For Immediate Release Media Contact: [email protected]

Green Below 14 Launches Greener and Cleaner Program to Improve Participating Downtown Parks

NEW YORK - May 9, 2016 - Green Below 14, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving parks, playgrounds and open spaces in downtown Manhattan, today launched a new program called Greener and Cleaner at three local parks. This program is a collaboration between Green Below 14, The Department of Parks and Recreation ("Parks"), The Horticultural Society of New York ("The Hort") and The Association for Community Employment ("ACE") to provide supplemental gardening and general maintenance of local parks in downtown Manhattan in addition to educational and enrichment programming.

As part of the Greener and Cleaner program, The Hort will provide landscaping design and training to ACE workers who will deliver daily services to select sites starting with Vesuvio Playground on Thompson Street, Father Fagan Park and .

“ACE is proud to partner with Green Below 14 and the New York City Parks Department, in providing these vital services,” said ACE Executive Director Jim Martin. “This partnership will not only improve the condition of our city parks, it will also give ACE program participants important job training and work experience.”

“Our small parks below 14th street are essential green spaces for people and wildlife. The Hort is delighted to help enhance the plants and plant care in these downtown jewels,” added Sara Hobel, Executive Director of The Hort.

Green Below 14 proposed the Greener and Cleaner collaboration to address the need for more public and private resources to support NYC Parks, especially the smaller neighborhood parks. “Working together, we hope to support Parks’ efforts to ensure community needs are addressed at local parks,” said Green Below 14 Co-Founder and President Coral Dawson.

Additional information may be found at http://www.greenbelow14.org Twitter: @greenbelow14 | Instagram: @greenbelow14 | Facebook: www.facebook.com/GreenBelow14

“Community support and engagement is critical to the success of parks,” said NYC Parks Manhattan Borough Commissioner William Castro.

Greener and Cleaner is funded through a combination of private funds and NYC City Council discretionary funds, generously allocated by Council Member Corey Johnson. Progress including photos may be followed online at the Green Below 14 Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/GreenBelow14. This program will serve as a pilot to gauge the success of the collaboration and to potentially expand to additional sites in the future.

About Green Below 14 Green Below 14 “GB14” is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to improving parks, playgrounds and open space in downtown Manhattan. For media inquiries, please contact us at [email protected]

About ACE The Association of Community Employment Programs for the Homeless “ACE” a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization works with homeless men and women throughout New York City, providing job training, work experience and a lifetime support network to help its program participants achieve their goals and establish economic independence.

About The HORT The Horticultural Society of New York “The Hort” is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to sustaining the vital connection between people and plants. Our social service and public programs educate and inspire, growing a broad community that values horticulture for the many benefits it brings to our environment, our neighborhoods, and our lives.

About NYC Parks The New York City Department of Parks & Recreation “NYC Parks” is the chief steward of nearly 30,000 acres of land — 14 percent of New York City — including more than 5,000 individual properties ranging from Coney Island Beach and to community gardens and Greenstreets. The agency operates more than 800 athletic fields and nearly 1,000 playgrounds, 1,800 basketball courts, 550 tennis courts, 67 public pools, 51 recreational facilities, 15 nature centers, 14 golf courses, and 14 miles of beaches. NYC Parks cares for 1,200 monuments and 23 historic house museums. NYC Parks looks after 600,000 street trees, and two million more in parks. NYC Parks is New York City's principal provider of recreational and athletic facilities and programs. It is also home to free concerts, world-class sports events, and cultural festivals. NYC Parks’ three guiding principles are: increased greening, improved access to recreational and fitness opportunities, and using parks as a vehicle for community and economic development.

Additional information may be found at http://www.greenbelow14.org Twitter: @greenbelow14 | Instagram: @greenbelow14 | Facebook: www.facebook.com/GreenBelow14