Since 1995, New York Restoration Project (NYRP) has worked closely with New York City’s Department of Parks & Recreation to reclaim, restore and revitalize more than 400 acres of the city’s most needed, yet most neglected public green spaces. From our very first day cleaning up New York City parks, NYRP has removed nearly two thousand tons of garbage from these areas, and we’re still counting! Each week, NYRP’s dedicated operations crew, experienced horticultural team and our corps of community and corporate volunteers work tirelessly in all weather conditions, picking up litter and debris, clearing trails and park pathways, removing graffiti and invasive vegetation, and planting native trees, shrubs and bulbs – many of which are rare and endangered species.
NYRP has played a major role in restoring Upper Manhattan’s Fort Washington Park and Fort Tryon Park, both located in Upper Manhattan and the first of NYRP Founder Bette Midler’s efforts to return these valuable public spaces to their greatest green glory. NYRP is also responsible for conceiving, developing, executing and administrating the vibrant and versatile Swindler Cove Park – a former illegal dumping site transformed by NYRP into a gorgeous green space and center of the organization’s environmental education programming designed to engage schoolchildren and local residents in urban nature and outdoor activities. And today, NYRP is helping to lead the revitalization and maintenance of Highbridge Park, the last and largest of the New York City Parks Department’s Manhattan-based parks to undergo major restoration. Furthermore, NYRP provides New York City residents with a wide array of annual festivals and weekly events in these and other city parks that celebrate our unique urban landscape, support expanding sustainability efforts and promote community involvement and pride.
Through ongoing involvement at all of our park sites, emphasis on bringing creative public programming to adjacent communities, and the support of both private and corporate donors and our public and community partners, NYRP seeks to engage local residents in the maintenance and development of their neighborhood parks. Projects are designed to encourage residents to become active stakeholders in their immediate environment, further contributing to neighborhood revitalization and environmental conservation.