We started in 2016 at a Community Board 8 Environment and Sanitation Committee meeting. The perennials in Fort Independence were covered in vines and leaves and overgrown by invasives. In addition to being unattractive and a waste of capital dollars, this attracted litter, poison ivy and rats. We decided to do something about it.

 

Our Mission

Our mission is simple, we care for the park spaces around the Jerome Park Reservoir. We work in collaboration with government entities like Partnership for Parks, DEP and NYC Parks and Recreation and with community groups like James Baldwin Outdoor Learning Center, Jerome Park Conservancy, Fort Independence Park Neighborhood Association, Kingsbridge Heights Community Association, Bronx Council of Environmental Quality, Kingsbridge Heights Community Center, CatRock Ventures, GrowNYC, The Compost Project and Bronx is Blooming. This care may take the form of our weekly seasonal weeding, mulching and raking of the planting beds. Or it could be a special painting project to restore fencing or park benches. Or it could be organizing an event in conjunction with a local high school or college. Or it could be advocating for better policing, garbage pickup or reservoir access. We are entirely volunteer run. The more volunteers we have the more we can do. Add your skills to ours!

“I was looking for a way to give back because that’s what it’s all about.”
— Andrew, volunteer

What We've Achieved

Tim Tomkins Award 2019.jpg

we won the Tim Tompkins Award!

Given each year by City Parks Foundation to the volunteer parks group that exemplifies leadership and commitment to their local parks, we were honored to receive this award for 2018 in February of 2019.

In 2023

  • Held 22 It’s My Park cleanup days

  • Planted over 450 shrubs and perennials including Bigfoot geranium, shasta daisies and heuchera

  • Collected 112 bags of natural debris and litter

  • Hosted the Annual Washington’s Walk Covid Memorial Ceremony

  • Supported the development of the Washington’s Walk Coalition

  • Spread 760 lbs of compost

  • 26 core volunteers made it all happen

In 2022

  • Held 27 It’s My Park days

  • Planted over 1000 daffodils

  • Planted over 300 perennials including tickseed, goldenrod and Mexican feather grass

  • Collected 213 bags of natural debris and litter

  • Provided over 200 gallons of water to the planting beds during the drought

  • Hosted the Annual Washington’s Walk Covid Memorial Ceremony

  • Spread 760 lbs of compost

  • 50 core volunteers made it all happen

In 2020

  • Held 20 It’s My Park socially distanced cleanup days

  • Planted 50 crocus bulbs

  • Planted 75 shrubs in Fort Independence

  • Collected 113 bags of debris

  • Supported CatRock Ventures Youth Summer trash pickup events and planting the Washington’s Walk Overlook

  • Supported individual family socially distanced planting in the beds along Sedgwick Avenue

  • Supported Sedgwick Park’s Volunteer Christmas Tree Celebration

  • 29 core volunteers made it all possible

In 2021

  • Restored the perennial beds on Sedgwick Avenue between Fort Four and Fort Independence

  • Restored the perennial bed next to the Fort Independence basketball court

  • Held 24 It’s My Park cleanup days

  • Planted 1200 daffodils, 325 irises and tulips

  • Planted 214 shrubs and perennials including roses, oak leaf hydrangea and st john’s wort

  • Collected 105 bags of debris and trash

  • Spread 400lbs of compost

  • Planted 3 red bud trees in Washington’s Walk in memory of those we lost due to COVID-19

  • Repaired the gravel track after Hurricane Ida

  • 32 core volunteers made it all happen

In 2018

  • Weeded all but two planting areas in Fort Independence

  • Expanded to cleaning planting beds along Sedgwick Avenue, Goulden Avenue and in Washington’s Walk

  • Planted 1000 daffodils bulbs, 175 alliums, 24 shrubs and 20 perennials

  • Collected 221 bags of debris

  • Spread 400lbs of compost and 22 yards of mulch

  • 110 volunteers participated in our cleanup’s. Many more than once!

In 2019

  • Held 26 It’s My Park cleanup days

  • Cared for tree pits and weeded in Harris Field, Fort Four, Fort Independence Park and the beds on Sedgwick Avenue

  • Planted 1050 daffodils, 90 native shrubs, 19 day lillies, 17 hostas

  • Painted 20 benches and the fence in Washington’s Walk

  • Painted 15 benches in Fort Four

  • Collected 280 bags of litter and weeds

  • Spread 25 yards of mulch

  • Spread 3600lbs of compost

  • 40 street trees pruned

  • 232 volunteers participated in our cleanup’s. Many more than once!