Our Mission

The Immigrants & Parks Collaborative works to ensure our city’s open spaces are democratic, representative of neighbors’ wants and needs, and serve as relevant resources for all New Yorkers. It consists of ten vibrant organizations working in eight parks throughout the city. Committed to fueling locally driven, immigrant-led community development by creating opportunities for civic engagement in neighborhood parks, the Collaborative encourages local government, institutions, and organizations to work together to use parks in creative ways for inclusive community development and park improvements.

How the Collaborative Works

Conceived of and funded by the J.M. Kaplan Fund, the Immigrants & Parks Collaborative consists of a unique partnership among a private foundation, city agency, private-public entity, and advocacy organization. Partnerships for Parks (a joint program of City Parks Foundation and the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation) and the New York Immigration Coalition work together to provide technical assistance to seven community-based organizations. Most organizations house Immigrant Outreach Fellows—staff charged with carrying out the daily activities of connecting immigrants with local parks. The result is strengthened local capacity and clarity and a citywide member network of immigrant and park supporters.

Watch Our Introductory Video

Origins of the Collaborative

The Immigrants & Parks Collaborative grew out of a pilot project in Forest and Highland Parks. The pilot project yielded: new relationships, new programming created in collaboration with immigrant-serving community partners, trainings on how organizations can use parks, inclusive outreach tools, and a better understanding of park user preferences through surveys.