Leaving her mark at Crawford Park
October 19, 2023 at 3:27 a.m.
A royal gem crabapple tree will soon blossom a rich, crimson-red foliage at Crawford Park that is meant to honor the dedication one Rye Brook resident committed to the green space for decades.
On the afternoon of Friday, Oct. 13, a ceremony was held at Crawford Park at the site a tree was planted to honor Laura Klein, a dedicated community member who moved to Bedford this past March.
Klein served as a longtime member of the Friends of Crawford Park for over 20 years, acting as president for 11 of them. The Friends, a nonprofit organization, have worked towards the preservation and beautification of the park since its founding in October 1996.
The group organizes events to raise money to undertake a variety of projects, from bench and tree dedications to renovating parts of the park. Klein had cemented herself as a staple at the park, dedicating much of her time and effort to better it.
Her involvement with Crawford Park started shortly after moving to the area. Having previously lived in California, Klein and her family moved to Rye Brook to be closer to her husband’s family.
Klein quickly fell in love with the park, as it was the go-to place to walk the family dog.
“I was always visiting. Scheming. Dreaming,” she said as to what drove her to become involved with the Friends.
Joining the non-profit the same year she moved to Rye Brook, she worked on many ventures for the benefit of the park. She was a key figure in organizing the Run for Crawford Park, restoring the sunken garden adjacent to the mansion, and completely renovating the mile-long pedestrian path that surrounds the park. When asked what her proudest accomplishment as president was, Klein laughed, saying: “It’s hard to choose a favorite project.”
But she noted that several came to mind.
In particular, she was delighted by the memorials she’s organized.
“Everyone has a different connection to the park,” she said. “People get married here, and I always feel great that some people think ‘I may not live in my house forever, but the park is forever.’” It’s fitting, then, that she will be honored in the park with her own tree.
According to Alison Lazarus, the treasurer and a Friends board member, the tree was chosen with intent.
“We wanted a flowering tree that would bloom in the spring,” she said on why a royal gem crabapple tree was selected. “The magenta flowers of this variety would be a beautiful reminder of what Laura contributed to the park and the fruit would feed the wildlife in the fall.”
Lazarus is one of many who expressed gratitude for Klein’s work.
“It wasn’t until Laura moved out of the neighborhood that we in the Friends realized just how much she did for the park,” Lazarus said in her speech at the event. “It is totally fitting that Laura now has her own tree here and a permanent dedication in this park since she gave so much of herself here.”
Klein was a staple at the park, something that Rye Town Director of Parks and Facilities Vic Federico acknowledged.
“She was here every day,” he said. “It was a pleasure seeing her walking her dog every morning.”
Federico worked closely with Klein on multiple projects organized and funded by the Friends. “She knew the property inside and out,” he said, speaking on how she became an expert on the park over the years. “She knew about the shrubs, the trees, and how to get people involved.”
Rye Town Supervisor Gary Zuckerman worked with her for all eight years he’s served as supervisor and also felt Klein left a mark on everyone she collaborated with.
“She, and the rest of the Friends, have been a true partner at making Crawford Park a beautiful community asset,” he said. “We will miss her, but her work will continue with the Friends, and I still have her phone number.”
According to Lazarus, Klein has left large shoes to fill.
“Right now, there is no president,” Lazarus said on how the Friends is currently operating. “No one was able to take the role. Her responsibilities have been delegated to several people.”
The Friends have actively been seeking volunteers to try to make up for Klein’s departure.
“We’re taking all volunteers,” the treasurer said. “Anyone interested in horticulture or the park should go to our website to get in touch.”
Their website, friendsofcrawfordpark.org, has a contact form as well as a donation link.
While Klein feels bittersweet about her departure, she has also been enjoying the newfound free time.
“My new home has two and a half acres,” Klein said, noting she plans on concentrating on her own personal garden. “I just want to focus on my own little park for now.”
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