Our Projects

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY

In Poughkeepsie, substantial community input, together with design, engineering and funding provided by NCP, Scenic Hudson and the City of Poughkeepsie, has spurred the transformation of two neglected parks in the Northside: Pershing Avenue Park and Malcolm X Park. Pershing Avenue Park re-opened to the public in October 2022, with a ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating its restoration and the opening of a Community Farm. Together with Scenic Hudson, the City of Poughkeepsie, and the community, NCP celebrated the re-opening of Malcolm X Park at a ribbon cutting in June 2023. NCP is also assisting the city with the redesign of the Pulaski Public Pool House. With NCP’s public finance assistance and generous capital donations from Scenic Hudson and NYS, the City financed all four projects. In addition, the city is now financing a second generation of park restorations, using the systems and reorganizations that NCP introduced. NCP also facilitated the design of universal park signage for all Poughkeepsie public parks.

Community Partners: Art Effect, Beulah Baptist Church, The Brain and Body Coalition, Crazy Over ART On Tour, Charlia Frank Inc., City of Poughkeepsie Mayor’s Office and Department of Public Works, Ecological Citizens Project, The Environmental Cooperative at the Vassar Barns, Esperanza Dutchess County Hispanic Organization, MASS Design, Nubian Directions II, NY Flight 845, St. Mark A.M.E. Zion Church, Scenic Hudson, Student Conservation Association, PARKnership, Poughkeepsie City School District, Poughkeepsie Farm Project

BUFFALO, NY

The City of Buffalo, working with Trust for Public Land, NCP, and local community groups, published a city-wide Parks Master Plan in February 2022, putting forth new policies for more equitable access to parks and highlighting the need for revitalizing parks in underserved communities. NCP is now implementing the recommendations of the Parks Master Plan; beginning with Sears Paderewski Park, Roosevelt Park and most recently Kingsley Park. The city intends to use the successful reconstruction of these neglected parks as models for the redesign of green infrastructure, safety, access, and programming of the eight remaining city parks located in other communities of need.

Community Partners: Algonquin Sports for Kids, Broadway-Fillmore Neighborhood Housing Services, Buffalo Urban League, Charter School of Inquiry; City of Buffalo Buffalo Sewer Authority, Mayor’s Office, and Department of Public Works - Parks and Streets; Fillmore Forward, Greater Eastside Field of Dreams Block Club Association, The Greater Jefferson Avenue Business Association, Make Communities, Matt Urban Center, Open Buffalo, Police Athletic League, Rigidized Metals 

JERSEY CITY, NJ

In Jersey City, NCP, in partnership with the Public School District and city government, celebrated a joyous ribbon cutting for PS 30’s new green schoolyard in May 2023, completing the conversion of the one-acre asphalt parking lot into an outdoor classroom with murals, play equipment, a garden and trees. In return, the Jersey City Board of Education passed the first-ever, replicable resolution to make the schoolyard available to the community outside of school hours. PS 30 is the example and inspiration for twelve more green schoolyards that the district has resolved to improve, starting with PS 12 and PS 34. NCP is partnering with the JCSD to organize the community-led design process to create schematic designs for the construction of two new green schoolyards by the end of 2024.

Community Partners: City Green, Jersey City Board of Education and Mayor’s Office, National League of Cities, PS 30 Parent Association

PATERSON, NJ

Paterson is NCP’s newest partner. Thanks to a significant grant from a local foundation, along with enthusiastic buy-in from city officials including the mayor, NCP is set to revitalize two parks which serve multiple high-need communities: Westside Park, a 26-acre flagship park currently in total disrepair, and Barbour Park. NCP is also working with the Paterson City School District on the design and planning for a green schoolyard at PPS 21. This will be the first asphalt schoolyard to park conversion in Paterson and will serve as a model for future projects on school properties.

Community Partners: City of Paterson Mayor’s Office and Department of Public Works, Cities Connecting Children to Nature (CCCN), John F. Kennedy High School, New Jersey Community Development Corporation (NJCDC), Paterson Public Schools, The Trust for Public Land

PASSAIC, NJ

In Passaic, the iconic 100 Steps, leading up to the newly developed Latona-Griffin Park, divided the city and have long been barricaded because of neglect, despite their storied place in local lore. With NCP’s design and engineering assistance, Passaic raised capital dollars to complete the full makeover of the steps and revitalization of the abandoned park at the top.

Community Partners: City of Passaic Mayor’s Office and Department of Public Works, PS 7 Ulysses S. Grant Elementary School