Over 400 people attended the North Brooklyn Parks Alliance (NBK Parks) annual Fall Gala at Under the ‘K’ Bridge, which took place during Climate Week. The gala serves as the environmental nonprofit’s primary fundraising effort, as well as an opportunity to update the community on NBK Parks’ progress and plans. 

“It’s not just about raising funds, but also raising awareness for the work that we’re trying to do, and not just the functional day to day work, but the long-term ecological impact that our horticultural initiatives potentially have,” said Katie Denny Horowitz, executive director of NBK Parks and an outspoken community advocate, who noted that the gala raised over $200,000. 

Despite the prediction of rain on Thursday, Sept. 26, the evening was clear and temperate as Denny Horowitz honored several organizations who have given back to Brooklyn through ecological initiatives. The honorees for the evening were Field Operations, Alive Structures, Gowanus Canal Conservancy, Crest Hardware and Rebecca McMackin. 

Field Operations and Alive Structures are uniquely positioned to integrate environmentalism and sustainability into community, corporate and residential developments. Both organizations were honored for their work with the parks in North Brooklyn. Alive Structures, founded by Marni Majorelle, specializes in green roofs in industrial zones. Field Operations is responsible for projects like the Highline and Domino Park. 

“Field operations has been immersed in North Brooklyn for a long time, so this is an incredible recognition of our team and the effort and commitment to parks and open spaces in North Brooklyn; specifically, we have had the honor to work on Domino Park, Domino Square, Greenpoint Landing, Ericsson playground and One Java Street,” said Lisa Switkin, a partner at Field Operations. “We’re always finding new ways to bring nature into our lives, especially in the city. With every project, there’s a new opportunity to do that and to do it in a different way.”

Gowanus Canal Conservancy was honored for its work at the Gowanus Canal Superfund site. Rebecca McMackin was honored for her work with Brooklyn Bridge Park as its former director. Crest Hardware was also honored, just a month after it permanently closed its Metropolitan Ave. brick-and-mortar store, which served the community for over 60 years. Crest was home to a greenhouse with native plants. 

“While our doors were open, a lot of these projects were born. To see a lot of them come to fruition really fills a space in our hearts, even more space than it used to, seeing that there’s a little bit of a void in our hearts as our doors have closed,” said Joe Franquinha of Crest Hardware. 

“It’s a real honor to be among so many amazing people that are part of beautifying New York City. While it’s amazing, I think there’s a tidbit of sadness, of course, because of us being involved in helping that effort for so many years,” said Liza Fanquinha of Crest. “Seeing it come to a close is challenging emotionally, but it’s nice to know that the continued stewardship is amazing hands and that New York City is on the right track to becoming a more modern, green, environmentally conscious epicenter for the world.”

Councilmember Lincoln Restler (D-33) noted the importance of parks and green space in communities, and he recognized the efforts of NBK Parks and its partners. 

“North Brooklyn Parks Alliance is a phenomenal organization,” said Restler. “From getting new trash cans placed in our parks, to cleaning up our dog runs, to taking care of our street trees, to partnering with us to create a whole new business improvement district, to creating new Friends groups at our parks, NBK is an integral partner in everything we do, and they do a terrific job. It’s a relatively small staff, but they work so hard, and they’re always responsive to whatever the need is in the community.”

Other nonprofit workers, activists and advocates made an appearance at the gala to show support. Kevin LaCherra, an advocate for safe streets, plazas and open spaces in North Brooklyn, noted the importance of supporting other advocates in the community. 

“North Brooklyn Parks Alliance is an incredible organization and an incredible gift to the people in North Brooklyn. Most communities don’t have something like this. North Brooklyn Parks is geared towards the entire neighborhood, though not just the entire neighborhood, but looking at opportunities to increase the open space,” said LaCherra. “It is amazing to work with an organization that can say, ‘Hey, this matters to us too,’ and to be able to say it to so many other organizers in the neighborhood. To be here tonight, support them, support their staff, support the mission — it’s a no brainer.”

NBK Parks often collaborates with Friends groups, which are neighborhood volunteers dedicated to sustaining and supporting a particular park. In the summer, NBK Parks hosts gardening clubs at each of its parks, and often collaborates with the park Friends groups to maximize the effectiveness of its outreach and education. 

Steve Chesler, a member of Friends of Bushwick Inlet Park for nine years who is on the Parks and Waterfront Committee for Community Board One, described the progress and evolution of the Williamsburg-Greenpoint waterfront in the past several years, highlighting the important work of Friends groups. 

“There was this massive zoning of Greenpoint and Williamsburg in 2005 that brought in all this development on the waterfront, like high density housing. They also promised two parks, Bushwick Inlet Park, on the border of Greenpoint Williamsburg, and Box Street Park in the north end of Greenpoint,” said Chesler. “In 2015 and 2016, we almost lost a big chunk of Bushwick Inlet Park. The community mobilized through the Friends group to advocate for the city to fulfill their promise from 2005 to acquire that land and build the park, and we prevailed.”

At the gala, NBK Parks highlighted its theme for the year, “Rewild North Brooklyn,” which embodies the organization’s goal of restoring ecosystems and enhancing biodiversity. Each of the honorees resonated with the concept of rewilding, which focuses on restoring native plant and wildlife in order to foster a thriving, healthy ecosystem.