Our semi-annual cleanup day happens again on  Saturday, October 23rd from 11am-4pm. Come out and meet at the 135th street plaza. We really need everyone’s help to clean up the litter and overgrowth overtaking our beautiful park.

Be sure to bring work clothes and gloves. Some activities include cleaning up litter in the park, raking, mulching, planting bulbs and tree care, painting benches, fencing, park houses, and comfort stations throughout playgrounds and parks.

WHEN: Sat, Oct 23, 11am – 4pm

WHAT TO WEAR OR BRING: Work clothes and gloves (although gloves will be provided if you do not have them)

MORE INFO: We need lots of volunteers. Please contact us at info@stnicholaspark.org if you have any questions.

The Junior League has completed is massive planting projects throughout St. Nicholas Park and will have their ribbon cutting this Saturday, June 5th at the 128th Street Playground. More details on invite above.

Many people would love to see a greenmarket or farmer’s market in St. Nicholas Park’s 135th Street plaza. This area of Harlem is under-served with fresh food choices and is the perfect spot for a weekly market. But we need help to do it! If you are interested in working with community market organizations in a proposal for the plaza please let us know at info@stnicholaspark.org.

It’s My Park! Day will take place in St. Nicholas Park on Saturday May 15th from 10am to 2pm. We will be working near the back of the West 133rd playground where we will be planting perennials. Volunteers can meet the group at this location in St. Nicholas park starting at 10am to sign-up.

We’ll also give volunteers a choice to paint the fencing along St. Nicholas Terrace as well.

We’ll need lots of volunteers to make this are beautiful.

Please remember to wear clothes for working with flowers and paint. We will supply gloves but bring your own work gloves if you have them. The Friends will have water on hand as well. Spread the word and hope to see you there!

This year’s popular Easter Festival is schedule to take place at the 135th Street Plaza in St. Nicholas Park on Saturday, April 3rd from 11am to 2pm. Join the Friends as we usher in Spring with Easter egg decorating, an Easter egg hunt, arts and crafts, and a special appearance by the Easter Bunny! We need lots of help planning! If you would like to volunteer (especially to be the Easter Bunny) and help plan for this event please contact us at info@stnicholaspark.org.

The group got through a huge pile of woodchips!

We had a huge turnout for our woodchip workday today. We were able to finish the giant woodchip pile off, fill in doggie holes, secure some fencing and pick up litter around the run. We are set for Spring and Summer! The dogs immediately began to bound in the woodchips and they love it. Thanks to all who helped and helped promote it for us! More photos below.

Our next event at the dog run is our coffee bark which is on Saturday, April 3rd from 9am to 11am (right before our Easter Festival). See you there!

Spreading the chips around the run

Some of our young workers helped out!

It’s that time of year again! This volunteer day is devoted to planting bulbs and getting the park ready for the Winter and Spring. This year we are planting spring bulbs in the park near the top of the 135th Street staircase.  We need all the help we can get. The event is from 11am to 2pm. Meet on top of the 135th street staircase  (near the staircase at 135th Street and St. Nicholas Terrace) we’re we’ll provide info and water and coffee to participants.

Our event will take place rain or shine. Please dress appropriately in clothes suitable to working in the soil and planting. If you have a pair of work gloves please bring them, but don’t worry if you don’t – we’ll have work gloves available for all volunteers. We’ll also have water for all volunteers.

If you have any questions please let us know at info@stnicholaspark.org.

Last Saturday, about 2 dozen volunteers came out and help plant some annuals near the 133rd Street Playground during It’s My Park! Day. Below are some photos taken of the event. Special thanks to St. Nicholas Park gardener Jennifer Brull for helping manage the volunteers.

It’s My Park! Day will take place in St. Nicholas Park on Saturday May 16th from 11am to 4pm. You can arrive at either the 135th Street plaza or at the West 141st Street entrance in St. Nicholas park starting at 11am to sign-up.

We’ll need lots of volunteers for planting flowers and painting fences near the Hamilton Grange. Projects are coordinated by the Friends of St. Nicholas Park and the National Park Service. At 2pm, a National Park Service Ranger will give a tour and answer questions about the new site of the Hamilton Grange. Also at 2pm, “Sleeping Beauty” will be performed by Puppeteers from City Parks Foundation’s Swedish Cottage Marionette Theater on the 135^th Street Plaza.

Please remember to wear clothes for working with flowers and paint. We will supply gloves but bring your own work gloves if you have them. The Friends will have water on hand as well. Spread the word and hope to see you there!

The Giraffe Path is a trail that connects Central Park to the Cloisters through the Northern Manhattan Cliffside Parks.  The path links the existing trails in 8 parks in northern Manhattan (including St. Nicholas Park) via a few city blocks all in the shape of a giraffe. The trail can be hiked in sections or for the entire 10 miles, and can be accessed year round.

Hike the Heights 5 will be Saturday, June 6th, 2009. The day consists of hikes along the Giraffe Path, the Giraffe Parade, and a Potluck Party at the Highbridge Water Tower Terrace in Washington Heights, New York. The party will be complete with food, dancing, youth friendly art activities, and the “Reel Short Film Festival.”

A Parade of Giraffes: As part of Hike the Heights, 150 giraffe sculptures, created by hundreds of neighborhood youth will be scattered along the Giraffe Path. The giraffes are made of paper mache and decorated with drawings, stickers, and more.

For further information, photos, a map, and more, please visit www.thegiraffenyc.org