Field Guide to East River Park
Submitted by Angie827 on Wed, 08/27/2008 - 22:31.
Last updated on Thu, 07/23/2009 - 22:26.
Vital Stats
ongoing project
08/01/2008
12/01/2008
People Impacted:
2000People Involved: 7
Project Video
The Problem
The Lower East Side is a culturally vibrant and diverse neighborhood of New York City. It includes a large riverside park, the 2nd largest downtown park, called East River Park. What attracts most visitors to the park are the two large ballfields. However, community members are now working to address the needs of the community and implement much needed and desired park services.
Why It's Important
I am working with CHERP (Community Hooked on East River Park), a group of volunteer advocates, to make the park more accessible and to get community members involved in its development.
My personal project is the creation of a "Field Guide to East River Park". For ecologists, field guides serve as small companions when conducting research or exploring a new area. For this particular field guide, I will include field activities that children and other visitors to the park can engage in. It will include scientific facts in an accessible way and encourage youth and community members to become closer to nature and the park.
The Plan Of Action
I will explore the park, photograph species, speak with scientists and biologists about the diversity and ecosystem interactions of the species. I will research species in biological reference books. I will design and format the guide in a creative, youth-friendly style and write the content. I will publish the final product digitally and on paper.
How Can Others Get Involved?
Support our project, visit the Lower East Side Ecology Center at the Grand Street Fireboat House, volunteer at our gardening/composting days, begin composting.
Project Updates
07/23/09
Update: Currently, a woman named Ingrid, who works at Lower East Side Ecology Center, is finishing up research on the northern part of the park and working on layout and design for a final project.
Final Grant Update
07/23/09
Angelica MurdukhayevaNumber of people impacted: So far, 50. In the future, maybe thousands
Describe the impact the grant had: It helped us because we can now publish more copies of the completed edition and reach out to more people. We will also make an online edition of the field guide.
Project highlights: 1) Learning about all of the species in the park 2) working with young students to design the activity pages featured in the field guide 3) teaching youngsters about plants and tree identification
How did the project unfold and develop? The field guide is still in the process of being researched and completed. I made a big dent in the research by describing all of the species found in most of the park. A woman named Ingrid who works at Lower East Side ecology center has taken over to finish the northern tip and to work on layout and designing.
Location
Related Causes:
Get some cash to get your project to the next level. Weekly grants are available.
Comments
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this is really cool. i live in the village, so i'm not too far away from LES. my friends and i can definitely make a trip to the park and check it out =)