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Following are links to a variety of organizations committed to local, regional, and national natural and historic resource issues.
For links to all NYC government agencies and offices, go to the city's home page, and use the drop down menu to find individual agencies.
Bronx Council for Environmental Quality
The Bronx Council for Environmental Quality seeks to establish — as an Inherent Human Right — a sound, forward-looking environmental policy regarding an aesthetic, unpolluted, environment protecting a natural and historic heritage.
CMAP - NYPIRG's Community Mapping Assistance Project
The New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG) is New York State's largest student-directed consumer, environmental and government reform organization.
Community Board 8 (Bronx)
Boards have an important advisory role in dealing with land use and zoning matters, the City budget, municipal service delivery and many other matters relating to their communities' welfare.
Friends of Van Cortlandt Park
The Friends of Van Cortlandt Park is a non-profit organization committed to the enhancement of Van Cortlandt Park.
The Gaia Institute
The purpose of the Gaia Institute is to test through demonstration the means by which the ecological components of backyards, communities, towns and cities, as well as watersheds and estuaries, can be enhanced through integrated wastes-into-resources technologies.
Henry Hudson Parkway Scenic Byway task force
This task force of the Riverdale Nature Preservancy is leading the effort to designate the Henry Hudson Parkway, from Manhattan to Westchester, a NY State Scenic Byway.
Municipal Art Society
The Municipal Art Society is a private, non-profit membership organization whose mission is to promote a more livable city. Since 1893, the MAS has worked to enrich the culture, neighborhoods and physical design of New York City.
Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)
The NRDC uses law, science and the support of 1.2 million members and online activists to protect the planet's wildlife and wild places and to ensure a safe and healthy environment for all living things.
Neighborhood Open Space Coalition (NOSC)
Neighborhood Open Space Coalition (founded in 1981) is dedicated to improving New York life by expanding and enhancing its infrastructure for public health: parks, waterfronts, community gardens and open spaces, through advocacy, research, education, and planning.
The Neighborhood Preservation Center
The Center endeavors to support the numerous organizations concerned with the city’s multifaceted environment, and to facilitate the public’s access to these organizations.
New Yorkers for Parks
NY4P works to raise awareness of the importance of parks to communities, and affect changes to the parks system to promote a higher level of park service in every community.
Riverkeeper
Riverkeeper
safeguards the ecological integrity of the Hudson River, its tributaries and the watershed of New York City (protecting the city's drinking water supply) by tracking down and stopping polluters.
The Trust for Public Land
The Trust for Public Land conserves land for people to enjoy as parks, gardens, and other natural places, ensuring livable communities for generations to come.
Wave Hill
A public garden and cultural center overlooking the Hudson River, Wave Hill offers educational programs, art exhibits, and cultural events.
Wild Metro
Through research and education, Wild Metro works to protect nature where we live.
Bicycling in NYC
New York City Cycling Map
Includes links to the NYC Cycling Map, bridge maps, rules for bikes on mass transit, cycling organizations, and more.
Department of City Planning Bicycling and Greenway Page
Includes links to numerous studies and plans by the Department of City Planning and information on the Bicycle Network Development program, a joint program of the NYC Departments of City Planning, Transportation, and Parks and Recreation.
City Department of Transportation Bicycling Page
Includes updates on DOT projects related to bicycling, on helmets, free bike racks, and more.
East Coast Greenway
The East Coast Greenway will run from Maine to Florida. Click the Maps and Publications page for New York maps, read updates on trail development, and more.
Planning and Zoning
NYC Department of City Planning
Information on zoning, land use planning studies, city statistics and much more
American Planning Association, NY Metro Chapter
American Institute of Architects, New York Chapters
Regional Plan Association
The RPA is an independent, not-for-profit regional planning organization that improves the quality of life and the economic competitiveness of the 31-county New York-New Jersey-Connecticut region through research, planning, and advocacy. For more than 80 years, RPA has been shaping transportation systems, protecting open spaces, and promoting better community design for the region's continued growth.
PlaNYC 2030
Initiated by NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg in December 2006, PlaNYC 2030 will be a long-range (25-year) strategic plan to meet the demands of increasing population and ageing infrastructure in New York City. The newly-created Office of Long-term and Strategic Planning is within the Mayor's Office of Operations.
Historic Preservation
NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission
Includes information on properties and historic districts landmarked by the Commission, regulations for owners of historic properties, and more
Bronx Historical Society
NY Historical Society
National Park Service - National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the federal government's listing of historic sites determined eligible for protection. Regulations governing listing and alterations to properties are different than those of the city Landmarks Preservation Commission.
National Trust for Historic Preservation
The National Trust for Historic Preservation is a private, nonprofit membership organization dedicated to saving historic places and revitalizing America's communities.
NY State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO)
The SHPO regulates landmarks designated by the state and provides a great deal of technical assistance for property owners related to techniques, materials, grants and tax abatements. Frequently, federal and state landmarking are simultaneous.
