[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 52 (Wednesday, April 21, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E589]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNITION OF ASPHALT GREEN AND THREE OF ITS OUTSTANDING LEADERS, 
STEWART B. CLIFFORD, AL ZESIGER, AND BARRIE ZESIGER, ON THE EVENING OF 
                          THE BIG SWIM BENEFIT

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                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 21, 2004

  Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the achievements of 
Asphalt Green and its honorees, Stewart B. Clifford, Al Zesiger and 
Barrie Zesiger, on the evening of the Big Swim Benefit and Asphalt 
Green's 30th anniversary celebration. Asphalt Green is a wonderful 
nonprofit organization that offers a wide array of health and fitness 
facilities to New York City residents. Our community is truly fortunate 
to have such an enjoyable and necessary resource.
  The Asphalt Green facility began in 1974 as one of the last city-
owned open spaces on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. By 1976, the 
Asphalt Green campus included a one-and-a-half acre park, gardens and a 
wading pool, all of which were available for public use free of charge. 
Later that year, Stewart B. Clifford assisted the organization's 
successful efforts to persuade the City to designate the asphalt plant 
adjacent to the organization's park (Asphalt Green's namesake) as a New 
York City landmark and to convert the plant into a multi-use community 
center. In 1984, the former plant was renamed the George and Annette 
Murphy Center, in honor of the organization's founder, Dr. George 
Murphy.
  The next phase in Asphalt Green's development began when Dr. Murphy 
enlisted the help of two of this evening's honorees, Al and Barrie 
Zesiger, to add an Olympic-sized swimming pool to Asphalt Green's 
already extensive facilities. The pool, along with a full-service 
sports and fitness complex, opened in 1993. These facilities have been 
of tremendous benefit to New Yorkers--and not just on hot summer days. 
Indeed, water exercise classes at the pool are available year-round, 
and are particularly well-suited to the fitness needs of the elderly, 
who are susceptible to the joint and muscle stresses associated with 
dry-land exercise. In all, more than 42,000 New Yorkers use Asphalt 
Green's facilities each year.
  This evening, Asphalt Green will hold its annual Big Swim benefit, 
which will raise funds for the organization's Waterproofing program, a 
joint venture with the New York City Public School District to teach 
underprivileged children how to swim. Swimming ability is strongly 
linked with both socio-economic status and race: only 14 percent of 
those with annual incomes under $10,000 know how to swim, and the rate 
of drowning among African-Americans is significantly higher than that 
of other ethnic groups. The Waterproofing program is notable not only 
because it encourages a lifetime of fitness, but also because it helps 
to save lives.
  The foregoing would not have been possible without Al and Barrie 
Zesiger's dedication to public service and financial support, and the 
leadership of Stewart B. Clifford, a member of Asphalt Green's Board 
for more than twenty years. All three of these great citizens of New 
York will be honored at this evening's benefit.
  Mr. Speaker, I request that my colleagues join me in paying tribute 
to this fine organization and its honorees, Al and Barrie Zesiger and 
Stewart B. Clifford.

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