Little Red Lighthouse Festival
The 19th Annual Little Red Lighthouse Festival took place on September 17, 2011 in Fort Washington Part. While tours of the Little Red Lighthouse with the Urban Park Rangers were the main attraction, other highlights include live music including a special musical performance of “Thanks to the Lighthouse,” guest readings of the classic children’s book, “The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray Bridge,” arts & crafts, and delicious food.
Plans are already in the works for the 20th Anniversary event, so check back in the summer of 2012 for updated information!
Harvest Festival
NYRP’s annual Harvest Festival is a great opportunity for our gardeners and community members to come together and celebrate the season!
This year the event took place on October 15, 2011 in Swindler Cove Park at Sherman Creek. Supported by Organic Valley, we were thrilled to welcome 2 farmers from upstate New York that led butter making workshops all day! Other festival activities included live music, family photos, garden workshops, harvest-centric arts and crafts, tours of Swindler Cove, raffle giveaways, NYRP Community Gardener Awards, and a Jack-o-Lantern Carving Contest.
For more photos from the event, visit NYRP on Facebook.
Swindler Cove Family Day
In June, NYRP invites families to enjoy a day of fun in nature at 
Swindler Cove Park. Nestled in Manhattan’s Upper East Side, Swindler Cove Park represents the crown jewel of NYRP’s public park projects, encompassing five beautifully reclaimed acres along the Harlem River – including the Peter Jay Sharp Boathouse and Riley-Levin Children's Garden. An oasis of native natural habitats, Swindler Cove features an urban forest, the only saltwater marsh on the island of Manhattan’s shoreline and an abundance of wildlife to explore and experience along the Harlem Riverfront.
From a boat launch to a bird-watch walk, people from all over New York City are welcomed to engage in nature in this day-long, free event that celebrates family. NYRP staff and educators lead families in playing games, taking hands-on hikes, painting birdhouses, creating family nature projects, taking family nature portraits, meeting live animals, gardening and learning about ways to be green, together.
Haunted Hike
As Halloween draws near, community residents from the Washington Heights and Inwood sections of Upper Manhattan dare to take a walk on the wild – and urban wildlife side – through the temporarily entranced trails of NYRP’s Swindler Cove Park.
NYRP’s Haunted Hike is an eagerly anticipated event of eerie proportions where, once a year, the organization and its staff create a lively landscape of fun and free opportunities to learn about sustainability and living green – and maybe meet a few greenish ghouls along the way! Whether exploring the enchantment of the park’s fantastical forest or discovering the spectral secrets of the Harlem River shore – NYRP’s Haunted Hike is a frighteningly good time for eco-intrigued spirits of all ages!