Public-Private Partnership Model

Supported the development of a statewide economic impact study on the Empire State Trail and published the report "The Power of Philanthropy & the Promise of Parks," documenting the role of private partnerships in supporting New York's state parks over the past century.

Offers free Learn-to-Swim programs at New York state parks and operates a bike library at Shirley Chisholm State Park that provides free bike and helmet loans, riding classes, and hosts two annual bike swaps.

Supports projects that improve state park infrastructure, expand access to outdoor recreation and environmental education, preserve cultural and historic assets, and protect natural resources, benefiting over 200 New York State Parks and Historic Sites.

Launches and supports the Ladders to the Outdoors program, providing free outdoor recreation programming, equipment, instruction, and transportation for youth in underserved communities at five state parks in Western New York, and operates the Capital District Nature Bus to connect Albany residents to eight natural areas for recreation and education.

Manages and invests funds to support cooperative conservation and community revitalization programs in partnership with New York State agencies.

Preserves open space, parklands, and historic sites across New York State through fundraising efforts and supports local, regional, and statewide conservation and community quality initiatives.

Supports fly fishing and outdoor events for veterans and military members in Central New York, including an annual 3-day event and plans for expanded single-day opportunities.

Provides support for environmental education initiatives at the Humphrey Nature Center at Letchworth State Park and the Jones Beach Energy & Nature Center, including exhibit upgrades at the Emma Treadwell Thacher Nature Center to improve educational engagement for families and large groups.

Provides camperships for low-income students to attend week-long outdoor education and conservation-focused summer camps in the Adirondacks and Catskills, and funds scholarships for women through the Becoming an Outdoors-Woman program, offering hands-on training in camping, fishing, archery, and survival skills.

Co-leads advocacy campaigns with community partners to improve St. Vartan Park and surrounding public spaces, including securing perpetual public access to the park garden, launching petitions for beautification of adjacent MTA land, gathering over 1,000 signatures for the Open Street campaign, and presenting community use proposals to city committees.

Hosts regular public events including free monthly movie nights (occurring twice per month) on the synthetic turf field, community Halloween parties on the Open Street corridor, volunteer projects for park maintenance, and service sessions for youth groups such as Cub Scouts Pack 422.

Implements sustainability practices in the park including operating a public food-scrap drop-off composting site (collecting up to 4,000 pounds per month), installing and maintaining a Smart Composting Bin, using biodegradable Ecolo-Bags for leaf collection, planting thousands of flower bulbs and seeds since 2022, and documenting local biodiversity through photography and species tracking.

Oversees physical improvements to park facilities, including converting an asphalt field into a synthetic turf field with accessible ramp entry, opening St. Gabriel’s Park as a dedicated sports play space, removing debris and installing clean fill during development, and allowing multi-use of handball courts for pickleball and other racquet sports.

Provides public amenities including a Little Free Library for book exchange and supplying/installing full nets for public basketball rims through the Swish You Were Here program.

Manages a fully accessible public garden of more than a quarter acre in Midtown Manhattan as the officially designated steward in cooperation with NYC Parks. Activities include installing accessible pathways and entrances, removing restrictive fencing, expanding public access to seven days a week, and hosting community programming such as educational field trips and children’s events.

Guides restoration and development of Buffalo’s Olmsted park system through the Plan for the 21st Century, adopted in 2008, to realize Frederick Law Olmsted’s original vision and complete the park system as a “city within a park.”

Hosts a free family movie night series across multiple Olmsted parks during summer 2026, featuring scheduled film screenings and providing free light refreshments on a first-come, first-served basis.

Provides daily care and maintenance for over 850 acres of historic parks, parkways, and circles in Buffalo, including turf care, litter pickup, trash removal, graffiti clean-up, planting and pruning of trees, shrubs, and flowers, and regular mowing every 7 to 10 days during the growing season.