Williamsburg and Greenpoint parks get over $160,000

October 29, 2018 By Alex Wieckowski Special to the Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Councilmember Antonio Reynoso (left) accepting his award from NBPA board member Dr. Frances Lucerna (center). Photos courtesy of NBPA

Share this:

Who doesn’t love a great party for a good cause?

Party for the Parks, a fundraising event organized by the nonprofit organization Open Space Alliance for North Brooklyn, took place last Thursday at the Wythe Hotel to raise money for the parks of North Brooklyn and to celebrate two outstanding community members.

As people sipped on drinks from the open bar, Mike Arnot, chairman of OSA, took to the stage. Arnot announced that Amazon Fashion had made a $100,000 donation to the organization and that OSA would be rebranded as the North Brooklyn Parks Alliance or NBPA. “We felt the need to reinvigorate the organization,” Arnot told the crowd.

Although the name had been changed, the organization’s mission of helping to maintain and enhance the 45 parks and playgrounds of Greenpoint and Williamsburg would stay the same, said Arnot.

NBPA board member Dr. Frances Lucerna then joined Arnot on stage to present the 2018 Neighborhood Stewardship award.

Lucerna presented the award to Councilmember Antonio Reynoso and thanked him for his work on expanding open spaces and the enactment of the Waste Equity bill, which aims to reduce the amount of trash handled by the District 1 community.

“It’s an honor to receive this award,” Reynoso said, “I’m privileged to be a bullhorn for change.”

NBPA also honored Jed Walentas, CEO of Two Trees Management, for the completion of Domino Park. “This park is the most fun I’ve ever had. [During] the process of building it, I learned a ton,” said Walentas. “I think the work you guys do at OSA is wonderful, we want to continue working and supporting you in all your endeavors” Walentas added.

NBPA reported that in total, the fundraising event raised “over $160,000 for both the parks and people of Williamsburg and Greenpoint.”

“Our advocacy is only as strong as our communities, and the 7th Annual Party for the Parks certainly proved that, together, we have the power to truly advocate for our parks” NBPA wrote.