UPPER WEST SIDE — Chanting "Save Our Park" and distributing fliers to passerby, a group of residents opposing the American Museum of Natural History's expansion plans picketed in front of City Councilwoman Helen Rosenthal's office Monday.
However, the office at 563 Columbus Ave., at West 87th Street, was closed in observation of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
The group of about 10 residents, organized and led by local resident Cary Goodman, said they're not anti-museum, but they believe there are other ways for the institution to expand that don't take up any space in the surrounding Theodore Roosevelt Park.
The current plan would involve removing about nine trees and taking a small amount of parkland, the museum has said.
Goodman recently led a protest on opening night of Tina Fey's new movie "Sisters" in Lincoln Square; Fey is a board member at the museum.
This time, residents are hoping to change Rosenthal's mind and to call attention to her support, they said.
Rosenthal said in an earlier statement that she welcomes residents voicing their opinions and having a discussion, but that she fully supports "the education mission of the American Museum of Natural History, and the proposal in its current form supports this mission."
"The plan should be to expand Theodore Roosevelt Park not to limit it," said resident Rudy Van Daele, who was among the group of picketers Monday afternoon.
Van Daele said he wants the museum to recognize the importance of the park as a community space and consider adding back any green area it reclaims through a rooftop garden.
"This is something the Upper West Side reveres and loves," said resident George Holstein at the protest.
Another picketer said that while people often bring up the proximity of Central Park, Theodore Roosevelt Park offers something that the larger park does not: safety at night.
But not everyone who the picketers stopped along Columbus Avenue agreed with them.
Resident Sally Ann Siegel described the group's efforts as "selfish."
"They can give up a little bit of park," she said.
