Integral to every NCP park rehabilitation project is reconnecting people with the recreational opportunities in their newly restored neighborhood green spaces – whether sitting on a park bench and observing nature or playing in sports leagues and pick-up games. As more and more of NCP’s park projects open, summer becomes a joyful season when these once-quiet spaces come alive with activity.  

The first two years after a park’s completion are a critical period to invite the public back into these spaces that were rundown and avoided. NCP’s targeted Stewardship Mini Grants support critical anchors –programs that make use of new facilities, fund care plans, and provide new supplies (as simple as a hose or as major as a piece of landscaping equipment) to ensure garden beds stay lush. Community Park Ambassadors – dedicated community members who come to the parks on a regular basis to troubleshoot – create a welcoming active presence. 

In 2025, we offered the second year of both these critical programs. NCP provided mini-grant funding to eight community organizations in Poughkeepsie, NY and Paterson, NJ. From basketball to Double Dutch, and from art and music to mental health awareness, the Mini Grant program made possible 34 events in three parks with over 900 people in attendance.  

 This Summer Kingdom Classic was especially important in helping the community heal from a senseless gun violence incident… we felt that the tournament would take their minds off the incident and bring some sort of joy to the community at that moment in time. Since that day, all the games have been jampacked. The parental participation has been outstanding beyond words and our community leaders have come by and given support. This tournament is growing and getting bigger every year. It has taken kids off the street four hours a day, four days a week, and it’s for free. Thank you, New City Parks!!! This does not work without you!!  

--Curtiz Simpson, Flight845 

Our Community Park Ambassador Program welcomed park goers to Poughkeepsie’s Malcolm X and Pershing Avenue Parks. By keeping a constant presence in the park, they kept it clean and provided information to visitors and community organizations.  

“I was raised in this park. Played basketball. We did everything parks are for. I really like that NCP redid the courts and the jungle gym. The more people that use them, then we can make a much safer and pleasant place to enjoy. this summer, I was able to help my community. I tried to give them a clean and safe environment to have. Especially for the children.”  

--Anthony Elting, Pershing Avenue Park Ambassador  

With so many new projects underway, NCP’s Director of Stewardship Chanda Bennett is preparing  to establish programming and stewardship in parks that will soon open, connecting with local community members to solicit ideas for groups to participate in our mini grant program and finalizing maintenance plans with our cities and community partners. 

Like so much of our work, the care and programming of our parks is deeply unique to each project and we adapt our strategies accordingly. At the same time, over the last three years we have been learning from our implementation in Poughkeepsie, Jersey City, and Paterson and are looking forward to starting the stewardship process in new parks next year with this experience under our belt.