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A Sign of Our Times
Welcome to White Plains! The message is loud and clear and part of the 30th Anniversary gift of WPBF to the City of White Plains. The sign is constructed of
heavy gauge aluminum with a duranotic finish, matte black graphics and gold anodized lettering. Designed by Grafico, Inc. of Elmsford, it is a montage of custom-illustrated landmarks in our city. To add a note of interest and personalization to the project, the artwork was done by a member of the art department of Grafico Finn O'Hare, a native son of White Plains, who was born and raised and is still a resident of the city. The City of White Plains arranged for the installation which was a major feat. The “ unveiling” took place on October 17, 1995.
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Carillon at Country Courthouse Tower
Is there music in the air? It must be the bells ringing from the 111-bell Schulmerich Carillon atop the County Courthouse. The Carillon, a gift from WPBF, plays the Westminster Chimes on the hour and half hour until 8pm and concert selections Monday to Saturday at 12:15, 3, 5, and 6pm and Sundays at 4 and 7pm.
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Millennium Clock
The White Plains Beautification Foundation's gift to the city of White Plains was given to commemorate the centennial of the White Plains Public Library and to honor the 28 years of service to the city by the
late Mayor Richard S. Hendey. Mayor Hendy was instrumental in locating the library at its present site on Martine Avenue. WPBF
plants, maintains, and waters the clock garden and all of the many planters and gardens surrounding the Library Plaza
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Gazebo Refreshed
The Edwin G. Michaelian Memorial Gazebo, dedicated to the former County Executive
Oct. 14, 1984, in Tibbits Park on North Broadway, received a fresh coat of paint recently thanks to the generosity of Peter Gisondi Painting Co., Inc.
According to John Gisondi, CEO of Gisondi Painting, which was established in 1953, this
is the third time the White Plains business has assumed the responsibility of restoring the gazebo.
A total of six labor days were spent power washing the gazebo to remove the mildew from
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from the roof, scraping, sanding, priming and finish painting to fully restore the beauty of the structure. Keeping a watchful eye on the gazebo through the years, and tending to its upkeep every three to four years, Gisondi explains, “Preventative maintenance is key.”The idea of a permanent structure in Tibbits Park was discussed while two friends — Brian Wallach, first president of the White Plains Beautification Foundation, and Robert Pollack, architect, and a WPBF V.P. — were enjoying a lunchtime concert in the park back in 1979. Today the gazebo is the site of regular spring and summer midday music events that make living in or visiting White Plains just a little more special.
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Our Temporary Sculpture Show is Evolving
The White Plains Beautification Foundation has partnered with the City of White Plains and the Sculptors Guild of New York City to bring world renowned sculpture to our City. This program was introduced at the White Plains Library Plaza in September of 2004. In essence, sculptures are borrowed from artist members of the Sculptors Guild on a temporary basis to create the sculpture gardens.
As you may have noticed when walking or driving down Rev Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. on the side of our Library, the large stainless steel sculpture resembling a gateway, which was entitled Sag Portal, has been replaced by a large white sculpture entitled Circles and Waves. Sag Portal has moved to the International Sculpture Center in Hamilton, New Jersey, where Mr. Van de Bovenkamp is enjoying a one-man show. The artist has informed us that Sag Portal has been purchased and will soon make its way to Europe to join its new owner. Circle and Waves is one of 40 in a series and was created in 1987. The theme of using strictly two shapes indicates how two simple shapes can produce such a variety of configurations or sculptures. The circle represents centering (stability is used in Eastern symbolism) while the waves are a series of part overlapping circles and symbolize endlessness and searching. Thus two shapes related or coming from the same source can have opposite meanings and at the same time be complementary to each other. Please come and visit!
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The Basket
Designed by Rudy Nabel and Robert Dean and built by Jack McGrath and William Strong, The Basket is made of large cedar boards milled on site and stained walnut. It took two months to construct The Basket-measuring 18’ long, 9’ feet wide and 9’ tall-in a warehouse at Nabel’s Nursery. On the day of dedication, September 12, 1996, 15 men managed to maneuver The Basket on and off a flat bed trailer to the site at Armory Plaza. Once on site, the inner liner was filled with 2.5 tons of a special Nabel’s blend potting soil and planted with beautiful seasonal plants. WPBF had budgeted $5,000 for this “dream basket,” however, the costs for this one-of-a-kind project rose to $18,000. This re-adjusted cost was Rudy Nabel’s gift to the City, a gift for which White Plains is enormously grateful. The Basket has been planted seasonally by Nabel’s Nurseries and funded through our Adopt-A-Park Program Major Sponsor.
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The Mural
Preserving our vision: Ginsburg Development, LLC, commissioned a high-resolution photograph of our Main Street mural so we'll have a virtual copy even when the building comes down later this year. At the photo shoot were: Barbara Vrooman, Nanette Bourne, Ginsburg Development's Andy Maniglia, Cheryl Bartholomew Miller, Mary Farrell, Betty Graessle, and Lynn Burrell. In 1993, the mural took two weeks to paint and was finished on the opening day of the White Plains Outdoor Arts Festival when the public was invited to paint flowers in the "flower boxes."
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Triantafillu Fountain
This landmark fountain was designed by WPBF Advisor Len Salvador and constructed by Doria Contractors. A substantial portion of the cost was contributed by the Harry D. Triantafillu family. Harry D. Triantafillu, a White Plains resident for many years, was an inventor, businessman and philanthropist. Donations were made by many individuals and firms listed on a plaque next to the fountain. The final $14,000 needed to complete this major project was provided by Lila Acheson Wallace, co-founder of The Reader’s Digest, and a long time supporter of our Adopt-A-Park Program. Following five years of fund-raising, the fountain was dedicated in 1978.
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G. Kent Hawks Fountain and Gardens
The Hawks Water Cascade is located in lower Tibbits Park. This project was created in memory of a young architect who was a resident of the city and an advisor to WPBF. Board member and architect Robert Pollack proposed the plan for the rustic woodland fountain constructed of boulders and surrounded by gardens. When the $25,000 cost was raised, construction began and the fountain was dedicated in 1978. This tranquil Water cascade is located adjacent to The Westchester Mall on Westchester Avenue at the foot of Armory Hill.
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The John C. Bailey Summer House
 In 1979 the rustic old summer house, a White Plains landmark since 1906, had to be demolished due to its deterioration. At the base of the old structure was magnificent stone work which was an integral part of the background of the park and gardens below. Seven years after it was gone and missed by so many, sons of John C. Bailey approached the Foundation with their wish to do something significant to honor their father in life. Bailey had served White Plains from 1937-1969 and was retired in Florida. Architect and WPBF Board member Robert Pollack volunteered his design of a new structure in the spirit of the original. Through an appeal from the president of Operation Engineers, Local 137, volunteers representing the WP Carpenters Union 53, DeLeo Excavating Corp., Interstate Building Material, and the Lions Club of White Plains provided all of the work gratis. In true barn-raising fashion the new summer house was built in one day. It is located on South Broadway at the east end of Martine Avenue, across from Cameo House.
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Renoda Hoffman Street Clock
On the 25th Anniversary of the White Plains Beautification Foundation, the Foundation purchased and dedicated a large double-sided street clock to honor City Historian Renoda Hoffman, a beloved member of our Board. Renoda was White Plains City Historian for 35 years until her death in 2005.
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The Flag Pole
The Flag Pole is located in Tibbits Park and is a joint project with the Rotary Club. |
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