Jonathan Lipnicki, star of the new film Stuart Little 2, and a costumed character portraying Stuart Little, were on hand to adopt a bench in Central Park on July 17, on behalf of the film.

Stuart Little 2 was filmed throughout New York City and in Central Park. The bench - adopted through the Conservancy’s Adopt-A-Bench program, which provides for the permanent care of benches and their surrounding plantings - is located at the Olmsted Bed at the southern end of Literary Walk, mid-Park at 66th Street.

A class from the Morningside Park Summer Fun Playground Program was present at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. The children, clearly avid fans of the film, were able to shake Stuart's and Jonathan Lipnicki's hands, get their autographs, and have their photos taken with them. All the children received Stuart Little masks and posters.

New York City Parks & Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe and Central Park Conservancy President Regina Peruggi were on hand to accept the donation and to help Stuart cut the ribbon on the bench. Commissioner Benepe noted how important films are to New York's economy and that they offer an opportunity for people all over the world to see New York. Films shot in Central Park, he added, are particularly important, since they provide glimpses of New York's famous landmark. More than 2,500 film, video and photo shoots take place in Central Park each year. Regina Peruggi praised the commitment and hard work of the Central Park staff who keep the Park so beautiful.

The plaque on the bench dedicated today, quoting from the film, reads:

"The Way I See It You're As Big As You Feel"
Stuart Little 2
Columbia Pictures July 2002

In 1999, upon the release of first Stuart Little film, Columbia Pictures adopted its first Central Park bench. Located two benches away, the first plaque reads:

In Memory of E. B. White
Columbia Pictures, Red Wagon Productions And
The Cast & Crew Of Stuart Little