Celebrated entertainer Bette Midler founded the nonprofit New York Restoration Project (NYRP) in 1995 in the belief that clean, green neighborhoods are fundamental to the quality of life, and that every community in New York City deserves an oasis of natural beauty. Seeing many parks and open spaces in dire need of cleanup and restoration, Ms. Midler created NYRP to be the "conservancy of forgotten places," particularly in New York City's underserved communities.
To achieve this vision, NYRP partners with individuals, community-based groups, and public agencies to reclaim, restore, and develop under-resourced parks, community gardens, and other open spaces in New York City. Now into our second decade, we've removed over 875 tons of garbage from project sites and reclaimed more than 400 acres of under-resourced and rundown parkland. We've rescued scores of community gardens from commercial development and served over 10,000 at-risk urban youngsters with free environmental education programs. NYRP has made a substantial impact on the economic and social revitalization of underserved communities. We've grown into an effective and admired partner with public agencies that are reshaping the urban environment. NYRP is now one of the leading partners of the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation in developing underused and new parkland. Through our park and garden restoration, environmental education, and public programs, NYRP has become an important catalyst for sustainable community development. Summary of Accomplishments since 1995
- Raised over $38 million dollars for the restoration and development of under-resourced parks, community gardens, and open space in economically disadvantaged communities throughout New York City.
Removed over 875 tons of garbage and debris — cars, construction materials, garbage, litter, and 3,000 tires — from project sites.
- Helped save scores of community gardens throughout New York City from commercial development and established the New York Garden Trust to maintain, preserve, and develop 57 gardens in perpetuity.
- Cleaned and made safe more than 400 acres in historic Fort Tryon, Fort Washington, and Highbridge Parks, including reclaiming 119 abandoned and overgrown acres after more than two decades of non-use.
- Served over 10,000 economically disadvantaged youngsters with free environmental education and recreational programming, including bicycling, canoeing, gardening, parks ecology, boatbuilding, and rowing programs.
- Opened the New Leaf Café in Fort Tryon Park, a unique entrepreneurial endeavor in park concessions, where all net restaurant profits are redirected back into the beautification and maintenance of the park. The café welcomes over 40,000 visitors each year.
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