Connecting
the Community with the Lower Bronx River
Contact: Jan Kaderly (718) 220-6394
Organization Website: http://wcs.org/
About the Organization
Founded in 1895, the Wildlife Conservation Society's (WCS)
mission has been to conserve wild animals and their habitats
and to educate people to appreciate, respect and protect
the natural world. By creating the Bronx Zoo, WCS demonstrated
a commitment in becoming an active participant in the
Bronx community. The purpose of the WCS was to create
a zoological park, advance the study of zoology, protect
wildlife, and educate the public about wildlife and their
habitats.
About the Partnership
Funds amounting to $10.5 million have been secured by
Congressman José E. Serrano in FY 2001, 2002, and
2003 to implement restoration, land acquisition, and public
access along the lower Bronx River in New York. The NOAA-WCS
Partnership is an effort to connect the local underserved
communities to the lower Bronx River, which is heavily
urbanized in this section and bounded by transportation
infrastructure, scrap metal yards, abandoned factories,
and an enormous redistribution complex to service New
York City. In the first Request for Proposals, five restoration
projects totaling $1.83 million, three acquisition and
public access projects totaling $1.65 million, and 12
education projects totaling $1.28 million were awarded
through a competitive process to local community organizations
in the 16th Congressional District of New York. Further
RFPs will be announced until all funds have been obligated
to projects. In FYs 2000 and 2001, the NOAA RC worked
in partnership the City Parks Foundation in the lower
Bronx River to fund 12 education and restoration projects
totaling $850,000, most of which have been completed.
Request For Proposals
The NOAA RC partners with the Wildlife Conservation Society
(WCS) to fund restoration and land acquisition projects
benefiting living marine resources of the lower Bronx
River. Projects most occur, or have significant living
marine resources benefits, within the 16th Congressional
district of New York. Any applicants are strongly encouraged
to partner with local community groups since community
participation is a vital criterion in the process.
Press Releases
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