City Hall Park Conservancy Inaugural Projects
Help us grow! City Hall Park Conservancy's mission is to enhance and re-envision City Hall Park as a community asset and New York City-wide symbol.
Leader
April Krishnan
Location
Chambers Street New York, NY 10007
About the project
City Hall Park Conservancy is a volunteer-led non-profit organization, pending 501(c)3 status, formed by a group of collaborative neighborhood residents who work with the NYC Parks Department and other city agencies to help the Park maximize its potential as a park for all people and as an exemplary green space. As long-time residents, we have volunteered in the Park and have witnessed the steady encroachment of barriers and reduced access to the quadrants of the Park. We believe more can be done to elevate City Hall Park and create a hub of connection between its five adjacent neighborhoods. We are dedicated to advocating for the Park and raising both private and public funds for a range of initiatives. The first step is planting for Spring 2022!
The Steps
April 1st - Purchasing of equipment and mulch
April 15th - Spring plantings begin to be purchased
April 23rd - Volunteer work day in the Park and establishment of the new Pollinator Garden and Pathway
Through May - Renovation of the south parterre, yew trees to be moved by the NYC Parks Dept, new soil brought in, hedges trimmed and plants added
Summer Programs - T'ai Chi classes, historical walks, Audobon birdwatching sessions, Volunteer Days, and Naure Education classes
Why we‘re doing it
There is an open space issue in downtown NYC, we have only 20% of the city median accessible to local residents. Opening up and improving parts of City Hall Park will help alleviate this problem, which has only become more dire during the pandemic. Safety and usability have been severely neglected in this park, and we plan to address lighting, overgrown bushes, and maintenance issues to create a more user-friendly park for all ages. A key aspect of our renovation and future plans for City Hall Park include implementing sustainability standards for water and plant management. We are absolutely committed to the sustainability initiatives being implemented throughout NYC and hope to partner with other Parks and organizations so we can have the most up to date knowledge in this field.