ANNOUNCEMENTS
World Wetlands Day and the Jamaica Bay Wetlands Fellowship
This past Sunday, February 2nd marked not just Groundhog Day, but also World Wetlands Day — an annual celebration of wetlands' vital role in safeguarding human health and wellbeing in the midst of a changing climate. In Jamaica Bay, every day is wetlands day, but this weekend offered an opportunity to evangelize their importance to a broader audience.
Anil Pasram, Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy’s (JBRPC) stewardship programs manager took part in a World Wetlands Day event hosted by our friends at Eastern Queens Alliance. Along with a presentation on JBRPC’s stewardship of wetlands and other natural areas, Anil shared with attendees some highlights from our Jamaica Bay Wetlands Fellowship — a 6-month paid workforce development and job training program for young adults (aged 18–25), focused on skills for wetlands maintenance, monitoring, and restoration.
Recruitment for the paid Fellowship is targeted to neighborhoods within the Jamaica Bay watershed. By providing training and unique learning experiences for local young adults passionate about the outdoors and environmental restoration, we are building local knowledge in ecological stewardship and giving communities surrounding Jamaica Bay the ability to ensure environmental well-being for generations to come.
Applications for the 2025 Jamaica Bay Wetlands Fellowship are being accepted now, through March 7th. From April to September 2025, Fellows will learn through hands-on restoration of natural areas including shorelines, marshes and trails, removal of invasive plant species and marine debris, plus revegetation with native species through seeding and planting.
Separately, on Saturday, February 22nd, JBRPC invites volunteer stewards to Plumb Beach for a World Wetlands Day themed cleanup. This shoreline along the Belt Parkway is beloved by locals for its sweeping views of New York’s Lower Bay to the west, and the Rockaway Inlet to the east. Plumb Beach is also an indispensable breeding ground for horseshoe crabs, the “living fossils” of the North Atlantic region, that have been coming ashore to lay eggs around Jamaica Bay for 450 million years. Keeping this shoreline safe, healthy and free of debris is important for wildlife and human visitors alike. Interested in volunteering? Registration is available here.
In Jamaica Bay and beyond, wetlands serve a critical role as a line of first defense against climate change. Jamaica Bay salt marshes are estimated to be at least 13 feet deep — enough to sequester 55 million metric tons of underground carbon, or more than half of New York City’s annual carbon emissions. During storms, each acre of wetlands can absorb up to 1.5 million gallons of water — more than 2.25 Olympic-sized swimming pools — protecting local communities from flooding. Moreover, by filtering water, wetlands trap pollutants underground, safeguarding water quality in coastal bays, sounds and estuaries.
Jamaica Bay’s wetlands are home to a variety of shellfish, about 100 species of fin fish, more than 350 species of birds, terrapin turtles and larger marine mammals like seals, dolphins and even whales. Unfortunately, 75 percent of Jamaica Bay’s salt marshes have disappeared over the past century, as a result of intense urbanization and other human activity.
But there is hope! More restoration projects are in the pipeline today than ever before. Conserving and restoring Jamaica Bay will take all of us. Join our efforts – whether at an ecological or cultural event, a stewardship day, a school field trip or recreational opportunity on the water. Our work would not be possible without the support of sponsors, partners and donations from conscientious community members. If you are able, please consider donating to keep up the momentum!
On Tap for 2025: Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy in the New Year
A new year is here, bringing fresh tidings and new friends to Jamaica Bay.
Migrating seal colonies from further north are finding refuge in Jamaica Bay, while snowy owls are being spotted at Shirley Chisholm State Park and distinctive winter water fowl are returning to Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge.
Snowy Owl at Shirley Chisholm Park — Photo Courtesy of Caren Jahre
Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy (JBRPC) is immensely grateful to our communities and partners in Brooklyn and Queens for their commitment over the past year. Major accomplishments in 2024 across education, public programming, stewardship and workforce development are just a few of the things we’re thankful for:
JBRPC education programs grew by 40 percent in the 2023-2024 academic year, with more than 5,000 student interactions across 30 schools.
In 2024, JBRPC delivered 30 free programs across 25 parks, connecting with over 4,700 visitors and community members through arts, nature and recreation activities.
JBRPC removed 13 tons of trash and debris from 25 park sites across 170
miles of shoreline, engaging 1,000 volunteers alongside our staff
JBRPC Wetlands Fellows cleared 7,500 pounds of invasive plants from 4 acres of natural habitat, maintained 2 miles of public trails, and stewarded 80 acres of natural areas
In 2024, JBRPC advanced bold plans and preliminary designs to create a center for community & climate resilience at Floyd Bennett Field
In case you missed it, we encourage you to read more about this work in our 2024 Impact Report.
The outsized impact of our efforts — which would not be possible without the partnership from the National Park Service at Gateway National Recreation Area; New York State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation; the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation; and many other partners and supporters are inspiring us to do even more in 2025.
Our refreshed calendar also brings new programming from JBRPC and our partners. Some happenings we’re particularly excited for include:
January - May: Winter Park Pals sessions at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, in partnership with the National Park Service Rangers, our early childhood nature education program for young ones aged 0-6, and their caretakers
January 19: A retelling of the first crossing of the Atlantic by air, “First Across - Flight of the NC-4,” with a park ranger at Floyd Bennett Field.
February 8: Winter Birding at Shirley Chisholm State Park, organized by NYC Bird Alliance
February 22: - A cleanup on February 22 at Plumb Beach, in honor of World Wetlands Day
You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn; and subscribe to our newsletter for our latest news and events.
Finally, our work would be impossible without donations from our generous supporters. If you are able, please consider a contribution today.
Christmas Trees, Adaptive Ecological Management and a Very Merry Mulchfest
In 2023, New Yorkers discarded more than 1,000 tons of trees after Christmas. Queens and Brooklyn alone contributed 306 tons and 246 tons, respectively. The sight of upturned trees along city streets is all too familiar in January.
But there’s a better way to dispose of your tree! Through January 12, New York City Parks is accepting discarded trees for Mulchfest at designated locations, including sites at Brooklyn Marine Park (East 33rd Street and Avenue U) and Queens Rockaway Beach (94th Street and Shorefront Parkway). Neighbors around Jamaica Bay and Rockaway can take part in this eco-friendly initiative.
By participating, you’ll be giving one more gift this holiday season: your Christmas tree to be transformed into mulch that will benefit landscaping and natural areas in community parks nearby.
Christmas Trees are the gifts that keep on giving
What many New Yorkers may not realize is that Christmas trees can also serve a vital role in adaptive ecological management. For example, the Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy West Pond Living Shoreline project was significantly improved over the last year through this method.
Our Wetlands Fellows used 250 recycled Christmas trees to build nearly 600 linear feet of fascines — natural breakwater structures to mitigate erosion and protect thousands of salt marsh plantings during their vulnerable establishment phase.
These trees found a new purpose, thanks to generous donations from the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation and the Saint Francis DeSales Roman Catholic Church, which provided discarded trees to our stewardship team.
Crucially, we see that it’s working! Lush growth has flourished, with restored marsh blending seamlessly into original marsh, helping guard the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge’s freshwater pond from saltwater incursions. After the installation of the fascines last winter, vibrant growth appeared in spring and summer. By fall, our stewardship team observed substantial sediment trapped by the tree barriers, partially burying them in the dense marsh shoreline.
This project's success was also made possible by volunteers from Bloomberg and JFK International Air Terminal, who helped transport the trees, and the National Park Service, who oversee the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, where the West Pond Living Shoreline is located.
A refresh of these tree fascines is needed in 2025, to continue supporting this fragile ecosystem. Our stewardship team is already collecting additional trees for this effort.
Want to get involved? If you have a Christmas tree to discard, bring it to Brooklyn Marine Park (East 33rd Street and Avenue U) or Queens Rockaway Beach (94th Street and Shorefront Parkway).
West Pond Living Shoreline at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge in Summer 2024
Stay connected by following our Instagram and Facebook pages for updates on the project, plus other events and initiatives around Jamaica Bay.
If you don’t have a Christmas tree, or you’re in a position to give a little more, please consider becoming a supporter of Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy. Your donation supports JBRPC park stewardship and restoration programs, free public programs and events, education and research programs, increased recreational amenities, and community engagement efforts throughout city, state, and national parks in Jamaica Bay and Rockaway.
2024 Impact Report
As a unique public-private partnership that works across city, state and federal agencies, Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy (JBRPC) was established in 2013 to bring together diverse community stakeholders, elected officials, academic researchers, and others toward a common goal: improving public parklands in our catchment.
Download our 2024 Impact Report to learn more about our work, our robust partnerships and how you can get involved. JOIN US.
While much work remains to restore and realize the full potential of these special places, there is also much to celebrate. Water quality and biodiversity are improving, and there are more restoration projects in the pipeline than ever before. An engaged public participates in stewardship, educational, recreational and cultural events across the estuary, and a modern nature-based workforce is emerging from bayside neighborhoods.
We are proud of our immense contributions across Jamaica Bay and Rockaway parklands and steadfast in our commitment to a healthy and publicly-accessible Jamaica Bay for the well-being of everyone in New York City.
Please consider becoming a supporter. Help ensure that our natural, recreational, historical and cultural resources are preserved for generations to come. All donations go directly toward supporting our parks, free public and education programs, and JBRPC capital projects.
New York State Commits $350,000 to Sustain the Health of Natural Spaces Around Jamaica Bay and the Rockaway Peninsula
The Multi-Year Pledge will Fund Ecological Stewardship, Workforce Development, Education and Public Programming
On Wednesday, October 9, Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Conservancy (JBRPC) received $350,000 in funding from New York State to protect the environmental health of Jamaica Bay, and advance its broader ecological restoration.
NY State Senator Roxanne Persaud Begins Proceedings at Canarsie Pier
JBRPC staff gathered at Canarsie Pier with New York State Senator Roxanne Persaud, New York State Assembly Members Jaime Williams and Stacey Pheffer-Amato, leadership from The Fund for the City of New York and the Science and Resilience Institute of Jamaica Bay, and students from Canarsie’s Academy for Conservation & the Environment — to celebrate the transformative multi-year support, and affirm Jamaica Bay’s status as an invaluable ecological, economic and cultural center.
The funding will enable JBRPC to increase environmental stewardship and workforce development for natural areas, broaden ecological education and other public programming, and work alongside community and park partners to realize a long-held vision to reactivate two historic airplane hangars at Floyd Bennett Field for community and cultural programming, food and beverage service and other visitor amenities, and a climate innovation and jobs center focused on nature-based solutions and nature tech that specifically attracts people who live, work and research around Jamaica Bay.
NY State Assembly Members Pheffer-Amato and Williams, and NY State Senator Roxanne Persaud present $150,000 from the the State Assembly and $200,000 from the State Senate
JBRPC can be proud of significant impact across those focus areas already:
Just within the last year, the stewardship team involved more than 1,200 people across more than 30 public volunteer events, to remove in excess of 22,000 pounds (11 tons) of trash and debris, restore wetlands, and recover habitat from invasive vegetation. A great portion of this impact is made by our Wetlands Fellows, young adults from local communities who joined our workforce development program which trains wetlands managers and green jobs leaders, for today and tomorrow.
Within the 2023-2024 academic year alone, the education team reached more than 5,000 school children from 35 schools, across 150 field trips and classroom visits, teaching ecological concepts and how to become citizen stewards of our local parklands
During climate week, JBRPC leadership shared the plans for Floyd Bennett Field’s future climate innovation center focused on nature-based solutions and nature tech — to be on the leading edge of finding answers to local climate-related vulnerabilities, including flooding and heat. Wetland-rich tidal estuaries like Jamaica Bay are universally accepted as carbon storing superpowers, and a first line of defense against climate-change-intensified storm surge.
The team, and our new friends at the Academy for Conservation & the Environment wasted no time in getting back to work — organizing an impromptu shoreline cleanup to keep the busy Canarsie Pier clean, safe and accessible.
“Saving Jamaica Bay” is not just a broad environmental concern, but a local issue of acute importance. As neighbors of New York City’s largest tidal estuary, we have a responsibility and privilege to ensure its longevity for future generations. A lot has happened over the past two decades in and around Jamaica Bay in service of this mission — positive changes like wastewater treatment plant upgrades, the creation of new parks, restoration of wetlands, increased biodiversity, improved public access for recreation, and economic stimulus through new jobs. JBRPC relishes the challenges to come, to protect this progress, and push NYC’s coastline toward a climate-resilient future.
Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy Honored for Community Service
On Wednesday, September 25, State Senator Roxanne Persaud hosted the Annual New York State 19th Senatorial District Power 19 Awards. The event celebrated the accomplishments and invaluable service of 19 extraordinary organizations and individuals to the Senate District. Senate District Power 19 commemorates those who have contributed to the district’s growth through service, socio-economic development, advocacy, academic excellence or community empowerment.
Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy (JBRPC) was honored to receive an award for its steadfast commitment to environmental stewardship and public programs within parklands along Jamaica Bay. JBRPC’s mission is to ensure the health, safety and accessibility of natural spaces for all New Yorkers – but especially our neighbors who live in the communities along our waterways.
JBRPC accepts “Power 19” Award from NY State Senator Roxanne Persaud at Arverne East Nature Preserve
District 19 touches some of the most important habitat and parklands within JBRPC’s catchment area – including areas in and around Shirley Chisholm State Park, Canarsie Pier, Paedergat Basin, Marine Park and Floyd Bennett Field.
Senator Persaud’s commitment to the environment is clear, and our team is grateful for her partnership year-in and year-out. This award is a celebration of past accomplishments together, and a motivation to grow our conservation efforts further in years to come.
Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy and Global Citizen Unite for International Coastal Cleanup Day
Supported by Goodera and the NYC Mayor’s Office
Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy (JBRPC) and Global Citizen are partnering for a cleanup event at Plumb Beach in Brooklyn, as part of International Coastal Cleanup Day on September 21 with additional support from Goodera and the NYC Mayor’s Office. Volunteers are invited to participate in this worldwide beach and waterway cleanup initiative, making a tangible impact by removing debris from the shoreline, marsh, and greenway. In appreciation, participants can earn free tickets to the Global Citizen Festival on September 28 in New York’s Central Park.
Jamaica Bay spans 18,000 acres of open water and marshlands, providing critical habitat for a diverse range of wildlife, supporting recreational activities, and serving as a natural buffer that enhances the resilience of surrounding communities against coastal flooding. This dynamic ecosystem faces ongoing challenges from debris. To date this year, JBRPC’s staff and volunteers removed 18,000 pounds of debris from shorelines, inter-tidal and upland areas, and surrounding green spaces. The cleanup at Plumb Beach on September 21st will continue these efforts by protecting wildlife and maintaining recreational access for the Brooklyn and Queens communities. The effort will also document the types and amounts of trash collected, with assistance from the American Littoral Society's NY State Beach Cleanup Program, Black Surfing Association, and Surfrider Foundation NYC.
Courtesy of Broooklyn, I'm Trying
“A resilient Jamaica Bay protects wildlife, offers vital open space access, and safeguards neighborhoods from flooding worsened by climate change. International Coastal Cleanup Day in New York is a big part of ensuring the health of our shorelines by removing trash and debris, documenting what’s collected, then using that data to strengthen advocacy and work to stop the sources of marine debris in the first place.” said JBRPC Executive Director, Terri Carta. “We are incredibly grateful to Global Citizen for partnering on these important efforts, and for the support of Goodera, the Office of the Mayor of New York City, the National Park Service, New York City Parks, American Littoral Society's NY State Beach Cleanup Program, Black Surfing Association, and Surfrider Foundation NYC.”
Courtesy of Goodera
Since 1986, the American Littoral Society has coordinated New York State's participation in International Coastal Cleanup Day, which began with 100 volunteers cleaning beaches at four New York City locations. The initiative has since grown to involve over 6,000 volunteers at more than 120 locations annually. Globally, over 18 million volunteers have removed 385 million pounds of trash from coastlines, making International Coastal Cleanup the world’s largest effort of its kind. In last year’s event, over 486,000 volunteers collected nearly 8 million pounds of trash, including nearly 2 million cigarette butts, over 1.3 million beverage bottles, and over 850,000 bottle caps.
Who: Environmental leaders and volunteers, organized by Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy and Global Citizen, with support from Goodera, American Littoral Society's NY State Beach Cleanup Program, Black Surfing Association, and Surfrider Foundation NYC
What: Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy is partnering with Global Citizen for a beach cleanup at Plumb Beach as part of International Coastal Cleanup Day
When: Saturday, September 21, 2024 – 9:00 AM 12:00 PM
Where: Plumb Beach, Belt Pkwy, Brooklyn, NY 11228
Driving Directions
Plumb Beach can only be accessed via the east-bound lane of the Belt Parkway. It is after Exit 9 and before Exit 11 (there is no Exit 10).
Public Transportation
Take the B-44 or B-4 bus to Knapp Street/Shore Parkway. There is a short walk from this stop to the Plumb Beach roundhouse. Alternatively, volunteers can start at the other end of the shoreline near Lew Fiddler Park, which is closer to the bus stop.
Bicycle
Ride eastbound on the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway from Emmons Avenue / Knapp Street in Sheepshead Bay, or the westbound Jamaica Bay Greenway from Flatbush Avenue / Floyd Bennett Field.
Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy on Parade with Great Elephant Migration
Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy on Parade with Great Elephant Migration
Courtesy Elephant Family USA and Newport Restoration Foundation
This September, the Meatpacking District in Manhattan is welcoming an unusual herd of visitors – wholly unlike the throngs of tourists that typically populate the cobblestone boulevards. The Great Elephant Migration, an enormous art installation consisting of 106 life-sized Indian elephant sculptures, will move into residency on 9th Avenue, between 13th and 14th Streets. They are arriving in partnership with Elephant Family USA, an international non-governmental organization dedicated to promoting coexistence between humans and wildlife. The elephant sculptures were most recently on the coast of Rhode Island, before migrating south.
Programming to honor and celebrate the mission of The Great Elephant Migration will include a September 10th panel discussion on conservation and coexistence – featuring Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy’s executive director, Terri Carta!
The discussion will challenge audience members to revisit longstanding notions of “conservation” as the separation of the wild and human worlds, and instead think of humans and wildlife existing on one, integrated "gradient" of coexistence, tell the socioeconomic and political empowerment stories of the tribes, and through an exploration of the work of the Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy, provide context for how New Yorkers coexist with the natural world.
What: Coexistence and Community from the Nilgiris to New York Panel
When: Tuesday, September 10 | 9 am
Where: The Maker's Studio at Chelsea Market | 448 West 16th Street
Courtesy Elephant Family USA and Newport Restoration Foundation
Even though wild elephants are oceans away, these sculptures and their creators bring at least two relevant parallels to caring for nature in New York City:
Removing invasives and restoring native plants – the sculptures of Great Elephant Migration are made from Lantana camara, one of the world’s top invasive weeds. This fast growing, noxious shrub has a stranglehold on over 74 million acres of India’s Protected Areas. The use of lantana to create the elephants helps remove the weed from protected areas, leaving wildlife more space to roam. This practice jibes with JBRPC’s work, alongside state agencies and community groups, to remove invasive plants across 10,000 acres of NYC parklands, and restore native plant communities, including flood and salt-tolerant plants. Stronger native plant ecologies in New York City create better habitat for migratory birds and improve our communities’ ability to recover from floods.
Creating a local workforce, honoring local environmental knowledge – The artisans who create the elephant sculptures are residents of Gudalur, in the Nilgiri Hills, where they coexist with the real elephants their art depicts. Roughly 150 elephants share the space with 250,000 people. Already over $500,000 has been generated by their art, which combined with the large-scale lantana removal, puts it on track to be the biggest sustainable indigenous enterprise in India. JBPRC’s effort to create a skilled, knowledgeable – and local – environmental workforce is similar, even if the work itself is different. The Wetlands Fellowship trains the next generation of wetland managers, building skills and defining a career path for young adults within the diverse communities surrounding Jamaica Bay. The people managing New York’s open spaces should come from the neighborhoods closest to them.
Courtesy Meatpacking Business Improvement District
Caring for our environment and the creatures within it is a collective effort. JBRPC was founded to bring community members together, to protect and enhance our open spaces. Our free public programming, ecological restoration, education and workforce development — all of this is aimed at building a stronger relationship with natural lands. Without identifying ourselves as part of nature, rather than apart from it, we cannot be effective stewards.
2024 Jamaica Bay Festival Brings Community to the Waterfront
2024 Jamaica Bay Festival Brings Community to the Waterfront
Jamaica Bay Festival 2024 was a huge success! Thank you to all our partners, friends and neighbors for participating in our seventh annual tradition. Perhaps it is appropriate that our City of Water Day started with a rainstorm, though that did not stop us from celebrating Jamaica Bay and the Rockaway Peninsula as the clouds cleared — nor from honouring the importance of resilient and equitable waterfronts. In particular, our tidal wetlands, marsh islands and other park spaces protect wildlife and people, and offer vital open space access for all New Yorkers.
Hundreds of community members participated in 37 events that highlighted marine life, natural history, and the arts. The festival is a perfect opportunity to showcase the efforts of JBRPC and our many partners in maintaining New York City's largest tidal estuary as a clean, safe, and accessible environment. We hope this event inspires more of our neighbors to engage with these vital coastal habitats for the first time. Check out some highlights from the day on our Instagram, @jbrpc.
Read more about the Festival in the news
First-Ever Floyd Bennett Field! Public Arts Festival a Monumental Success
Floyd Bennett Field! Public Arts Festival a monumental success
April 19-21, 2024
Artwork of Derrick Adams projection mapped onto Hangars 3 and 4
Over 1,500 people showed up to the Floyd Bennett Field! Public Arts Festival this past weekend for an amazing and immersive celebration of Floyd Bennett Field's past, present, and future.
Thank you to everyone who was involved to make this weekend an incredible success! Special thank you to the National Park Service at Gateway National Recreation Area for their partnership in this event. We are excited to work together on the rehabilitation of these hangars and the future of Floyd Bennett Field.
Here are a few of our favorite moments from the festival!
We were blown away by the musical performances of Wild Yaks, Sesame Flyers Steel Pan Ensemble, and Batalá.
Wild Yaks
Batala
Sesame Flyers Steel Pan Ensemble
It was a sight to behold as historic Hangars 3 and 4 were lit up with the original work of artists Derrick Adams, Peter Burr, Eto Otitigbe, Ryan Hartley Smith, Matt Bruinooge, Alessandro Echevarria, Donghwi Han, Christina Lee, Hanlin Liang, Dakota Ray, Ti Xu, and Phoenix Yang.
Watch a full recording on our YouTube channel and find more information about the artists at jbrpc.org/artsprogram.
Artwork of Christina Lee projection mapped onto Hangars 3 and 4
Our community partners activities and makers market were a perfect addition to Saturday and we loved seeing everyone out enjoying the sun at Floyd Bennett Field!
Erick Sahler signed prints
Rockaway Makers Market
Community partners activities
Additionally, on Sunday April 21, the Ryan Visitor Center and Hangar B were open to the public for behind the scenes tours of these historic buildings and the aircraft inside.
Read more about the Festival in the news
Brooklyn Paper: Projections light up Floyd Bennett Field at inaugural arts festival
Canarsie Courier: Floyd Bennett Field! Public Arts Festival – Looking to the Future
Time Out New York: This new festival projects gorgeous video art onto NYC’s historic airplane hangars
The Rockaway Times: Public Arts Festival Brings Historic Floyd Bennett Field to Life
Artwork of Ryan Hartley Smith projection mapped onto Hangars 3 and 4