research dossier

FRIENDS OF BUSHWICK INLET PARK INC

BROOKLYN, NY · EIN 921127006 · Form 990EZ · FY2024 · NTEE N32 · Recreation & Sports · Micro (<$100K) · bushwickinletpark.org

revenue

$74K

expenses

$43K

net assets

$68K

employees

—

mission · from form 990

ACTIVATE, TRANSFORM AND RESTORE BUSHWICK INLET PARK AS A SPACE FOR THE COMMUNITE AND MAINTAIN A NYC PUBLIC PARK BEYOND PARKS DEPT CAPABILITIES.

profile · synthesized from sources

FRIENDS OF BUSHWICK INLET PARK INC is a community-based nonprofit focused on the development and activation of Bushwick Inlet Park in Brooklyn, NY. The organization advocates for the full realization of the 27-acre public park, engages volunteers in stewardship activities, and promotes sustainable park design. It works to transform formerly industrial waterfront land into accessible green space for the surrounding communities.

named programs · 3 · from sources

What they call their work

MTA Site Advocacy

Advocacy campaign urging the MTA and State of New York to transfer the 40 Quay Street property to be incorporated into Bushwick Inlet Park.

Oyster Restoration Initiative

Collaborative effort with Billion Oyster Project, New York Harbor School, North Brooklyn Community Boat House, and Newtown Creek Alliance to reestablish oyster reefs in Bushwick Inlet for water filtration and habitat restoration.

Weeding Wednesdays

Weekly volunteer gardening program from spring through fall focusing on weeding, mulching, planting, and tending gardens at 50 Kent and 86 Kent Avenues.

activities · 6 groups

What they do

Urban Park and Public Space Conservation 3 activities
- Advocate for park expansion and development
  
  Advocates for the conversion of the MTA-owned 40 Quay Street site into an extension of Bushwick Inlet Park. Played a key role in past advocacy efforts that led to the 2005 waterfront rezoning and the 2016 acquisition of the CitiStorage site, securing the final parcel of the park.
- Maintain and improve Bushwick Inlet Park as a public space
  
  Works to activate, transform, restore, and maintain Bushwick Inlet Park, supplementing the capabilities of the New York City Parks Department. This includes managing two publicly accessible sections of the park at 86 Kent Ave and 50 Kent Ave, both open daily with defined hours.
- Operate park facilities and amenities
  
  Manages and maintains public amenities at Bushwick Inlet Park, including a playground at 86 Kent Ave, public restrooms under the green roof, table seating and game tables in the 50 Kent area, a water spray area, and multiple vantage points offering skyline and riverfront views.
Community Stewardship Volunteer Programs 2 activities
- Host waterfront public events
  
  Organizes free public events at Bushwick Inlet Park, including large-scale gardening projects during It’s My Park Days in collaboration with partner organizations and corporate volunteer groups.
- Organize weekly volunteer gardening sessions
  
  Hosts weekly gardening sessions at Bushwick Inlet Park from spring through fall, involving weeding, mulching, plant care, and occasional planting and watering. Sessions are held every Wednesday from 6 PM to sunset in designated park areas.
Organizational Newsletter Production and Distribution 1 activity
- Communicate park updates and mobilize community action
  
  Operates a mailing list to distribute event invitations, updates, announcements, and calls to action related to Bushwick Inlet Park.
Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Initiatives 1 activity
- Implement sustainable park infrastructure
  
  Installed and maintains eco-friendly systems in the park’s community building, including a geothermal heating and cooling system, a 66-kilowatt solar panel array that supplies half the building’s energy needs, and a green roof irrigated entirely by rainfall and reclaimed water. Also implemented artificial turf, rainwater recycling, native pollinator gardens, and bioswales to reduce environmental impact.
Outdoor Recreation Access Promotion 1 activity
- Provide park use information
  
  Provides information about permit requirements for activities in Bushwick Inlet Park in collaboration with the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation.
Ecological Habitat Restoration 1 activity
- Support ecological restoration and monitoring
  
  Established passive park areas with native pollinator plants, bioswales, and native trees to support bird populations. Collaborates with the Billion Oyster Project to reestablish oysters in Bushwick Inlet by maintaining research cages and conducting periodic monitoring surveys.

financials · form 990EZ · fy2024

revenue

Total revenue$74K

Contributions & grants$77K105%

Program service revenue——

Investment income$50%

Other revenue—

expenses

Total expenses$43K

Program expenses—

Admin / overhead—

Fundraising—

Salaries & benefits$8K

Grants paid out—

balance sheet

Total assets$69K

Cash—

Investments—

Liabilities—

Net assets$68K

1 years on record · 2024–2024

leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 1

Name	Title	Hours/wk	Compensation
KATHERINE THOMPSON	PRESIDENT	30	$8K

board members · 6

ANA TRAVERSO KREJEAREK — TRUSTEE
CORY KANTIN — TRUSTEE
EMILY BAUER — TRUSTEE/DIRE
JOSSUE VELASQUEZ — TRUSTEE
SCOTT FRASER — TRUSTEE
WARD DENNIS — TRUSTEE/DIRE

relationships · 15

Who they work with

Billion Oyster Project Partner — Collaborates with FBIP on reestablishing oysters in Bushwick Inlet through research cages and monitoring.
El Puente Partner — Collaborated with Friends of Bushwick Inlet Park in the campaign to acquire the CitiStorage site.
Instagram Network — Uses Instagram to communicate event updates and location details to participants.
Instagram Partner — Uses Instagram to communicate event location updates and engage with participants.
Instagram Partner — Uses Instagram to communicate event location updates to participants.
Instagram Partner — Uses Instagram to communicate event updates and location details to volunteers.
Instagram Partner — Uses Instagram to communicate event updates and meeting locations to registered participants.
Instagram Partner — Uses Instagram to communicate meeting location updates to participants.
NYC Department of Parks & Recreation Government — Collaborates with NYC Department of Parks & Recreation to provide permit information for activities in Bushwick Inlet Park.
New York City Parks Department Government — Collaborates with or supplements the work of the New York City Parks Department in maintaining and improving Bushwick Inlet Park.
New York Harbor School Partner — Partner organization in the oyster restoration initiative in Bushwick Inlet.
Newtown Creek Alliance Partner — Partner organization in the oyster restoration initiative in Bushwick Inlet.
North Brooklyn Community Boat House Partner — Partner organization in the oyster restoration initiative in Bushwick Inlet.
North Brooklyn Parks Alliance Partner — Collaborated with Friends of Bushwick Inlet Park in the campaign to acquire the CitiStorage site.
Partnerships for Parks Partner — Collaborates with Partnerships for Parks to organize large-scale gardening events in Bushwick Inlet Park.

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-Engaged Gardening for Social and Environmental Well-Being

methodology: community-engaged_gardening
By involving community members in hands-on gardening activities, we strengthen social connections, promote mental and physical well-being, and foster shared knowledge of sustainable horticulture, because participation in green space stewardship builds both individual and collective resilience.
Community-Led Advocacy to Advance Park Development

methodology: community-led_advocacy
By organizing and amplifying community voices, we pressure city officials to fulfill park development commitments, because sustained grassroots advocacy creates political accountability where public investment has stalled.
Multi-Functional Green Infrastructure as Integrated Urban Ecology

methodology: multi-functional_green_infrastructure
By designing green infrastructure that combines native plantings, bioswales, and water reclamation, we simultaneously manage stormwater, support biodiversity, and enhance park usability, because ecological functions can be layered to maximize public and environmental benefit per square foot.