Supporting Palisades Parks Conservancy’s 2020 Annual Benefit

On September 9th, Public Works Partners had the distinct pleasure of helping Palisades Park Conservancy host its first virtual gala to honor the Palisades Interstate Park system’s staff and hold its annual fundraising benefit. We provided logistical, technical, and staffing support for the event, which was held over Zoom and welcomed nearly 100 attendees.

Palisades Parks Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that partners with the Palisades Interstate Park Commission to protect the natural and historical resources of the Palisades Interstate Park (PIP) system. Its sole mission is to preserve the PIP’s rich history and biodiversity, and protect America’s first bi-state park system, which stretches over 130,000 acres, two states, and five counties and provides places where all visitors can play, connect, and immerse themselves in nature and culture. Sitting as the backyard to NYC and the greater region, the PIP hosts 9 million annual visitors.

This year, the parks received a record number of visitors seeking respite from the indoor isolation necessitated by the pandemic, prior to summer staffing in the parks. From administrators to engineers, historic site and park employees showed up, managed through fires, storms, and COVID-19 implications and new processes to ensure the safety of PIP parks and visitors.

Over the course of the evening, attendees were able to experience the parks remotely through video montages with an overview of the Conservancy’s work and a dedication to the park staff. Participants also took a virtual visit to the Trailside Zoo to meet some of their most famous furry inhabitants, twin black bears Pal and Sadie, and participate in a Q&A session with Ed McGowan, Director of the Trailside Zoo and the Commission’s Director of Science. The virtual event provided an opportunity for both those totally new to the Conservancy’s work and seasoned supporters to experience and learn about parts of the parks they never knew existed!

If you would also like to help protect the Parks and Historic Sites and support the Conservancy, please visit www.palisadesparks.org/donate-1. For additional information about how you can get involved in programs or advocacy, email info@mypalisades.org or visit www.palisadesparks.org

Interested in having Public Works support your virtual benefit? Get in touch at info@publicworkspartners.com

[author] [author_image timthumb=’on’]https://publicworkspartners.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/JenniferChung2020.jpg[/author_image] [author_info]Jennifer supports Client Services at Public Works Partners by supporting project management and conducting research to advance clients’ policy agendas. She is passionate about working at the intersections between economic development, building urban resilience, and climate adaptation.[/author_info] [/author]