research and teaching by many faculty members at Cornell, and its picnic area and trails are favorite recreational sites for local community members. Annual grants from the Park Foundation help support our ongoing stewardship and maintenance of Park Park’s diverse habitats, including meadow, prairie, creek, floodplain, and young and old-growth forests.  All of us at Cornell Plantations extend sincere condolences to Mrs. Park’s family.

 

(shown above): Scenic stone picnic benches in the Park Park Natural Area adjacent to Fall Creek.