The Sag Harbor Express Commends Hollander’s Commitment to the Village
The Sag Harbor Express, December 28, 2023 — Last Memorial Day, as hundreds of people gathered for the formal opening of John Steinbeck Waterfront Park, Sag Harbor Mayor Jim Larocca, who had made its completion a centerpiece of his administration, singled out landscape architect Ed Hollander for special praise.
It was Hollander, whose firm drew up the plans for the park and who personally oversaw much of its construction, twisting the arms of some of the many contractors he has worked with over the years into making valuable contributions in both time and materials, so it could be ready for its grand opening.
He realizes that if you want to do something in the village, you need to bring the village along with you.
At that time, Hollander — who has been named The Sag Harbor Express Person of the Year of 2023 for his pro bono work on behalf of the village — said of the park: “Of all the things I’ve ever done professionally, this may be my favorite. It was a pleasure and an honor for me to be able to be part of this and create this space for everybody in the Village of Sag Harbor.”
Larocca, who was in office, first as a trustee, then as mayor, when plans for both Long Wharf and Steinbeck Park were put in place, said in designing the wharf to be more pedestrian-friendly, Hollander “showed the right amount of vision and restraint. He showed that it could be more than just the commercial and industrial wharf that it has been for years.”
