The beauty of working together In 2010, when I was the Director of Corporate Citizenship & Diversity at GE Asset Management, I met with Arty for lunch and a tour of the Park. It was clear after that tour that this project would have a transformative impact on the physical beauty, accessibility and the overall quality of life of downtown Stamford, and indeed all of Stamford. There are moments in the life of cities, which people look back on and recognize as turning points in their trajectories. I truly believed that our city came to that crossroad when we formed the vision for Mill River Park. Imagine New York City in the early 1850s, when a group of businessmen and public officials finally 4
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decided to move forward with the acquisition of 700 acres in Manhattan for the construction of Central Park. Or 1909, when a business and civic group in Chicago called The Commercial Club approved their “Plan for Chicago,” which stipulated that: “First in importance [to the city] is the shore of Lake Michigan. It should be treated as park space to the greatest possible extent.” This plan led to the creation of Grant Park, Lake Shore Drive and a waterfront park system that is almost unparalleled among major cities worldwide. Both instances are examples of executing on a great vision. Mill River Park is another opportunity to execute on a great vision. To the degree that Central Park and Lake Shore Drive contribute to the character of their cities, I believe Mill River Park can have the same impact on Stamford. I am energized every day by the promise of what we will accomplish over the next few years. In 2018, we will open the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Skating