City Parks Foundation

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Queensbridge Park Gathering

City Parks Foundation is a New York City-based non-profit organization dedicated to the improvement and support of urban parks and neighborhoods without access to private resources through programming in parks. By creating arts, sports and educational programs in over 700 public parks, and by encouraging community development within public parks, City Parks Foundation helps to revitalize not only parks but also the neighborhoods that surround them. The organization reaches more than 600,000 people every year through its programming and community-building initiatives.

CityParks Kids Mexican Dancers

Founded in 1989, City Parks Foundation is one of the oldest and largest citywide parks organizations in the country, and it is the only independent, nonprofit organization to offer programming in parks throughout the five boroughs of New York City.

Some of the specific programs offered by City Parks Foundation include free concerts, dance and theater festivals in parks across New York City, such as Central Park SummerStage and the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival, free tennis, golf and track & field instruction for youth in parks citywide, a free seniors fitness program, and education programs like Coastal Classroom, Learning Gardens, and Seeds to Trees. In Spring 2008 City Parks Foundation will open its Junior Golf Center in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, a new facility devoted exclusively to bringing free golf instruction to New York City youth.

In addition, City Parks Foundation partners with the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation to offer Partnerships for Parks, an organization that supports the activity of over 60,000 volunteers in parks each year.