NYC Parks Announces Let’s Green NYC Campaign To Engage a Record Number of Volunteers and Encourage Stewardship of Parks and Open Spaces

Photo: NYC Parks

As Surgeon General releases report on the effects of loneliness post-COVID, new campaign encourages New Yorkers to get outside and build social connection by giving back to their City 

More than 200,000 New Yorkers volunteer with Parks annually, new Parks plan aims to build on and exceed prior reach 

NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue today announced a new campaign, Let’s Green NYC, to reach a record number of volunteers in City parks through the end of 2024. Starting this spring, Parks is building on its long legacy of volunteerism by renewing its commitment to the hundreds of volunteer groups who actively care for greenspaces – from small grassroots organizations to large conservancies — and making it easier and more fun for everyone to beautify their parks, connect with fellow New Yorkers, and build stronger neighborhoods. 

“Our city’s park and green spaces provide spaces of peace, community, and respite to millions of New Yorkers each year,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “With feelings of loneliness on the rise, I can think of no better way to build community, find friendship, and experience nature — all while bettering and beautifying our parks — than volunteering. I encourage all New Yorkers to sign up to volunteer this summer and help us build a more connected and beautiful New York City.” 

“NYC’s parks were there for you during the pandemic, providing a safe space for human connection. And now, we are here for you, to combat growing feelings of isolation, and welcome you into a group of volunteers through our brand-new campaign, Let’s Green NYC,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue. “Parks has had a long and fruitful legacy of engaging volunteers in the care and stewardship of our city’s green spaces, and today we’re reaffirming our commitment to bring together diverse communities with the common mission to improve their environment . Let’s get our hands dirty together!” 

“Giving back strengthens not only our communities but also our relationships with one another,” said Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy. “Volunteering is a powerful way to combat the loneliness crisis, and I am grateful to NYC Parks for creating opportunities to show up for our neighbors, our parks, and our communities.” 

“Public parks are vital greenspaces for all New Yorkers, and we’re proud WE❤NYC is partnering with NYC Parks on this important new initiative,” said Kathryn Wylde, President and CEO of the Partnership for New York City. “WE❤NYC encourages New Yorkers to engage in civic action and give back to their communities as a way of showing love for their city. A strong collaboration between the private sector and Parks will mobilize New Yorkers and encourage the care and upkeep of neighborhood parks across the city.” 

“New York City’s parks are not just the green, beating heart of our city — they’re also wellness retreats, recreation centers, and neighborhood hubs. NYC wouldn’t be NYC without Sara D Roosevelt Park, Highland Park, Concrete Plant Park Queensbridge Park or any of the more than 1,700 parks that we enjoy.  Hats off to the Parks Department and the more than 200,000 volunteers for all the work they do to keep our parks clean and vibrant. Let’s take them up on their challenge — can you imagine what might be possible if all 8.5 million of us pitched in? There’s nothing that’ll make you feel closer to your neighbors and more invested in your city than working side by side to keep these precious spaces clean, green and beautiful,” said Chief Engagement Officer Betsy MacLean. 

“New York City’s parks restore our physical and mental health, they strengthen our economy, and they build community. While our parks workers do incredible work to keep them clean and green, we also need dedicated New Yorkers to volunteer their time to care for these spaces. I congratulate Commissioner Donoghue and NYC Parks for launching this campaign to recruit more volunteers to maintain our parks,” said Council Member Shekar Krishnan. 

Parks and open spaces served an oversized role as community hubs for New Yorkers during the COVID-19 pandemic, and they are also playing a preeminent role in the city’s recovery by providing free, open spaces to gather safely and keep active. Urban parks and greenspaces occupy a sometimes unsung, but quietly crucial role in cities, especially in New York, where every square foot of space is used. Being outside and in nature provides untold health benefits, both mental and physical. It can increase life expectancy, reduce stress, and lower heart rates. Additionally, in this time of climate change and climate anxiety, it is Parks’ goal that connecting New Yorkers with their local greenspaces will help them to feel more positively about the city’s green future.  

With almost 1,000 playgrounds, more than 800 sports fields, 10,000 acres of natural areas, and a total of more than 5,000 individual properties, Parks is New York City’s largest steward of open space and takes its role as caretaker seriously. Community is core to Parks’ mission, and the agency has a decades-long legacy of fostering and supporting a variety of volunteer groups to aid in the care and upkeep of neighborhood parks. In recent years, informal surveying by Parks has estimated that around 230,000 New Yorkers volunteer with their parks annually. Further research conducted by the Partnership for New York City found that 73% of young New Yorkers are prepared to volunteer to help with our city’s resurgence, though many don’t know how. In its effort to expand on these efforts and reach record number of volunteers over the next two years, NYC Parks is committed to the following measures:  

• Improved Tracking and Reporting of Volunteer Activities: New digital portal for volunteers to log their hours will provide improved data and better tracking of where and how people volunteer. Information will help to inform where volunteer programming is needed most. Expanded metrics will be included in the Mayor’s Management Report to reinforce its impact and underscore commitment to increasing outreach year over year. 
• Enhanced Web Resources for People Looking to Volunteer: NYC Parks is launching a new volunteer directory designed to match interested New Yorkers with park volunteer groups that are right for them, based upon their interests or location. 

• New Marketing Campaign: Rolling out this summer, NYC Parks will debut a brand-new marketing campaign in City bus shelters and LinkNYC, designed with QR codes to provide a direct link to volunteering opportunities  
• New Exciting Partnerships to Reward Volunteers: With the WE❤NYC campaign, Parks will announce exciting private-sector collaborations to help incentivize volunteering, attract new audiences, and make giving back an enjoyable way of connecting with neighbors and fellow New Yorkers. 
• Strengthened collaboration with large event permit holders and concessionaires that operate in parks to promote and support volunteer engagement in our Parks.