Category: NYC Parks Department

Mellon Foundation Grant Reimagines Lefferts Historic House in Community Conversation

Brooklyn, NYC Parks Department, Prospect Park

 

 

 

Prospect Park Alliance, the non-profit that sustains the park in partnership with the City, has received a prestigious $275,000 Humanities in Place grant from the Mellon Foundation to advance its ReImagine Lefferts initiative, which seeks to re-envision the mission and programming at the park’s historic house museum to recognize its role as a site of dispossession and enslavement, and explore the stories of the Indigenous people of Lenapehoking whose unceded ancestral lands the house rests upon and the Africans who were enslaved by the Lefferts family.

The Alliance will engage the public around this initiative with a Community Conversation on Saturday, February 11, 2023, from 1-4 pm, at the Prospect Park Boathouse. Learn more and RSVP for this free event at prospectpark.org/reimagine-lefferts-conversation

Continue reading “Mellon Foundation Grant Reimagines Lefferts Historic House in Community Conversation” →

The Soldiers & Sailors Monument in Riverside Park Funded for Restoration in 2024

Monuments, NYC Parks Department, Preservation, Riverside Park

 

 

 

Soldiers and Sailors Monument in Riverside Park via NYC Parks Dept

The Mayor’s Office of the City of New York has released its preliminary 2024 budget, which includes $62.3 million in funding for the restoration of the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument and Plaza in Riverside Park.

This huge milestone comes after years of advocacy from Riverside Park Conservancy, elected officials and the public. Among the project’s most active champions has been Council Member Gale Brewer, who launched a petition to save the monument last year that garnered thousands of signatures.

Continue reading “The Soldiers & Sailors Monument in Riverside Park Funded for Restoration in 2024” →

Harlem Grown Announces $1.3M Mellon Foundation Grant to Support Programs in Marcus Garvey Park

Harlem Grown, Marcus Garvey Park, Mellon Foundation, NYC Parks Department

 

 

 

Marcus Garvey Park w/view of the Acropolis & historic Harlem Fire Watchtower in the background, the current art installation by Art Lives Here on the great lawn, artist Reuben Sinha: Breathing. Madison Ave side near 123rd Street. October 2022.

If you take Fifth Avenue Uptown, You will have a pleasant pause at 120th Street, where you will be greeted by an entrance to Marcus Garvey Park ~ Harlem to the West and East Harlem to the East. The Park spans from 120th Street to 124th Street, and from Mt. Morris Park West to Madison Avenue.

Continue reading “Harlem Grown Announces $1.3M Mellon Foundation Grant to Support Programs in Marcus Garvey Park” →

NYC Parks Greenthumb Celebrates a Fruitful 2022 in Over 550 Community Gardens

Greenthumb Gardens, NYC Parks Department

 

 

 

Distribution Plant. Photo credit: NYC Parks

As New Yorkers prepare to turn the page on the past year, NYC Parks GreenThumb is taking a moment to look back and celebrate a successful 2022 community gardening season. Over the past year, GreenThumb has taken major strides to increase garden accessibility, connectivity, and food production, having renovated, rebuilt, and expanded 21 community gardens throughout the city, including eight “GreenThumb Community Gardens at NYCHA” projects; installed 290 raised garden beds for food production; and added 1,425 linear feet of accessible paths in 16 community gardens. This year, a major focus of the department was volunteerism, and GreenThumb delivered by organizing and hosting 44 volunteer days and 93 workshops, including 5 intensive training series attended by almost 3,000 participants.   

Continue reading “NYC Parks Greenthumb Celebrates a Fruitful 2022 in Over 550 Community Gardens” →

NYC Parks & NYC DDC Unveil Design for Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center in East Flatbush

Architecture, Brooklyn, NYC Parks Department

 

 

 

Illustration of Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center courtesy NYC Parks

NYC Parks and NYC Department of Design and Construction (DDC) are proud to announce the design completion for the new, to-be-constructed Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center planned for East Flatbush, Brooklyn. This brand-new recreation center will include an indoor pool and public plaza, and serve as a hub for fitness, learning, and recreation.

Continue reading “NYC Parks & NYC DDC Unveil Design for Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center in East Flatbush” →

NYC Parks Issues Request for Proposals for Cafe’ at Cadman Plaza

Brooklyn, Cadman Plaza, NYC Parks Department, Request for Proposal

 

 

 

Cadman Plaza. Image NYC Parks.

NYC Parks has released a Request for Proposals (“RFP”) for the operation, maintenance, and development of a new café at Cadman Plaza Park in Downtown Brooklyn. Cadman Plaza serves as a focal point for the entire Brooklyn Heights community and is an ideal location for a new café. The park is frequented by families, joggers, and dog-walkers, as well as commuters and local employees. The RFP offers a unique opportunity for a prospective proposer to transform an existing building into a brand-new café.

Continue reading “NYC Parks Issues Request for Proposals for Cafe’ at Cadman Plaza” →

Bid Your Holiday Tree Fir-Well with NYC Parks Department during Mulchfest 2023

MulchFest, NYC Parks Department

 

 

 

Mulchfest. Image courtesy NYC Parks

The holidays are fast approaching, and so is NYC Parks’ annual Mulchfest tree chipping celebration! Beginning December 26, New Yorkers can “tree”-cycle their trees at local parks, with convenient drop-off sites in all five boroughs. NYC Parks wants you to bid your Holiday Tree fir-well during Mulchfest 2023!

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NYC Parks Department holds Rededication of Heintz Memorial & Reinstallation of Fame Statue in Joyce Kilmer Park, Bronx

Bronx, Joyce Kilmer Park, Monument Conservation Program (NYC Parks), Monuments, NYC Parks Department

 

 

 

Dedication of Heintz Memorial. Photo credit: NYC Parks/Malcolm Pinckney

NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue and Parks Director of Art & Antiquities Jonathan Kuhn joined the Public Design Commission’s Senior Manager of Art, Conservation & Design Carolina Llano, State Senator Jose Serrano, President of the 161 Street BID Trey Jenkins, Community Board 4 Parks Chair Paul Lozito, members of the Friends of Four Parks Alliance, students and staff from All Hollows High School, and members of the community to celebrate the rededication of the Heintz Memorial and the restoration and reinstallation of the Fame statue in Joyce Kilmer Park in the Bronx.

Continue reading “NYC Parks Department holds Rededication of Heintz Memorial & Reinstallation of Fame Statue in Joyce Kilmer Park, Bronx” →

NYC Parks & NYCEDC Break Ground on $87 Million Restoration of the Orchard Beach Pavilion

Bronx, NYC Parks Department, Orchard Beach

 

 

 

Photo credit: NYC Parks/Malcolm Pinckney

NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue & New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) Chief Infrastructure Officer Josh Kraus joined Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, State Assembly Member Michael Benedetto, Council Member Marjorie Velazquez, Council Member Amanda Farias, Council Member Rafael Salamanca Jr., President of the Friends of Pelham Bay Park Nilka Martell, Community Board 10 Parks Chair Terence Franklin, and members of the community to officially break ground on the $87 million Orchard Beach Pavilion project to restore the historic 140,000 square foot space. 

Continue reading “NYC Parks & NYCEDC Break Ground on $87 Million Restoration of the Orchard Beach Pavilion” →

NYC Parks Dept Unveils First-of-its-Kind Tree Map Integrating Live Forestry Data for Nearly One Million NYC Trees!

NYC Parks Department

 

 

 

From our archives, Central Park

NYC Parks launched a first-of-its-kind living tree map—the NYC Tree Map—showcasing nearly one million individually managed City trees that includes newly mapped, in-park trees that have unique IDs, species information, and maintenance status. Building on Parks’ previously launched Street Tree Map, this empowers New Yorkers to digitally interact with all 800,000+ landscaped park and street trees in real time. It allows them to find the specific location of each park and street tree in the city; see tree species and how each tree contributes to a healthier, more resilient city; record their stewardship activity; report tree conditions directly to Parks staff; and for the first time ever, see the results of any completed inspections and recent tree work.

Continue reading “NYC Parks Dept Unveils First-of-its-Kind Tree Map Integrating Live Forestry Data for Nearly One Million NYC Trees!” →

NYC Parks Celebrates 40th Annual Wreath Interpretations Exhibition at The Arsenal Gallery, Central Park

Arsenal Gallery, Central Park, Christmas, Holiday Season, NYC Parks Department, Wreath Interpretations Exhibition

 

 

 

Tina Kaasmann Dunn, Wreath Interpretations Opening Night. Image credit: Malcolm Pinckney

NYC Parks’ annual Wreath Interpretations exhibition returned to the Arsenal Gallery, with almost 40 inventive, handcrafted wreaths on display that celebrate the holiday season. Free to the public, and on view until December 30, this year’s collection of wreaths was created by artists, designers, and creative individuals of all ages who have used inventive and unexpected materials tore-envision the traditional holiday decoration.

Continue reading “NYC Parks Celebrates 40th Annual Wreath Interpretations Exhibition at The Arsenal Gallery, Central Park” →

NYC Parks Department Recruiting Lifeguards for Summer 2023

NYC Parks Department, NYC Public Beaches

 

 

 

As we string our Christmas lights and light our candles, our NYC Parks Department is planning for the new year ahead ~ think Summer1

Continue reading “NYC Parks Department Recruiting Lifeguards for Summer 2023” →

NYC Parks & NYC DDC Unveil Design for Mary Cali Dalton Recreation Center in Tompkinsville, Staten Island

NYC Parks Department, Staten Island

 

 

 

Rendering, Overhead view of community welcome garden. Image credit: NYC Parks.

NYC Parks and NYC Department of Design and Construction (DDC) are proud to announce the design completion for the brand-new Mary Cali Dalton Recreation Center in Tompkinsville, Staten Island. The first Parks ‘Design-Build’ project, recreation center is expected to break ground Summer 2023, will offer a variety of recreational amenities including sport courts, multi-purpose areas for programming, fitness equipment and much more. Construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2025.  

Continue reading “NYC Parks & NYC DDC Unveil Design for Mary Cali Dalton Recreation Center in Tompkinsville, Staten Island” →

NYC Parks & Partners Complete Conceptual Plan for Parks on Staten Island’s East Shore

NYC Parks Department, Staten Island

 

 

 

NYC Parks today announced the completion of its “Shoreline Parks Plan,” New York City’s first-ever conceptual plan for the East Shore of Staten Island. Addressing approximately 5.5 miles of shoreline and 1,000 acres of NYC Parks property, the Shoreline Parks Plan re-envisions parks along Staten Island’s shore and introduces diversified amenities and activities; increases accessibility and circulation; and improves the overall visitor experience.

Continue reading “NYC Parks & Partners Complete Conceptual Plan for Parks on Staten Island’s East Shore” →

2021 American Nobel Laureates Honored on NYC Parks Monument

Monuments, NYC Parks Department

 

 

 

2021 American Nobel Laureates honored on NYC Parks Monument. Image credit: NYC Parks/Daniel Avila

2021 American Laureates Joshua D. Angrist and David W.C. MacMillan join celebration in their honor.

NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue today joined Consul General of Sweden in New York Camilla Mellander, Consul General of Norway in New York Heidi Olufsen, Councilmember Gale Brewer, 2021 Nobel Prize recipients Drs. Joshua D. Angrist and David W.C. MacMillan, Nagisa Manabe and Professor Oscar Schofield on behalf of 2021 Nobel Prize recipient Syukuro Manabe, and students from the Anderson School to unveil eight new Laureateinscriptions adorned to the Nobel Monument at Theodore Roosevelt Park.

Continue reading “2021 American Nobel Laureates Honored on NYC Parks Monument” →

NYC Parks’ Conservation Team Spruce up Veterans Monuments for Veterans Day

Monument Conservation Program (NYC Parks), NYC Parks Department, Preservation

 

 

 

The Freedom Square, Queens, Memorial angel figure cleaned and waxed. Image credit: NYC Parks.

NYC Parks’ Citywide Monuments Conservators were hard at work to preserve more than 25 war memorials ahead of Veterans Day. Parks’ bronze sculptures have been cleaned and rewaxed to make them shine in honor of our veterans.

Continue reading “NYC Parks’ Conservation Team Spruce up Veterans Monuments for Veterans Day” →

NYC Parks to Award $25,000 Grant with Open Call for Emerging Sculpture Artists

Art Installation, Call for Artists, NYC Parks 'Art in the Parks' Program, NYC Parks Department, Queens

 

 

 

NYC Parks invites artists to submit proposals for the Highland Park Art Grant. The winning artist will receive an award of $25,000 to create their proposed artwork for display outdoors in Highland Park, which is on the border of Brooklyn and Queens. The artwork will be installed on the Brooklyn side in summer 2023 and will be on view for up to one year.

Continue reading “NYC Parks to Award $25,000 Grant with Open Call for Emerging Sculpture Artists” →

NYC Parks Shares Progress Update on 10th Anniversary of Superstorm Sandy

NYC Parks Department

 

 

 

Sunset Cove in Broad Channel, Queens. Image courtesy NYC Parks

From coastal park infrastructure upgrades, to monumental boardwalk renovations, to the replacement of 10,000 trees lost in the storm, and the restoration of close to 100 of acres of wetlands, salt marshes and stream corridors, NYC Parks shares progress on more than $1 billion dollars in Federal and City funded resiliency projects designed to strengthen parkland after Superstorm Sandy.

Continue reading “NYC Parks Shares Progress Update on 10th Anniversary of Superstorm Sandy” →

The Little Red Lighthouse Festival Returns October 8th!

Fort Washington Park, Little Red Lighthouse, NYC Parks Department

 

 

 

Little Red Lighthouse in Fort Washington Park. Image credit: NYC Parks

For the first time since 2019, The Little Red Lighthouse Festival returns to picturesque Fort Washington Park on the Hudson River, with free activities that highlight the tiny beacon’s history and preservation. The annual festival features readings of the eponymous children’s book, fishing clinics, live music, food and art vendors, NYC Parks Urban Park Ranger presentations, and free activities for all ages!

Continue reading “The Little Red Lighthouse Festival Returns October 8th!” →

Fall in Love with Autumn: Join NYC Parks for Fall Foliage Fun!

Fall Foliage, NYC Parks Department

 

 

 

Clove Lakes Park. Image courtesy NYC Parks

Fall in love with New York City’s parks all over again! With the season’s crisp, cool weather and gorgeously colored leaves making an entrance, today NYC Parks announced the return of its #FallForNYC initiative, with its fifth 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.

Continue reading “Fall in Love with Autumn: Join NYC Parks for Fall Foliage Fun!” →

NYC Parks & Socrates Sculpture Park to Break Ground on $5.7 Million New Facility ~ ‘The Cubes’

Long Island City, NYC Parks Department, Socrates Sculpture Garden

 

 

 

Renderings of The Cubes at Socrates Sculpture Park, courtesy LOT-EK

Socrates Sculpture Park is excited to break ground for “The Cubes,” a new 2,640 square-foot, two-story building that will become a permanent home for Socrates Sculpture Park, designed by the innovative architecture studio LOT-EK. Multi-functional by design, the space will provide new facilities for the park’s administrative offices, arts education and community work, creating opportunities for year-round public programming. Constructed from up cycled shipping containers, the building’s origin, materials, and design invokes Socrates Sculpture Park’s founding principles of creative reclamation, adaptable re-use, and honoring the neighborhood’s industrial roots.

NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue will join Socrates Sculpture Park Executive Director Tamsin Dillon, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, NYC Department of Cultural Affairs Commissioner Laurie Cumbo, Socrates Sculpture Park Board Member Stuart Match Suna, City Council Member Julie Won, Assemblymember Catherine Nolan, Community Board 1 Chair Marie Torniali, and members of the community to officially break ground on “The Cubes.” 

Continue reading “NYC Parks & Socrates Sculpture Park to Break Ground on $5.7 Million New Facility ~ ‘The Cubes’” →

NYC Parks No Longer Seeks New Vendor for Central Park Boathouse ~ Thanks to an Anonymous Donor?

Central Park, NYC Parks Department

 

 

 

Image via theloebboathouse

Questioning our delightful update, with the news from Juliet Papa at 1010 Wins that there is a post on the door (November 4, 2022) indicating The Loeb Central Park Boathouse Cafe’, Restaurant will be closed until further notice. Stay tuned?

  • A delightful update (August 21, 2022) ~ The beloved Central Park Boathouse has been rescued thanks to a secret donor. The $6 million gift will not only save The Boathouse, but also the 163 employee jobs that are a big part of it.

Thank you to the anonymous donor

NYC Parks today announces that it intends to enter into a negotiated concession process in order to identify and enter into an agreement with a new operator for the operation, renovation and maintenance of a high-quality restaurant, snack bar and rowboat rental at the Loeb Boathouse, Central Park, Manhattan.

Continue reading “NYC Parks No Longer Seeks New Vendor for Central Park Boathouse ~ Thanks to an Anonymous Donor?” →

Rockaway Beach Revitalization Unveils a $4.7 Million Shore Front Parkway Adventure Course and Pickleball Court

NYC Parks Department, Rockaway Beach

 

 

 

Rockaway Beach Revitalization. Image credit: NYC Parks/Daniel Avila

NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue joined Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato, Council Member Joann Ariola, Community Board 14 Chair Dolores Orr,  representatives from USA Pickleball, children from camp P.S. 317 and the Millennium Development Summer Program, and members of the community to cut the ribbon on the brand new adventure course and pickleball court in Rockaway Beach. The new adventure course and pickleball court are part of continued efforts to rebuild Rockaway after hurricane Sandy in 2012.

Continue reading “Rockaway Beach Revitalization Unveils a $4.7 Million Shore Front Parkway Adventure Course and Pickleball Court” →

NYC Parks Department Monuments Conservation Program Crew at Washington Square Arch

Monument Conservation Program (NYC Parks), NYC Parks Department, Preservation

 

 

 

 

The New York City Parks Department Monuments Conservation Program Crew will be heading to Washington Square Park on Thursday, July 21, 2022 to begin intensive stone repairs, micro-abrasive cleaning, and chemical protection to preserve the Washington Square Arch’s masonry.

Continue reading “NYC Parks Department Monuments Conservation Program Crew at Washington Square Arch” →

NYC Parks Cuts Ribbons on Rapkin-Gayle Plaza, SoHo and Manuel Plaza, NoHo

Noho, NYC Parks Department, Soho

 

 

 

Ribbon cutting at Manuel Plaza. Photo credit: NYC Parks/Daniel Avila

Today, NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue and NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala today cut the ribbon on two newly constructed plazas in Lower Manhattan. Beginning at the new Rapkin-Gayle Plaza, they were joined by Borough President Mark Levine, State Senator Brian Kavanagh, Assembly Member Deborah Glick, Council Member Christopher Marte, Community Board 2 Chair Jeannine Kiely, David Rapkin, son of Chester Rapkin, and members of the community. Following the first ribbon cutting, they were joined by State Senator Brad Hoylman, Council Member Carlina Rivera, Kei Williams and Isa Reyes from the Black Gotham Experience, Emily Hillwright Director of Operations at the Merchant’s House Museum and community members to cut a second ribbon on Manuel Plaza. The new plazas add much-needed open space to the area while retaining access for DEP operations.

Continue reading “NYC Parks Cuts Ribbons on Rapkin-Gayle Plaza, SoHo and Manuel Plaza, NoHo” →

NYC Parks Breaks Ground on Newest Phase of Development of Sunset Cove in Broad Channel

Jamaica Bay, NYC Parks Department, Queens

 

 

 

Sunset Cove in Broad Channel. Photo Credit: NYC Parks/Daniel Avila

NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue today joined Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, the Governor’s Office of Storm Recovery Assistant Communication Director Shachar Roloson, Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato, Broad Channel Civic Association & Jamaica Bay Ecowatchers Representative Daniel Mundy Sr., and members of the community to break ground on phase two of the Sunset Cove Park project in Queens which will bring a new boardwalk and outdoor classroom to the park.

Continue reading “NYC Parks Breaks Ground on Newest Phase of Development of Sunset Cove in Broad Channel” →

NYC Parks Cuts the Ribbon on a New Cafe’ at McCarren Park, Brooklyn

Brooklyn, Food, NYC Parks Department, Vendors

 

 

 

New Cafe’ at McCarren Park. Image credit: NYC Parks/Daniel Avila

NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue today joined the operators of the new McCarren ParkHouse, Aaron Broudo and Belvy Klein, and community members to cut the ribbon on the new café at McCarren Park in Brooklyn.

“We are thrilled to herald the start of the summer season, while continuing New York City’s ongoing recovery, by welcoming the opening of a brand new café at McCarren Park,” said Commissioner Donoghue. “New Yorkers can now enjoy a delightful outdoor dining experience in North Brooklyn’s largest public park. I am also pleased that this historic building has been completely restored with new sustainable elements and, in addition to the café, will serve as a new hub for NYC Parks’ North Brooklyn Maintenance & Operations and Parks Enforcement Patrol staff.”

Continue reading “NYC Parks Cuts the Ribbon on a New Cafe’ at McCarren Park, Brooklyn” →

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

NYC Parks Department

 

 

 

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.

Continue reading “First Ever Solicitation by NYC Parks for Mobile Food & Merchandise Vendors in Iconic Parks Citywide!” →

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.

Continue reading “Last Weekend with NYC Parks Celebrating Adventures NYC 2022 in Central Park” →

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 Hybrid along with other sculptures in Harlem.

Continue reading “NYC Parks’ Monuments Conservation Program Launches 25th Season beginning in Harlem with Richard Hunt’s ‘Harlem Hybrid’” →

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

NYC Parks Department, NYC Public Beaches

 

 

 

Image credit: NYC Parks

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.

Continue reading “NYC Parks will Kick-Off Beach Season on May 28th!” →

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!

Continue reading “Crotona Park Soccer Field Celebrates Renovation with A Little Help From Their Friends” →

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!

Continue reading “Let Mayor Adams Know that A Promise is A Promise ~ Rally for Parks on May 26th” →

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.

Continue reading “The Annual East Harlem Street Games Set for Saturday, April 30, 2022” →

NYC Parks Commemorates 40th Anniversary of Parks Enforcement Patrol

NYC Parks Department

 

 

 

Photo credit: NYC Parks

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!

Continue reading “NYC Parks Commemorates 40th Anniversary of Parks Enforcement Patrol” →

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.

Continue reading “NYC Parks Seeks Landscape Architecture Consultants” →

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

NYC Parks Department

 

 

 

Photo credit: NYC Parks

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.

Continue reading “Saying ‘Happy Trails’ to Two Retiring PEP Mounted Unit Horses” →

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.

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

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.

Continue reading “NYC Parks Celebrates Black History Month with a Virtual Exhibition at Poe Park Visitor Center” →

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

Brooklyn, NYC Parks Department, Queens

 

 

Photo credit: NYC Parks

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.

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

NYC Parks Department, Randall's Island

 

 

Randalls 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

 

 

 

photo credit: NYC Parks

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

 

 

Madison Hill. Photo credit: NYC Parks

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

 

 

Wollman Rink. Image courtesy 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

 

 

Mulchfest. Image courtesy NYC Parks

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

 

 

 

Photo credit: Daniel Avila/NYC Parks

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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