News
Photo Credit: Paula Tramontano
July 2025—Friends of Olmsted-Beil House (FOBH) has been introducing Staten Island students in grades 3 to 5 to the field of landscape architecture with its innovative Discover Landscape Architecture classroom program. Developed by FOBH Treasurer and retired educator Paula Tramontano, the program has reached approximately 1,400 students since its inception in the 2022-2023 school year.
The 1.5-hour in-classroom program, which Paula presents, starts with a slide show of 19th-century Staten Island photos, paintings, maps, and other primary source documents. The students analyze the documents in the slides during a guided class discussion to build background knowledge about Frederick Law Olmsted’s life on his Staten Island farm. The second part of the slide show introduces students to his basic principles of public park design with photos—mostly from Olmsted–co-designed Central Park and Prospect Park—of winding pathways, forested areas, irregularly shaped lakes, and large lawn areas.
Photo Credit: Paula Tramontano
The program emphasizes the social impact of Olmsted’s designs, noting that prior to the creation of Central Park, the small parks around NYC at the time were behind locked gates only in the wealthy neighborhoods of the city. After Paula presents these lessons, the students demonstrate their understanding of Olmsted’s design principles by incorporating them into their own park plans. She reports that the students’ creativity has been off the charts!
Photo Credit: Paula Tramontano
For some of her presentations, Paula has been joined by FOBH Board member Felicity Beil, who shares interesting stories about having lived with her family in the farmhouse where Frederick Law Olmsted lived.
Photo Credit: Paula Tramontano
The Discover Landscape Architecture program has been made possible through the support of Phillips 66. FOBH plans to continue offering the program in schools and perhaps eventually in local public libraries. It has been profiled in the Olmsted Network’s newsletter.
For further information about the FOBH Discover Landscape Architecture program, please contact Paula at ptramontano@olmstedbeilhouse.org.
Friends of Olmsted-Beil House was delighted to join with New York City Council Minority Leader Joseph C. Borelli on August 26, 2022, to celebrate the co-naming of Woods of Arden Road as “Frederick Law Olmsted Way.” Woods of Arden Road is the road nearest to Olmsted-Beil House Park, the site of Olmsted’s former farm and house. When Olmsted owned the property, it was the main road through his farm, extending over a mile from the current Amboy Road past Hylan Blvd. and down to the edge of Raritan Bay. Learn more below.
Photo credit: Google Maps/Giuseppe Settinieri
October 2024—Friends of Olmsted-Beil House (FOBH) is delighted to announce that the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation (“NYC Parks”) has acquired a 1.2-acre parcel of privately owned land, at 4485 Hylan Boulevard, in Eltingville on the South Shore of Staten Island, as an addition to the 1.58-acre Olmsted-Beil House Park.
New York State capital funds for NYC Parks’ purchase of the property were appropriated through an arrangement organized by New York State Senator Andrew Lanza, in whose district the park is situated.
This property, which abuts Olmsted-Beil House Park, was formerly part of the original parcel of 130 acres owned by Frederick Law Olmsted immediately prior to his commission, with Calvert Vaux, as designer of Central Park. The addition of this property to the boundaries of the park restores a significant part of Olmsted’s Tosomock Farm.
Photo credit: Patricia Salmon
The newly acquired property features a Swiss chalet–style house, built in 1910, and includes the descendants of trees planted by Olmsted, tended for years by FOBH Board member Tina Kaasmann-Dunn. NYC Parks purchased the property from her. With her parents, she had long hoped that their family property would be preserved in perpetuity as open space and become City-owned parkland.
“Selling my family home was the hardest, most gut-wrenching thing I ever had to do,” Ms. Kaasmann-Dunn said, “but knowing that it will be preserved together with the Olmsted property gives me great comfort. Indeed, after watching the vast acreage of the original [Olmsted] farm fall to the bulldozers, and hundreds of houses be built in our woods, my parents hoped that our slice of Olmsted/heaven would be saved.”
FOBH and the Olmsted Network advocated for the addition of this property to Olmsted-Beil House Park for the protection it will provide against development and its preservation of the viewshed of the park to Raritan Bay. The new property also improves access to the park, now gained directly from Hylan Boulevard, a major
thoroughfare. The previous park entrance was through a shared-access easement with private, residential property owners.
“The addition of the Kaasmann House property almost doubles the size of the park,” said FOBH Board President Eileen Monreale, “providing further preservation of an important site to tell the story of Olmsted’s and Staten Island’s history. It will also provide opportunities to invest in science, to safeguard species, and to provide educational programming. Friends of Olmsted-Beil House extends our immense gratitude to Tina Kaasmann-Dunn and to New York State Senator Andrew Lanza for their support, time, and energy to ensure this most important addition to the park.”
New York City Parks acquired the original 1.58 acres of Olmsted-Beil House Park, including Olmsted’s farmhouse, in 2006. At that time, Parks announced, “The historic house will be used for educational purposes and the surrounding land as a public park.”
Friends of Olmsted-Beil House was delighted to join with New York City Council Minority Leader Joseph C. Borelli on August 26, 2022, to celebrate the co-naming of Woods of Arden Road as “Frederick Law Olmsted Way.” Woods of Arden Road is the road nearest to Olmsted-Beil House Park, the site of Olmsted’s former farm and house. When Olmsted owned the property, it was the main road through his farm, extending over a mile from the current Amboy Road past Hylan Blvd. and down to the edge of Raritan Bay. Learn more below.
FOBH Vice President William E. Bell Named to Olmsted Network's Board of Directors
We’re proud to announce that Friends of Olmsted-Beil House Vice President and Membership Secretary William E. Bell has been named to the Board of Directors of the Olmsted Network. The Network (formerly the National Association for Olmsted Parks) is the national organization dedicated to championing Olmsted parks, places, and principles through advocacy, education, and stewardship. The Board of Directors of the Olmsted Network comprises nationally recognized leaders, thinkers, practitioners, and philanthropists dedicated to exploring and celebrating Frederick Law Olmsted and his legacy.
Bill has been a practicing lawyer for more than 40 years, specializing in maritime law and civil litigation. He is currently Of Counsel to The Cook Group, a multi-state law firm based in New York. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Denison University; a master’s degree from Union Theological Seminary; and a juris doctor from Fordham University School of Law.
We are grateful to Bill for his steadfast support of Friends of Olmsted-Beil House, both on-site on Staten Island and from his home near Central Park, where he enjoys Frederick Law Olmsted’s gem, designed with architect Calvert Vaux.
Friends of Olmsted-Beil House was delighted to join with New York City Council Minority Leader Joseph C. Borelli on August 26, 2022, to celebrate the co-naming of Woods of Arden Road as “Frederick Law Olmsted Way.” Woods of Arden Road is the road nearest to Olmsted-Beil House Park, the site of Olmsted’s former farm and house. When Olmsted owned the property, it was the main road through his farm, extending over a mile from the current Amboy Road past Hylan Blvd. and down to the edge of Raritan Bay. Learn more below.
FOBH Awarded Grant from The Staten Island Foundation
Friends of Olmsted-Beil House (FOBH) has received a grant from The Staten Island Foundation to contract with an historical architecture firm to prepare an historic preservation plan and schematic design for the Olmsted-Beil House. Frederick Law Olmsted lived at the Eltingville farmhouse and its 130-acre property from 1847 to 1855.
The farmhouse is a New York City landmark and is listed on the New York State and National Registers of Historic Places. It is currently closed to the public while it awaits restoration. The site, currently 1.35 acres, is now a New York City park, Olmsted-Beil House Park.
The property was the site of many important landscape experiments by Olmsted, including the creation of winding paths and decorative features such as ponds, and planting of trees not native to the Northeast. These explorations would later be incorporated in the design of Central Park and many other Olmsted and Vaux projects. During Olmsted’s time at the property on Staten Island, he also ran a successful farm and tree nursery operation, including growing prize-winning pear trees.
The independent, private Staten Island Foundation has a mission of improving the quality of life in Staten Island.
“The Foundation Board congratulates the dedicated volunteers of FOBH,” said the Foundation’s Executive Director, Laura Jean Watters. “We consider this site an important piece of America’s story and are pleased to contribute to restoring this Staten Island jewel.”
With the award from The Staten Island Foundation, FOBH has contracted with Connolly & Hickey Historical Architects, of Cranford, NJ, an architecture firm that specializes in the restoration and rehabilitation of historic properties. The firm prepared a scope of work and estimate of probable cost in summer 2023 and has initiated its work to prepare the historic preservation plan and schematic design.
Friends of Olmsted-Beil House Celebrates 5th anniversary
Friends of Olmsted-Beil House was delighted to join with New York City Council Minority Leader Joseph C. Borelli on August 26, 2022, to celebrate the co-naming of Woods of Arden Road as “Frederick Law Olmsted Way.” Woods of Arden Road is the road nearest to Olmsted-Beil House Park, the site of Olmsted’s former farm and house. When Olmsted owned the property, it was the main road through his farm, extending over a mile from the current Amboy Road past Hylan Blvd. and down to the edge of Raritan Bay. Learn more below.
WNYC Radio Features Olmsted-Beil House Park in April 27, 2022 Report
In its Morning Edition show on April 27, 2022, WNYC Radio included an interview by producer Amy Pearl of FOBH Board member Tina Kaasmann-Dunn at Olmsted-Beil House Park. In the report, “Good Things: Olmsted Farmhouse,” Tina describes the improvements Olmsted made to the property, including making his first plantings ever. Upon seeing the trees planted by Olmsted, Amy exclaims, “The stars of the show are definitely the trees!”
Listen here: https://www.wnyc.org/story/good-things-olmsted-farmhouse.
Friends of Olmsted-Beil House was delighted to join with New York City Council Minority Leader Joseph C. Borelli on August 26, 2022, to celebrate the co-naming of Woods of Arden Road as “Frederick Law Olmsted Way.” Woods of Arden Road is the road nearest to Olmsted-Beil House Park, the site of Olmsted’s former farm and house. When Olmsted owned the property, it was the main road through his farm, extending over a mile from the current Amboy Road past Hylan Blvd. and down to the edge of Raritan Bay. Learn more below.
Olmsted-Beil House Featured in Bowery Boys Episode
The Bowery Boys history podcast episode released on April 7, 2022–about Olmsted at the start of his career–features Olmsted-Beil House and Tosomock Farm, describing the site as “a historic place of inspiration.”
The episode can be found here ».
Many thanks to the Bowery Boys for including Olmsted’s Staten Island farmhouse in their story, and to Adrian Benepe and Olmsted 200 for championing the house and its significance.
Street Near Olmsted's Staten Island Farm Co-Named in His Honor
Friends of Olmsted-Beil House was delighted to join with New York City Council Minority Leader Joseph C. Borelli on August 26, 2022, to celebrate the co-naming of Woods of Arden Road as “Frederick Law Olmsted Way.” Woods of Arden Road is the road nearest to Olmsted-Beil House Park, the site of Olmsted’s former farm and house. When Olmsted owned the property, it was the main road through his farm, extending over a mile from the current Amboy Road past Hylan Blvd. and down to the edge of Raritan Bay. Learn more below.
Friends of Olmsted-Beil House was delighted to join with New York City Council Minority Leader Joseph C. Borelli on August 26, 2022, to celebrate the co-naming of Woods of Arden Road as “Frederick Law Olmsted Way.” Woods of Arden Road is the road nearest to Olmsted-Beil House Park, the site of Olmsted’s former farm and house. When Olmsted owned the property, it was the main road through his farm, extending over a mile from the current Amboy Road past Hylan Blvd. and down to the edge of Raritan Bay. Learn more below.
Staten Island Advance
https://bit.ly/3B023wV
Friends of Olmsted-Beil House Hosts Visit by Preeminent Olmsted Scholars
On Sunday, October 3, 2021, Friends of Olmsted-Beil House hosted a visit to Olmsted-Beil House Park by preeminent Frederick Law Olmsted scholars Charles E. Beveridge, PhD, and Faye Harwell, FASLA, RLA. Dr. Beveridge is Series Editor of the Frederick Law Olmsted Papers, an ardent supporter of the preservation of Olmsted landscapes, and one of the founders of the National Association for Olmsted Parks. Ms. Harwell is an award-winning landscape architect and co-founder of the Rhodeside & Harwell landscape architecture and planning firm. Read more »
Friends of Olmsted-Beil House was delighted to join with New York City Council Minority Leader Joseph C. Borelli on August 26, 2022, to celebrate the co-naming of Woods of Arden Road as “Frederick Law Olmsted Way.” Woods of Arden Road is the road nearest to Olmsted-Beil House Park, the site of Olmsted’s former farm and house. When Olmsted owned the property, it was the main road through his farm, extending over a mile from the current Amboy Road past Hylan Blvd. and down to the edge of Raritan Bay. Learn more below.
Friends of Olmsted-Beil House Introduces Discovery Map:
Olmsted on Staten Island
This map illustrates some of the Staten Island locations associated with the life of pioneering landscape architect, author and social reformer Frederick Law Olmsted. Read more »
National Park Service Adds Frederick Law Olmsted’s Staten Island House to National Register of Historic Places
Olmsted-Beil House Listed on New York State Register of Historic Places
On September 23, 2020, Daniel Mackay, Deputy Commissioner for Historic Preservation, of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, officially approved the application for the Olmsted-Beil House to be listed on the New York State Register of Historic Places. The application had been initiated and prepared by the New York Landmarks Conservancy and was further edited by the New York State Office of Historic Preservation. The New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, which owns the house, supported the application, as did Friends of Olmsted-Beil House and the National Association for Olmsted Parks.
We are hopeful that this designation will generate more support for the full restoration of the house and lead to its approval for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.
https://www.silive.com/news/2020/09/olmsted-beil-house-added-to-ny-register-of-historic-places.html
FOBH Receives Capacity Fund Grant from Partnerships for Parks
We are very honored to receive a 2020 Capacity Fund Grant from Partnerships for Parks to support our programming and outreach. Partnerships for Parks is the public-private program that supports and champions a growing network of leaders caring and advocating for neighborhood parks and green spaces. Funding for this grant is made possible by presenting sponsor TD Bank. We appreciate Partnerships for Parks’ and TD Bank’s confidence in our work to protect, preserve, and present Olmsted-Beil House Park.
FOBH Awarded a Grant from the NYC Green Relief & Recovery Fund
FOBH has been awarded a generous grant from the NYC Green Relief & Recovery Fund. The Fund is administered by City Parks Foundation and was developed by a coalition of foundations. The funds will be used to support Friends’ essential maintenance, stewardship, public programming, and management.
Stabilization Work Done at Olmsted-Beil House
A big thank you to the New York Landmarks Conservancy for their fundraising efforts on behalf of the Olmsted-Beil House. In 2019, they led efforts to raise funds for emergency stabilization work at the house. As the Conservancy reported, the “work to date has covered the area around the stone foundation to prevent further water penetration, repointed part of the foundation, and laid a waterproof membrane in the basement” (https://nylandmarks.org/news/progress-at-the-landmark-olmsted-house/).
This stabilization work is required before restoration of the house can be initiated.
A plan is in the works for the upper windows of the house to be restored.
Partnerships for Parks Bright Future Award
Friends of Olmsted Beil House board members Felicity Beil, Paula Tramontano, Jenny Swadosh and William Bell accepting the “Bright Future” Award on February 26, 2020 at the Prince George Ballroom in Manhattan for the 25th Anniversary Partnerships for Parks Awards reception. The awards program recognizes New York City park volunteers who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and commitment to their local parks through service, advocacy, and collaboration.