Catalyst for Neighborhood Parks began in 1996 as a multi-year initiative of Partnerships for Parks to program, physically improve, and foster local stewardship over a four-year period with the goal of revitalizing parks in historically underserved communities throughout the city.
The parks included in the most recent round of Catalyst sites — the Astoria- LIC parks, the Highbridge parks, the Historic Harlem parks, and the Red Hook parks — have experienced significant transformations over the past four years. Many of the successes and challenges of the initiative have been documented in our Catalyst reports.
The first report, Build, chronicles the formative stages of the initiative when Catalyst immerses itself in the community to learn about the history, culture, people, and the concerns of the residents who live near and use the parks.
The second report, Connect, showcases some of the partners that we identified through the initiative and provides details about their work and development over the course of the project.
The third and final report, Sustain, identifies goals for ongoing park stewardship and provides snapshots of some of the fascinating approaches that have helped local volunteer groups become sustainable.
© City Parks Foundation
