Bronx cultural hubs take
precautions amidst COVID-19
New York Botanical Garden’s gates closed in response to the increasing Coronavirus precautions. Schneps Media / Kyle Vuille
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BRONX TIMES REPORTER,BTR MARCH 20-26, 2020 3
BY KYLE VUILLE
With almost an entire city on
lockdown to mitigate the spreading
of COVID-19, most major Bronx cultural
institutes have followed suit.
In the past week, the federal,
state, and city officials have declared
state of emergencies, deeming
the opening of schools, restaurants,
theaters, and gatherings over
50 people forbidden.
On Sunday, March 15, the executive
director of Communications for
the Wildlife Conservation Society,
Max Pulsinelli released a statement
regarding closures of their partnered
facilities throughout NYC.
“The Wildlife Conservation Society
is temporarily closing the Bronx
Zoo, Central Park Zoo, Prospect
Park Zoo, Queens Zoo and New York
Aquarium, effective Monday, March
16,” Pulsinelli said. “Our fi ve parks
will be closed and education and public
programs will be cancelled until
further notice.”
Another cultural hub for the
Bronx, the New York Botanical Garden,
also temporarily closed effective
Sunday, March 15, delaying the upcoming
Orchid Show and other scheduled
events and group programs.
A statement on the NYBG’s webpage
read: “All events and programs,
including The Orchid Show, remain
suspended through March 31, and we
may extend this timeframe if necessary.”
The Bronx Museum of the Arts
closed its doors Friday, March 13
due to the growing concerns on
COVID-19.
According to the statement on the
museum’s website, interim director
Klaudio Rodriguez said there are
no known cases of the coronavirus
among the museum staff. Rodriguez
also said in the statement, the museum
staff will continue their efforts
to deep-clean the facility during its
time of closure.
Lehman College’s Center for Performing
Arts is taking one of the biggest
hits, according to the executive
director Eva Bornstein.
“It’s not up to us,” Bornstein said.
“The government has ordered all theaters,
restaurants and schools to be
closed.”
Bornstein said the orders came
down the chain of command from the
governor to CUNY’s chancellor to the
school’s president.
Bronx Times spoke to Bornstein
on Monday, March 16 via a telephone
call, to fi nd Bornstein like most Lehman
staff, working remotely.
Bornstein said the center has
contacted producers and perform-
ers for upcoming shows and so far,
performers have been understanding
and happy to postpone and reschedule.
Bornstein also fears the virus ultimately
forcing performing acts to
cancel.
“If we end up cancelling performances,
we’re going to lose money,”
Bornstein said. “We’re trying to run
a small business compared to something
like Broadway.”
She also said all ticket holders
have been contacted while constant
updates are being posted via the center’s
website.
“Life can go on without entertainment,
but this virus is very serious
and hopefully it will pass,” Bornstein
said.
One Bronx staple, Wave Hill Gardens,
is caught in the gray area, because
at the moment, there are no
guidelines for closures of full outdoor
spaces.
A Wave Hill Gardens representative
said there are no public events
scheduled, but the grounds are open
with free admission.
The biggest Bronx attraction,
Yankees Stadium, is closed indefi -
nitely. The New York Yankees spring
training was cut short, so the ballpark’s
reopening will be even further
delayed after the coronavirus
pandemic is brought under control.
The delayed season will seriously
impact Bronx businesses that rely on
the foot traffi c generated by the club’s
home games.