Get Involved

The goal of BPCA’s Volunteer Program is to create the opportunity for personal community involvement and contribution by working alongside our staff horticulturists, participating in daily gardening routines. As part of the program BPCA teaches volunteers basic skills as well as basic knowledge of plants, soil and proper maintenance. This program is very important to our Volunteer Department because the volunteers become knowledgeable enough to be really helpful. BPCA requires volunteers to commit to the full season (May 1st through October 31st) as training requires time and effort on the part of our horticultural staff. Volunteers must be able to work on Wednesday mornings from 7:30 a.m. until 12:00 noon. Volunteers are expected to arrive early enough to change clothes and get prepared to go out into the field with staff. This is a team effort and it is important to meet this basic commitment. Volunteers are representatives of BPCA when they are on site. Courtesy and appropriate behavior must be observed at all times toward the public, each other and BPCA staff. In addition, BPCA has a commitment to the safety of its staff, volunteers and the public. Therefore, good safety practices must be observed at all times. Volunteers will be issued a special T-shirt and BPCA hat at the beginning of the season to identify them as a member of our team. BPCA’s dress code requires all personnel (volunteer and paid) working in the field to wear BPCPC uniforms. Lost t-shirts or hats will be replaced at cost. Volunteers must provide their own work gloves, protective footwear and rain gear. If you or company is interested in supporting the parks of Battery Park City Authority through volunteerism, please contact us by emailing info@bpca.ny.gov. We will get right back to you with ideas on how we can work together.

BPCA runs an extensive Marine Education Program for the benefit of NYC’s school children and the general public. Each year over 1,000 children, and their teachers visit Battery Park City’s Wagner Park to learn about the ecology of the Hudson River and to actually learn how to fish. BPCA also offers several public fishing events (Go Fish) each year, in spring and fall. In addition to staff, BPCA has Master Angler volunteers to enhance the public’s experience at these events. BPCA’s Master Angler volunteers are avid fisherfolk who also have an interest in sharing their knowledge and enthusiasm with the public. Interested anglers should contact BPCA. We prefer to start Master Angler Volunteers in the spring so please try to contact us in February or March. Our staff will then reach out to you for an interview and to discuss your skills, patience and ability to communicate with all kinds of people.

Battery Park City Authority hosts the Liberty Community Garden within West Thames Park.  Since 1987 the Liberty Community gardeners have been active members of the community, giving New Yorkers the opportunity to garden on small plots of land together with other interested people.  Despite several feet of dust and debris as a result of 9/11, and several subsequent moves due to the need to reconstruct the park, the gardeners have continued to be a positive and active member of the larger Battery Park City community. The Liberty Community Garden is completely self-managed and receives no outside funding.  All work within the garden is done by the community gardeners themselves. Potential gardeners have to join the waiting list for plots because there are many more people interested in gardening than available plots.  People get plots on a first come/first serve basis.  Please consider volunteering with our Horticulture Department if you are interested in gardening and cannot get a plot right away. Please Respect the Hard Work Investment on the Part of the Individual Gardeners when Visiting:  

1. Do not pick anything from the garden
2. Do not bring dogs into the garden
3. Do not smoke in the garden

  To be added to the wait list please send your name and contact information to: liberty_community_garden@yahoo.com.