Harnessing NYC’s Natural Areas: Boosting Health and Well-Being by Connecting More New Yorkers to the City’s Trails, Forests, and Wetlands

New York City boasts more than 10,000 acres of forests, wetlands, streams, and other wild landscapes—providing access to nature for the millions of New Yorkers without the means to visit hiking trails or waterfronts in the Hudson Valley, Long Island, and beyond. These wild places are hugely important for the well-being of New Yorkers and their communities, especially at a time when New Yorkers are more stressed, more screen-bound, and more disconnected than ever. But despite their enormous potential, relatively few New Yorkers are even aware of the city’s natural areas and access to them is highly uneven. At the same time, New York City’s natural areas are under growing strain, compounded by inadequate resources and the impact of climate change.

This in-person policy forum will explore the vital role of natural areas in New York City, and what’s needed to more fully harness these critical resources for New Yorkers. Panelists will discuss how to ensure far more New Yorkers know about, have access to, and feel comfortable exploring the city’s natural areas. The discussion will also delve into where investment is most needed to shore up maintenance and infrastructure needs across the city’s natural areas and advance creative ideas for unlocking more of their potential.