Ed Wendell
This Sunday, November 17th, Oak Ridge in Forest Park will host a free matinee concert, offering a fantastic opportunity for Woodhaven residents and visitors to experience a unique musical performance. Doors open at 2:30 p.m., with the concert kicking off at 3 p.m. The performance, titled “I Happen to Like NY,” is a new percussion work presented by Man Forever, an evolving ensemble led by Woodhaven’s own John Colpitts.
Colpitts, who moved from Flatbush to Woodhaven five years ago, is an established musician with a passion for sharing music within the community. Describing his ensemble as a team of the “most in-demand percussionists in New York City,” he highlights the talents of Matt Evans, Noah Hecht, Jessica Tsang, Amy Garapic, Tristen Kasten-Krause, and Clara Warnaar. “They are exceptional musicians,” Colpitts shares. “It’s very special that they are playing here in Woodhaven for free.”
The concert is brought to us through collaboration among the Forest Park Trust, NYFA Queens New York Work Fund, and Goodhaven Productions. Colpitts has partnered with local organizations, including the Woodhaven Cultural & Historical Society and the Woodhaven Library, for previous historical and musical presentations, reflecting his commitment to enhancing the cultural vibrancy of the area.
Oak Ridge is itself a piece of Woodhaven history and will celebrate its 120th anniversary next year. It was built in 1905 as a clubhouse for the Forest Park Golf Course, which it used to sit on. Back then, the golf course stretched all the way down to Ashland Avenue (today known as Park Lane South).
Designed by Helmle, Huberty & Hudswell, the architectural firm behind Brooklyn’s iconic Williamsburgh Savings Bank tower, Oak Ridge exemplifies Dutch Colonial architecture. Originally, a long, beautiful stone staircase led from Oak Ridge to the first tee of the golf course on what is now Mary Whalen Playground. The building itself was well-equipped, with lockers, parlors, and bathing facilities for golfers.
Nestled atop a rock formed by glacial movement, the views from Oak Ridge are breathtaking, stretching all the way to Jamaica Bay and offering stunning overlooks of Brooklyn to the west.
After the residents of Woodhaven complained about the lack of public park space available to them, the golf course was reshaped in 1921. All of the sites you are familiar with in Forest Park used to be part of the golf course. The Carousel, the Seuffert Bandshell, Strack Pond, the Tennis Courts, all of it was once part of the golf course. After the redesign, the clubhouse found itself on the outside looking in!
Though the world outside and around the clubhouse has transformed greatly, the clubhouse’s historic charm has endured. The building underwent a full restoration in the 1990s and was renamed Oak Ridge.
This event, facilitated by Portia Dyrenforth, the NYC Parks Department Forest Park and Highland Park Administrator, underscores the dedication to fostering artistic endeavors within the community. Recent activities at Oak Ridge include arts and crafts classes for children, hosted by local artist Jennifer Lambert, showcasing a blend of creativity and history that appeals to all ages.
This Sunday’s concert will also provide a glimpse of the legacy of the Forest Park Carousel, with the only surviving horse from the original carousel, which tragically burned down in 1966, greeting visitors at Oak Ridge’s entrance.
Don’t miss this chance to enjoy a free concert surrounded by Forest Park’s rich history and beauty! Make your way to Oak Ridge this Sunday, November 17th, at 3 p.m., and experience an afternoon of inspiring percussion and community spirit right here in Woodhaven.
The concert is a collaborative percussion piece by Woodhaven musician John Colpitts.
