NYC Parks Department

First Ever Solicitation by NYC Parks for Mobile Food & Merchandise Vendors in Iconic Parks Citywide!

NYC Parks has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the sale of specialty items from Mobile Units in some of the city’s most iconic parks, including Central Park, Forest Park, Macombs Dam Park, and more! For the first time ever, Parks has issued an RFP for both food and merchandise mobile units in the same request. Parks is inviting proposals for inventive, exciting concepts, whether selling an assortment of healthy, fresh salads to people on the go, hot and cold delicacies from a distant homeland, or fresh flowers to spruce up the home.

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Last Weekend with NYC Parks Celebrating Adventures NYC 2022 in Central Park

Central Park, NYC Parks Department

Adventures NYC with NYC Parks, 2022. Image credit NYC Parks/Daniel Avila

Last Saturday, June 18th, NYC Parks invited New Yorkers to meet at the Central Park Bandshell for a day of adventure. From 11am to 4pm, kids and their parents (or kids at heart) zip lined, rock climbed, paddle boarded and more at the annual Adventures NYC with the NYC Parks Department and Outside, transforming Central Park into the nation’s largest urban adventure playground.

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NYC Parks’ Monuments Conservation Program Launches 25th Season beginning in Harlem with Richard Hunt’s ‘Harlem Hybrid’

Harlem, Monuments, NYC Parks Department, Sculpture

NYC Parks’ Citywide Monuments Conservation Program working on Richard Hunt’s Harlem Hybrid on West 125th Street in Harlem. Image credit: NYC Parks/Malcolm Pinckney

As the 25th season of NYC Parks’ Citywide Monuments Conservation Program (CMCP) commences, a team of skilled conservators and trainees have started making the rounds to clean, recoat and treat several major monuments throughout the five boroughs. On Friday, this year’s three new seasonal apprentices worked with staff using ladders and a boom lift to preserve Richard Hunt’s Harlem Hybridalong with other sculptures in Harlem.

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NYC Parks will Kick-Off Beach Season on May 28th!

NYC Parks Department, NYC Public Beaches

NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue announces that the City’s eight public beaches will open for swimming on Saturday, May 28, and remain open through Sunday, September 11, 2022. Lifeguards will be on duty daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; swimming is unsafe and strictly prohibited at all other times.

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Jonathan Kuhn Gives Guided Tour of the Bicentennial Exhibition ‘Parks Now’ Celebrating Birthday of Frederick Law Olmsted on May 25th

Arsenal Gallery, NYC Parks Department

The Arsenal Gallery, “Parks Now: Honoring the Olmsted Legacy”

NYC Parks Director of Art & Antiquities Jonathan Kuhn will give a guided tour of the bicentennial exhibition “Parks Now: Honoring the Olmsted Legacy,” on view at the Arsenal Gallery in Central Park. The show, which features innovative park designs that build on Frederick Law Olmsted’s legacy in New York City, is on view until June 2, 2022. The guided tour by Jonathan Kuhn will take place on Wednesday, May 25th at 12:30pm at The Arsenal Gallery, Fifth Avenue at 64th Street, on the 3rd floor in Central Park. Mask-wearing is required to enter the gallery, and guests are required to sign in. This is a free event, open to the public.

Continue reading “Jonathan Kuhn Gives Guided Tour of the Bicentennial Exhibition ‘Parks Now’ Celebrating Birthday of Frederick Law Olmsted on May 25th” →

Crotona Park Soccer Field Celebrates Renovation with A Little Help From Their Friends

Crotona Park, NYC Parks Department, Queens

Crotona Park Soccer Field. Image credit: Daniel Avila/NYC Parks

Today, NYC Parks First Deputy Commissioner Iris Rodriguez-Rosa joined Congressman Ritchie Torres, His Excellency Yousef Al Otaiba, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to the United States (UAE Embassy), City in the Community – the foundation proudly supported by New York City Football Club (NYCFC), City Council Member Oswald Feliz, City Council Member Althea Stevens, representatives from Friends of Crotona, and students from the East Bronx Academy for the Future to celebrate the completion of a $363,000 refurbishment of the Crotona Park Soccer Field, made possible through the support of the UAE Embassy in Washington, DC and NYCFC. Looks like everyone was having fun!

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Let Mayor Adams Know that A Promise is A Promise ~ Rally for Parks on May 26th

NYC Parks Department

What has kept us sane over this past two years? Our Parks. Big or small, all over our five boroughs, our Parks are a welcoming respite from the four-walls and concrete sidewalks that have become too large a percentage of our urban life. New Yorkers were promised just 1% of Mayor Adams’ Executive Budget to go towards NYC Park expenses. And now we learn that our NYC Parks aren’t even getting that!

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The Annual East Harlem Street Games Set for Saturday, April 30, 2022

East Harlem, NYC Parks Department

Street Games in Thomas Jefferson Park, April 30, 2022. Image credit: Malcolm Pinckney/NYC Parks

NYC Parks celebrated its 13th annual Street Games in Thomas Jefferson Park on Saturday, April 30, 2022.! This FREE family-friendly event featured classic games, including double dutch, pogo sticks, hula hoops, a boxcar derby, and more.

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NYC Parks Commemorates 40th Anniversary of Parks Enforcement Patrol

NYC Parks Department

NYC Parks this year celebrates forty years of the Parks Enforcement Patrol, a team of dedicated officers who preserve and protect parks and public facilities.

Forty-two new officers currently in training to join PEP ranks this Spring!

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NYC Parks Seeks Landscape Architecture Consultants

NYC Parks Department

New Memorial Plaza at Olde Towne of Flushing Burial Ground. Photo credit: NYC Parks/Malcolm Pinckney

NYC Parks today issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to identify at least 10 firms that will provide landscape architecture services for upcoming park improvement projects. The experienced consultant firms will have a lasting impact on New York City’s parkland by working with the award-winning agency to design and build public spaces for New Yorkers to enjoy.

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Saying ‘Happy Trails’ to Two Retiring PEP Mounted Unit Horses

NYC Parks Department

NYC Parks today announced the retirement of Atlas and Apollo, two North American Spotted Draft Horses who have served in the Parks Enforcement Patrol (PEP) Mounted Unit for 10+ years. Hardworking and beloved by New Yorkers and Parkies alike, the 2,000-lb. horses have had storied careers patrolling New York City’s parks and engaging with the public. Both horses have been adopted and will spend their golden years at a horse farm in Colts Neck, New Jersey.

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Spring in Full Swing at Green-Wood Cemetery & New York City Parks Names Their 10-Best-Places to View Cherry Blossoms in our Parks

NYC Parks Department

It’s Cherry Blossom Season at The Green-Wood Cemetery. Credit: Amy Nieporent and Art Presson

As flowers and trees start to bloom, the migratory birds return, and the days grow longer and the weather grows warmer, NYC Parks is excited to welcome spring back to the city! To celebrate, Parks’ horticulturists are sharing their top 5 favorite flowers to look for in parks across the city, which New Yorkers can track on the Signs of Spring page. Residents are also invited to join the Urban Park Rangers for free spring tours, visit any of our 300+ miles of hiking trails and birding locations, and more to welcome the season!

In addition, The Green-Wood Cemetery is another great location to view these elegant ornaments of nature, boasting 172 cherry blossom trees throughout their 478 acres.

Continue reading “Spring in Full Swing at Green-Wood Cemetery & New York City Parks Names Their 10-Best-Places to View Cherry Blossoms in our Parks” →

NYC Parks Youth Sustainability Corp Install 2,000 Sq Ft of Green Roof Atop St. Mary’s Rec Center in the Bronx

Bronx, NYC Parks Department, Youth Sustainability Corp

Green Roof atop St. Mary’s Rec Center, Bronx. Image credit: NYC Parks/Malcolm Pinckney

This month, (March, 2022), New York City students made the Bronx a little greener by installing 2,000 square feet of green roof atop the St. Mary’s Recreation Center in the South Bronx. As the very first class of Youth Sustainability Corps (YSC), these 30 local High School and College students, under the tutelage of NYC Parks green infrastructure experts, planned new green roof systems which will be installed on 50,000 sqft of Parks’ facility rooftops over the coming months. The roof at St. Mary’s – which the students installed themselves – is the first of six sites that will be built out. YSC students also installed new stormwater control measures on the roof at St. Mary’s, and built new raised planting beds, which will grow seasonal vegetables this year.

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NYC Parks Celebrates Black History Month with a Virtual Exhibition at Poe Park Visitor Center

Black History Month, NYC Parks Department

Artist Gloria Zapata, Image courtesy NYC Parks

NYC Parks is proud to present the Poe Park Visitor Center’s virtual exhibition as part of the agency’s Black History Month celebration. The online show is in addition to “The NYC Parks Renaming Project: Celebrating Black Leaders” at the Arsenal Gallery in Central Park, as well as events and tours taking place this month. Both shows are free and will be on view through February 28, 2022.

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NYC Parks and DOT Announce Completion of Conceptual Plans for Greenways in Brooklyn and Queens

Brooklyn, NYC Parks Department, Queens

NYC Parks and DOT today announced the completion of two conceptual planning studies for greenways in Brooklyn and Queens. TheDestination: Greenways! studies identified gaps in the existing greenway routes and ways to improve and transform key greenspaces into both a destination and a thoroughfare to increase access. The study outlined opportunities for investments in key areas in Central Queens and along Brooklyn’s southwest shoreline, with a focus on connecting existing fragmented greenway segments. This week, Parks will host virtual meetings to report back to the community on the results of the study.

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It’s Groundhog Day & Staten Island Chuck as Spoken ~ Spring is on the way…….

NYC Parks Department

Staten Island Chuck has spoken – spring is on its way and NYC Parks is already hot on the trail of early spring blooms! Even as the snow from Winter Storm Kenan still coats the city, snowdrops have been spotted in Central Park and Washington Square Park, with more to be seen in the coming weeks. Keep up with NYC Parks as we track flower species blooming across the city, and share your sightings, on our “Signs of Spring” tracker.

Continue reading “It’s Groundhog Day & Staten Island Chuck as Spoken ~ Spring is on the way…….” →

NYC Parks & Randall’s Island Park Alliance Celebrate $4.3 Million in Funding for Pathway & Shoreline Improvements

NYC Parks Department, Randall's Island

NYC Parks Acting Commissioner Liam Kavanagh and Randall’s Island Park Alliance (RIPA) President Deborah Maher today announced funding for multi-use pathway repairs and living shoreline restoration at Randall’s Island Park. The $4.3 million project, funded by a $3.72 million grant from NYS Department of State and $660,000 from RIPA, will address erosion, stabilize the shoreline, and improve the park’s coastal resiliency along a half-mile stretch of the park’s Water’s Edge Pathway.

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Lifeguards Wanted for NYC Parks! Qualifying Tests Begin this Month

NYC Parks Department

Being a lifeguard is a rewarding and challenging job that requires split-second decision making and develops valuable skills that can last a lifetime. NYC Parks is looking for New Yorkers who have the physical and the mental discipline to become part of our team for Summer 2022. Qualifying tests begin January 31, through February 19; sign up online today to take a qualifying test!

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NYC Parks’ Greenthumb Continues Support for Community Gardens

Greenthumb Gardens, NYC Parks Department

As New Yorkers start the New Year, NYC Parks’ GreenThumb is taking a look back at another successful community gardening season with a review of 2021. Over the past year, GreenThumb added three new gardens to its portfolio and completed significant upgrades and renovations at 24 community gardens across four boroughs, which included 10 projects installing ADA pathways, increasing accessibility by 1,000 linear feet; and eight renovations in partnership with NYCHA. The three new gardens include Sweetgum Garden in the Highbridge section of the Bronx; and two soon to be named gardens in Bushwick, Brooklyn, and Ridgewood, Queens.

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NYC Parks Department Warns ~ Don’t Venture Out Onto the Ice in Parks + Tips on Reporting Tree Damage

NYC Parks Department

As temperatures continue to drop, NYC Parks urges parkgoers to exercise caution while near lakes, ponds, and rivers in New York City’s parks this winter. New Yorkers are reminded to follow ice safety guidelines and to stay off water bodies that appear frozen – they are likely not, and venturing onto them is extremely dangerous.

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Get Ready for NYC Parks’ Annual Mulchfest 2021/2022

MulchFest, NYC Parks Department

The holidays are fast approaching, and so too is NYC Parks’ annual Mulchfest tree chipping celebration! Beginning December 26, 2021, New Yorkers can “tree”-cycle their holiday trees at local parks, with convenient drop-off sites in all five boroughs.

This year, Parks will be hosting one Chipping Weekend, where New Yorkers can actively mulch their holiday trees – January 8 & 9. At any one of Parks’ 35 Chipping Weekend locations, residents can watch their tree get chipped, and those who would like nutrient-rich mulch can take some home with them!

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NYC Parks Green Roof Development + New Youth Sustainability Corps

Green Roof, NYC Parks Department

Photo credit: NYC Parks/Malcolm Pinckney

NYC Parks Commissioner Gabrielle Fialkoff announced, in response to increasingly frequent storms like Hurricane Ida, a commitment to expand Parks’ green roofs by 50,000 sqft–bringing the agency’s total to 250,000 sqft–and the creation of a brand new Youth Sustainability Corps (YSC) giving NYC school students hands-on training in green job skills. This marks a major step forward in greening and stormwater management atop City owned buildings and reaffirms Parks’ commitment to a greener future for New York City.

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NYC Parks’ Annual Wreath Interpretations Exhibition Returns to Arsenal Gallery

Arsenal Gallery, NYC Parks Department

NYC Parks’ annual Wreath Interpretations exhibition is back on display at the Arsenal Gallery, welcoming the holiday season with a variety of inventive and surprising wreaths! After going virtual last year, the 39th exhibition has returned in person and includes wreaths by nearly 40 artists, designers, and creative individuals of all ages who have used unconventional materials to reinvent the traditional holiday symbol. The NYC Park’s Annual Wreath Interpretations exhibition will be on view through January 6, 2022.

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Kick-Off Your New Year With a Free Membership at NYC Parks Recreation Centers ~ Sign-Up by Dec 31st!

NYC Parks Department

Is your 2022 New Year’s resolution to get active or exercise more? NYC Parks has you covered with free one-year memberships at recreation centers across the city! New Yorkers who sign up by December 31, 2021 will have free access to indoor sports courts, sports and educational programs, Shape Up NYC classes, media labs, fitness equipment, and much more. The membership term will last for one year from the registration date and grant access to facilities citywide.

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NYC Parks & Flushing Community Open a New Memorial Plaza at Olde Towne of Flushing Burial Ground

Flushing, NYC Parks Department, Queens

NYC Parks Commissioner Gabrielle Fialkoff joined Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, Congresswoman Grace Meng, Senator John Liu, Assembly Member Edward Braunstein, Council Member Peter Koo, District Attorney Melinda Katz, and Co-Chair of The Olde Towne of Flushing Burial Ground Conservancy Robbie Garrison, to cut the ribbon on a new commemorative plaza at the Olde Towne of Flushing Burial Ground. The $1.76 million plaza honors the site’s past as a burial ground for 500 to 1,000 people, mostly African Americans and Native Americans, with a memorial wall. The project design was guided by input from local community members, historians, and the Olde Towne of Flushing Burial Ground Conservancy.

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Holiday Markets are Opening in NYC Parks for 2021

Holiday Market, NYC Parks Department

NYC Parks is proud to support the reopening of some of the city’s most iconic holiday markets this season. Now through January, you can find holiday markets welcoming New Yorkers and visitors back to shop for clothes, trinkets, arts and crafts, and so much more in some of New York City’s famous parks. Last year, due to COVID-19, some of the City’s most notable markets did not open or opened with reduced capacity and restrictions, but this year NYC’s holiday staple is back in full swing.

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Historic Reenactments Commemorating The Battle of Ft. Washington to Take Place on November 14th in Ft. Tryon Park

Fort Tryon Park, NYC Parks Department

Zaq Landsberg: Tomb Effigy of Margaret Corbin. Photo courtesy Zaq Landsberg

This year marks the 245th anniversary of the Battle of Fort Washington, a key event during the Revolutionary War. NYC Parks and The Fort Tryon Park Trust will commemorate this event with an historic reenactment, arts & crafts, colonial music & games ~ along with an artist talk by Zaq Landsberg, creator of ‘Tomb Effigy of Margaret Corbin‘ on November 14, 2021 from Noon to 3:00pm

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Central Park’s Arsenal Gallery Reopened with ‘Confinement Gardens’ ~ Paintings by Paul Hunter

Arsenal Gallery, Central Park, NYC Parks Department

Paintings by Paul Hunter. Image credit: NYC Parks/Malcolm Pinckney

NYC Parks today reopens the Arsenal Gallery in Central Park with “Paul Hunter: Confinement Gardens.” Created during the COVID-19 pandemic, Paul Hunter’s series was inspired by his walks through New York City’s public parks and gardens during lockdown. As he sought refuge from these restrictions in the city’s greenspaces, he experienced the restorative power of flowers in bloom, which gave him hope despite the surrounding pandemic and political turmoil.

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Renaissance Women by artist Alice Mizrachi unveiled in Marcus Garvey Park, Harlem

Harlem, Marcus Garvey Park, Marcus Garvey Park Alliance, NYC Parks 'Art in the Parks' Program, NYC Parks Department

Marcus Garvey Park has a plethora of art over this past few months, with the installation of Susan Stair: Ascending the Mountain and Thomas J. Price: Witness, added to the park’s weekly music and dance. Now, we look forward to the unveiling of Alice Mizrachi: Renaissance Women, an abstract, figurative sculpture that honors women of the Harlem Renaissance ~ paving the way for many of the artists today, including Mizrachi.

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Capture Autumn in New York City’s Parks!

NYC Parks Department

Highbridge. Image credit: NYC Parks/Daniel Avila

Parks will kick off autumnal celebrations with the #FallforNYC photo campaign, fall foliage hikes, and more!

Fall in love with New York City’s parks all over again! With the season’s crisp, cool weather and vibrant hues making an entrance, Parks today announced the return of its #FallForNYC initiative, with its fourth annual fall photo campaign, Leaf ID guide, suggestions for the most scenic spots to leaf peep, and fun events across the five boroughs to get New Yorkers in the autumn spirit.

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Gwen Ifill Park in Jamaica to Receive $21 Million for Development

Jamaica, NYC Parks Department, Queens

Gwen Ifill Park in Jamaica. Image credit: NYC Parks/Daniel Avila

As part of City Hall In Your Borough, NYC Parks Acting Commissioner Margaret Nelson joined Council Member I. Daneek Miller, Community Board 12 District Manager Yvonne Reddick, Reverend Phil Craig of Greater Springfield Community Church, and community members to announce a $21 million allocation from Mayor de Blasio to develop Gwen Ifill Park into a community greenspace in Jamaica, Queens. Located in Ifill’s childhood neighborhood, the park is one of 28 park spaces recently named in honor of the Black experience in New York City.

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The 20th Annual ‘Chess in the Park: Rapid Open’ Held at Bethesda Fountain in Central Park

Chess, NYC Parks Department

20th Annual Chess-in-the-Park at Bethesda Fountain, Central Park. Image credit: NYC Parks/Daniel Avila

NYC Parks and Chess in the Schools once again hosted the City’s most anticipated annual public chess tournament, The 20th Annual Chess in the Park Rapid Open, free and open to everyone who loves the game. Cancelled last year due to Covid-19, Chess in the Park Rapid Open is back!

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Terence Blanchard’s ‘Fire Shut Up in My Bones’ Opening Night at Marcus Garvey Park + a Steinway & Sons Presentation of The 5 Browns in Central Park

NYC Parks Department, SummerStage, The Ford Foundation, The Metropolitan Opera

The Metropolitan Opera announced today that it will present a free, live simulcast of the Opening Night performance of Terence Blanchard’s Fire Shut Up in My Bones-the first opera by a Black composer ever performed by the Met-on Monday, September 27 at 6:30pm ET in Harlem’s Marcus Garvey Park. The performance will also be seen on multiple screens in Times Square, a tradition that returns for its 15th season. Approximately 1,700 seats will be available in Marcus Garvey Park, and 2,000 seats will be available in Times Square, all on a first-come, first-served basis. These audiences will be joining the 3,600 audience members who will be attending inside the opera house.

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American 2020 Nobel Laureates Honored on NYC Parks Monument

NYC Parks Department, Upper West Side

NYC Parks Acting Commissioner Margaret Nelson today joined Camilla Mellander, Consul General of Sweden in New York, Heidi Olufsen, Consul General of Norway in New York, and 2020 Nobel Prize recipient Dr. Harvey J. Alter to unveil eight new inscriptions to the Nobel Monument at Theodore Roosevelt Park.

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NYC Parks Readying ‘Dante’ for His 700th Anniversary with Rededication Ceremony in Dante Park on September 14th

Dante Park, NYC Parks Department

Statue of the poet, Dante Alighieri in Dante Park

With the help of specially trained City Cleanup Corps (CCC) staff, NYC Parks’ monuments crew is fully conserving the famed statue of Dante Alighieri by Ettore Ximenes, using blow torches and boom lifts to treat the bronze sculpture in advance of the 700th anniversary of the Italian poet’s death in September.

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The Incredible History Behind The Collyer Brothers Park in Harlem

Harlem, NYC Parks Department

Collyer Brothers Park is located on 5th Avenue at 128th Street in Harlem

Here’s a piece of old New York for you ~ The Collyer brothers – Homer, born in 1881 and his brother Langley, born in 1885. They were the children of an eccentric gynecologist and a former opera singer. The family moved to a four-story brownstone, located at 2078 Fifth Avenue in 1909, where it is said that Dr. Collyer would occasionally paddle his canoe to work at the City Hospital on Blackwell’s Island. The canoe, his preferred method of transportation, he would carry to and from his home in Harlem at 128th Street.

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NYC Parks Issues RFP for Proposals to Run Outdoor Cafe’ in LIC’s Hunter’s Point South Park

Long Island City, NYC Parks Department

Hunter’s Point South Park. Image via nycgovparks

NYC Parks today announced that a Request for Proposals (“RFP”) has been issued for the renovation, operation and maintenance of a cafe in Hunter’s Point South Park, a popular waterfront destination in Long Island City, Queens.

“Hunter’s Point South is a treasured waterfront gem that offers some of the best views of New York City,” said Queens Parks Commissioner Michael Dockett. “This is an amazing opportunity for qualified and experienced professionals to establish a fresh take on the in-park dining experience, and create a destination that will attract parkgoers and visitors for years to come.”

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NYC Parks offers Proactive Tips for Reporting Fallen or Damaged Trees

NYC Parks Department

In response to the National Weather Service’s announcement that New York City is at an enhanced risk of severe weather—high winds, thunder and lightning—this evening, NYC Parks recommends New Yorkers exercise caution as the expected 25 – 30 mph winds can impact street and park trees.

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Yes, We’ll Be Skating in Wollman Rink this Winter beginning November 14th

NYC Parks Department, Wollman Rink

Rendering credit: VStudios, co-designed by Gensler and Rockwell Group

NYC Parks today announced it has selected Wollman Park Partners, LLC for the operation and maintenance of Central Park’s Wollman Rink. Wollman Park Partners, LLC (WPP) has committed to reinvesting all net proceeds back into the Rink, upgrading the facility’s aging infrastructure, and offering inclusive and accessible programming. The group is a joint venture between Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, Related Companies, and Equinox, with official community partners including Great Performances + Melba’s Restaurant, YMCA, Ice Hockey in Harlem, Figure Skating in Harlem, The Boys’ Club of New York, and Green City Force.

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The Colorful Retro Makeover ‘New Wave Pier’ Arrived at Waterside Pier along the East River

NYC Parks Department

Waterside Pier. Image courtesy NYC Parks

NYC Parks is celebrating the retro redesign of Waterside Pier along the East River Esplanade. The “New Wave Pier” activation, which was partially inspired by the success of Parks’ Cool Pools NYC initiative, has transformed the grey, underutilized concrete walkway into a fun waterfront space with new features and a bright technicolor treatment.

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NYC Parks’ Outdoor Pools will Open June 26th ~ Ready-Set-Jump!

NYC Parks Department

Photo credit: NYC Parks/Malcolm Pinckney, Van Cortlandt Pool, one of the City’s three newest Cool Pools!

NYC Parks’ outdoor pools will open beginning Saturday, June 26 through Sunday, September 12. Daily hours of operation are 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., seven days a week. Pool capacity will not be limited for the upcoming season. Social distancing is still recommended, and face coverings will be required to enter the facility.

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NYC Parks Unveils 8 New ‘Pollinator Place’ Gardens

Bees, NYC Parks Department

Morningside Park, Harlem. Image credit: NYC Parks/Daniel Avila

Just in time for World Pollinator Week, June 21 – 27, NYC Parks today announced the completion of 8 brand new ‘Pollinator Place’ gardens, featuring native flora and fauna! With the newly planted gardens, Parks is looking to strengthen the city’s population of native pollinators including caterpillars of butterflies and moths — an essential part of the city’s ecosystem!

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Zaq Landsberg: Tomb Effigy of Margaret Corbin on view at Fort Tryon Park

Fort Tryon Park, Inwood, NYC Parks Department

Image credit to the artist, Zaq Landsberg

NYC Parks has unveiled “Tomb Effigy of Margaret Corbin” by artist Zaq Landsberg, the 2020 recipient of the Clare Weiss Emerging Artist Award. The artwork will be displayed on the upper plaza of David Rockefeller Linden Terrace at Fort Tryon Park through June 12, 2022.

Artist Talk and Closing Reception on Thursday, June 9th from 6-8pm.

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Riverside Park Conservancy Celebrating 35th with World Class Musical Lineup Moved to June 10th

NYC Parks Department, Riverside Park, Riverside Park Conservancy, Upper West Side

Re: Growth, artist Dewitt Godfrey, curator Karin Bravin ~ Riverside Park Conservancy

Riverside Park Conservancy announced a free, world-class musical lineup to help celebrate the organization’s 35th Anniversary on Thursday, June 10th from 6-9pm.

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The Incredible Floating Pool Lady Located in The Bronx

Bronx, NYC Parks Department

From thought to reality, Ann Buttenwieser was inspired by the floating baths of late nineteenth century New York. Establishing The Neptune Foundation, she moved forward with her mission to design and construct a prototype for a new generation of movable waterfront pools for recreationally underserved communities. The Foundation purchased a barge, which was retrofitted to include a half Olympic-size pool ~ and the rest is now history (and in a new book!)

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NYC Parks + The Bronx River Alliance Celebrate the Annual Bronx River Flotilla

Bronx, Bronx River Alliance, NYC Parks Department

Image credit: NYC Parks/Malcolm Pinckney ~ The 2021 Bronx River Flotilla

The 22nd annual Amazing Bronx River Flotilla is a celebration of the Bronx River as a revitalized resource for recreation, education, and enjoyment. On Saturday, May 15th, over 50 paddlers journeyed 5 miles down the river in canoes and kayaks, traveling past new and restored parks including the Bronx River Forest, River Park, and Concrete Plant Park, ending at Starlight Park.

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#NYPhil Bandwagon 2 Coming to Marcus Garvey Park East Harlem, May 14-16

Marcus Garvey Park, New York Philharmonic, NYC Parks Department

The Bandwagon arrived in Marcus Garvey Park

Save the Dates! The New York Philharmonic’s NYPhilBandwagon2 will be popping up in Marcus Garvey Park, East Harlem from May 14-16. Three days of concerts in the park along Madison Avenue from 123rd to 124th Streets. This event is part of a series of four weekend-long festivals across New York City in May.

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Almer G. Russell Pavilion in Conference House Park Transformed & Unveiled by NYC Parks Department

NYC Parks Department, Staten Island

This week, the new and improved Almer G. Russell Pavilion in Conference House Park on Staten Island was officially unveiled. The original Conference House Pavilion was built in 1935 to honor Almer G. Russell, a community resident killed in battle during World War I. The pavilion was last remodeled in 2002 and eventually deteriorated due to damage from several storms. Following infrastructural devastation caused by Hurricane Irene in 2011, it was closed to the public. Located at the southernmost point of New York State, Conference House Park houses four historic buildings that trace the history of the borough over the course of three centuries.

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NYC Parks Launches Hug a Tree Campaign on Arbor Day

NYC Parks Department

Today, just in time for Arbor Day, NYC Parks rolled out its brand new Hug A Tree campaign inviting New Yorkers to go out and (yes, really) hug their trees! Beginning today and running through the end of the summer, Parks is hanging 1,000 “It’s Okay to Hug Me” signs on trees in parks across the city, encouraging New Yorkers to go out and hug their trees and learn about these vital resources – on Arbor Day and beyond!

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Spring 2021 Events in Prospect Park!

NYC Parks Department, Prospect Park

Prospect Park Alliance would like you to put the Spring in your step, with park events from roller skating and carousel rides to boating, bike riding ~ and volunteering.

Continue reading “Spring 2021 Events in Prospect Park!” →

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