Westchester Parks Foundation Inc

TO SUPPORT, INVEST IN, AND PROMOTE THE PARKS WITHIN THE WESTCHESTER COUNTY PARK SYSTEM.

VOLUNTEER PROGRAM / OTHER INITIATIVESIN 2021, PARKS CONTINUED TO BE A RELIABLE AND SAFE OUTLET FOR GATHERING AND COMMUNITY. OUR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM SAW INDIVIDUAL VOLUNTEER NUMBERS CONTINUE TO GROW, AND CORPORATE VOLUNTEERS RETURNED TO PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS. MANY OF THE CORPORATE PROJECTS WERE A PLACE FOR CO-WORKERS TO REUNITEOR IN SOME CASES MEET FOR THE FIRST TIME! BY THE END OF 2021, 5,084 VOLUNTEERS HAD CONTRIBUTED AN INCREDIBLE 14,034 HOURS OF SERVICE TO OUR PARKS. THIS FIGURE DOUBLED THE IMPACT OF THE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM FROM 2020, AND IS EQUIVALENT TO $439,149 WORTH OF INVESTMENT OF SWEAT EQUITY INTO WESTCHESTER'S PARKS. THIS YEAR, OUR CLEAN RIVER PROJECT SPONSORED BY ENTERGY CONTINUED FOR A FOURTH YEAR, REMOVING 12,298 ITEMS OF FLOATABLE TRASH FROM TWO LOCATIONS IN THE BRONX RIVER. VOLUNTEERS PARTICIPATING IN THIS PROGRAM IMPROVE AND DOCUMENT WATER QUALITY THROUGH HANDS-ON SCIENCE. WE ALSO CONTINUED OUR GRAFFITI SQUAD SPONSORED BY THALLE INDUSTRIES, THROUGH WHICH VOLUNTEERS REMOVED 355 SQUARE FEET OF GRAFFITI FROM STONEWORK, UNDERPASSES, AND QUARRY ROCKS. THE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM RECEIVED A GRANT FROM SPIRAL GIVING, A MEANINGFUL FOUNDATION THAT ENGAGES YOUNG PEOPLE TO TAKE PART IN PHILANTHROPY. THIS GRANT FUNDED THE EXPANSION OF OUR GREEN SQUAD PROGRAM WHICH REMOVED A TOTAL OF 1,732 LBS. OF TRASH FROM 18 PARK LOCATIONS. PITCH IN FOR PARKS WAS HELD IN APRIL AND HOSTED 830 VOLUNTEERS OVER THE WEEKLONG INITIATIVE DEDICATED TO IMPROVING GREEN SPACES IN WESTCHESTER. VOLUNTEER INVOLVEMENT NEARLY DOUBLED OUR ATTENDANCE FROM 2020. IN 2021, WESTCHESTER PARKS FOUNDATION ENTERED YEAR FOUR OF ITS LAKE REVITALIZATION PROJECT AT TIBBETTS BROOK PARK. PRIOR TO OUR INVOLVEMENT, TEN ACRES OF TIBBETTS BROOK PARK LAKE WERE INFESTED WITH THE INVASIVE SPECIES, WATER CHESTNUT (TRAPA NATANS). WITH THE HELP OF XYLEM AND GA FLEET, WE ONCE AGAIN SECURED FUNDING TO REMOVE THE WATER CHESTNUT USING A MECHANICAL HARVESTER. OUR COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS, INCLUDING THE RETURNING LOWER HUDSON PRISM AQUATIC INVASIVE STRIKE FORCE AND OUR NEW SUMMER GREENTERNS, CONTRIBUTED AN AMAZING 1,638 HOURS OF HAND PULLING EFFORTS TO REMOVE 59,635 POUNDS OF WATER CHESTNUT FROM THE LAKE.

WINTER WONDERLANDWESTCHESTER'S WINTER WONDERLAND DRIVE-THRU HOLIDAY LIGHT EXTRAVAGANZA CONTINUES TO BE A CHERISHED AND MEMORABLE HOLIDAY TRADITION, NOW IN ITS EIGHTH SEASON IN 2021. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH WESTCHESTER COUNTY PARKS, RECREATION, AND CONSERVATION, AND MADE POSSIBLE BY FOUNDING SPONSOR WESTCHESTER MEDICAL CENTER, WESTCHESTER PARKS FOUNDATION CONTINUED TO HOST A SAFE HOLIDAY EXPERIENCE THE WHOLE FAMILY COULD ENJOY. OVER 130,000 PEOPLE WERE DAZZLED AND DELIGHTED WITH 1.2 MILES OF HOLIDAY LIGHTS, WITH NEW LARGER THAN LIFE DISPLAYS, AND A VISIT WITH SANTA RIGHT FROM THE WARMTH AND SAFETY OF THEIR OWN CAR, WITH ALL OF THEIR FRIENDS AND FAMILY.

DRIVING RANGESWESTCHESTER PARKS FOUNDATION (WPF) OPERATES TWO DRIVING RANGES, ONE AT MOHANSIC IN YORKTOWN AND ONE AT DUNWOODIE IN YONKERS. IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION, WPF ENCOURAGES THE USE OF WESTCHESTER'S COUNTY PARKS, OF WHICH THESE DRIVING RANGES ARE PART, AND THE PROCEEDS COLLECTED AT THE RANGES ARE USED IN WPF'S PROGRAMS AND INVESTMENTS IN SUPPORT OF THE PARK SYSTEM.

CAMP MORTYTHIS SUMMER, CAMP MORTY KICKED OFF ITS 15TH SEASON OF SUMMER PROGRAMMING IN AN UNEXPECTED LOCATION BEAUTIFUL TIBBETTS BROOK PARK IN YONKERS. HOSTING CAMP AT TIBBETTS MEANT THAT WE COULD BRING OUR CAMPERS ONE STEP CLOSER TO IN-PERSON CAMP THIS YEAR. WESTCHESTER PARKS FOUNDATION STAFF DEDICATED MONTHS OF PLANNING OVER WINTER AND SPRING TO ADAPT OUR PROGRAM TO THE EVER-CHANGING RESTRICTIONS BROUGHT BY COVID-19. WHILE WE WERE UNABLE TO RETURN TO SAL J. PREZIOSO MOUNTAIN LAKES PARK, CAMP MORTY'S HOME FOR OUR TRADITIONAL SLEEPAWAY CAMP, WE ARE PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT 250 OF WESTCHESTER'S MOST VULNERABLE CHILDREN WERE ABLE TO ATTEND UP TO THREE WEEKS OF OUR DAY CAMP! THIS YEAR, WE RECEIVED 417 COMPLETE APPLICATIONS AND WERE ABLE TO GET 60% OF THOSE APPLICANTS TO CAMP. WE WERE ABLE TO FILL 466 SPACES AT CAMP THIS SUMMER. OF OUR POPULATION, WE HAD 7 COUNSELORS IN TRAINING COMPLETE OUR SUMMER PROGRAM, AND 5 GET PROMOTED TO DAY CAMP STAFF FOR THE SECOND HALF OF THE SUMMER. EIGHTY-FIVE CAMPERS CAME FROM OUR MOST CHALLENGED POPULATION THOSE WHO COME FROM HOMELESS SHELTERS, FOSTER CARE, CHILD PREVENTIVE AND PROTECTIVE CASES. CAMP MORTY IS PROUD TO SHARE THAT WE CONTINUED TO PROVIDE FREE FOOD SERVICE, INCLUDING BREAKFAST, LUNCH, SNACKS, AND LEFTOVERS FOR FAMILIES EACH DAY. FINALLY, CAMP MORTY'S GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT THIS YEAR WAS PASSING A RIGOROUS ACCREDITATION PROCESS BY THE AMERICAN CAMPING ASSOCIATION, THE ONLY INDEPENDENT ACCREDITING ORGANIZATION IN THE COUNTRY THAT REVIEWS CAMP OPERATIONS. ITS STANDARD FOCUS IS PROGRAM QUALITY AND HEALTH AND SAFETY OF A CAMP.

VOLUNTEER PROGRAM / OTHER INITIATIVESIN 2021, PARKS CONTINUED TO BE A RELIABLE AND SAFE OUTLET FOR GATHERING AND COMMUNITY. OUR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM SAW INDIVIDUAL VOLUNTEER NUMBERS CONTINUE TO GROW, AND CORPORATE VOLUNTEERS RETURNED TO PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS. MANY OF THE CORPORATE PROJECTS WERE A PLACE FOR CO-WORKERS TO REUNITEOR IN SOME CASES MEET FOR THE FIRST TIME! BY THE END OF 2021, 5,084 VOLUNTEERS HAD CONTRIBUTED AN INCREDIBLE 14,034 HOURS OF SERVICE TO OUR PARKS. THIS FIGURE DOUBLED THE IMPACT OF THE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM FROM 2020, AND IS EQUIVALENT TO $439,149 WORTH OF INVESTMENT OF SWEAT EQUITY INTO WESTCHESTER'S PARKS. THIS YEAR, OUR CLEAN RIVER PROJECT SPONSORED BY ENTERGY CONTINUED FOR A FOURTH YEAR, REMOVING 12,298 ITEMS OF FLOATABLE TRASH FROM TWO LOCATIONS IN THE BRONX RIVER. VOLUNTEERS PARTICIPATING IN THIS PROGRAM IMPROVE AND DOCUMENT WATER QUALITY THROUGH HANDS-ON SCIENCE. WE ALSO CONTINUED OUR GRAFFITI SQUAD SPONSORED BY THALLE INDUSTRIES, THROUGH WHICH VOLUNTEERS REMOVED 355 SQUARE FEET OF GRAFFITI FROM STONEWORK, UNDERPASSES, AND QUARRY ROCKS. THE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM RECEIVED A GRANT FROM SPIRAL GIVING, A MEANINGFUL FOUNDATION THAT ENGAGES YOUNG PEOPLE TO TAKE PART IN PHILANTHROPY. THIS GRANT FUNDED THE EXPANSION OF OUR GREEN SQUAD PROGRAM WHICH REMOVED A TOTAL OF 1,732 LBS. OF TRASH FROM 18 PARK LOCATIONS. PITCH IN FOR PARKS WAS HELD IN APRIL AND HOSTED 830 VOLUNTEERS OVER THE WEEKLONG INITIATIVE DEDICATED TO IMPROVING GREEN SPACES IN WESTCHESTER. VOLUNTEER INVOLVEMENT NEARLY DOUBLED OUR ATTENDANCE FROM 2020. IN 2021, WESTCHESTER PARKS FOUNDATION ENTERED YEAR FOUR OF ITS LAKE REVITALIZATION PROJECT AT TIBBETTS BROOK PARK. PRIOR TO OUR INVOLVEMENT, TEN ACRES OF TIBBETTS BROOK PARK LAKE WERE INFESTED WITH THE INVASIVE SPECIES, WATER CHESTNUT (TRAPA NATANS). WITH THE HELP OF XYLEM AND GA FLEET, WE ONCE AGAIN SECURED FUNDING TO REMOVE THE WATER CHESTNUT USING A MECHANICAL HARVESTER. OUR COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS, INCLUDING THE RETURNING LOWER HUDSON PRISM AQUATIC INVASIVE STRIKE FORCE AND OUR NEW SUMMER GREENTERNS, CONTRIBUTED AN AMAZING 1,638 HOURS OF HAND PULLING EFFORTS TO REMOVE 59,635 POUNDS OF WATER CHESTNUT FROM THE LAKE.

WINTER WONDERLANDWESTCHESTER'S WINTER WONDERLAND DRIVE-THRU HOLIDAY LIGHT EXTRAVAGANZA CONTINUES TO BE A CHERISHED AND MEMORABLE HOLIDAY TRADITION, NOW IN ITS EIGHTH SEASON IN 2021. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH WESTCHESTER COUNTY PARKS, RECREATION, AND CONSERVATION, AND MADE POSSIBLE BY FOUNDING SPONSOR WESTCHESTER MEDICAL CENTER, WESTCHESTER PARKS FOUNDATION CONTINUED TO HOST A SAFE HOLIDAY EXPERIENCE THE WHOLE FAMILY COULD ENJOY. OVER 130,000 PEOPLE WERE DAZZLED AND DELIGHTED WITH 1.2 MILES OF HOLIDAY LIGHTS, WITH NEW LARGER THAN LIFE DISPLAYS, AND A VISIT WITH SANTA RIGHT FROM THE WARMTH AND SAFETY OF THEIR OWN CAR, WITH ALL OF THEIR FRIENDS AND FAMILY.

DRIVING RANGESWESTCHESTER PARKS FOUNDATION (WPF) OPERATES TWO DRIVING RANGES, ONE AT MOHANSIC IN YORKTOWN AND ONE AT DUNWOODIE IN YONKERS. IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION, WPF ENCOURAGES THE USE OF WESTCHESTER'S COUNTY PARKS, OF WHICH THESE DRIVING RANGES ARE PART, AND THE PROCEEDS COLLECTED AT THE RANGES ARE USED IN WPF'S PROGRAMS AND INVESTMENTS IN SUPPORT OF THE PARK SYSTEM.

CAMP MORTYTHIS SUMMER, CAMP MORTY KICKED OFF ITS 15TH SEASON OF SUMMER PROGRAMMING IN AN UNEXPECTED LOCATION BEAUTIFUL TIBBETTS BROOK PARK IN YONKERS. HOSTING CAMP AT TIBBETTS MEANT THAT WE COULD BRING OUR CAMPERS ONE STEP CLOSER TO IN-PERSON CAMP THIS YEAR. WESTCHESTER PARKS FOUNDATION STAFF DEDICATED MONTHS OF PLANNING OVER WINTER AND SPRING TO ADAPT OUR PROGRAM TO THE EVER-CHANGING RESTRICTIONS BROUGHT BY COVID-19. WHILE WE WERE UNABLE TO RETURN TO SAL J. PREZIOSO MOUNTAIN LAKES PARK, CAMP MORTY'S HOME FOR OUR TRADITIONAL SLEEPAWAY CAMP, WE ARE PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT 250 OF WESTCHESTER'S MOST VULNERABLE CHILDREN WERE ABLE TO ATTEND UP TO THREE WEEKS OF OUR DAY CAMP! THIS YEAR, WE RECEIVED 417 COMPLETE APPLICATIONS AND WERE ABLE TO GET 60% OF THOSE APPLICANTS TO CAMP. WE WERE ABLE TO FILL 466 SPACES AT CAMP THIS SUMMER. OF OUR POPULATION, WE HAD 7 COUNSELORS IN TRAINING COMPLETE OUR SUMMER PROGRAM, AND 5 GET PROMOTED TO DAY CAMP STAFF FOR THE SECOND HALF OF THE SUMMER. EIGHTY-FIVE CAMPERS CAME FROM OUR MOST CHALLENGED POPULATION THOSE WHO COME FROM HOMELESS SHELTERS, FOSTER CARE, CHILD PREVENTIVE AND PROTECTIVE CASES. CAMP MORTY IS PROUD TO SHARE THAT WE CONTINUED TO PROVIDE FREE FOOD SERVICE, INCLUDING BREAKFAST, LUNCH, SNACKS, AND LEFTOVERS FOR FAMILIES EACH DAY. FINALLY, CAMP MORTY'S GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT THIS YEAR WAS PASSING A RIGOROUS ACCREDITATION PROCESS BY THE AMERICAN CAMPING ASSOCIATION, THE ONLY INDEPENDENT ACCREDITING ORGANIZATION IN THE COUNTRY THAT REVIEWS CAMP OPERATIONS. ITS STANDARD FOCUS IS PROGRAM QUALITY AND HEALTH AND SAFETY OF A CAMP.