DPPN ONE OF SEVEN URBAN PARK ORGANIZATIONS SELECTED FOR CENTRAL PARK CONSERVANCY INSTITUTE FOR URBAN PARKS 2022 PARTNERSHIPS LAB
New York, NY — The Central Park Conservancy Institute for Urban Parks (Institute) is pleased to announce the seven urban park organizations selected for the 2022 Partnerships Lab cohort. These organizations, representing urban park programs from around New York City and the United States, will participate in the eight-month program to learn best practices, engage in peer-to-peer mentorship, and join workshops with Central Park Conservancy subject-matter experts.
This year's Partnerships Lab cohort includes:
• Friends of Morningside Park (New York, New York)
• Prospect Park Alliance (Brooklyn, New York)
• Queens Botanical Gardens (Queens, New York)
• Seattle Parks & Recreation, the Arboretum Foundation, University of Washington Botanic Gardens (Seattle, Washington)
• Civic Center Conservancy (Denver, Colorado)
• Downtown Providence Parks Network (Providence, Rhode Island)
• Gathering Place (Tulsa, Oklahoma)
"We are so pleased to welcome the seven urban park organizations that will be joining the Institute for the 2022 Partnerships Lab,” said Maura Lout, Executive Director of the Institute for Urban Parks. “Investing in urban parks and greenspaces is investing in a more equitable and climate-resilient future for all. The ongoing pandemic and increase in park-use only deepens the urgency to support the organizations that manage these essential public spaces.”
By leveraging the Conservancy’s resources and decades-long expertise, the Partnerships Lab initiative supports urban park organizations as they build capacity to maintain great public spaces. Participants receive individual coaching sessions, a customized multi-day retreat, virtual group learning, capacity-building resources, and access to a broad network of urban park peers.
The Institute collaborates with participants to ensure parks continue to provide economic, environmental, and health benefits to the surrounding communities. Since the Institute launched the Partnerships Lab in 2019, it has collaborated with more than 125 park professionals and 16 organizations in nine cities across the United States.
Downtown Providence Parks Network (Providence, Rhode Island)
The Institute will support and facilitate the creation of a new parks network in Providence that will support the downtown area and ensure that all residents have access to well-cared for greenspaces. The proposed network will span 50 acres of public spaces and trails along the downtown riverfront and will engage stakeholders from across the city to cultivate community participation and a sense of collective ownership.
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ABOUT THE CENTRAL PARK CONSERVANCY
The Central Park Conservancy is a private, not-for-profit organization that manages Central Park and is responsible for raising the Park's annual operating budget. The Conservancy’s staff of more than 300 is responsible for all aspects of the Park’s stewardship, from day-to-day maintenance and operations to continued restoration and rebuilding projects. Additionally, the Conservancy operates the Park’s visitor centers, provides public programs, and serves as a resource for other NYC parks and for public-private partnerships around the world. For more information, please visit centralparknyc.org.
ABOUT THE INSTITUTE FOR URBAN PARKS
The Central Park Conservancy Institute for Urban Parks, founded in 2013, draws on the Conservancy’s 40 years of experience and expertise to develop programs that educate and connect park organizations, while supporting a vital community of practice among public and private partners.
Through continuing education, capacity building, thought leadership, and peer-to-peer exchange, the Institute empowers, informs, and connects the individuals and organizations that care for urban parks. We do this to ensure that all urban park organizations have the knowledge and the capacity to create and sustain great public parks throughout New York City and across the country.