Longtime Riverside Park neighbors Mary and Morris Rossabi have lived on Riverside Drive for 45 years. It’s their backyard. It’s a place where, like many other West Siders, their son learned how to ride a bike. To them, Riverside Park is “magnificent, comfortable, and beautiful.”
Riverside Park has played a significant role in the couple’s lives throughout the years, and it continues to be a place of respite and relaxation for them.
Mary and Morris used to jog in Riverside Park, and today they regularly take walks along the park’s sprawling paths. They often go down to the Hudson River while strolling throughout the park. “It’s gorgeous,” Morris said.
A Park for Both the Special and the Everyday
Morris has penned multiple books on a beloved bench right outside their building. “The park is reflective,” he said. “That’s why I could write books here.”
Mary, along with a friend and fellow volunteer, cares for a beautiful plot of the Garden People’s Garden at 91st Street. She started stewarding her section of the garden 10 years into living on the Drive. “I’m very proud of my five rose bushes,” she said. “Right now, two of them are in bloom.”
A Place to Grow With
The pair have seen the park grow and change throughout the years. When they first moved to Riverside Drive, “[the park] wasn’t as comfortable.” It was much rougher, yet still beloved, they noted.
Mary was volunteering in her garden plot during the filming of 1998 romcom classic You’ve Got Mail. “I came home from work one day and I went to my garden. I said, oh, these are beautiful. All those flowers I didn’t know I planted,” Mary recalled. “They were all plastic. Yes, they were for filming. They filled it up a little bit, but [You’ve Got Mail is] why people come to see this garden and take pictures of themselves all these years later. That movie brought in a lot of funding for the park. A lot of attention too.”
Mary and Morris have enjoyed and relied on Riverside Park during different seasons of their lives. The height of the pandemic was no exception, giving the park a new meaning for the Rossabis and many neighbors alike. During that time, the couple describes Riverside Park as a “lifesaver.” It was a space where they could walk and spend time with friends. It was helpful “just knowing you could get out somewhere,” Mary said.
A Place to Give Back To
As neighbors who support Riverside Park Conservancy, both financially and with their time, we asked Morris and Mary what motivates them to make a significant annual contribution to the Conservancy.
“We want to give back to the park that’s given us so much,” Mary said.
“It’s made such a difference in our lives,” said Morris. “I hope it does for other people, too.”
Dedicated neighbors like Mary and Morris are the heart of Riverside’s success. We invite you to join them and our many long-time, dedicated friends in supporting our work by becoming a Riverside Perennial, the Conservancy’s new recognition program for long-term donors.
Riverside Perennials are donors who have committed to annual major financial support. These steadfast supporters have been the driving force behind our ability to invest more resources in the stewardship of our beloved park each year. The collective impact of our Riverside Perennial donors is undeniable: over the past decade, the Conservancy’s budget has grown dramatically by nearly 200 percent.
Yet, as we confront the challenges of tomorrow, the need for sustained support has never been greater. To continue delivering high-quality care along our six miles and to ensure our staff have the tools and equipment they need to keep Riverside thriving, we must focus on maintaining this growth. The Conservancy is reliant on generous neighbors like Mary and Morris.