COMMON MAPS
Map version new-york activity top-down
Main site Contact
Menu
↑ parent activity group ·
research dossier

FRIENDS OF RYE TOWN PARK INC
RYE, NY · EIN 133624113 · Form 990EZ · FY2024 · Micro (<$100K) · friendsofrtp.org
revenue
$62K
expenses
$106K
net assets
$103K
employees
—
mission · from form 990

THE ORGANIZATIONS MISSION IS TO BEAUTIFY AND IMPROVE THE PARK, FOCUSING ON SUSTAINABLE GARDENING AND LAND MANAGEMENT, PARK PROGRAMMING AND AMENITIES.

profile · synthesized from sources

Friends of Rye Town Park Inc. is a volunteer-driven nonprofit dedicated to beautifying and improving Rye Town Park in Rye, New York. Focused on sustainable gardening, environmental stewardship, and park programming, the organization funds projects such as native plant gardens, pollinator habitats, and infrastructure enhancements. It also supports community events, educational initiatives, and conservation efforts to ensure the park remains accessible and vibrant for all residents.

named programs · 5 · from sources

What they call their work

Charlie Northshield, Jr. Outdoor Classroom
Created an outdoor seating and gathering area by the pond dedicated to environmental and educational use, supporting nature-based learning and reflection.
Daffodils Project
Partners with the Little Garden Club of Rye and volunteers to plant thousands of daffodils across the park, enhancing beauty and encouraging seasonal visitation.
Monthly Beach Cleanups
Organizes volunteer-led cleanups during winter months to remove debris and maintain the beachfront and tidal areas.
Pollinator Garden Initiative
Established pollinator-friendly gardens using native plants and installed beehives to support biodiversity and environmental sustainability.
Rye Town Park Honey
Maintains beehives in the park pond peninsula; honey is harvested and sold at events to support programming and educate the public about beekeeping.
activities · 4 groups

What they do

  • Urban Park and Public Space Conservation 2 activities
    • Fundraising and financial support for park projects
      Raises and manages funds for park restoration and improvement initiatives, including securing a $200,000 matching grant from the Sue and Edgar Wachenheim Foundation and raising over $450,000 total for capital and landscaping projects. The organization also provides seed funding and financial backing for public art and community benefit events.
    • Restoration and maintenance of park infrastructure
      Leads capital restoration projects including the Tower Building and Plaza Fountain, repairs pavilions, pathways, and pergolas, and upgrades park amenities such as doors, windows, and roofing. Projects include ADA-compliant renovations to beach ramps and pathways, and structural repairs using both donated funds and public grants.
  • Ecological Habitat Restoration 1 activity
    • Beautification and ecological enhancement of Rye Town Park
      Designs, plants, and maintains 20 gardens within Rye Town Park using native and pollinator-friendly species; plants tens of thousands of daffodils annually; removes invasive species; and supports wildlife through initiatives such as bee hive installations and pollinator gardens. The organization has spent over $62,000 in a single year on landscaping and ecological improvements.
  • Onsite & Outreach Environmental Education Programs 1 activity
    • Development and support of park programming and public amenities
      Establishes and operates recreational and educational programs such as the Open Water Swimming Program and hosts school groups for nature-based learning. Funds and installs public amenities including water fountains with dog bowl attachments, water bottle filling stations, beachside showers, and outdoor classroom seating areas to enhance visitor experience and accessibility.
  • Beach and Waterway Cleanup Initiatives 1 activity
    • Volunteer-led park and beach cleanups
      Organizes annual and monthly beach cleanup events at Oakland Beach and other areas of Rye Town Park, engaging over 60 volunteers per event and removing significant volumes of trash, including 50 gallons in a single cleanup. These events are part of ongoing efforts to maintain cleanliness and ecological health in tidal and beachfront zones.
financials · form 990EZ · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$62K
Contributions & grants$65K104%
Program service revenue——
Investment income——
Other revenue—
expenses
Total expenses$106K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits—
Grants paid out—
balance sheet
Total assets$103K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$103K
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +285.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

board members · 3
  • STEVE VASKO — BOARD MEMBER
  • VICKI FARRINGTON — BOARD MEMBER
  • YOUNG KIM — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 25

Who they work with

  • ArtsWestchester Partner — Collaborates on an arts event at Rye Town Park.
  • Bad Sisters Partner — Participated in a beach cleanup event at Oakland Beach as a community group.
  • Chris Cohan Partner — Landscape architect who developed the Master Plan for Rye Town Park and oversaw the planting of metasequoias with input from the Friends of Rye Town Park.
  • Chris Duncan Partner — Partnered with the organization on the daffodil planting project and brought the idea for the daffodil hill in 2021.
  • Daisies Partner — Participated in a beach cleanup event at Oakland Beach as part of a youth group activity.
  • Edith Read Sanctuary Partner — Co-location site for the Rye Poetry Path, reflecting partnership in public environmental and cultural programming.
  • German International School in White Plains Partner — Sent a contingent of participants to assist in a beach cleanup event at Oakland Beach.
  • Girl Scouts Partner — Participated in a beach cleanup event at Oakland Beach as part of a community service effort.
  • Little Garden Club of Rye Partner — Partnered to plant nearly 30,000 daffodils in Rye Town Park in 2021 and 2022.
  • Little Garden Club of Rye Partner — Partnered with the Friends to fund and develop the daffodil hillside in the park.
  • Lori Fontanes Partner — Community leader who spearheaded the development of the park’s pollinator garden.
  • MyRye.com Partner — Collaborates with MyRye.com to feature stories about the organization's work and community impact.
  • Northshield family Partner — Collaborated with the Friends to build a pond-side seating area in Rye Town Park.
  • Rye Garden Club Partner — Planted two native trees in Rye Town Park in celebration of Earth Day.
  • Rye Nature Center Partner — Co-location site for the Rye Poetry Path, indicating collaborative programming and shared public space stewardship.
  • Rye Poetry Path Partner — Partner initiative receiving financial support for public art and poetry installations across multiple natural sites in Rye.
  • Rye Sustainability Partner — Collaborated on organizing and participating in a beach cleanup event at Oakland Beach.
  • Rye Town Park Partner — Primary partner site where the organization implements beautification, sustainability, and programming initiatives.
  • Rye Town Park Commission Government — Approved key paperwork for the Tower Building & Wall Restoration Project on 9/16/25.
  • Rye Town Park Commission Partner — Collaborates with the municipal body that governs, manages, and operates Rye Town Park and beach.
  • Sue and Edgar Wachenheim Foundation Funder — Provided a $200,000 challenge grant for the Tower Building restoration project.
  • Sue and Edgar Wachenheim Foundation Funder — Provided a $200,000 matching pledge to support the Tower Building and Wall Restoration Project.
  • Town of Rye Government — Provides support for park operations; oversees the Rye Town Park Commission and Sustainability Committee.
  • Town of Rye Sustainability Committee Partner — Commitment to sustainability initiatives supports park improvement efforts.
  • Wix.com Partner — Website platform used to create and host the organization's site
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-Supported Park Stewardship
    methodology: community-supported_park_development
    By combining private funding, community donations, and volunteer mobilization, the organization improves and sustains public park spaces because community ownership increases investment, expands capacity beyond municipal resources, and amplifies ecological impact through shared action.
  • Cooperative-Independence Governance Model
    methodology: cooperative_independence
    By maintaining independent yet cooperative engagement with the municipal park commission, the organization advances park improvements because this balance enables agility in fundraising and programming while preserving alignment with public oversight and operational needs.
  • Ecologically Regenerative Landscaping
    methodology: ecological_restoration_through_native_planting
    By prioritizing native, pollinator-friendly, and sustainable planting practices, the organization enhances park ecology and public engagement because these methods support biodiversity, promote long-term resilience, and model replicable environmental stewardship for the broader community.
  • Exterior-First Historic Preservation
    methodology: exterior-first_restoration
    By prioritizing exterior restoration of historic structures, the organization improves public safety and perception of park quality even without immediate interior reuse plans, because visible improvements build community confidence and support for long-term revitalization.