Westchester Parks Foundation

Volunteer program / other initiativesin 2022, our dedicated volunteers made an impressive impact giving back to the Parks they love. By the end of the year, 4,115 volunteers had contributed 12,119 hours of service to the Parks, trails, and open spaces across the county. This is equivalent to $362,964 worth of investment of sweat equity into Westchester's Parks. This year we were pleased to strengthen community relationships with local businesses and schools, through our volunteer projects and internships. This year, our clean river project celebrated its fifth year with the support of sponsor pepsico. Through hands-on science, 171 volunteers removed and cataloged 11,364 items of floatable trash from two locations on the bronx river. Our volunteer numbers for clean river project doubled from 2021 thanks to continued partnerships with local schools and of course, good weather! Our green squad leaders continued to make an impact by going out to the Parks on their own schedule to remove trash, manage invasive species, and lead other volunteers at cleanups. This year we welcomed 4 new green squad leaders, and the green squads removed 812 lbs. Of trash from 14 park locations.in 2022, Westchester Parks Foundation entered year five 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). Thanks to our partners xylem and ga fleet, we once again secured funding to remove the water chestnut using a mechanical harvester. Our community volunteers and summer greenterns contributed an amazing 484 hours of hand pulling efforts to remove 15,910 pounds of water chestnut from the lake. With each year of continued management, Westchester Parks Foundation is one step closer to bringing aquatic recreation back to tibbetts brook park.

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, including our volunteer program and many special projects and investments.

Winter wonderlandwestchester's winter wonderland drive-thru holiday light extravaganza continues to be a cherished and memorable holiday tradition, now in its ninth season in 2022. 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 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 in his north pole snow globe, with all of their friends and family.

Camp mortyin the summer of 2022, camp morty returned home to sal j. prezioso mountain lakes park after two long awaited summers to host campers for overnight camp! Westchester Parks Foundation staff dedicated months of planning over winter and spring to allow for returning to our overnight model while keeping safety at the forefront. In addition to operating overnight camp, camp morty was also excited to welcome back our dedicated international camp counselors, including returning international staff from 2019. Camp morty hosted staff from five countries including as far away as new zealand! We were also proud to have had a total of 12 returning staff, including two former cits. Our outstanding staff were ready to welcome our campers back to camp for an unforgettable summer!this summer, we received 435 complete applications and were able to fill over 70% of our open slots though we only operated five out of six sessions due to covid safety measures. A total of 309 campers got to swim, hike, and explore the outdoors while learning valuable life skills and making new friends. From our camper population, we had 7 counselors-in-training complete our summer program. 20% of campers came from the most challenging situations those who come from homeless shelters, foster care, child preventive and protective cases. Camp morty maintains its national accreditation with the american camping association and, as a result of our accreditation, we received scholarships to send ten additional campers to camp!