The New York City Department of Parks and Recreation manages 14% of the land in New York City. These assets range from playgrounds and large parks, to tranquil wooded areas and over 14 miles of beaches. Parks serve as New Yorkers’ backyards, as vital meeting areas for outdoor play and recreation —and as critical engines for economic growth and development.

The Freshkills Park Team is working to transform the 2,200-acre Fresh Kills Landfill on the Arthur Kill waterfront of Staten Island into a new public park over the next 25 years. The ongoing development of Freshkills Park is one of the most ambitious public works projects in the history of New York City, using state of the art ecological restoration techniques in an extraordinary setting for recreation, public art, and environmental education.

We are looking for talented and qualified interns with backgrounds in art, planning, design, ecology, or community advocacy to join our small staff in the park project’s lower Manhattan headquarters. All positions are part-time, will involve site visits and provide opportunities to collaboratively contribute to ongoing park planning and project implementation. We offer competent supervision, a supportive work environment, and interaction with staff from different disciplines. Our interns walk away with knowledge of NYC Parks and solid projects that have life after the internship. No two internships are the same. Graduate students preferred but qualified undergraduates are encouraged to apply.

Expected Duration: dates flexible, January through June with possibility of extension into summer | Hours: 18-28 per week (schedule by arrangement) | Salary: Unpaid; school credit depending on school requirement | Please send cover letter and resume to freshkillspark@parks.nyc.gov 

Freshkills Park Development and Marketing Intern

The Freshkills Park Development and Marketing Intern will support the capital and programmatic development of Freshkills Park through research, fundraising, and enhancing the Park’s media presence. The internship offers an opportunity to understand the inner workings of Park programming and communications and support exciting new initiatives at this unique site. In addition to contributing to our growing fundraising initiatives, interns will be responsible for developing critical outreach components for new programs and events in various settings and in collaboration with a range of program partners.

Responsibilities:

• Assist in planning and publicizing new on- and off-site programs and events
• Maintain grants database, package projects for grant proposals, research grant and sponsorship opportunities
• Contribute to developing press relations
• Keep press archive up to date for our growing website
• Contribute to the research and writing of original content across social media including a blog, Facebook and Twitter
• Attend team meetings, interagency meetings and planning sessions when possible
• General administrative work as needed

Preferred Skills/Qualifications:

• Ability to work independently and execute delegated tasks as well as communicate progress in a collaborative team environment
• Diligent research capability and detail-oriented
• Knowledge of and interest in topics in natural sciences, environmental science, waste & recycling helpful
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to effectively communicate with the public in writing and speech
• Exceptional writing/ editing skills, experience writing for web desirable
• Graphic design skills, experience with Adobe Suite and web publishing desirable
• Familiarity with grant writing, community relations and marketing strategy preferred

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Freshkills Park Landscape Design Intern

The Freshkills Park Landscape Design Intern will have the opportunity to support the landscape planning and design of New York City’s newest expanse of green space and support the Park’s web and print presence with graphic design. Our website and digital projects offer future visitors an understanding of what the Park will become as it opens incrementally to the public. We are looking for a driven designer with interests in the environment and planning to assist in the community processes and the production of materials for the design of Freshkills Park.

Responsibilities:

• Schematic design and construction document drawing
• Design production for projects and programs
• Digital archiving of past design proposals
• Contribute to the research and writing of original content across social media including a blog, Facebook, Twitter
• Support general project initiatives with original research
• Attend site visits, tours and events to document and support park development and programs
• Attend team meetings, interagency meetings and planning sessions when possible
• General administrative work as needed

Preferred Skills/Qualifications:

• Coursework or work experience in landscape architecture
• Familiarity with field data collection preferred
• Strong organizational skills
• Proficiency with AutoCAD
• Graphic design skills, proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite
• Familiarity and ease with A/V (particularly photography and film) and digital media desirable
• Interest and ability to coordinate with urban systems and planning
• An ability to work independently as well as in a team environment