named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
North Park Phase 1
21-acre park area offering walking paths, high-speed cycling paths, and views of Main Creek and the William T. Davis Wildlife Refuge, with native plant plots managed by NYC Parks’ Greenbelt Native Plant Center
Osprey Monitoring
Annual monitoring of osprey nests and fledgling success at Freshkills Park as part of NYC Parks’ raptor monitoring effort, using the NestWatch app to track breeding behavior and population trends
Public Programming and Tours
Offers seasonal public events, guided tours (birding, photography, kayaking), art installations, and educational field trips for K-12 and higher education groups
Wetland Restoration
Restoration of 360 acres of tidal wetlands to improve water quality, support biodiversity, and create habitat for fish, birds, and other wildlife, with ongoing ecological monitoring
activities · 9 groups
What they do
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Urban Park and Public Space Conservation 2 activities
- Renovating community parks and playgroundsReconstructed Schmul Park and its playground using $2.4 million in funding, replacing asphalt with rubber-clad play mounds, plantings, porous surfacing, and updated safety equipment to improve community recreational space.
- Transforming Fresh Kills Landfill into Freshkills ParkPartners with the City of New York to transform the former Fresh Kills Landfill into Freshkills Park, the largest public park developed in New York City in over a century, encompassing ecological restoration, recreational infrastructure, and public access.
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Volunteer Engagement and Capacity Support 1 activity
- Building volunteer capacity for park stewardshipProvides trainings and resources for volunteers and docents to lead educational tours and stewardship programs, enhancing community engagement and long-term park sustainability.
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Onsite & Outreach Environmental Education Programs 1 activity
- Delivering educational programming for students and educatorsProvides field trips for K-12 students, site tours for higher education groups, virtual presentations, and an interactive map and virtual tour to educate the public about the park’s transformation, ecology, and environmental science.
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Recreational Trail Development and Maintenance 1 activity
- Developing recreational and green infrastructureDevelops and constructs recreational facilities including Owl Hollow Fields (20 acres with four synthetic turf soccer fields), North Park Phase 1 (21 acres with walking and biking paths and native seed plots), and the 3.2-mile New Springville Greenway with sustainable bio-swale drainage systems.
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Curated Art Exhibitions and Public Displays 1 activity
- Implementing public art projects and performancesBrings artists into Freshkills Park to create installations, performances, and activities; operates a studio and gallery space to engage the public with the site’s history and ecological transformation.
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Community Stewardship Volunteer Programs 1 activity
- Organizing volunteer stewardship and docent programsOperates a Docent Program that trains volunteers to lead stewardship events including invasive species removal, garden building, and guided tours; organizes volunteer opportunities for beautification and cleanup at Freshkills Park and other local sites.
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Outdoor Recreation Access Promotion 1 activity
- Providing public access through tours and recreation programsOffers scheduled kayak tours, seasonal special interest tours (photography, birding, hiking), and annual public events such as kite flying and hiking that attract thousands, enabling public engagement with the park’s ecology and transformation.
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Ecological Habitat Restoration 1 activity
- Restoring tidal wetlands and coastal habitatsRestores 360 acres of tidal wetlands at Freshkills Park, including two acres of salt marsh and coastal habitat at Main Creek, with shoreline stabilization and water quality improvements as part of the broader ecological transformation.
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Watershed Conservation & Stewardship 1 activity
- Supporting environmental research and scientific monitoringPartners with academic and government institutions including the USDA Forest Service, CUNY, and St. John’s University to support environmental research, including long-term monitoring of osprey nests (2018–2020), water quality, fish populations, and ecological changes during restoration.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2021
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2 years on record · 2020–2021
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2021
Who runs it
board members · 8
- BRENDAN SEXTON — DIRECTOR
- JAMES YOLLES — DIRECTOR
- JIM PERAZZO — DIRECTOR
- JOSHUA LAIRD — DIRECTOR
- LISA BOVA-HIATT — DIRECTOR
- PAUL AINSLIE — DIRECTOR
- ROBERT WALLACE — DIRECTOR
- VICTORIA CERULLO — DIRECTOR CO CHAIR
relationships · 18
Who they work with
- CUNY’s College of Staten Island Partner — Participates in environmental research initiatives at the park
- City of New York Government — Not-for-profit partner with the Freshkills Park Alliance in developing Freshkills Park.
- City of New York Partner — Collaborates on the transformation of the Fresh Kills Landfill into Freshkills Park
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology Partner — Collaborates on osprey monitoring using the NestWatch mobile app.
- DSNY Government — FKPA staff act as lead coordinators for programs within DSNY jurisdiction.
- Department of Parks & Recreation Government — Partnered on wetland restoration and operates native seed plots in North Park
- Greenbelt Native Plant Center Partner — Operates seven acres of native seed plots in North Park
- James Corner Field Operations Partner — Redesigned Schmul Park playground
- Lenape People Government — Honors the ancestral stewardship of the Lenape People over the land where Freshkills Park is located.
- NYC Parks Government — FKPA staff act as lead coordinators for programs within NYC Parks jurisdiction.
- NYC Parks Government — Lead agency transforming the former landfill into Freshkills Park and conducting wetland restoration.
- NYC Parks Government — Operates maintenance and operations facility at Owl Hollow Restroom Building
- NYCMTB Partner — Collaborates on the annual Great Gobbler event.
- New York Department of State’s Office of Coastal, Local Government & Community Sustainability Funder — Provided grant funding for the Main Creek Wetland Restoration project
- Park Partners Partner — Collaborates with partner organizations in the development and programming of Freshkills Park.
- St. John’s University Partner — Engages in scientific research projects at Freshkills Park
- TCS New York City Marathon Partner — Official charity partner for fundraising to support access and education at Freshkills Park.
- USDA Forest Service Partner — Collaborates on environmental research projects at Freshkills Park
strategies · 5
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.
- Art-Integrated Public Engagementmethodology: art-based_public_engagementBy integrating art programming into the park’s development, the organization deepens public connection to the site’s ecological and historical transformation, because artistic expression makes complex environmental change more accessible and emotionally resonant for diverse audiences.
- Community-Based Stewardship Modelmethodology: community-based_stewardshipBy training volunteers as docents to lead stewardship and public programming, the organization fosters sustained community engagement and environmental education, because local ownership and participatory involvement strengthen long-term stewardship and public connection to restored ecosystems.
- Ecological Monitoring Informing Adaptive Managementmethodology: adaptive_managementBy tracking environmental indicators like water quality, fish populations, and osprey nesting behavior, the organization adapts park design and management practices in real time, because continuous ecological feedback loops enable more effective and resilient ecosystem restoration.
- Landfill Reclamation as Environmental Renewalmethodology: landfill-reclamationBy transforming former landfill sites into publicly accessible urban parks, the organization creates ecological and community benefits, because reclaiming degraded land enables environmental restoration while providing civic space for public engagement and education.
- Wetland Restoration for Climate Resiliencemethodology: wetland_restoration_for_climate_resilienceBy restoring wetlands, the organization stabilizes shorelines and improves water quality while building resilience to climate change and sea level rise, because natural hydrological systems provide adaptive infrastructure that buffers against extreme weather and supports biodiversity.