From NYC’s Natural Areas Conservancy comes this note from Director Sarah Charlop-Powers and her team. We thought it would be of interest to all those who are looking for comfort in natural areas and parks across New York State. 

“In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks.” -John Muir

From all of us at the Natural Areas Conservancy –

We are reaching out to our community of friends and supporters — knowing that the COVID-19 pandemic has affected our daily lives in ways we could not have imagined.

The resilience of this city is truly incredible, and we are especially thankful for our friends and colleagues in public service who are working hard to provide citywide services during this difficult time. This includes the staff of NYC Parks who are keeping our parks open for all New Yorkers.

As we all continue to adjust to this new normal, we want to share a few updates on how our staff at the Natural Areas Conservancy are responding.

Our team is continuing to protect and restore nature in New York City — both virtually and in parks while safely following social distancing practices. While our office doors are closed, you can always reach us by email at info@naturalare​asnyc.org.

Now more than ever, it’s clear that urban nature provides many benefits to city residents, including space to de-stress and relax.

As we continue social distancing to flatten the pandemic curve, we encourage you to spend time in nature as a means of self care and an opportunity to unplug. Use our NYC Nature Map to find the closest park to you, or view NYC Parks’ trails page to learn where you can go hiking locally.

But before heading out, we urge you to follow current guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO), and New York City and State health authorities.

While enjoying nature is most fun in person, we’re also celebrating New York City’s green and blue spaces virtually on social media! Join us in sharing your photos of your favorite parks and natural areas or signs of spring by tagging us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.

Be well,

Sarah and the Natural Areas Conservancy team