Riverside Park Conservancy
The mission of Riverside Park Conservancy is to restore, maintain, and improve Riverside Park in partnership with the City of New York for the enjoyment and benefit of all New Yorkers. We support the preservation of the park’s historic landscape, structures, and monuments, engage the community in active stewardship of the park, and provide a wide range of public programs.
From 59th Street to 181st Street, from riverfront to city—side we work to enhance this Olmsted gem for present and future generations. Whatever it needs, Riverside Park Conservancy is by its side. Think of us as its gardener. Its advocate. Its sustainability manager. Its art curator. Its historian. Its visionary. And its guardian.
We work side-by-side with the New York City Parks Department, and we make improvements as diverse as the park itself and the city it serves. With the dedication and generosity of neighbors and park lovers like you, we can elevate your park experience and preserve this historic treasure for generations to come.
In the Press
Explore the park
Riverside Park has so much to offer – scenic waterfront strolls, playgrounds, athletic fields, historic monuments, lawns for lounging, forested habitat, dog runs, restaurants, and more. Check out our map to see what your next adventure will be!
Volunteer
Volunteerism is at the heart of the Conservancy’s mission to conserve, improve, and beautify Riverside Park. Community involvement is essential to the park’s well-being, and our Grassroots Volunteer Program guides individuals and groups of all skill levels in making meaningful contributions to the park’s overall care.
We Count on Neighbors Like You!
As a nonprofit, 501(c)3 charitable organization, the Conservancy depends solely on the generosity of donors to operate its important work. The Riverside Park Conservancy supports the preservation of the Park’s historic landscape, structure, and monuments, engages the community in active stewardship of the Park, and provides a wide range of public programs.
Riverside Insiders
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Activities And Events
Summer on the Hudson, held in partnership with Riverside Park Conservancy and NYC Parks, is an annual outdoor arts and culture festival that takes place in Riverside Park from 59th Street to 181st Street. This free public programming series includes a mix of music concerts, dance performances, movies under the stars, DJ dance parties, kids shows, special events, education and wellness activities, and more. There is something for everyone! All programs and events are free to the public and registration is not required unless specifically stated in event information.
The Jazz Foundation of America presents a spirited sunset concert featuring the JFA All-Stars (June 14) and Harlem-grown vocalist Cantrese Alloway (June 22).
Summer on the Hudson events are free and open to the public. Seating is limited, unreserved, and available on a first-come, first-served basis. If there is heavy rain at the time of the event, the event will be canceled. For weather updates, check nyc.gov/parks/soh 2 hours before the event.
The Jazz Foundation of America presents a spirited sunset concert featuring the JFA All-Stars (June 14) and Harlem-grown vocalist Cantrese Alloway (June 22).
Summer on the Hudson events are free and open to the public. Seating is limited, unreserved, and available on a first-come, first-served basis. If there is heavy rain at the time of the event, the event will be canceled. For weather updates, check nyc.gov/parks/soh 2 hours before the event.
Enjoy a full day of county fair magic in Manhattan with live bands, sideshow performers, carnival rides and games, local food and merchandise vendors, cotton candy, and more!
Rain date September 15.
Check back in August for featured performers!
Summer on the Hudson events are free and open to the public. Seating is limited, unreserved, and available on a first-come, first-served basis. If there is heavy rain at the time of the event, the event will be canceled. For weather updates, check nyc.gov/parks/soh 2 hours before the event.
Honor Memorial Day observance at the city’s largest and most solemn ceremony. It honors veterans of all wars, and continues to pay special homage to New Yorkers who fell in the Civil War. Wreaths are laid at the portal of the monument by many veterans organizations and heritage groups, and they are joined by active duty, reserve, and cadet military units. Their homage ensures that the memory of the fallen is kept alive, that those who serve today are honored, and that the monument and its significance are preserved for future generations.
Enjoy fun for family and friends at this outdoor party featuring a children’s entertainer, arts and crafts, and neighborhood fun! All performances at 2pm.
August 10: Rachael Harrington / bringing folk and fairy tales to life through storytelling.
Rachael Harrington is a storyteller whose work has taken her around the globe, presenting imagination infused performances and workshops in arts venues, schools, community settings, and as a guest lecturer at Rutgers University. She presents workshops, stories, and talks at conferences including The National Storytelling Summit, The American Association of School Libraries Conference, New Jersey Education Association, New Jersey Association of School Libraries, and New Jersey TESOL Conference. Publications: Storytelling Magazine, School Library Connection, Voices Journal. Performance Highlights: The Sugarhill Children’s Museum of Art and Storytelling, The Uptown Arts Stroll, The Story Center at Mid-Continent Public Library. Member: The National Storytelling Network, The New Jersey Storytelling Network, North East Storytellers, Clutch Full Circle, StateraArts.
Summer on the Hudson events are free and open to the public. Seating is limited, unreserved, and available on a first-come, first-served basis. If there is heavy rain at the time of the event, the event will be canceled. For weather updates, check nyc.gov/parks/soh 2 hours before the event.
Devrai (Sacred Grove) calls attention to our local ecosystems and landscapes. The Indian word “Devrai” is a compound of Dev meaning ‘God’ and ‘Rai’ meaning forest. A prehistoric tradition of nature conservation, sacred groves have long been revered as sacrosanct and imbued with the belief that no creature may be harmed within its boundaries.
This performance of Devrai (Sacred Grove) is a section of Richard Move’s Herstory of the Universe series commissioned by the Trust for Governors Island as part of Herstory of the Universe, named “Best Dance of 2021” by The New York Times.
Devrai (Sacred Grove) will be performed by Aristotle Luna (Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Richard Move / MoveOpolis!) at 6:00pm and again at 6:30pm.
Join the Director of Horticulture at the Riverside Park Conservancy to see what’s in bloom, discuss special topics in urban horticulture, and ask questions about the plants you see in Riverside.
Projects & Initiatives
UpdatesThe Conservancy works to make the Park a better place for all the people and species that spend time here.