Parks Dept. Picks Pearl The Squirrel As Mascot

Last year the Parks Department asked for mascot submissions, noting that designs like Nutty the Squirrel, Hudson the Hawk, or Parker the Leaf were all acceptable... as long as the design on paper could be transferred easily to an adult-size costume. So what did New York's creative masses come up with: Pearl the Squirrel!

Pearl was created by cartoonist Adam Koford who works for Disney and doesn't even hail from New York (his entry came all the way from Salt Lake City). Parks commish Adrian Benepe says while Koford won't receive a prize for his hard work, he will get the "glory of having come up with the official mascot."

The department received over 150 entries, according to the NY Post, and Pearl will be officially introduced and unveiled Saturday in Thomas Jefferson Park (1st Avenue at 111th Street)... but here's a little look at the city's newest furry friend. We're trying to get our hands on some of the rejects, but in the meantime, what do you think of the winner?

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By Jen Carlson in Arts & Entertainment on April 15, 2010 4:42 PM

Comments [rss]

mtav27

He should be fat like the Shake Shack Squirrels.

NannyState

The Virginia State Police would like to speak with Pearl about that thing he did at a rest area.

grizzzly

"Charlie Cruiser"

Son of Spam

After hearing that he wasn't chosen, sad panda immediately upped the dosage on his lexapro.

Poor sad panda.

Clarice City

Pearl the Squirrel is naked. This is totally unacceptable.

SonofTheSniper

Mmmmm-Hmmmm...

Salt Lake City artists definitely have their finger on the pulse of what excites us New Yorkers.

Shame on the Parks Dept for this "outsourcing"

S.K.

It's almost as bad as having news stations hiring Midwestern transplants to report on local news stories, instead of having an actual New Yorker for the job.

PKMKII

The furries must be loving this.

ozik

"Oh yeah Pearl, I gots some nuts you can eat".

mellow_fellow

Is pearl a one-syllable word while squirrel is a two-syllable word?

cutlass

I was pulling for Brown Bag Morty The Empty Forty.

kazubes

why is it's ranger hat daintily slanted on the side of its big dumb head

Darrell

Maybe its a hipster squirrel...

Wza

Charlie the Condom didn't make the cut?

Clarice City

Neither did Dan the Drunk or Ron the Rapist...

jibbly

Freddie the Falling Branch?

chuzzlewit

The Taking Tree

Clarice City

And I was so excited for Bert the Bum....

S.K.

No, I wanted Harry, the hepatitis-carrying pigeon!

giraffo

.. but here's a little peak at the Parks newest furry friend

PEEK

You guys need to learn grammar and spelling - or just hire a good copy editor.