News
- Jamaica Bay Osprey Banded!
- George Washington Hits the Campaign Trail in New York City
- New York Times editorial urges Mayor to fight for Jamaica Bay project
- Secretary Salazar and Mayor Bloomberg sign Jamaica Bay Agreement
- Secretary Salazar and Mayor Bloomberg announce partnership on new urban park initiative
- Feast on Ellis Island
- NY Post previews One Big Table Ellis Island event
- WOR spotlights One Big Table on Valerie's New York
Jamaica Bay Osprey Banded!
May 1, 2012
The Harbor Conservancy and National Park Service successfully captured and banded an adult male osprey with a GPS tracking device today in order to more closely follow this captivating bird's hunting trips and migrations. Dr. Bob Kennedy joined Park Rangers, Harbor Conservancy staff, board director and funder Coleman Burke and volunteers at the Wildlife Refuge's south marsh to capture the bird and fit him with a 30 gram, solar-powered "backpack" satellite transmitter. Despite the drizzle, the project went smoothly and the birds were great sports.
Sign up for our Jamaica Bay Osprey newsletter to get updates on the bird's journey and learn when our new dedicated osprey website launches.
George Washington Hits the Campaign Trail in New York City
April 26, 2012
George Washington, the only President of the United States elected unanimously, needs your vote now. He hit the campaign trail today in New York City to rally popular support in a Partners in Preservation grant competition. He's competing for a $175,000 grant to restore his iconic bronze statue, a 12-foot towering figure presiding over Lower Manhattan from a pedestal at Federal Hall National Memorial. View the full release.
New York Times editorial urges Mayor to fight for Jamaica Bay project
November 6, 2011
Jamaica Bay was the subject of an editorial in today's New York Times, where the Mayor was urged to fight for the project in 'tough economic times'. The Harbor Conservancy's role as a champion for the bay was also cited.
Secretary Salazar and Mayor Bloomberg sign Jamaica Bay Agreement
October 27, 2011
Today at the Marine Park Nature Center in Brooklyn, Secretary of the Interior Kenneth Salazar and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, announced the signing of a new agreement between the National Park Service (NPS) and the City of New York, that commits both entities to a joint planning process focused on four key areas—effective management through collaboration, science and restoration, access and transportation and youth and education—for the 7,000 acres of federal and 3,000 acres of city administered park lands in south Brooklyn and Queens.
The Harbor Conservancy is a key partner in the process and in attendance was our Chairman Marian Heiskell who was delighted by the agreement. "It's so encouraging that the National Park Service, City of New York and Harbor Conservancy are endeavoring on this new partnership as it has been my passion for nearly 40 years," she said. "I believe that Gateway can be the envy of America's great national urban park system, and now both the Mayor and Secretary Salazar stand ready to help us achieve its greatness."
View the full release from the City of New York.
Secretary Salazar and Mayor Bloomberg announce partnership on new urban park initiative
February 17, 2011
Today, in Central Park—undoubtedly one of New York City's "Best Ideas"—Secretary Salazar and Mayor Bloomberg pledged to work together on a new Presidential initiative for urban park areas, called America's Great Outdoors. The announcement followed an official report issued this week by President Obama that was the culmination of a nationwide, year-long listening session and study on the initiative.
America's Great Outdoors is aimed at protecting public lands, boosting conservation and encouraging outdoor recreation. Standing with the Secretary and Mayor, was the Director of the National Park Service, Jon Jarvis whose agency oversees over 390 parks, historic sites and recreation areas across America.
New York City, with its dense and diverse population and abundance of state, local and national parks, was strategically chosen to begin this national rollout.
"New Yorkers feel a strong sense of pride for our parks…," said Mayor Bloomberg. "We're home to over 29,000 acres of parkland. Parks represent an oasis in the city and even in tough economic times, we recognize how important they are."
Secretary Salazar in his speech explained how a partnership among the city, the state, the National Park Service and other federal agencies and non-profit partners—naming in particular, the Harbor Conservancy—will result in an expanded system of urban parks, greenways, and blueways throughout the metro area.
"The President is spotlighting great urban national parks," he said, "and there is no better place to talk about that than in New York City." Beginning in 2010, the Secretary had challenged the National Parks of New York Harbor [NPNH] and the Harbor Conservancy, to recommend ideas on how to make NPNH a model for sites across the country. He shared two preliminary ideas borne from that challenge. They included, creating the largest urban campground at Floyd Bennett Field and creating a center for urban ecology at Jamaica Bay, in partnership with New York City, State and regional universities.
In the upcoming months, the Secretary has been invited back to the city by the Mayor to move this partnership and its initiatives forward.
Learn more about America's Great Outdoors.
Feast on Ellis Island
November 5, 2010
"Why did anyone want to leave Ellis Island if the food was this good?"
Last night 350 friends, supporters and guests joined us for One Big Table. The event celebrated immigrant food both past and present. Despite the rain, the group sailed to Ellis Island and dined in the historic Great Hall, enjoying food prepared from Molly O'Neill's new book, One Big Table. Pace musical theater students hushed the group with a performance of "Songs for a New World" after which we were treated to a panel discussion about food, immigration, and New York's vast diversity of cultures. There's no better place in America to celebrate our unique heritage—culinary and otherwise—than Ellis Island.
Thanks to all that made the night a success.
NY Post previews One Big Table Ellis Island event
October 28, 2010
Read the full-page New York Post article on our November 4th One Big Table dinner and panel discussion on Ellis Island, featuring food writer Molly O'Neill.
WOR spotlights One Big Table on Valerie's New York
October 28, 2010
WOR's Valerie Smaldone interviews president Marie Salerno about One Big Table and our harbor parks. Listen to the audio.
