The Garden Club of Orange and Dutchess Counties was host to a community event in partnership with The Downing Park Planning Committee to celebrate the 200th Birthday Anniversary of Frederick Law Olmsted. This beautiful 35-acre urban park was the last design collaboration between Olmsted and Calvert Vaux. They only agreed to do it, pro bono, if it were named as a memorial tribute to their friend and mentor, Newburgh native Andrew Jackson Downing. There was much to celebrate: our Keynote Speaker was Dede Petri, City of Newburgh Mayor Torrance Harvey provided Welcoming Remarks, we had music from two local school groups, The NFA Madrigals and The San Miguel Miracles, GCA members were with us to present The GCA Hull Award to the Park’s Urban Farm Executive Director, Virginia Kasinki, we debuted the completion of work made possible by a $10,000 Restoration Initiative Grant from the Garden Club of America, we displayed the exquisite “Olmsted Exhibit,” and enjoyed refreshments and beautiful weather supplied by Mother Nature with the over 200 neighbors and friends who joined us.