Earlier this summer, the Friends of Olmsted-Beil House on Staten Island were excited to host a number of partners in the Olmsted Network for a special gathering at the historic property that was once part of Frederick Law Olmsted’s Tosomock Farm. FOBH Board members Tina Kaasmann-Dunn, Felicity Beil, Christine Johnson, Paula Tramontano, Jack Bolembach, Bill Bell (also chair of the Olmsted Network Board of Directors), and Eileen Monreale hosted representatives from the Central Park Conservancy and the Prospect Park Alliance for a morning of exploration, connection, and shared learning.
Guests included representatives from three organizations: Prospect Park Alliance, including President Morgan Monaco, Chief of Park Operations Becky Yurek, and Archivist Amy Peck; Central Park Conservancy, represented by Chief of Staff/Vice President of Planning & Operations Salmaan Khan (also an Olmsted Network Board member), Director of Public History Jessica MacLean, Manager of Education, Tours & Public Interpretation Clare Richfield, Program Operations Coordinator Sara Kneeshaw, and Park Guides Juan Jesus and Jose Velasco; and NYC Parks, represented by John Kilcullen, Administrator of South Shore Parks, and Carmine Raimondi, Programs and Events Manager for Conference House Park and South Shore Parks.
FOBH Advisory Board member and historian Giuseppe Settinieri began the day by leading the group on a tour of the property. The group was captivated by the extraordinary history of the c.1690 farmhouse and the surrounding grounds, including magnificent trees planted by Frederick Law Olmsted himself. In addition to an exterior and interior tour of the house, the group took a leisurely walk to the nearby shoreline in Atlantic Village. Throughout the tour, board members Tina Kaasmann-Dunn and Felicity Beil shared fascinating stories of growing up on the property.
The visit concluded with a delightful outdoor luncheon beneath the very trees planted by Olmsted—the perfect setting to reflect on the enduring legacy of this remarkable site.
We are always grateful to see our community learn from and inspire one another. It is connection opportunities like these that allow Olmsted Network partners to collaborate and find solutions from organizations that share our dedication to preserving and protecting Olmsted landscapes. For the Friends of Olmsted-Beil House, it was both a delight and an honor to share the rich history nestled within this New York City park on Staten Island.
