Daffodils Will One Day Bloom At Venditti Square In R’wood

Shown from left to right: Jose Lemus and Marvin Sandoval, landscapers from McNulty Outdoors, Inc., which also recently made enhancements at Venditti Square; Paul A. Kerzner, president, Ridgewood Property Owners & Civic Association; Theodore M. Renz, Executive Director, Myrtle Avenue Business Improvement District. The Ridgewood Property Owners and Civic Association (RPOCA) along with the Myrtle Avenue Business Improvement District (BID) recently worked together to plant 1,000 daffodil bulbs at Venditti Square.

The daffodil bulbs were donated by NewYorkers for Parks; a citywide independent organization championing quality parks and open spaces for all New Yorkers in all neighborhoods. The BID also planted 100 bulbs at its planting area at the corner of Catalpa and Myrtle avenues.

For nearly a decade, the “Daffodil Project,” a living memorial to the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, has been an effort to beautify every neighborhood by planting daffodils. Led by New Yorkers for Parks, and in cooperation with the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, this annual volunteer project serves as a symbol of remembrance and an act of rebirth that engages New Yorkers in the revitalization of their communities.

The project began when Dutch Bulb supplier Hans Van Waardenburg of B&K Flower bulbs pledged to donate 500,000 daffodil bulbs to New York City as a sign of support following the attacks. B&K Flower bulbs continued to donate thousands of bulbs for the first eight years of the project. New Yorkers for Parks is committed to continuing the vision of the Daffodil Project by raising funds to purchase and distribute the bulbs.

Since this project’s inception, four million daffodils have been planted throughout New York City. Mayor Michael Bloomberg named the daf- fodil the official flower of New York City in 2007.

Paul Kerzner, RPOCA president, secured some 4,000 daffodil bulbs this fall for plantings in several public places in Ridgewood.

“These daffodils which will bloom next spring will add another element of serenity to Venditti Square, to be enjoyed by all who congregate there,” said Theodore M. Renz of the Myrtle Avenue Business Improvement District.

Venditti Square, located at Myrtle Avenue and Woodbine Street, was recently upgraded to create more open space, and planting areas around the plaza. The plaza was named for Det. Anthony J. Venditti who was slain in the line of duty at this site, while on undercover assignment for the NYPD.

A re-dedication ceremony was held on Oct. 16, attended by members and friends of the Venditti family, local elected officials and senior NYPD officials, including Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly.