named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Horticulture & Stewardship
Partners with NYC Parks to restore and maintain green spaces in McGolrick Park and Bushwick Inlet Park, focusing on native plantings, invasive species removal, and soil health
NBK Parks Native Nursery
Produces native plants from seeds for ecological restoration in North Brooklyn parks, supports pollinators, and serves as a community education hub
North Brooklyn Open Streets
Stewards open streets and plazas in partnership with NYC DOT, including Banker’s Anchor Plaza, to expand accessible public space
Under the K Bridge Park
Manages NYC’s first “el-space” park beneath the Kosciuszko Bridge, combining public access, ecological restoration, and cultural programming as a central operations base
Urban Forest Fellowship
Trains local residents in arboriculture through hands-on tree census and canopy health assessments in McGolrick Park, supporting NYC’s Urban Forest Plan
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Horticultural Education and Community Gardening 3 activities
- Grow and distribute native plants for ecological restorationOperates a native plant nursery under the BQE and beneath the Kosciuszko Bridge, established in winter 2023, to grow over 10,000 native plants annually for use in park restoration projects. Distributes plants to neighbors, schools, community gardens, and nonprofits across NYC, including through an annual autumn plant giveaway.
- Lead urban forest and tree stewardship initiativesConducts tree care and urban forestry projects including tree pruning, mulching, tree guard installation, and a 2025 Urban Forest Fellowship to assess canopy health and conduct a tree census of over 350 trees in McGolrick Park. Plants new flowering trees and supports citywide efforts like Mulchfest Weekend.
- Provide educational programming on urban ecology and sustainabilityProduces walking tours, panel discussions, and educational events focused on sustainability, urbanism, horticulture, and biodiversity. Offers seasonal fellowships and volunteer events to support hands-on learning in ecological restoration and urban forestry.
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Community Festival & Event Production 1 activity
- Deliver public programming and cultural events in parksExecutes over 30 large-scale and 100 public events annually, including concerts, cultural programming, seasonal events, and movie nights at parks and plazas across North Brooklyn. Notable events include McCarren Pool Parties and programming at Under the K Bridge Park and Havemeyer Park.
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Public Space Beautification and Maintenance 1 activity
- Operate and maintain public parks and open spaces in North BrooklynManages over 20 green spaces across North Brooklyn, including Under the K Bridge Park, Bushwick Inlet Park, McGolrick Park, and Bankers Anchor Plaza, providing routine maintenance such as trash collection, watering, planter installation, and horticultural care. Serves as the maintenance partner for DOT plazas and augments NYC Parks Department efforts with services like snow removal, power washing, and emergency catch basin clearing.
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Community Stewardship Volunteer Programs 1 activity
- Organize volunteer stewardship and horticultural programsRuns the Garden Club volunteer program and other recurring volunteer events for planting, invasive species removal, garden maintenance, and tree care in parks including Bushwick Inlet Park, McGolrick Park, and Under the K Bridge Park. Hosts monthly and weekly volunteer sessions in partnership with groups like the Brooklyn Pollinator Project and The HOPE Program.
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Ecological Habitat Restoration 1 activity
- Restore and rewild urban park ecosystemsConducts ecological restoration in North Brooklyn parks by transforming weedy areas into native pollinator gardens, rehabilitating lawns, eradicating invasive species, and planting native flora. Projects include a three-year, six-figure restoration at Bushwick Inlet Park and rewilding efforts supported by nursery-grown plants.
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Neighborhood Revitalization Initiatives 1 activity
- Support community-driven park development and placemakingCo-leads community-driven design processes for new park spaces, including at the WYNC Transmitter site and Union Avenue in McCarren Park. Pilots temporary public spaces like Havemeyer Park and transforms underutilized infrastructure into vibrant public areas such as Bankers Anchor Plaza and Under the K Bridge Park.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$1.88M
Contributions & grants$774K41%
Program service revenue$1.11M59%
Investment income$4100%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$1.67M
Program expenses82%
Admin / overhead7%
Fundraising11%
Salaries & benefits$939K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$362K
Cash$279K
Investments$0
Liabilities$359K
Net assets$2K
Liquid reserves2.0 mo
5 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +91.1%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KATHERINE HOROWITZ | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $127K |
board members · 13
- DAVID LOMBINO — CO-CHAIR
- DIANE ZELVIN — CO-CHAIR
- JANE POOL — DIRECTOR
- JOSEPH KOHL RIGGS — DIRECTOR
- KARLI BAINBRIDGE — DIRECTOR
- KATE BERNSTEIN — DIRECTOR
- KEITH BERGER — DIRECTOR
- MARK SALINGER — TREASURER
- MIKE SCARINCINI — DIRECTOR
- NAM PHAN — DIRECTOR
- SEAN FEENEY — DIRECTOR
- WARD DENNIS — DIRECTOR
- WILLIAM DAVIS — DIRECTOR
relationships · 37
Who they work with
- ACT Up! Oral History Project Partner — Leadership partnered with this organization during a Visiting Scholar role.
- Bankers Anchor Plaza Partner — Performs regular maintenance at Bankers Anchor Plaza.
- Brooklyn Pollinator Project Partner — Hosts weekly volunteer sessions with NBK Parks at Bushwick Inlet Park focused on planting, weeding, and ecological education.
- Bushwick Inlet Park Partner — Provides horticultural assistance at Bushwick Inlet Park.
- Community Board 1 Government — Leadership served on this board from 2003 to 2012.
- Community Groups Partner — Collaborates with community groups on Street Tree Care events and stewardship activities.
- Cooper Park Partner — Provides routine maintenance at Cooper Park dog runs.
- Elected Officials Partner — Partners with elected officials on Street Tree Care events and community clean-ups.
- Food Education Fund Partner — Leadership serves on the board of this nonprofit.
- Friends of Bushwick Inlet Park Partner — Leadership is a founding member.
- Greenpoint Community Environmental Fund Funder — Provided the final grant to support horticultural improvements and programming at McGolrick Park.
- Greenpoint Community Environmental Fund (GCEF) Funder — Funds the development and operation of Under the K Bridge Park.
- Greenpoint Community Environmental Fund (GCEF) Partner — Leadership has served as a Community Advisory Member.
- Greenpoint Waterfront Alliance for Parks and Planning (GWAPP) Partner — Leadership has served on the board of this organization.
- Independent Restaurant Coalition (IRC) Coalition — Leadership is a co-founding member.
- Kosciuszko Bridge Government — Location of Under the K Bridge Park, indicating collaboration with public infrastructure entities
- McCarren Park Partner — Provides routine maintenance at McCarren Park dog runs.
- McGolrick Park Partner — Provides routine maintenance and horticultural assistance at McGolrick Park.
- NYC Government — Collaborates with NYC to demonstrate scalable models for public space development and maintenance.
- NYC DOT Government — Plaza Partner and Open Streets steward with NYC DOT.
- NYC Parks Government — Licensed Partner with NYC Parks for park management and operations.
- NYC Parks Partner — Partners with NBK Parks on horticultural stewardship at McGolrick Park and Bushwick Inlet Park, including joint programming such as Mulchfest Weekend.
- NYC Parks Plant Ecology Center and Nursery (PECAN) Partner — Collaborates with PECAN to source native plant seeds and support seed exchange programming.
- New York Public Library Archive Division Partner — Leadership partnered with this organization during a Visiting Scholar role.
- New York State Government — Partner in operating Under the K Bridge Park on State DOT property.
- New York State DOT Government — Manager and operator of Under the K Bridge Park through New York State DOT.
- North Brooklyn Neighbors Partner — Leadership has served on the board and as former co-chair.
- OutHistory.org Partner — Leadership partnered with this organization during a Visiting Scholar role.
- PUBLIC WORK Partner — Landscape architecture firm that designed Under the K Bridge Park.
- Parks Department Government — Collaborates with the Parks Department to augment maintenance on Green Streets and respond to service requests.
+ 7 more
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Community-Driven Placemaking for Equitable Accessmethodology: community_driven_placemakingBy engaging local communities in the design and stewardship of public spaces, we create parks and open spaces that reflect community needs and values, thereby enhancing equitable access and long-term vibrancy because community ownership increases utilization and advocacy.
- Ecological Restoration Through Native Species and Collaborative Stewardshipmethodology: ecological_restorationBy cultivating native plants appropriate to the local ecoregion and involving community members in horticultural work, we restore urban biodiversity and support pollinators and migratory birds, because ecological resilience is strengthened through biologically appropriate species and shared human-natural stewardship.
- Environmental Justice–Rooted Organizational Praxismethodology: environmental_justiceBy grounding leadership and organizational structure in the legacy of environmental justice movements, we advance equitable access to open space because historically marginalized communities achieve better outcomes when decision-making power is rooted in community-led, justice-oriented frameworks.
- Permanent Transformation of Public Space Through Adaptive Reuse and Institutional Collaborationmethodology: adaptive_reuse_institutionalizationBy transforming underutilized urban infrastructure into public green spaces and working with city partners to institutionalize temporary activations, we produce lasting neighborhood assets because converting pilot projects into permanent features ensures sustained community benefit and systemic integration.