NY4P collaborates with a multitude of organizations every year, from NYC Parks to grassroots community groups, non-profit organizations, and corporate professionals. 

As the citywide champion for open spaces, we strive to regularly bring people with diverse perspectives and backgrounds together to discuss the issues that impact our parks and open spaces in New York City. 

We utilize our network to connect individuals and organizations in order to better build on each other’s work, provide advice and expertise, and join together for a common purpose. 

NY4P and South Bronx Unite led local electeds, community partners and a group of 75 Bronxites on a Walk & Talk tour of parks infrastructure in Mott Haven.

We heard from South Bronx advocates about urgent opportunities for investment and action to ensure waterfront access (including the Mott Haven-Port Morris Waterfront Plan), expand tree canopy and build vibrant, climate resilient parks in an environmental justice community which lacks green space.

Thanks to NYLCV, Bronx River Alliance, The Bronx is Blooming, Council Member Diana Ayala, Assembly Member Amanda Septimo, State Senator Jose Serrano, Team AOC, Rebuild by Design, Greenways Coalition, Waterfront Alliance, and Mott Haven Dogs.

Read coverage of the event in Bronx Times.

NY4P partnered with Rebuild by Design and South Bronx Unite to host a tour of resilient parks infrastructure in Hoboken, a city which reduced flooding by 88% while creating vibrant public spaces.

We saw parks and playgrounds featuring permeable surfaces, native rain gardens and innovative built-in systems for the onsite storage/treatment of hundreds of thousands of gallons of stormwater. Thanks to everyone who joined us to learn valuable lessons from our neighbors!

Read Rebuild By Design's "Hoboken Resilience Parks Guide."

Following the release of our Open Space Solutions series, NY4P convened a panel of advocates and experts at First Corinthian Baptist Church in Central Harlem to discuss community-driven solutions for improving parks in Manhattan District 10, a Central Harlem district with 83% fewer acres of parkland-per-resident than the city average.

Panelists representing A. Philip Randolph Square Neighborhood Alliance, Trust for Public Land, West Harlem Art Fund, and Manhattan CB10 discussed a range of ideas such as expanding the urban tree canopy, converting schoolyards into public parks, and enhancing waterfront access.

Click here to revisit the Harlem Parks Panel.

NY4P and the New York Law School co-hosted a Mayoral Candidate Forum on Parks with leading candidates. Hundreds of New Yorkers tuned in to the Ben Max-moderated panel, where our city’s potential leaders shared their visions for our park system, covering issues including quality of life, equity and access, economic vitality, well-paying jobs, and health and safety.

We’re grateful to Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, Comptroller Brad Lander, Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani, Senator Zellnor Myrie, Scott Stringer and Michael Blake for taking time from their busy campaigns to join the conversation.

Click here to revisit Mayoral Forum on Parks.

Vishaan Chakrabarti and Practice for Architecture and Urbanism (PAU) hosted NY4P, Council Member Shekar Krishnan, and a diverse array of parks advocates including foundation leaders, non-profit organizations, and neighborhood parks stewards for a deep dive into the proposed FY24 budget for NYC Parks.

A crucial question served as a jumping off point: Why are we operating from a place of scarcity? Attendees discussed the unequal impact of parks disinvestment in disadvantaged neighborhoods, the need to fund full-time parks worker positions for both career development and improved parks maintenance, and parks as critical infrastructure in the fight against climate change and the movement for safer communities.

The New-York Historical Society hosted NY4P's Daniel Abram, Council Member Shekar Krishnan, and historian Russell Shorto for a Climate Lab panel about NY4P's 1% for Parks Impact Report, which builds on Mayor Adams' commitment to allocate 1% of NYC’s operating budget for the Department of Parks and Recreation.

Abram, Shorto, and Krishnan discussed the impact this transformative investment would have on the quality of our parks system, municipal jobs, and the lives of New Yorkers.

Revisit the Climate Lab conversation.

The Open Space Dialogues panel series, produced by New Yorkers for Parks and New York Law School, features panel discussions with experts from various industries that dive into the value, development, design, and delivery of open space in NYC.

Leaders of New York City’s public realm present and respond to ideas about the spaces we hold in common, and answer questions posed by an engaged and energetic audience of park advocates, lawyers, civil servants, and civic-minded individuals. 

New Yorkers for Parks is the city’s independent advocates for parks and open spaces; New York Law School is an incubator for ideas, actions, and leadership in its role as “New York’s law school.” The Open Space Dialogues elevates public conversations about New York City’s vital infrastructure of parks and green spaces.

Learn more about the Open Space Dialogues here and see recordings from past panel discussions.

The Boro x Boro series consisted of annual meetings in each borough with community groups, open space advocates, and people passionate about parks to focus on turning ideas into action steps, networking, sharing best practices, and creating plans to work together to create maximum impact.

Our 2018 Boro x Boro At-A-Glance report has key takeaways from our meetings with 190+ community groups and individuals representing every corner of the city. The main recurring concern was the lack of adequate funding for parks maintenance and operations.

Past Boro x Boro meetings

NY4P: Boro x Boro, Queens: Thursday, March 1, 2018
Flushing Quaker Meeting House
137-16 Northern Blvd., Queens, NY 11354 

NY4P: Boro x Boro, Bronx: Thursday, March 15, 2018
Williamsbridge Oval Recreation Center
3225 Reservoir Oval, East Bronx, NY 10467 

NY4P: Boro x Boro, Manhattan: Monday, March 26, 2018
The Jackie Robinson Recreation Center
85 Bradhurst Ave, New York, NY 10039 

NY4P: Boro x Boro, Staten Island: Tuesday, April 3, 2018
Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden
1000 Richmond Terrace, Building P Staten Island, NY 10301 

NY4P: Boro x Boro, Brooklyn: Monday, April 16, 2018
Brooklyn Borough Hall - Courtroom 209
Joralemon Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201 

NY4P: Boro x Boro, Citywide Meeting: Tuesday, May 1, 2018
LMHQ
150 Broadway, 20th Floor, New York, NY 10038