Working at NYRP Since 2006

When Simon Skinner first joined New York Restoration Project in 2006 as the Parks and Community Gardens Manager, he was tasked with the intimidating goal of planting thousands of trees throughout New York City. Now, on the occasion of NYRP’s 30th anniversary, and as the organization’s Chief of Programs and Operations, he reflects on a career of turning neglected public areas into thriving green space.

Simon’s longtime colleagues know him as a good-humored manager and peer who doesn’t get his feathers ruffled easily and is always ready to problem-solve or pitch in. You can often find him at our operations headquarters in Inwood, cleaning up the yard at Sherman Creek Center, fixing a tire on a vehicle, or dealing with the leaky roof of an old building—always with a smile on his face.

In his time at NYRP, Simon’s knack for organization, get-it-done attitude, and kindness have been the secret ingredients that helped make many of NYRP’s milestone achievements possible. He has a deep understanding of NYRP’s mission to make nature more accessible to all New Yorkers, and after nearly twenty years at the organization, the depth of his commitment to it is clear.

Below, Simon reflects on nearly two decades years at NYRP.

The following interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.

What sparked your interest in horticulture?

Simon Skinner: I grew up working with my father’s landscape business in Ireland, so I was always out in a garden, whether it was our own at home or the ones at work. I only ever had one non-gardening-related job for a brief amount of time, and doing that made me realize that the only place I wanted to be was out in nature; I didn’t want to do anything else.

I went on to attend the School of Horticulture at the National Botanic Gardens in Dublin, Ireland, which gave me the opportunity to work at the botanical gardens there and elsewhere in Europe.

How did you land at New York Restoration Project?

SS: I was working in private landscaping in New York City, mostly on people’s rooftop gardens and public plazas in Manhattan, when I came across NYRP. I was very intrigued by the mission to make green space more accessible to all New Yorkers and by the fact that NYRP worked across so many different types of public spaces including large public parks and small community gardens. Working at NYRP was a chance to continue doing the landscaping and horticultural work I loved, but to the benefit of more people—not just the people who could afford it.

A large part of your job when you first joined NYRP was helping carry out the historic MillionTreesNYC campaign. What was that like?

SS: It was a very exciting time to be at NYRP. I joined in 2006 as the Parks and Community Gardens Manager. In 2007, we launched the MillionTreesNYC campaign with Mayor Bloomberg and the NYC Parks Department with the goal of planting one million trees throughout New York City. At the time it felt like such a pipe dream: the scale was incredible. I was organizing volunteer events for hundreds of people to plant hundreds of trees. And these weren’t just little saplings—these were street trees! I like figuring out problems and organizing resources to meet a goal, so this was an exciting challenge for me.

What’s it like seeing the fruits of your labor almost 20 years later?

SS: It fills me with pride. I probably bore my family going around the city and pointing out trees that we planted back in the day. You can see whole avenues we planted with street trees back in the aughts that have since matured into a robust urban tree canopy. It’s astonishing to see to see what I was a part of and what we accomplished.

I like bringing people to Pleasant Avenue in East Harlem in particular, especially because NYRP has a few community gardens around there. It’s only six blocks long, but we planted most of the trees on the street. I like to show those trees to people as a demonstration of what an organization like NYRP can do.

You also played a significant role in launching our Gardens for the City program. Say more.

SS: While we were out planting for MillionTreesNYC, people kept approaching us asking to help with their local gardens. At the time, we only cared for our own 50+ community gardens, but we saw a major opportunity to support other green spaces throughout the city. We started a pilot Gardens for the City program in 2011 that quickly took off, reaching schools, churches, and community centers citywide. It’s incredibly rewarding to look back now and see more than 300 of these spaces thriving—knowing that NYRP’s work sparked a lasting green space for communities that truly needed and wanted it.

Is there a garden that you think really exemplifies NYRP’s work? 

SS: One of the gardens I always think about is Target Bronx Community Garden, one of the gardens we own and take care of in the South Bronx. When I first started here and NYRP was just getting involved with the space, the garden was completely abandoned and filled with trash. It was amazing to be part of renovating the space and seeing it turn into the beautiful oasis it is now.

You became NYRP’s Chief of Programs and Operations this year. Looking back at nearly 20 years at NYRP, what have been the highlights of your time here?

SS: I had a great mentor in Catherine Hall, NYRP’s former Chief Operations Officer who retired this year. She was a great boss for so long and such an integral part of NYRP. I was very honored to be able to continue her work, and I thank her for putting trust in me all those years.

It makes me proud to see how people have grown in the organization, people I have worked with from the beginning, who started as AmeriCorps members or entry-level employees who are now leading the work at NYRP. I’m very proud of what people have achieved in their careers by working here. NYRP has been through tough times, but we’ve always managed to ride it out, because we’re such a strong organization and we have such committed people.