Transforming New York’s Outdoors Together
When you support TPL, you support the people’s choice.
I joined TPL on May 1, 2024, after more than 25 years promoting public health among disadvantaged communities. People ask me why I decided to pivot my career. The answer lies in the solace I found in my local park during COVID and subsequent learning about TPL and nature-based solutions to climate change. TPL is an exceptional organization that truly cares about all people and their connection to the joys and benefits of spending time outdoors.
The passion, expertise, and dedication of our staff and supporters have brought about dynamic change in New York. In the last year, we have protected vital forests along the Appalachian Trail, gained worldwide recognition for our New York City Community Schoolyards® program, and raised over $100 million in federal and private funding for trail systems that will revolutionize the way New Yorkers live, commute, and connect with each other.
None of these achievements would have been possible without our vast network of financial supporters. Thank you for your continued support in giving New York residents the opportunity to play safely outside, sit under the shade of a tree, and walk or bike on trails that connect rural and urban areas. These projects are transforming the landscape and the lives of those who live in and around them.
Warm regards,
Tamar Renaud , TPL New York State Director
When I was asked to be on the Community Schoolyard committee, I had no idea what it entailed. When you’re not paying attention to how things come about, things just magically appear. Well, they don’t, and I found that out at our first meeting. The school took a vote, which I thought was great. You always think it is decided by a group of older people who may not know what we want and would like. It was really cool to get to decide, it was the people’s choice. Us kids being “the people”.”
Arthur C., 6th grader, 2024 Community Schoolyard opening of P.S. 204k in Bensonhurst, NY
Turning Uninspired City Schoolyards into Community Treasures
In New York City, finding new space for parks can be difficult. But one overlooked place that is found in practically every neighborhood—the schoolyard—is being put to use as a new community park. Collectively, public school districts own tens of thousands of acres across the country. But as little as ten percent of America’s schoolyards are open to the public outside of school hours. By transforming schoolyards, we can increase close-to-home access to quality parks for millions of New Yorkers.
When designing a Community Schoolyards site, we engage the entire school community—students, teachers, staff, and neighbors—in reimagining their local schools as vibrant spaces to learn, play, and connect with nature and each other. These new schoolyards also give their broader communities valued park space and contribute to climate resiliency by reducing urban heat and capturing stormwater through enhanced tree canopies and floodmitigating landscaping.
Since 1996, TPL has led more schoolyard renovations than any other organization in the nation, transforming 300 underutilized schoolyards—232 in New York City alone—into nature-rich parks designed to improve environmental outcomes, health, and educational inequities.
And we are just getting started! Between 2025 and 2027, we aim to complete 15 more community schoolyards in
New York City. To achieve this work, we are raising $5 million in private philanthropy, which will be leveraged to secure approximately $35 million in public funding.
SCHOOLYARD OPENINGS SPRING AND FALL 2024
Spring 2024
• P.S. 204K (Vince Lombardi)
• P.S. 503K / 506K (P.S. 314K)
• I.S. 52 M (Harold O. Levy School) & 423M (High School for Excellence and Innovation) & 211M (Inwood Early College for Health and Information Technologies)
Fall 2024
• Bronx Latin & Dr. Richard Izquierdo Health and Science Charter School & Bronx Career and College Preparatory School
• I.S. 145Q (Joseph Pulitzer Magnet School of Innovation and Applied Learning)
• P.S. 229Q (Emanuel Kaplan)
• Corlears Complex: 332M (University Neighborhood Middle School) & 292M (Orchard Collegiate Academy) & 80M (Manhattan Charter School II) & NYC Center for Aerospace and Applied Mathematics
• P.S. 306X & 331X (The Bronx School of Young Leaders)
PHOTO BY TPL STAFF
PHOTO BY MATTHEW SEPTIMUS
Green Schoolyards and Healthy, Resilient Communities
We know that health is too often determined by zip code. Access to green space—where you can spend time in nature—improves physical health and reduces stress, depression, and anxiety. It also strengthens social ties. Community Schoolyards help students, families, and neighbors stay active, connected, and healthy. Our success in New York City serves as a model for schoolyard initiatives across the country and has recently gained worldwide recognition.
We are thrilled to announce that TPL’s NYC Community Schoolyards program is one of five finalists—and the first ever North American finalist—for the World Resources Institute Ross Center Prize for Cities. The Prize recognizes extraordinary projects that have shown success in urban sustainability, have scaled, and should be used as examples for cities around the world to emulate. We are deeply honored by the recognition and look forward to sharing best practices from our schoolyards program with an international audience.
PARTNERSHIPS AT PLAY
TPL is partnering with NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital (NY-P) to address a root cause of health inequities and demonstrate the benefit of schoolyards to overall community health. Since 2022, NY-P has provided support for four NYC community schoolyards projects in priority neighborhoods identified by their Community Health Needs Assessment.
In June 2024, we celebrated the opening of 52M Harold O. Levy School in Inwood, Manhattan. This new space serves as a schoolyard for three schools in upper Manhattan and showcases fitness equipment, a
We would love to connect and share how you can grow our Community Schoolyard efforts in New York City to strengthen communities, improve health and education outcomes, and expand access to nature.
Our Community Health Needs Assessment identified schools as a community resource for health, serving as a space for social development, exercise, and connections to peers and supportive adults…TPL’s NYC Community Schoolyards program synthesizes the benefits of green space to public health and the potential of schools to serve as centers of community well-being.”
Anne Sperling, VP Government and Community Affairs, NY-P
volleyball court, a soccer field, picnic tables, an outdoor classroom, and pollinator gardens. Green infrastructure features are projected to capture nearly 1 million gallons of stormwater annually to ease the pressure on the area’s sewer system, reduce flooding and in turn, improve water quality of the New York Harbor.
PHOTO BY CARIN VAN DER DONK
Bringing the Long Island Greenway to Life
PHOTO BY MARTIN BUCHMAN
TPL is leading a coalition of partners to connect and strengthen communities from Brooklyn to Montauk, empowering residents to lead healthier lives and driving community-centered economic revitalization of the entire region. Together with residents, neighborhood leaders, and local agencies, we are creating the Long Island Greenway
The historic nearly 200-mile greenway will extend the full length of Long Island, creating outdoor access for over 8.1 million people within one mile of the trail while attracting a projected 34 million visitors each year. This multi-use trail will allow people to walk or cycle to 26 public parks, 46 train stations, and 60 bus routes in 27 communities.
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT: MARTIN BUCHMAN
Cycling advocate, teacher, and Long Island native Martin Buchman first connected with TPL at a community meeting focused on cycling infrastructure development on Long Island. He has been a friend and TPL champion ever since, supporting the Greenway as a rare opportunity to transform the landscape of Long Island, and with it the health and well-being of its residents for generations to come.
Martin’s passion for open space began in 1976 after bicycling across the United States. Today, he has cycled
through 49 states and 15 countries, gaining a deep appreciation for the value of safe, accessible public transportation. A former history teacher for nearly 30 years, Martin’s expertise lies in American geographic and transportation history, along with American political and ethnic history.
Having been hit seriously twice in the last seven years, Martin acknowledges he has a personal stake in transforming the landscape of Long Island. However, his support began long before.
What do you hope to accomplish through your philanthropy, advocacy, and volunteerism?
I am looking for a network of trails that will enable vulnerable road users to no longer have to compete with cars. I am looking forward to the parkways and power lines of Long Island being transformed into linear parks and a community that is no longer entirely dependent on automobile ownership.
Of all worthy causes, what is most motivating about supporting trails?
Trails get all kinds of people together…they are simultaneously utilitarian and recreational for both locals and tourists. Trails provide green infrastructure jobs with low environmental footprint and dollar for dollar are the most impactful money communities can spend to foster a change in perception. Trails raise property values and dopamine and serotonin levels. I have never seen someone on a trail in a bad mood.
To make the Long Island Greenway a reality, we must unlock $200 million+ in public funding for design and construction. We have already secured funding to design 100 miles and construction funding for part of the first segment! With your support, we will bring the Long Island Greenway to life as a well-loved and used trail for all.
Public Land for Public Good
We are committed to creating more places that bring us outside—parks, trails, playgrounds, and public lands— and making them available to everyone, everywhere. Since 1972, TPL has protected 4 million acres of public land; created 5,240 parks, trails, and iconic outdoor places; raised $94 billion in public funding for parks and public lands; and brought parks and trails within a 10-minute walk of home for 9.7 million people across the country.
In New York, we have preserved over 123,891 acres of open land and completed more than 578 projects to expand outdoor access. On July 30th, 2024, TPL and the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) celebrated the permanent protection of 505 acres in Dutchess County. The land acquisition by the State of New York creates the new Grape Hollow State Forest , providing enhanced wildlife habitat protection and a larger buffer for the adjoining Appalachian Trail corridor.
Our ongoing projects in western New York, New York Harbor, and along the Appalachian Trail will increase access and improve quality of life for millions of New Yorkers, and we need your help to keep the movement growing.
CONNECTING COMMUNITY WITH THE QUEENSWAY
In New York’s iconic Queens borough, TPL is supporting a community-led effort to transform a 3.5-mile stretch of abandoned railway into a family-friendly linear park and cultural greenway. The QueensWay will provide
The QueensWay will link communities, boost local businesses, serve as a critical outdoor classroom area and uplift thousands of Central Queens families”
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards
much needed public green space and a safe, new transportation corridor for 2.3 million Queens residents and local businesses. After more than a decade of advocacy, engagement, and planning, we are preparing to break ground on the first two of six segments of the QueensWay. In response to overwhelming public support, the Mayor of New York allocated $35 million to build the Metropolitan Hub segment. TPL and the City’s Department of Parks and Recreation built on this initial investment, securing $117 million in federal funding in 2024 for the Forest Park Grove segment. Together, these two segments will produce a full mile of new parks and trails.
SUPPORT THE QUEENSWAY: Help us reach our goal of raising $2.5 million over five years for the QueensWay. Your support will allow us to engage residents in the design process and unlock public capital for construction.
Please join us in making Queens a healthier, greener, more connected community for generations to come.
GRAPE HOLLOW STATE FOREST PHOTO BY NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
THANK YOU for helping improve the health, equity, and climate outcomes for communities in New York and beyond.
NEW YORK ADVISORY BOARD
Michelle Aboodi
Graeme E. Daykin, President, Magnitude Capital, LLC., Vice Chair
Steven G. Horowitz, Senior Advisor, New City Parks
Sarah Jackson
Rafique Jiwani, Goldman Sachs
Jennifer Jones*, Senior Director in the Development Office, Rockefeller University
Elizabeth (Beth) A. Maher
Philip G. Meeks
Kristen Owen, Executive Director, Oppenheimer & Co.
Alexis Rosenblum, Global Head of Sustainability & Social Responsibility, Capital Group
Lisa Sarajian, Former MD, S&P Global Ratings, Chair
Ethan Scapellati, Litigation Counsel, O’Melveny & Myers LLP
Keats Sexton, Managing Director, UBS Investment Bank
Elie Sugarman
Sharon Lyu Volckhausen, Tiger Baron Foundation *TPL National Board of Directors