The nonprofit group City Parks Foundation on Tuesday awarded $140,000 in wildfire rapid response grants to parkland organizations that experienced significant fire damage in the fall of 2024.
The Marine Park Alliance and Prospect Park Alliance both received funding to help with their recovery efforts, according to a press release.
There were over 230 fires reported in 15 city parks between Oct. 29 and Nov. 15, 2024, the nonprofit said. The funding will be used to restore the burned areas, including site stabilization and native plantings.
“The recent and unprecedented wildfires critically damaged our city’s essential park spaces, and this funding will help begin the necessary restoration,” said Heather Lubov, executive director of the City Parks Foundation. “Although this funding is modest, we hope it will spur others to step up and add to these grants to ensure that all of the affected natural areas are repaired.”
The Marine Park Alliance experienced fires across nearly six acres of preserved land. The organization will plant native shrubs and herbaceous material and remove invasive plants to favor the recruitment of native species. They plan to utilize their close relationship to the Gerritsen Beach Volunteer Fire Department, who will advise them in their efforts to curb future fires, the press release said.
Meanwhile, the Prospect Park Alliance is expected to utilize the funds for a three-year restoration of the Ravine fire site. They plan to stabilize damaged slopes, remove invasive plants and hazardous trees, decompact the soil and plant native species. The Alliance will collaborate with researchers from the Natural Resources Group, Natural Areas Conservancy, and others to monitor their progress and share findings with other parks groups in New York City.
Friends of Inwood Hill Park, The Natural Areas Conservancy and Van Cortlandt Park Alliance also recieved funding.
