irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $3.80MIN 2024, RIPA CONTINUED TO MAINTAIN AND OPERATE ICAHN STADIUM, AN IAAF-CERTIFIED FACILITY WITH SEATING FOR 5,000 SPECTATORS. THE STADIUM HOSTED APPROXIMATELY 70 TRACK AND FIELD MEETS, INCLUDING CHAMPIONSHIP EVENTS FOR LOCAL PUBLIC, PRIVATE, AND PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS, AS WELL AS ELITE COMPETITIONS FEATURING PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES. IN ADDITION TO ITS CORE TRACK AND FIELD PROGRAMMING, RIPA INVESTED IN A NEW PROFESSIONAL-GRADE GRASS SOCCER PITCH, ENHANCING THE STADIUM'S ABILITY TO HOST HIGH-LEVEL SOCCER AND OTHER RECTANGULAR FIELD SPORTS. IN 2024, THE STADIUM HOSTED TWO MLS-LEVEL MATCHES FOR NEW YORK CITY FC'S MINOR LEAGUE TEAM, WITH ADDITIONAL EVENTS PLANNED, FOLLOWING THE SUCCESS OF THESE GAMES.
- #2 $2.19MIN 2024, RIPA OFFERED OVER 300 FREE PUBLIC PROGRAMS, DRAWING MORE THAN 18,000 VISITORS TO THE PARK STAFF HOSTED OVER 200 DROP-IN EVENTS SUCH AS FESTIVALS, YOGA, OUTDOOR MOVIES, AND URBAN FARM PROGRAMS. VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT INCREASED BY 35% FROM 2023, WITH NEARLY 2,500 INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATING. RIPA'S ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAM SERVED 3,000 PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS: A 37% YEAR-OVER-YEAR INCREASE. RIPA ALSO HOSTED ITS ANNUAL FREE SUMMER CAMP IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, PROVIDING MORE THAN 5,000 CHILDREN WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPERIENCE RECREATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES ACROSS THE PARK.
named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Environmental Education Program
Provides hands-on environmental education to public school students, focusing on nature, sustainability, and urban ecology at Randall's Island Park. Served 3,000 students in 2024.
Free Public Programming
Hosts over 300 free public events annually, including festivals, outdoor movies, yoga, urban farm programs, and seasonal celebrations that draw thousands of visitors to Randall's Island Park.
Free Summer Camp
Annual free summer camp program in partnership with community-based organizations, offering recreational and educational activities to over 5,000 children annually from underserved communities in Harlem and the South Bronx.
Icahn Stadium Operations
Management and operation of Icahn Stadium, an IAAF-certified track and field facility that hosts approximately 70 athletic meets annually, including events for public, private, and parochial schools, collegiate teams, and professional athletes. Also hosts soccer matches for MLS-level teams.
activities · 11 groups
What they do
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Urban Park and Public Space Conservation 1 activity
- Capital development and park improvement projectsLeads capital improvements at Randall’s Island Park, including the reconstruction of soccer fields and the track at Icahn Stadium, installation of a Kentucky bluegrass pitch, construction of Icahn Stadium Plaza with the Discus Thrower Statue, opening of the Randall’s Island Connector footbridge, and breaking ground on a $6 million Nature Center to serve as a hub for science and environmental learning.
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Onsite & Outreach Environmental Education Programs 1 activity
- Environmental education and nature-based programmingProvides free, hands-on environmental education programs focused on wetlands, farm ecosystems, natural habitats, birds, fish, pollinators, and biodiversity. Offers guided tours, interactive workshops, and educational activities for school groups and the public, reaching 3,000 public school students in 2024.
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Community Festival & Event Production 1 activity
- Free arts, cultural, and community eventsHosts free public arts and cultural programs including movies under the stars, cocktail nights on the urban farm, festivals, and family-friendly events. Provided over 300 free public programs in 2024, including more than 200 drop-in events.
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Community Wellness Movement Classes 1 activity
- Free public health, wellness, and fitness programmingOffers over 200 free annual outdoor fitness and wellness programs, including yoga, walking, running, biking, track and field, and waterfront fitness classes in partnership with Ben Sweeney Fitness. Programs are open to the public and serve participants of all ages and abilities.
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Youth Soccer Development Programs 1 activity
- Hosting professional and amateur soccer at Icahn StadiumMaintains a FIFA-certified, professional-level Kentucky bluegrass soccer pitch at Icahn Stadium, reconstructed in 2024 with support from a $3 million donation by New York City FC. Hosts regular-season matches and training sessions for MLS-affiliated teams including NYC FC II and Gotham FC, as well as two MLS-level matches in 2024.
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Track & Field Competition Support 1 activity
- Operation and maintenance of Icahn StadiumOperates and maintains Icahn Stadium, a 5,000-seat, IAAF-certified track and field complex meeting Olympic training and trial specifications. The facility hosts approximately 70 track and field meets annually for school and professional athletes, including high-level events such as the New York Relays, Gotham Games, NYS CHSAA Intersectional Championship, and USATF NY Junior Olympic Championships.
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Nature Preserve Management and Public Access 1 activity
- Park access and recreational infrastructure managementMaintains 4.5 miles of car-free, paved waterfront pathways and additional trails adjacent to natural areas for public use. Provides accessible shoreline for fishing and supports birdwatching with over 200 species of resident and migratory birds annually.
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Community-Based Urban Agriculture 1 activity
- Urban Farm operations and sustainability educationOperates a 20-year-running urban farm that offers public access during weekend open hours, hands-on classes in planting, composting, and cooking, and opportunities for visitors to harvest small quantities of crops. Also provides summer employment for NYC youth aged 14–24.
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Community Stewardship Volunteer Programs 1 activity
- Volunteer and stewardship programsOrganizes regular volunteer events for individuals, families, schools, and corporate groups, focusing on garden stewardship, habitat restoration, native planting, invasive species management, and trash removal. Engaged nearly 2,500 volunteers in 2024, a 35% increase from 2023.
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Summer Day Camp Programs 1 activity
- Youth summer camp programmingHosts an annual free summer camp for children ages 6–12 from local community-based organizations, featuring sports, arts, crafts, wetland exploration, and urban farm activities. Served over 5,000 children in 2024.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Facility rentals and event permittingIssues permits for athletic fields based on event size, allows large gatherings of over 20 people through a permit system, and provides rental services for Icahn Stadium for events such as graduations, conferences, and performances. Also issues permits for film, video, and photo shoots on Randall's Island.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$11.56M
Contributions & grants$5.41M47%
Program service revenue$5.64M49%
Investment income$369K3%
Other revenue$140K
expenses
Total expenses$12.21M
Program expenses84%
Admin / overhead10%
Fundraising7%
Salaries & benefits$6.07M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$14.80M
Cash$11.03M
Investments$2.69M
Liabilities$966K
Net assets$13.83M
Liquid reserves13.5 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -3.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 7
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DEBORAH MAHER | PRESIDENT | 50 | $380K |
| LOUIS VAZQUEZ | DIRECTOR OF ICAHN STADIUM | 50 | $175K |
| ANNE WILSON | CHIEF OF PLANNING | 50 | $174K |
| ALEX EGAN | FORMER CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER | 50 | $154K |
| PETER HUNTER | CHIEF OF OPERATIONS | 50 | $149K |
| NICOLE GALASSO | CHIEF OF STAFF | 50 | $149K |
| BENJAMIN NASH | DIRECTOR OF GROUNDS | 50 | $122K |
board members · 18
- AKSHAY MADHAVAN — TRUSTEE
- ANDREA FEIRSTEIN — TREASURER
- BIMLA PICOT — TRUSTEE
- BRADFORD PECK — TRUSTEE
- BRENDA DILUIGI — TRUSTEE
- BRETTE TANNENBAUM — TRUSTEE
- CESAR ARGUETA JR — TRUSTEE
- DANIEL IFCHER — TRUSTEE
- DAVE PEARSON — TRUSTEE
- DEAN LANDIS — TRUSTEE
- DOUGLAS EISENBERG — TRUSTEE
- ELOISE ACKMAN — TRUSTEE
- JONATHAN MAY — CO-CHAIR
- JUSTIN HAMILL — TRUSTEE
- KAREN COHEN — PRESIDENT EMERITA & FOUNDER
- LUCY FATO — TRUSTEE
- MACK KLINE — TRUSTEE
- MARK GREENE — TRUSTEE
relationships · 30
Who they work with
- Ben Sweeney Fitness Partner — Co-leads free outdoor fitness classes on Randall's Island.
- CHSAA Partner — Hosts CHSAA events, including season openers, novice meets, and intersectional championships, for Catholic high school athletes.
- City of New York Government — Collaborates with the City of New York to sustain, maintain, develop, and program Randall’s Island Park.
- City of New York Government — Partner in restoring, maintaining, and programming Randall's Island Park
- ConEd Funder — Provides dedicated funding for the Waterfront & Natural Areas programs.
- Everton Partner — Has trained and competed on the soccer pitch at Icahn Stadium.
- Gotham FC Partner — Hosted Gotham FC for their CONCACAF W Champions Cup games at Icahn Stadium
- Gotham FC Partner — Hosts professional soccer matches, including CONCACAF W Champions Cup games, at Icahn Stadium.
- Gotham FC Partner — Trains and competes at Icahn Stadium, including hosting CONCACAF W Champions Cup matches.
- Korean Republic national team Partner — Has trained and competed on the soccer pitch at Icahn Stadium.
- Mondo Partner — Partnered with Mondo to complete a track renovation at Icahn Stadium
- Mondo Partner — Partnered with Randall's Island Park Alliance to update the Icahn Stadium track.
- Mondo Partner — Selected to resurface the track at Icahn Stadium as part of its 20th anniversary renovation.
- NYC Parks Government — Collaborated with NYC Parks on the restoration of soccer fields at Randall's Island Park
- NYC Parks Government — References NYC Parks pages for BBQ and Special Events permitting guidelines.
- NYPD Government — Requires NYPD Sound Permit for amplified sound, issued by NYPD’s 25th Precinct.
- NYRR Partner — Hosts the NYRR Middle School Championships, supporting youth running programs across New York City.
- NYSAISAA Partner — Hosts the NYSAISAA Championship on Randall's Island, supporting private school athletic competition.
- New York City Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) Partner — Partners with the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) to provide summer jobs for NYC youth at the Urban Farm.
- New York City FC Partner — Donated $3 million to bring professional soccer to Icahn Stadium and hosts NYC FC II matches there.
- New York City FC Partner — Donated $3 million to install a Kentucky bluegrass soccer field at Icahn Stadium
- New York City FC Partner — Hosted New York City FC II for seven home games at Icahn Stadium in 2026
- New York City FC Partner — Provided a $3 million donation to reconstruct the soccer pitch at Icahn Stadium and hosts NYCFC II matches there.
- PSAL Partner — Hosts multiple PSAL events, including borough and city championships, for New York City public high school athletes.
- Randall's Island Park Alliance Inc Partner — Manages horticulture programs and volunteer stewardship on Randall's Island.
- USATF Partner — Hosted the 2026 Toyota USATF Outdoor and Para National Championships at Icahn Stadium
- USATF Partner — Hosts the Toyota USATF Outdoor and Para National Championships at Icahn Stadium in 2026.
- USATF NY Partner — Collaborates to host the USATF NY Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships on Randall's Island.
- Urban Farm Partner — Co-located adjacent to the Scylla Playground on Randall's Island, indicating collaborative use of shared space.
- local CBOs Partner — Community-based organizations enroll children in the summer camp program and provide lunch, transportation, and insurance.
strategies · 3
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 Stewardship Through Participatory Engagementmethodology: community_stewardship_through_engagementBy involving volunteers and local partners in ecological maintenance and educational programming, the organization cultivates long-term stewardship of urban green spaces, because direct participation fosters emotional ownership and sustained civic responsibility for public lands.
- Integrated Park Programming for Holistic Community Engagementmethodology: integrated_park_programmingBy integrating sports, cultural events, and environmental exploration within a single public space, the organization fosters deeper community engagement and sustained park utilization, because shared experiences across diverse programming domains strengthen attachment to public spaces and encourage repeated use.
- Youth Development Through Nature-Based Educationmethodology: edible_educationBy combining plant cultivation with youth programming on the Urban Farm, the organization supports parallel growth of children and crops, because hands-on engagement in natural systems builds responsibility, life skills, and environmental awareness that reinforce personal development.