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Movies like "Jurassic Park," documentaries and educational books promote the evolutionary claim that dinosaurs dominated our planet for well over 100 million years.
But, at Westchester County’s Lasdon Park in Katonah, Dinosaurs are alive and well.
Footprints, plant specimens and life-sized replicas of a Tyrannosaurus, Velociraptor and Brachiosaurus are just some of the features boasted by the Dinosaur Garden at Lasdon Park, dating back hundreds of millions of years.
The Westchester County Parks Department has even taken the Dinosaur Garden one step further, by teaming up with the creators of smartphone app “Zappar,” which allows for an animated, interactive experience as you roam through the dinosaur forest.
When visitors scan the “Zap Codes” placed throughout the stages of the garden, they are instantly transported back in time. Participants can watch and learn about how the dinosaurs evolved through a time lapse, that provides information about the species, how they lived, what they ate, and what the earth looked like during that time.
County Executive George Latimer said: “I love that we have dinosaurs here in Westchester County, and that our visitors can be exposed to a time when dinosaurs roamed the Earth. The interactive app adds an entirely new layer to Lasdon Park, and offers fresh insight into the amazing anatomy of Dinosaurs from millions of years ago.”
Peter Tartaglia, deputy commissioner of Parks, Recreation and Conservation, said: “A Dinosaur Garden at Lasdon makes perfect sense, it features plants whose lineage go back to the time of dinosaurs, tells the storied history of the dinosaur era and has fun props along the way. . . . Everyone loves dinosaurs and the staff created this treasure for everyone to enjoy, plus it’s educational.”
Ted Kozlowski, manager of Lasdon Park, said: “What provides a unique aspect to this exhibit is the addition of a virtual reality component, where the visitor can scan the codes on each sign and listen to them roar or watch dinosaurs stomp across the screen."
Caroline Genovese, senior graphic illustrator who helped develop the Dinosaur Garden, said: “The concept of creating a Dinosaur Garden at Lasdon Park came after our Train Show where the theme was all about dinosaurs. It was a big success, and what child doesn’t like dinosaurs?"
The Dinosaur Garden is one of the permanent exhibits at Lasdon Park, along with an arboretum, a Chinese peace garden, a Veterans museum and outdoor concerts during the summer months.
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