Our Impact
It’s never easy to see the trees from the forest, but we’ve stayed focused for almost twenty years. Invest and improve is our model.
LEGACY
North Brooklyn has a long and dirty industrial history dominated by the five “black” arts: printing, glass and pottery making, cast iron manufacturing, and oil refining. These industries dumped an enormous amount of toxins into the environment for almost a hundred years beginning sometime in the mid-1800s and waning shortly after WWII.
These practices were soon replaced with the construction of the BQE in the 1940s, which encouraged mass vehicular traffic to crisscross the neighborhood, potentially exposing residents to toxins closely linked to asthma and other respiratory illnesses.
Then, in the 1950s a gas explosion at an oil refinery set off what would become North America’s largest oil spill, sending oil plumes three times the size of the infamous Exxon Valdez under much of Greenpoint, where it seeped into groundwater and surrounding waterways for decades.
Sadly, such neglect continued into the 1980s and 90s with the proliferation of illegal or loosely regulated dumping from both private and public waste facilities.
In response, grassroots community advocacy efforts began demanding environmental justice and, in the early 2000s, galvanized around a citizen-led rezoning plan called 197A that would attempt to mitigate hundreds of years of degeneration.
Around the same time, in anticipation of the 2005 rezoning of the Williamsburg/Greenpoint waterfront, North Brooklyn began to experience a surge of population and popularity, followed by new developments and open space along the East River.
This brings us to today, where the community has experienced an influx of luxury housing and higher income levels, while advocating for improved infrastructure strained by the increased density – including more and better parks and open spaces, but also transportation, sanitation, fire and police facilities, and schools.
“No Dumping” signs along the North Brooklyn waterfront, 2018.
credit: Courtesy of Mitch Waxman
As early as the 1880s citizens were clamoring for legal action against the “Newtown Creek Nuisances” for “sickening stenches” that would engulf the city.
credit: Courtesy of Harper’s Weekly
Smoldering earth from industry off the banks of the Newtown Creek, 1936.
credit: Courtesy of Queens Borough Public Library, Archives, Ralph S. Solecki Photographs
Aerial view of North Brooklyn coastline dotted with heavy industry in decline in1982. (view Kent Ave from N. 7th street to N. 15th).
credit: Courtesy of New York City Economic Development Corporation
Sketch from proposed construction types for Brooklyn-Queens Express way (BQE) 1940s.
credit: Courtesy of Clark & Rapuano
North Brooklyn traffic crawls along the BQE.
credit: Courtesy of Susan Watts/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images
Illustration of underground Exxon Mobil oil plume in Greenpoint.
credit: Courtesy of E. Wikander/Azote
Oil and water mix in the Newtown Creek, 2015.
credit: Courtesy of Mitch Waxman
Crumbling waste ridden Greenpoint shoreline, 2018.
credit: Courtesy of Nathan Kensinger
Remains of the North Henry Street garbage incinerator circa 2006.
credit: Courtesy of Anthony Hamboussi
Water and garbage collect along the banks of the Newtown Creek.
credit: Courtesy of Mitch Waxman
Flooding from Superstorm Sandy in 2012.
credit: Courtesy of Andrew Kenney and Dan O'Neill
Purposed waterfront development superimposed on a google earth aerial map
credit: Courtesy of CityRealtyOUR ROLE
Formed in 2003, North Brooklyn Parks Alliance (NBK Parks) was born out of the environmental justice movements of the 1980s and 90s. Many of the forebears of those movements make up or inspire our board, staff, and volunteers.
Throughout its history, NBK Parks has been focused on the creation and maintenance of parks, while also acting as a grassroots community-building and advocacy organization. We partner with City and State agencies, as well as community and civic organizations, to raise funds from private donors and to bolster engagement in our parks and open spaces.
Unlike many conservancies, we are committed to improving ALL open and green space in Brooklyn’s Community District 1, rather than focusing on a single park. In doing so, less advantaged areas of our community can benefit from leveraging resources from more affluent parts of the district. From capital projects to maintenance concerns, from equipment purchases to public programming, NBK Parks has been a driving force in both private and government investment in our neighborhood.
Our Board of Directors is composed of community and business leaders in North Brooklyn. Each board member is required to make an annual financial contribution, as well as serve as officers or on committees to assist the organization in fulfilling its mission.
But we don’t do it alone.
Our Alliance is only as strong as our members. And we are lucky to have the support of our sustaining members and corporate community who invest time and money in projects big and small. We also work closely with local advocates and our Community Committee (or COMM COMM), which is an open group of concerned citizens that advises our Board about priorities as they see it for North Brooklyn’s open spaces.
Many of the district’s larger nonprofits, such as Newtown Creek Alliance, North Brooklyn Neighbors, and El Puente, participate in the Community Committee (COMM COMM) alongside numerous “Friends of” groups while maintaining their independence and their right to advocate for their unique public space. NBK Parks empowers district members by sharing their expertise, resources, and tools to convene local advocates and elected officials on issues that are most important to them.
February 2020 – Under the K, NBK Parks’ Executive Director, Katie Denny Horowitz meets with architects, Adam Nicklin and Marc Ryan from PUBLIC WORK.
credit: Courtesy of North Brooklyn Parks Alliance
Apr 27, 2017 – Kosciuszko Bridge first span opening. Right to left; NBK Parks’ Executive Director, Katie Denny Horowitz, NBK Parks Board Secretary and Architect, Joe Vance, Assemblymember Joe Lentol, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo
credit: Courtesy of North Brooklyn Parks Alliance
March 12, 2015 – “Where’s Our Park?” rally for Bushwick Inlet Park at City Hall.
credit: Courtesy of North Brooklyn Parks Alliance
November 2019 – “Play Fair“ City Hall rally for park equity organized by New Yorkers 4 Parks
credit: Courtesy of New Yorkers 4 Parks & Play Fair Coalition
July 2009 – Summerscreen. Volunteers hang our banner in McCarren Park celebrating the start of the summer movie series.
credit: Courtesy of North Brooklyn Parks Alliance
2008 – McCarren Park “Pool Parties”. Crowds loved the concert series pre-renovated McCarren Pool.
credit: Courtesy of North Brooklyn Parks Alliance
June 2019 – Southside Slam. Local basketball completion organized by Councilman Antonio Reynoso at the newly renovated Jaime Campiz Playground.
credit: Courtesy of North Brooklyn Parks Alliance
September 2014 – McGolrick Park. NBK Parks’ Executive Director, Ed Janoff at Clean Up Day Honoring Marie Sadowski.
credit: Courtesy of North Brooklyn Parks Alliance/Daniel Latorre
2019 – NBK Parks’ donated an outfitted and stocked “Volunteer Trailer” to the Parks Department.
credit: Courtesy of North Brooklyn Parks Alliance
2015 – NBK Parks’ Team putting some new equipment to work.
credit: Courtesy of North Brooklyn Parks Alliance
June 2019 – American Playground. The love of threader starts young. CityParks PuppetMobile
credit: Courtesy of North Brooklyn Parks Alliance
September 2017 – GCEFF Open House. Former NBK Parks’ Executive Director Joe Mayock greets the public.
credit: Courtesy of North Brooklyn Parks Alliance
November 2017 – Smiles at our annual Community Meeting (COMM COMM)
credit: Courtesy of North Brooklyn Parks Alliance
April 2010 – Transmitter Park. Groundbreaking. NYCEDC President Seth W. Pinsky and Parks & Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe, Council Member Stephen Levin, NBK Park’s Executive Director Stephanie Thayer
credit: Courtesy of North Brooklyn Parks Alliance
2021 Bushwick Inlet Park: Funding
Under NBK Parks’ director Katie Denny-Horowitz : After years of continuous pressure, Mayor de Blasio announced the City’s commitment to finish Bushwick Inlet Park with a historic $75 MILLION capital investment
credit: Courtesy of North Brooklyn Parks Alliance
2021 Plaza Program
Under NBK Parks’ director Katie Denny-Horowitz: Working with the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT)’s Plaza Program and local groups, our organization acts as the fiscal sponsor for several of the neighborhoods newly formed plazas, such as Bankers Anchor off Nassua Ave.
credit: Courtesy of North Brooklyn Parks Alliance/ Banker Anchor
2020 Open Streets
Under NBK Parks’ director Katie Denny-Horowitz: In support of Mayor de Blasio’s Open Streets initiative during the pandemic. Our organization acted a community partner in providing volunteers, resources, and planning capacity to a citizen lead team as they cared for over 2 miles of shared roadway. throughout the district.
credit: Courtesy of North Brooklyn Open Streets Community Coalition
2019 Under the K: Groundbreaking
Under NBK Parks’ director Katie Denny-Horowitz:
credit: Courtesy of North Brooklyn Parks Alliance
2019 The People’s Triangle Community Garden
credit: Courtesy of North Brooklyn Parks Alliance
2016 Bushwick Inlet Park: Camp-Out
Under NBKP’s director Joe Mayock: We supported a “Sleep-in” at Bushwick Inlet Park to push the mayor to make right on the promise to secure parkland to complete Bushwick. Food and music was provided, and well as a talk from historian Daniel Campo.
credit: Courtesy of North Brooklyn Parks Alliance
2015 BQGreen Rally
Under NBKP’s director Joe Mayock: In conjunction with our community partners, we supported a rally calling for attention to the air quality issues in our area due to heavy traffic. We called for new parkland to be built to combat longstanding health issues.
credit: Courtesy of North Brooklyn Parks Alliance /DLANDstudio
2014 Havemeyer Park: Temporary Open Space
Under NBKP’s director Ed Janoff: Helped open and operated a temporary public space called Havemeyer Park at Two Trees’ Domino Sugar Factory project site. Located at the Williamsburg bridge’s base with stunning waterfront views, the park had picnic benches and umbrellas, a farmers market, a bike track, a yoga patch, and a regular free movie schedule.
credit: Courtesy of North Brooklyn Parks Alliance
2014 Greenstreet: Meeker-Morgan Triangle
Under NBKP’s director Ed Janoff: Constructed a new Greenstreet at Meeker Avenue and Morgan Avenue.
credit: Courtesy of North Brooklyn Parks Alliance
2013 Demapping Union Avenue
Under NBK Parks’ director Ed Janoff: The plan to demap Union Avenue was approved, replacing the roadway with plant beds featuring lush perennials, low-growing shrubs, loading zones for vendors, and subterranean catch basins to improve drainage. Neighborhood Farmers Market will be relocated to the newly created plaza.
credit: Courtesy of North Brooklyn Parks Alliance
2011 Java Street End: Opening Pop-up Park
Under NBK Parks’ director Stephanie Thayer: In anticipation of the East River Ferry and India Street pier opening, opened the Java Street End Pop-up Park, which served the public for just about two years.
credit: Courtesy of North Brooklyn Parks Alliance
2010 WNYC Transmitter Park: Groundbreaking
Under NBK Parks’ director Stephanie Thayer: Tuesday, August 3, 2010, NYC Parks broke ground at the current day Transmitter Park site.
credit: Courtesy of North Brooklyn Parks Alliance
2010 Union Plaza: Environmental Study
Under NBK Parks’ director Stephanie Thayer: Raised $50,000 to fund an environmental study that would determine the most appropriate use of Union and other streets as additional parkland
credit: Courtesy of North Brooklyn Parks Alliance
2009 McCarren Park Pool: Groundbreaking
Under NBK Parks’ director Stephanie Thayer: Mayor Bloomberg broke ground on McCarren Park Pool in December. After being shuttered for 23 years, and at the cost of $50 million, the pool opened in 2012
credit: Courtesy of North Brooklyn Parks Alliance
2009 Union Plaza: Traffic Study
Under NBK Parks’ director Stephanie Thayer: An analysis of traffic patterns was performed around McCarren Park to evaluate the potential of turning Union and other streets into additional parkland via a process called “demapping”
credit: Courtesy of North Brooklyn Parks Alliance
2009 Bushwick Inlet: Groundbreaking
Under NBK Parks’ director Stephanie Thayer: Mayor Bloomberg and public officials broke ground on the Inlet in July, and the soccer field is going through final inspections.
credit: Courtesy of North Brooklyn Parks Alliance
2011 Manhattan Street End Park: Opens Kayak Launch
Under NBK Parks’ director Stephanie Thayer: After languishing in construction for years, we worked with several City agencies to open the park.
credit: Courtesy of The North Brooklyn Community Boathouse
2009 Northside Piers: Waterfront access
Under NBK Parks’ director Stephanie Thayer: Opened the pier to the public for full-time access with extended operating hours.
credit: Courtesy of North Brooklyn Parks Alliance
INVEST & IMPROVE
Across all five boroughs, most parks are at least half a century old. In Brooklyn, the average park is 73 years old, and one park in 10 was built before 1898.
This parks system, which expanded greatly under Robert Moses, required a minimum of 8,000 workers- 5,000 full-time and 3,000 seasonal. Sadly, by the 1970s fiscal crisis, the full-time staff was down to 2,500 employees, and with the current fiscal crisis brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Agency is experiencing additional staffing cuts and budget freezes, even as New York City’s green spaces have grown to occupy more than 14 percent of the city’s total acreage, not counting natural areas, and more than two million trees.
To combat this historical issue of underfunding, New York City experienced an emergence of public-private partnerships (PPP), beginning with the Central Park Conservancy in 1980, which remain a significant vehicle of fundraising for the city’s parks and open spaces. Today, New York City has roughly 80 public-private partners of varying sizes who make invaluable contributions to our parks. North Brooklyn Park Alliance is one of those proud partners, and is the only conservancy that holds a district-wide mandate, as opposed to a single park or location. This enables the organization to raise and distribute resources and funds across the neighborhood with the goal of building a more equitable neighborhood for all.
The map and corresponding images highlight some of the hard-fought investments and improvements NBK Parks secured with the community – for the community – in partnership with NYC Parks.
REFERENCES:
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Krinsky, John. Who Cleans the Park? – Public Work and Urban Governance in New York City. Chicago, IL: The University Of Chicago Pres, 2017.
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“Partners : NYC Parks.” New York City Department of Parks & Recreation. The City of New York. Accessed July 24, 2020. https://www.nycgovparks.org/about/partners.
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Ricciulli, Valeria. “NYC Parks Foresee Financial Losses at a Time When We Need Them the Most.” Curbed NY. Curbed NY, May 29, 2020. https://ny.curbed.com/2020/5/29/21266767/nyc-parks-coronavirus-funding-budget.
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Smalley Bowen, Ted, and Adam Stepan. Rep. Public—-Private Partnerships for Green Space in NYC. The Case Consortium @ Columbia and the Picker Center for Executive Education, SIPA, 2014. https://ccnmtl.columbia.edu/projects/caseconsortium/casestudies/128/casestudy/files/global/128/PPP%20Parks%20Final%20072214.pdf
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Surico, John. Rep. A New Leaf; Revitalizing New York City’s Aging Parks Infrastructure. The Center for an Urban Future, June 2018 https://nycfuture.org/pdf/CUF_A_New_Leaf_.pdf
OUR ALLIANCE
One of the best things about North Brooklyn Park Alliance is being able to offer Fiscal Sponsorship to groups, organizations, or causes that are not on their own a formal non-profit with a legal status of a 501(c)(3).
That means your group and NBK Parks can create a formal arrangement so that your group, organization, or cause can seek out grants, hold fundraisers, and solicit tax-deductible donations while NBK Parks acts as the legal fiscal sponsor providing fiduciary oversight, financial management, and other administrative services to help build the capacity of any charitable projects that your group, organization or cause wants to grow.
NBK Parks offers a simple, efficient, and cost-effective “back-office” administrative solution for collecting and distributing charitable assets, which provides a desirable alternative to the complexity, hassle, and burden of operating your cause. NBK Parks handles the accounting, bookkeeping, taxes, audit, disbursements (invoice and grant payments), compliance, bank account, and financial oversight, among several other services.
Some of our most successful Fiscal Sponsorships are friends groups many of you in the neighborhood know and love such as Friends of Bushwick Inlet Park, Friends of Cooper Park, Friends of Transmitter Park, and Friends of American Playground. We’ve also sponsored some wonderful causes and projects such as Greenpoint Tree Corp., BQGreen, and public art project “Ziemia”.
Please contact our Executive Director, Katie Denny-Horowitz to find out more about creating a fiscal sponsorship.
Cooper Park. 2011
credit: Courtesy of North Brooklyn Parks Alliance
American Playground. 2017
credit: Courtesy of North Brooklyn Parks Alliance
Masha P Johnson State Park (formerly East River State Park). 2013
credit: Courtesy of North Brooklyn Parks Alliance
McGolrick Park. 2017
credit: Courtesy of North Brooklyn Parks Alliance
Java Street Community Garden. 2012
credit: Courtesy of North Brooklyn Parks Alliance
Transmitter Park. 2016
credit: Courtesy of North Brooklyn Parks Alliance
The People’s Triangle Community Garden. 2020
credit: Courtesy of North Brooklyn Parks Alliance
Williamsburg Northside School. 2018
credit: Courtesy of North Brooklyn Parks Alliance
William Sheridan Playground. 2021
credit: Courtesy of William Sheridan Playground
Frost Playground. 2019
credit: Courtesy of North Brooklyn Parks Alliance
Greenpoint Tree Corp. Adopt-a-Tree Drive. 2021
credit: Courtesy of Greenpoint Tree Corp.