Fort Greene Park Conservancy

With rolling hills, playgrounds, lush gardens, tennis courts, wide natural lawns, and even a Revolutionary War monument and crypt, Fort Greene Park has something for everyone. Step inside and you’ll see and hear Brooklynites of all kinds: the sizzle of BBQs at the northwest corner, the shuffle of joggers heading up the grand staircase to the Prison Ship Martyrs Monument, the shouts of children playing on the lawns, and the barks of dogs chasing far-flung sticks. Together, these sounds form the melody of one of Brooklyn’s oldest public parks.

As a public space, Fort Greene Park is more than green acres—it’s shared ground for a neighborhood that has changed many times over and a reminder that belonging can be built block by block.

Since its founding in 1998, the Fort Greene Park Conservancy has grown from a small group of volunteers into a nonprofit with a full-time staff of seven. Partnering closely with NYC Parks and local residents, the Conservancy programs, maintains, and advocates for the park as a vital space for connection, reflection, and recreation.

Director of Programs Mia Rubin calls the team “small but mighty,” and their work shows how a park can anchor a community across generations. Each year, their free public programs reach more than 20,000 people, from morning yoga regulars to families at outdoor movie nights.

Located at the intersection of long-standing public housing and newly built high-rise towers, the Conservancy works intentionally to meet the needs of all who call Fort Greene home. Free programs such as Saturday yoga, jazz festivals, and storytimes with the local library ensure that everyone feels welcome. In 2025 alone, over 3,500 volunteers joined forces to help care for the park’s lawns, gardens and events.

“Life in New York City is so expensive,” Rubin said. “We want people to know that Fort Greene Park offers free opportunities for wellness, art, and connection that are open to everyone.”

That spirit of inclusion is also at the heart of the Conservancy’s Community Heroes program, which honors local residents who dedicate themselves to Fort Greene—often in ways that go unrecognized. Local teens interview each year’s honorees and write their profiles, creating a bridge between young people and community elders. Their portraits are displayed in the park as part of a public art exhibition, giving the neighborhood a chance to celebrate its own.

When the Conservancy lost long-standing federal support from the National Endowment for the Arts in 2025, the future of Community Heroes was uncertain. “It was a shock,” Rubin said. “Year after year, we’ve relied on NEA funding for Community Heroes, and suddenly it was gone. We’re just so grateful for Brooklyn Org’s support so that we can continue to put on programs people expect, even without federal government support.”

Brooklyn Org’s partnership has also strengthened the Conservancy’s Green Team, an eight-month environmental education and job training program for teens ages 14 to 19. In addition to receiving professional development, hands-on environmental education, and an increased appreciation for land stewardship, the teens’ work is also paid.

“With Brooklyn Org’s support, we can make sure every teen receives their stipend and that we have enough staff capacity to guide them. [Brooklyn Org’s funding] gives us the room to deepen the program and potentially expand the number of students we can take on,” Rubin explained.

These programs thrive thanks to the Conservancy’s network of dedicated volunteers—neighbors who plant gardens, assist at events, and keep the park vibrant year-round. “Brooklyn Org has been super supportive, and at a time when resources are uncertain, we are so grateful to have a partner like Brooklyn Org.”

Together, the Conservancy’s programs and partnerships reach the 30,000 residents of Fort Greene and the 250,000 visitors who come to the park each year, making it a true commons in the heart of Brooklyn.

Fort Greene Park tells a familiar Brooklyn story: one of change, resilience, and neighbors showing up for one another. With support from the Conservancy and partners like Brooklyn Org, it remains as a third space that every neighborhood needs—a place to breathe, connect, and remember who we share the borough with.