Friends of Devoe Park (FoDP), a volunteer group organized in 2017 by CATALYST, a City Parks Foundation subsidiary, is kicking off an art workshop series, coinciding with the back-to-school season. The series comprises two events, the first of which takes place on Saturday, Sept. 16. According to the organizers, around ten local children will receive “a paint and arts bundle” to learn how to paint and later to take home their finished visions of Devoe Park.

 

The goals of FoDP are to maintain, revitalize, safeguard, and bring culture to Devoe Park. In 2022, the group were recipients of the “All in the Neighborhood” grant for $3,000, awarded by the Citizens Committee for New York City. The grant application was submitted on the group’s behalf by founder and core group member, Rachel Miller-Bradshaw. “Friends of Devoe Park is excited to host a back-to-school event for another year!’ Miller-Bradshaw said in reference to the first of the art series events. “Our goal has also been to bring more art and culture to the community through the park.”

 

She added, “As a creative, myself, I am so happy that our idea to host art workshops received the All in Neighborhood Grant to do so by Citizens Committee of New York City. Our motto is ‘Devoted to Devoe Park’ and our passion to our local green space will not fizzle out.”

 

Devoe Park is located at West 188^th Street on West Fordham Road between Sedgwick Avenue and University Avenue. The first event which was originally scheduled to take place on Saturday, Sept. 9, between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. has since been postponed to the rain date of Saturday, Sept. 16.

 

The date of the second event in the series is to be confirmed.

 

The CATALYST program is a long-term community engagement program which operates in historically under-served New York City parks. According to the City Parks Foundation, the program helps build community around local parks, connecting people to the City’s green spaces and increases their capacity to sustain parks as a key component of resilient neighborhoods.