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This week, the Gawker Interview will have a thinly-veiled theme of government do-gooders and cause-celebrators instead of the usual Machiavellian media whores. We start with Henry J. Stern, a New Yorker destined for city history books if local classrooms ever get them updated. He s the former NYC Parks Commissioner and a Crusader-for-Life when it comes to protecting New York s natural beauty. Please pay close attention has he speaks the gospel of Central Park and explains why overnight sleepers, but not protestors, are welcome there.

Age: 69.
Location: Manhattan
Occupation: Writer on NYC public affairs, former 15-year Parks Commissioner and 9-year City Council member.

1. While being second only to Robert Moses in number of years as NYC Parks Commissioner, you have the distinction of serving under two of the most identifiable New Yorkers, Ed Koch and Rudy Giuliani. What's your fondest memory of each term?

My fondest memory of the Koch years was on 8-8-88, the day we opened the new Central Park Zoo after a massive reconstruction. I stood with the Mayor and we threw fish into the sea lions' wet den. The sea lions jumped and grabbed the fish in their mouths before their lunch hit the water.

With Mayor Giuliani, there was no single event, but a series of meetings in the mayor's office at City Hall to discuss issues in which important members of his staff took a different position than I did. The mayor almost always supported what I was trying to do, even though the people who wanted me overruled were more powerful and saw him much more than I did. He knew I was honest.

2. I m sure you have a special relationship, as many New Yorkers do, with Central Park. But that's your baby, you've seen her grow and taken to the prom. What does that patch of land mean to you?

As you can imagine, Central Park means a great deal to me. I would like to be buried there, the way past cardinals are buried in crypts under St. Patrick's Cathedral, but I know that is not allowed, and that rule is a wise one to protect the park. However, scattering ashes just doesn't do it for me.

I have been involved with Central Park for over thirty years, my first job at Parks was in 1966, and in 1973 and '74 I advised Richard Gilder, who had formed the Central Park Community Fund, which later merged with the Conservancy so magnificently led by Betsy Barlow Rogers.

In the last quarter-century, the Conservancy has raised $300 million in privately donated money for the park. Their work has restored the park from a neglected dust bowl to a place of great beauty. Central Park's renaissance has been emulated in other parks around the country. I really think of its 843 acres as sacred soil, and its 26,000 trees as the permanent population. God bless each one.

3. What do you think of the RNC protesters wanting to march in Central Park which I'm sure is well-intentioned but could have disastrous side effects? I'm speaking purely ecologically, of course.

I think it was a dreadful idea to have the protesters rally on the Great Lawn, which I denounced in "Kiss Your Grass Goodbye." Now that there was a huge and successful march on Eighth Avenue, which suffered no damage, while the enormous crowd would have devastated the lawn, people realize that Mayor Bloomberg and Commissioner Benepe made the right decision. Many New Yorkers think a lawn is just something to walk on, like a doormat. They don't realize it has drainage pipes, irrigation lines and sprinkler heads, as well as deeply rooted bluegrass which takes a year to grow.

4. What do you think of journalistic stunts like spending a night in Central Park? What would you recommend?

Sleeping in Central Park is not a new idea. In the teens and 1920's, before air conditioning, poor people in East Harlem slept in the park in large numbers, in safety. If it was moderately hot, the kids would sleep on the fire escape; if it was very hot, the whole family went to sleep in the park, probably in East Meadow or the North Meadow. I know this because my mother told me that she, her sisters and parents spent many summer nights there.

5. What are you doing these days with your group, New York Civic? Also, I know you don't know me, but can you give me a "Parks" name?

New York Civic is the city's youngest good government organization, formed in 2002 by alumni of city parks. We have a website, www.nycivic.org, which contains 170 articles which I have written. They are sent when written to 10,200 people who have individually asked for them. We are holding a series of forums this fall with the Museum of the City of New York; if you would like to attend, link to our website. We would like to do a lot more, and could certainly use volunteer help. E-mail me at StarQuest@nycivic.org or call 212-564-4441 to learn more about us, to attend the forums, or to help.

As to a park name, it is true that I do not know you, and this park name may not be a great fit, but going on your own first name and initial, and the publication you work for, I selected Awkward as your park name. Under our gentle rules, the name does not become official until you consent to it, so I await your response. Be good natured, and think of it as a great bird or beast, something between Hawk, Auk and Aardvark. [Ed.- I humbly accept the honor for this name could not be more appropriate.]

—Andrew Krucoff and Chris Gage conduct a daily interview series for Gawker.