Chemical Helping N.Y.C. Parks
Chemical Bank, the J.M. Kaplan Fund, and the City Parks Foundation have joined to fund Parks-In-Need, a new initiative to fund maintenance services at seven parks in low-income neighborhoods of the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens boroughs of New York.
The program was established to heighten community interest.
The three organizations will jointly grant $125,000 to hire a seasonal worker and to buy maintenance supplies and equipment for each borough. The four parks workers funded by the program were to have been laid off.
"The Parks-In-Need program demonstrates Chemical's continued commitment to increase community awareness and involvement in local neighborhoods," said Robert J. Callander, president of the principal subsidiary of Chemical Banking Corp. Bank employees will participate in cleanup activities in parks near their branches.
"A park - however small and simple - in your own neighborhood makes all the difference," said Joan K. Davidson, president of the Kaplan fund.
"We encourage entire communities to become involved in the Parks-In-Need effort and welcome interested parties to participate as volunteers," said Bruce Ratner, chairman of the parks foundation.
