After 11 years of strutting around like the she owned the freakin' place, Battery Park's beloved turkey Zelda has died. The Battery Conservancy said that Zelda was tragically hit by a car near Pier 11 as she strolled along South Street. From the press release eulogy:
Zelda made her first appearance on May 5, 2003 when garden designer, Piet Oudolf and 50 volunteers planted the Gardens of Remembrance along the waterfront in honor of all the survivors of 9/11 who had fled to safety through the park. Zelda became a beloved member of The Battery Conservancy team, taking care to make an appearance at every Conservancy event. Since the first Battery Gardeners' Luncheon in 2003 and her first Battery Gala in 2004, Zelda was seen and photographed mingling among the guests before returning to her favorite trees to roost and watch the lively movement of the park's visitors.
Zelda's last appearances were at the 11th annual Battery Gardeners Luncheon, on September 17th, making sure to greet guests as they arrived, and at the previous day's Conservancy board meeting, where she monitored the discussions of the park's future from a nearby tree.
Curbed readers loved to send photos and notes about seeing Zelda around town. She's spent time near the Staten Island ferry, taken in a Sonic Youth concert, enjoyed the area around the carousel, delighted in piano music, and approved of the new 1 train station. She was honored with a farm being planted in her shape, and she survived Hurricane Sandy like it was no big deal.
Goodbye, Zelda, you will be missed.
· All Zelda coverage [Curbed]
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