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Page 214: The Daily Plant, City of New York Parks & recreation, Wednesday, August 8, 2001 • THE PATERNO TRIVIUM: WHERE ROADS AND PEOPLE MEET Trivium is Latin for the place where three roads intersect, and Paterno refers to Dr. Charles Paterno, an Italian immigrant who gave up medicine for architecture. Washington Heights today bears the mark of his enthusiasm for new buildings. A new greenstreet at 187th Street in Manhattan named for Paterno it will capture his fondness for green spaces too. Paterno’s Palace, as his home on the Hudson was nicknamed, included greenhouses. The man himself – who would have turned 127 on Saturday – wore flowers in his lapel. And his designs left space for gardens. His most visible legacy may be buildings, but his freshest, will be the Trivium.
Landscape Architect Thomas (Trivium) Navin proposed a greenstreet at 187th Street at least three years ago. He designed it, and his group, the Friends of the Paterno Trivium, adopted the petite, green street through Parks’ stewardship program. Having helped usher it into existence they will now provide the regular care – weeding, watering, and noticing – for which neighbors are well equipped. Greenstreets will visit the site weekly to offer additional care. This model, in which institutional and neighborhood resources are joined, has proven successful in hundreds of greenstreets and small parks around the city. Commissioner Henry J. (StarQuest) Stern thanked the Friends of the Paterno Trivium at a ceremony on Saturday, August 4 saying, “we’re very pleased to add another flowering island to the streetscape.”
Page 215: Paterno Trivium Ribbon Cutting Washington Heights, Manhattan, Pinehurst Ave. and Cabrini Blvd. at 187th Street, Saturday, August 4, 2001, 2:00 pm, Paterno Trivium, 0.02 Acres – Manhattan’s newest Greenstreet, designed by Thomas Navin, is named after Dr. Charles V. Paterno (1877-1946). Paterno, an active builder throughout Manhattan, was instrumental in developing the residential buildings found in this neighborhood. Trivium is the Latin term for a place where three roads meet. A neighborhood group, Friends of Paterno Trivium, proposed, designed and raised funds to help build this Greenstreet. They will also assist in maintaining the site.
The Paterno Trivium’s three benches are arranged in a semi-circle. The Hawthorn trees planted at the triangle reflect the changes of the seasons. In the spring, the trees will sprout flowers, in the fall the leaves will turn yellow, and berries will grow as the winter approaches. In addition, new concrete has been poured and set flush to the pavement, making the Paterno Trivium handicap accessible.
Carla Paterno Darlington, Dr. Charles Paterno’s granddaughter, and other family members were present at the Greenstreet’s first watering ceremony. She, the Friends of the Paterno Trivium, and Department of Transportation, and Parks worked together to create the 1,725th greenstreet in New York City.
Page 216: The Creators of New York A Hall of Fame honoring the gifted, visionary and energetic individuals who created the best of New York City’s built environment – its transportation and service infrastructure, its office towers and its residential buildings.
Dr. Charles Paterno A creative builder of many fine apartment houses on the west side of Manhattan and on Park Avenue, and of Hudson View Gardens and Castle Village in upper Manhattan.
Elected March 1989, Presented to his son, Carlo M. Paterno, by The Real Estate Board of New York, Inc.
Signed by Seymour B. Durst, Jury Chairman and Burton P. Resnick, Chairperson Real Estate Board of New York, Inc.
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