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Earth Day is the time to reflect on the gifts the Earth provides us and to remember to give back. For the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, please volunteer 40 hours of your time this year. Below are local groups that you can help out right here in Washington Heights and Inwood, either during the next “It’s My Park Day” on May 15 or any time of year.
This list was prepared byYekaterina Gluzberg, Outreach Coordinator, Northern Manhattan, Partnerships for Parks
“It’s My Park Day”
Each year, thousands of New Yorkers come together to care for and celebrate parks in over 150 locations across the city on “It’s My Park Day.” Volunteer projects include cleaning, painting, weeding and planting, with free events ranging from tennis lessons and nature walks, to arts ‘n crafts and games. This “It’s My Park Day,” to be held on May 15, we will celebrate Partnerships for Parks’ 15th anniversary, highlighting the dedication and accomplishments of community groups that our program has supported over the years.
“It’s My Park Day” is coordinated by Partnerships for Parks, a joint program of City Parks Foundation and the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation. Groups on this page marked with an * will be participating in this coming “It’s My Park Day.” Please contact them to see how you can get involved.
If you would like to receive general calls for volunteers subscribe to the Northern Manhattan Parks List-serve at www.northernmanhattanparks.org .
Inwood Hill Park
*Inwoof
An online group of dog owners whose primary focus is maintaining and improving the off-leash dog park known as Homer’s Run. Contact: Deb Snyder, President
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. Website: www.inwoof.com.
*Yes We Can Inwood
Started in December 2008 by two Inwood families, the group organizes monthly, friendly-family community service projects in Inwood Hill Park and its environs. Contact: Margaret Peeler and Tricia Capistrano at
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. Website: http://yeswecaninwood.blogspot.com/.
Isham Park
*Isham Park Restoration Program 1970, Inc.
The group works to instill a sense of responsibility to Isham Park in children, teenagers and adults and maintains Bruce Reynolds Memorial Garden. Contact: J.A. Reynolds at 212-942-2563 or at
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.
*Volunteers for Isham Park
A group devoted to maintaining the park’s serene and harmonious space and raising awareness of its history and intended cultural role through clean-ups, fundraising and education. Contact: Pat Courtney at
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.
Highbridge Park
*Centro Deportivo Francisco Alfonso, Inc.
The brainchild of Bronx resident Francisco Alfonso, the organization runs a baseball team for youth that is based at Highbridge Park and maintains one of its ball fields. Contact: Francisco Alfonso at 917-497-5762.
*Friends of Highbridge Park
The 10-year-old group has planted native vegetation to restore and beautify the landscape around the High Bridge Water Tower. Contact:
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.
*Highbridge Canine Club
The club has created and maintained a clean and well-lit dog run in the north end of Highbridge Park, helping to reduce and discourage criminal and illegal activity. Contact: George Cruz at
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. Website: http://highbridgek9club.org/.
*Friends of Sherman Creek
The community-based organization is dedicated to the conservation of the Sherman Creek/Harlem River salt marsh wetlands and provides Environmental Education After School Programs to local teenagers. Contact: Obed Fulcar at
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. Website: http://www.friendsofshermancreek.org/.
New York City Mountain Bike Association
Members maintain the biking trails in the northern section of Highbridge Park and organize races throughout the year. Open volunteer days are on the last Saturday of the month at the BMX Park in Highbridge. Contact: Dawson Smith and Jamie Bogner at
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. Website: http://www.nycmtb.org/.
*City Life is Moving Bodies
A program of the Center for Youth Violence Prevention at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, the group organizes the annual “Hike the Heights” event in June to raise awareness of neighborhood issues while promoting community involvement in local parks. Contact: Amy Figueroa 212-305-4734 or http://www.thegiraffenyc.org/.
J. Hood Wright Park
J. Hood Wright Canine Club
The group helps coordinate ongoing maintenance, fund raising and community events. Contact: Anthony Speranza at 917-301-0348 or
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. Website: http://jhwcc.org.
Friends of J. Hood Wright Park
Neighborhood moms and dads “who want more than anything to keep the park great.” Website: www.friendsofjhoodwright.org.
*Friends of J. Hood Wright Park - Gardening
Diana Douglas, who has volunteered at the park for 21 years, and the Friends work to create and maintain the gardens within J. Hood Wright Park. Contact: Diana Douglas at 917-656-9721 or
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.
Fort Tryon Park
*Friends Committee of the Fort Tryon Trust
The group aims to involve the entire community surrounding the park in maintaining and improving its appearance and condition, and promoting its constructive use by the public.
Contact: Mike Klein at
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. Website: http://www.forttryonparktrust.org/about/friends_committee.html.
Fort Tryon Dog Owners Group
A volunteer group committed to the care of Sir William's Dog Run and its community. Contact:
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. Website: http://ftdog.org.
Fort Washington Park
Rocky Run Group
The group cares for the dog run on Riverside Drive and W. 165th Street and seeks leaders to expand the gardening area outside of the run. Contact: Bailea Rehberg, 718-706-1147. Website: http://washingtontykes.blogspot.com/.
Other Outdoor Opportunities
Street Trees and Green gardens/Greenstreets
*West 181st Street Beautification Project, Inc.
Devoted to maintaining the garden stairs on W. 181st Street and Pinehurst Avenue, Plaza Lafayette and the George Washington Bridge Playground, the group has regular volunteer meetings at the garden stairs on Sunday from 9 – 11am, weather permitting. Contact: Jeanlee Poggi at 212-543-9017.
Riverside Inwood Neighborhood Garden (RING)
RING uses hands-on experience to educate neighborhood adults and children in the arts and science of horticulture, aquaculture, butterfly habitat and composting at the community garden at Broadway and Dyckman Street. Contact: Maggie Clarke at 212-567-8272. Website: www.ringgarden.org.
*Riverside Oval Association
The Association improves the environment and the lives of the residents around the Riverside Oval, a small park that sits in the middle of Riverside Drive between W. 156th and W 157th Streets, through gardening and history-oriented activities. Contact: Vivian Ducat at
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or at 917-301-1120.
*Rose Court Tenants Association
The tenants take care of the street tree beds in Inwood along Academy Street from Broadway to Sherman Avenue and along Broadway from W. 204th to Dyckman Streets. They fundraise for and build tree guards and beautify the tree beds with a variety of flowers. Contact: Luz Bermudez at 917-373-5701.
*Washington Heights Gardening Crew
The group has recruited and involved local children and adults in a variety of gardening activities on the David Freidland/Juan Pablo Duarte Square on Broadway and the tree pits on St. Nicholas Avenue and on Broadway from W. 169th to W. 171st Streets. Contact: Dana Hockenbury at
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.
Inwood Green Team
The team educates and engages neighbors and youth in the stewardship of new street trees on commercial and residential streets east of Broadway and is sponsoring a tree-care workshop on May 15 from 10 a.m. to noon at W. 207th Street and Vermilyea Avenue. Volunteers are needed to build eight more tree guards on Post Ave. to help create a logo, t-shirt and Website. Contact (English):
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or (Spanish) Arlene Peguero:
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.
Historic Houses
Morris-Jumel Mansion
Weeding, planting or general garden care volunteer opportunities are available in the Colonial Sunken Garden. Contact: Carol Ward, 212-923-8008. Website: http://www.morrisjumel.org.
Additional ways to pitch in all year long
Recycle clothing!
NYC residents discard 193,000 tons of textiles such as old clothes, linen and shoes each year. Help reduce waste by volunteering to help GrowNYC promote recycling at its textiles collections at the Inwood Greenmarket, every Saturday on Isham St. b/t Seaman & Cooper. Call 212-788-7989 to get involved.
Recycle food scraps!
Approximately 25% of household waste in Washington Heights and Inwood consists of discarded food. Some of this material can be recycled into rich compost for gardens, houseplants and tree pits. Visit http://uptowncompost.blogspot.com/ to find opportunities to build compost bins, volunteer at local drop-off sites and educate neighbors.
Recycle at home!
GrowNYC is a local non-profit that provides workshops for apartment buildings and community groups. Volunteer to coordinate a recycling workshop and GrowNYC will provide free publicity tools, an interactive demonstration and recycling totes for all participants. Contact Christina at
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or 212-788-7989.
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