New York City - New York City can boast many treasures - museums, colleges, opera companies, orchestras, the ballet, restaurants, medical facilities, some outstanding architecture, and - Yes - perhaps the world's largest container garden complex.

Commissioner Benepe holding proclamation.

For 30 years and for over two miles, from 54th Street to 86th Street, The Fund for Park Avenue has planted, lit and maintained the malls that run down the center of one of the world's most famous streets.

Barbara McLaughlin, the Fund's President said, "Last fall, we planted 60,000 white (Darwin Hybrid Ivory Floradale) tulips to represent pearls, which are the traditional gift for a 30th Anniversary." As we write, the tulips are blossoming. For New Yorkers, they herald the true beginning of spring. Were it an aerial view, Park Avenue would look like an add-a-pearl necklace.

But, flowers on Park Avenue were not always the scene. Before 1900, train tracks ran along the avenue at street level - dividing the broad thoroughfare. Two events changed this. First, the advent of electricity. Second, Grand Central Depot opened at 42nd Street. The tracks were sunk underground, out of view. This freed the railroad company to sell the air rights for luxury apartment buildings and office spaces.

It was a defiant Mary Lasker, determined to prove to the City fathers that flowers could survive in the heart of the Manhattan, who planted the first flowering trees, bulbs and begonias. Mary Woodard Lasker grew up in Watertown, Wisconsin. Her mother, Sara Johnson Woodard created two local parks. So, it's not surprising that Mary became a major force in urban beautification. Her motto was: Plant masses where the masses pass.

Dan Garodnick, Mark Schinerman and Jessica Lappin.

She started the "Salute to the Seasons" in 1957. Its aim was to get New Yorkers to make tax-deductible contributions to beautify their City. As Marge Ternes, the first Executive Director of the Fund for Park Avenue says, "She'd plant anywhere she could find some space. This included large planters in Times Square and in front of the New York Times building."

Twice a year, models with white gloves and watering cans would join Mayor Robert Wagner and Lasker on the steps of the public library at 42nd Street spring and fall. At the fanfare the well-dressed models would run around Time Square sprinkling the flowerpots. Lasker also believed the citizens should take an active part in beautifying their city.

In the 1960s Lasker began planting the Park Avenue medians. The Avenue reminded her of the Boulevards of Paris, which she loved. She joined forces with Lady Byrd and President Lyndon Johnson in the mission to beautify our cities. In 1969 President Johnson presented her with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor for her work in urban beautification and for her support of medical research.

Blair Clarke and Evie Brown.

During the 1970s, New York went into a steep economic decline. Lacking money in the City coffers, the malls on Park Avenue fell into disrepair and deteriorated. Central Park was neglected and became dangerous at night. By 1980, there was a major shift in the City's outlook. Edward Koch, mayor for three years, turned the fiscal situation around with stringent budgets measures. People were beginning to see a reversal in the City's fortunes.

Once again, Lasker stepped in. She learned that Ronald D. Spencer, president of the Carnegie Hill Neighbors was successful in raising money from the buildings facing the Avenue from 86th to 96th Streets. She extended the idea of the Carnegie Hill Neighbors Project from 86th to 54th Streets.

At the same time, Lasker was continuing to support the annual lighting of the memorial trees on Park Avenue. The Park Avenue Tree Lighting, which was begun 1945 by Susan Vanderpoel Clark as a way to honor the men and women who lost their lives in World War II, continues to this day and now honors all who have died in defense of our country.

In addition to the tulips in spring, The Fund plants begonias in summer. Not as well known is the Fund's Sculpture Committee, who in conjunction with the New York City Public Arts Program and in collaboration with arts organizations and artists, present a series of exhibitions throughout the year. Past installations have included sculptures by Deborah Butterfield, Donna Dennis, Robert Indiana, Jun Kaneko, Claude and François-Xavier Lalanne, Sui Jianguo, Beverly Pepper, George Rickey and James Surls. Currently on display is the work of Mia Westerlund Roosen. From January through May 2011, Will Ryman's large rose sculptures will "bloom" on the malls.

Friederike Biggs, Catherine Carey, and Leslie Jones.

To celebrate the Fund's landmark 30th Anniversary, Michael Scully, President of Scully & Scully, Park Avenue's famous specialty store, hosted a champagne reception. He said, "For the last 30 of our 75 years, we have had a beautiful front lawn thanks to The Fund."

On hand to mark the milestone, Adrian Benepe, New York City Parks and Recreation Commissioner, said, "On behalf of Mayor Michael Bloomberg and a grateful City I am here with a Proclamation naming this day 'Fund for Park Avenue Day.'" The Proclamation reads in part, "Today's Park Avenue Malls are a wonderful example of what we can accomplish with bold thinking and commitment to the future."

Reading from the proclamation, Benepe stated that since its inception, the Fund "has planted nearly three million tulip bulbs, more than 600 trees and approximately 900,000 begonias." He went on to say that "flowers have a civilizing effect on people. I have never seen a fist fight in front of a flower bed."

Michael Scully and Barbara McLaughlin.

The proclamation recognized the importance of everyone who has supported The Fund over the last 30 years. Those contributions have "improved the quality of life for neighborhood residents and helped to build a greener, greater city for all New Yorkers." Benepe also likened The Fund's relationship to the Park Avenue malls to that of the Central Park Conservancy's relationship to Central Park. Both are very successful examples of public-private partnerships operating in the city today. He went on to say, "Many people don't realize that we (the Parks Department) have nothing to do with the malls. We stay out of the way. It's The Fund who is responsible for all this beauty."

McLaughlin said "This anniversary is an important milestone and an opportunity to recognize the extraordinary generosity of the many people who have supported our efforts over the years."

In addition to music by Alex Donner, the celebration featured four spring table settings. Each centerpiece was inspired by the Park Avenue malls: Eleni's New York provided tulip-topped cupcakes for a children's party hosted by Evie Brown and Blair Clarke. Will Ryman lent models of his work that will decorate the malls this January to a table for members of The Fund's Sculpture Advisory Committee. Eugenie Niven Goodman's dinner for famous horticulturalists featured a classic mall by Ron Wendt Design in boxwood and tulips. Event designer Nancy Swiezy hosted a table, in which she envisioned a Buddha visiting a mall.

Tulips on Park Avenue.

Among those who filled the store were Manhattan Borough Commissioner William Castro, City Council members Jessica Lappin and Dan Garodnick and FFPA Directors and Committee members Ronald D. Spencer, Derek Limbocker, Margaret Ternes, Muffie Potter Aston, Sheri Babbio, Friederike Biggs, Evie Brown, Maureen Chilton, Blair Clarke, Mary Davidson, Amy Mazzola Flynn, Martha Glass, Eugenie Niven Goodman, Helena Martinez and Burwell Schorr.

Also Alexandra Lebenthal, Jeremy Biggs, Wendy Carduner, Geoffrey Bradfield, Zelda Kaplan, Kevin McLaughlin, Audrey Grussv, Michèle Gerber Klein, Michael and Eleanora Kennedy, Melissa and Chappy Morris, Catherine and Bryan Carey, Leslie and Peter Jones, Janet Constantin, Stuart and Vanessa McLean, R. Couri Hay, Maggie Norris, Dr. Robert Grant, Kate Edmunds, Dr. Kevin Plancer, Jean Shafiroff, Michel Witmer, Christine Schott, Blaine Caravaggi, Karen Klopp, Larry Babbio, Nina Griscom, Kyle Blackmon, Jennifer Bradford Davis, John Glass, Douglas Hannant, Sharon Bush, Keri Ingvarsson, Jake Bright, Mia Morgan, Jay Jolly, Alastair Clarke, Filippa Tarras-Wahlberg and Char Harper.