CATALYST FOR NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS
|
Coordinating dynamic partnerships that
lead to both short-term results and sustained change, Catalyst for
Neighborhood Parks improves struggling parks and empowers communities
in historically under-served neighborhoods.
|
 |
In 1996,
Partnerships for Parks launched the Catalyst
Project, a pioneering initiative to achieve significant and lasting
change at a
handful of sites in diverse communities.
Five years later, building on our
knowledge from the first phase of
Catalyst, we selected four new regional sites. In October 2003, Mayor
Bloomberg
joined the
New York City Department
of Parks & Recreation and City
Parks Foundation to launch
this multiyear initiative to build community involvement and foster the
improvement of sixteen parks in four
neighborhoods in New York City.
|
|
These
neighborhoods,
selected with the City of New York/Parks & Recreation and local
partners,
were singled out for their park and waterfront potential, as well as
compelling
need for community involvement and investment. In testing new park
revitalization approaches;
as well as communicating lessons learned, our staff
is helping local communities create significant change
in their local parks
and neighborhoods.
|
CURRENT CATALYST NEIGHBORHOODS
|
|
Astoria and Long Island City
Waterfront Parks
In collaboration with local leaders, we are organizing a
common voice for park enrichment and waterfront access in a string of
seven parks along the East River in Northern
Queens
The High Bridge Project
By building
and connecting a diverse coalition of public
agencies, citywide organizations, and local residents, we are
leveraging resources to reopen the High Bridge—New York City's
oldest standing bridge—and to improve the
parks on either end.
Historic Harlem Parks
In developing and strengthening
local support for the
four historic Harlem parks we are working to
promote partnerships that maximize resources and sustainability.
Red Hook Parks & Recreation
We are working together with
local groups to develop a vision for the
community's open space and to transform the parks and recreation center
into a
nexus of community activity.
|
STRATEGIES & APPROACHES
At each project, Partnerships for
Parks’ staff
identifies and recruits key stakeholders to build commitment for
specific park activities and larger waterfront and/or neighborhood
revitalization
efforts. As we build community involvement, we also strategically direct
resources from Partnerships, City
Parks Foundation, and NYC Department of Parks
& Recreation, including:
|
PROGRESS
Since its launch in October 2003, the Catalyst Program has:
- Convened
hundreds of community based organizations, residents,
elected officials, and New York City Parks & Recreation to
build a
dedicated constituency with shared visions and strategies for Catalyst
parks and waterfronts
- Supported and promoted more than 400 programs and events, drawing close to 50,000 community residents to parks in the four neighborhoods.
- Organized
volunteer projects, contributing more than
4,500 volunteer hours towards the physical improvement and maintenance
of Catalyst parks
- Helped
leverage and direct more than $41,000,000 in
funding for capital improvements to Catalyst area parks
|
STAFF
For more information or any
questions about the Catalyst Program, please contact:
Emily Maxwell
Acting Director, Catalyst Program
(212) 360-8194
Emily.Maxwell@parks.nyc.gov
Karen Overton
Catalyst Coordinator, Astoria/Long Island City Waterfront Parks
(718) 706-8044
Karen.Overton@parks.nyc.gov
Joseph Sanchez
Catalyst Coordinator, The High Bridge Project
(212) 927-5864
Joseph.Sanchez@parks.nyc.gov
Becky Scott
Catalyst Coordinator, Historic Harlem Parks
(212) 360-3326
Rebecca.Scott@parks.nyc.gov
Tamara Greenfield
Catalyst Planning and Evaluation
Tamara.Greenfield@parks.nyc.gov
|
|
