Restoration Ecology Documentarian Intern

AGENCY DESCRIPTION
The New York City Department of Parks & Recreation manages 14 percent of the land in New York City with facilities ranging from playgrounds and large parks, to tranquil wooded areas and more than 14 miles of beaches. Parks serve as New Yorkers’ backyards, as vital meeting areas for outdoor play and recreation – but also as an important tool in mitigating the effects of climate change, critical engines for economic growth and development.
NYC Parks’ mission is to grow, maintain, and program a world-class park system prioritizing equity, access, safety, and nature.
In the past year, Parks completed a number of initiatives citywide that helped New Yorkers access their shared public spaces. These include:
• Securing more than $700 million in funds to build or substantially reconstruct six recreation centers, including two opening in 2026: the $141 million Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center in East Flatbush, Brooklyn and the $92 million Mary Cali Dalton Recreation Center in Tompkinsville, Staten Island.
• Expanding our free learn-to-swim programs to reach an additional 4,800 second graders and bring the total to nearly 18,000 youth served by our essential swim programming.
• Keeping more than 8 million people safe at the city’s public beaches last summer along with over 1 million patrons at outdoor pools, thanks to the highest number of Parks lifeguards since 2019, including a 23 percent increase in new recruits.
• Completing a $23 million investment in public space at New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) developments, bringing new playgrounds, sports equipment, and seating areas to NYCHA residents.
• Launching our latest Tree Census, which involves thousands of volunteers to measure the size, location, and condition of the city’s trees. Conducted once every ten years, the census helps to identify areas where more trees can be planted, supporting a more equitable urban canopy and increasing the many benefits trees provide.
• Celebrating the historic expansion of the Second Shift program, dedicating extra maintenance services for 100 additional hot spots at parks across the five boroughs during peak evening and weekend hours. This expanded the total sites citywide serviced by dedicated staff to 200 hot spots.
• Adding 100 new Parks Enforcement Patrol positions to bolster patrol strength throughout the city.
• Promoting equity in athletic spaces by rolling out new athletic permit rules and fee changes to improve access for non-profit and youth organizations.
UNIT DESCRIPTION
Natural Resources Capital Design and Construction is a team of designers, foresters, project managers, and construction mangers who translate Natural Areas Management goals for Parks' forests, wetlands, and waterways into capitally-funded construction projects. We design and construct wetland, shoreline, riverine, and forest restoration projects, green infrastructure retrofits, and public access corridors within sensitive habitats and natural areas.
POSITION TITLE
Restoration Ecology Field Documentarian Intern
INTERNSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES
• Accompany monitoring and restoration crews on field visits to photodocument current management activities and past restoration projects
• Filter, select, and photo-correct imagery
• Create image library in Sharepoint
QUALIFICATIONS/SPECIAL SKILLS/AREAS OF INTEREST
• Past experience in landscape photography and ability to correct photos in Adobe Photoshop
• Demonstrated interest in restoration ecology, landscape ecology, field science, library science, or a related field
• Currently enrolled college student
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Start date is beginning of June; exact date TBD.

This opportunity does not include remote workdays
Title: City Seasonal Aide
Salary: $19.14 per hour
nyc.gov/internships
APPLICATION PROCESS
Please email cover letter and resume to Leslie.Nusblatt@parks.nyc.gov