The Westchester Parks Foundation (WPF) today highlighted the strong community impact achieved throughout 2025, reflecting a year of expanded volunteer engagement, ecological restoration, and hands-on stewardship across the Westchester County Parks system. More than 2,164 volunteers contributed 7,942 hours, completing 338 projects in 30 parks, directly supporting the care and enhancement of the parks as the philanthropic arm of Westchester County Parks.
A major highlight this year was the expansion of WPF’s Spring Greenternship to Blue Mountain Reservation in Peekskill, where interns monitored vernal pools for the first time. Thirteen interns collected data on species such as wood frogs and spotted salamanders, strengthening WPF’s growing citizen-science initiatives and supporting a planned multi-park study of sensitive habitats.
WPF also made significant progress in native planting efforts. The number of native perennials planted grew 3x from 1,307 in 2024 to 3,621 in 2025, a dramatic increase that enhances meadows, forests, and shoreline habitats while supporting pollinators. These plantings reached 10 parks and were made possible through corporate donations and partnerships with Hilltop Hanover Farm (Westchester County Department of Conservation) and the Westchester County Department of Planning.
Additional 2025 highlights include:
• 54,496 square feet of invasive plants managed
• 7,439 total items (754 pounds of trash) removed from the Bronx River
• 534 trees, shrubs, and native plants planted
• 21 Greentern internship participants
WPF volunteers include students completing community service hours, scouts seeking meaningful projects, local businesses participating in team-building activities, and resident’s eager to support Westchester’s park system. For more information, visit www.thewpf.org
