Brooklyn Greenway Initiative

What Brooklyn Greenway Initiative does

Brooklyn Greenway Initiative (BGI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2004 that functions as the primary catalyst for conceiving, designing, and implementing the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway — a 26- to 29-mile protected and landscaped multi-use corridor for pedestrians and cyclists along Brooklyn's waterfront. As of 2024, approximately 22 miles are complete and 7 miles remain, with the organization having channeled more than $218 million in public and private investment toward implementation since inception. BGI also independently operates the Greenway Botanical Garden at the Naval Cemetery, a 1.7-acre contemplative memorial landscape featuring 50+ native plant species, an elevated boardwalk, and a certified Monarch Waystation, which has won the 2020 ASLA Professional Award and other design honors.

The organization's underlying "technology" consists of greenway infrastructure design and native plant meadow and pollinator habitat creation, supplemented by sensor-based usage analytics (Numina sensors combined with community surveys) that quantify bike and pedestrian volumes — peaking at 23,500 cyclists and 36,000 pedestrians per day in July 2024. BGI conducts research through the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway User Study in partnership with Regional Plan Association, Numina, and the NYC Department of Transportation. Product surface spans the greenway itself (free public infrastructure), the Garden (free public access late April through mid-September), signature events (Gala for Greenways, Greenway Adventures NYC, Brooklyn Waterfront Challenge, Greenway Ride), and the Greenway Stewardship Pilot Program 2026 (volunteer training on invasive species and native perennial management).

BGI's revenue model is entirely donation-based as a 501(c)(3) (EIN 20-3283721), drawing on individual giving, foundation grants (Altman Foundation, NYSERDA, City Parks Foundation, Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation, Leon Levy Foundation), corporate sponsorships (ConEdison, National Grid as Flagship event sponsor, AECOM, Arcadis, offshore wind developers), government funding (NYC Council, NYC Department of Youth & Community Development), and event-based fundraising. Go-to-market relies on community organizing, coalition advocacy (#Greenways4NYC, NYC Greenways Coalition), and direct-to-consumer digital channels (website donations, newsletter, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube). BGI serves Brooklyn residents and workers, cyclists/pedestrians/runners, tourists (15 million annual visitors), and nature enthusiasts, with strategic and operating partnerships spanning NYC DOT, the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation, National Grid, NYC Ferry, Trek Bicycle, REI, and a network of 30+ greenway-aligned organizations.

Name

Brooklyn Greenway Initiative

Legal name

Brooklyn Greenway Initiative, Inc.

Website

https://brooklyngreenway.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Brooklyn Greenway Initiative is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that conceives, designs, and stewards the 26- to 29-mile Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway and operates the Greenway Botanical Garden, serving Brooklyn's 2.65 million residents, over 1.1 million workers, and 15 million annual visitors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Urban greenway development and stewardship

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Landscape Architectural Services (541320)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainable Cities, Urban Development & Green Infrastructure (BPADALAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Native, Pollinator & Drought-Tolerant Garden Installations (HSAIAFAL), Walkway & Pathway Hardscaping (HSAIACAB), Parks, Recreation & Protected Areas Administration (BPAIAMAH)

Keywords

• Urban greenway development
• Waterfront trail advocacy
• Community horticulture programs
• Nonprofit environmental stewardship
• Open space planning

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual and Corporate Donations: BGI raises funds through individual donations, corporate sponsorships, foundation grants, and government funding. Accepts one-time and monthly donations. Tax-deductible 501(c)(3) with EIN 20-3283721.
2. Gala for Greenways: Annual fundraising event with ticket sales, auction items, and sponsorship opportunities. The 2026 Gala is scheduled for June 4, 2026 at the Greenway Botanical Garden.
3. Foundation and Government Grants: Major funding from foundations including Altman Foundation, NYSERDA, City Parks Foundation, Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation, Leon Levy Foundation, and NYC Department of Youth & Community Development. Government funding through NYC Council and state programs.
4. Capital Funding for Construction: BGI helps secure capital funding for Greenway construction through government partners, but these funds do not underwrite BGI's day-to-day operations, advocacy, and stewardship activities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Brooklyn Greenway Initiative conceives, designs, advocates for, and stewards the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway — a 26–29 mile protected pedestrian and bicycle corridor along Brooklyn's waterfront — together with the Greenway Botanical Garden at the Naval Cemetery, a 1.7-acre native plant and pollinator habitat. The organization runs the Greenway User Study to measure trail usage, delivers the Greenway Stewardship Pilot Program for volunteer ecological training, and hosts annual community events including the Gala for Greenways, Greenway Adventures NYC, and the Brooklyn Waterfront Challenge. All infrastructure is offered free of charge to the public as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit service.

Product overview

Brooklyn Greenway Initiative operates as a nonprofit managing the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway—a 26-29 mile multi-use trail network—and the Greenway Botanical Garden at the Naval Cemetery, a 1.7-acre contemplative memorial landscape. The organization provides advocacy for greenway completion, conducts the Greenway User Study for research, operates the Greenway Stewardship Pilot Program for volunteer training, and hosts events including the annual Gala for Greenways, Greenway Adventures NYC, and Brooklyn Waterfront Challenge. The core offering consists of the greenway infrastructure itself as a free public resource, supplemented by educational programs, research initiatives, and community events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway A 26–29 mile protected and landscaped multi-use corridor for pedestrians and cyclists tracing Brooklyn's waterfront from Greenpoint to East New York, connecting parks, open space, and cultural corridors.
• Greenway Botanical Garden at the Naval Cemetery A 1.7-acre contemplative memorial landscape and pollinator habitat at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, featuring native plant meadows, elevated boardwalk, and wildlife viewing. Formerly known as Naval Cemetery Landscape; awarded ASLA Professional Award (2020), Landezine Award, and Nelson Byrd Woltz/Architizer recognition; certified Monarch Waystation.
• Greenway User Study A comprehensive research study measuring greenway usage patterns, demographics, transit connections, and carbon emissions impact across all sections of the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway, using Numina sensors for bicycle and pedestrian counts combined with community survey data.
• Greenway Stewardship Pilot Program 2026 A volunteer training program teaching invasive plant management and native perennial and street tree stewardship, with events held first and third Saturdays from May through November. Open to adults 18+.
• Gala for Greenways An annual fundraising gala held at the Greenway Botanical Garden to support Brooklyn Greenway Initiative's mission and programs, featuring ticket sales, auction items, and sponsorships.
• Greenway Adventures NYC A free self-guided summer event featuring over 24 routes and adventures across all five NYC boroughs, developed in partnership with 15+ organizations to explore the city's greenway network.
• Brooklyn Waterfront Challenge A 131-mile running and cycling challenge supporting development of green space and mobility in Brooklyn, with participants logging miles on the Greenway.

Quantifiable outcome

• 23,500 bicycles and 36,000 pedestrians per day during peak usage (July 2024)
• +4 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.

• NYC FerrysupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 June 2021NYC Ferry is the official transit sponsor of Greenway Adventures NYC, highlighting ferry-to-greenway connections. Nearly 20% of greenway users in Sunset Park connect to the ferry.
• Trek BicyclesupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 June 2021Trek Bicycle is the official bicycle sponsor of Greenway Adventures NYC, supporting cycling access to greenways.
• REI Co-opsupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 June 2021Event partner for Greenway Adventures NYC, supporting outdoor recreation access.
• 15+ Partner OrganizationssupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2021Partners including Bike South Brooklyn, Bronx River Alliance, East Coast Greenway, Eastern Queens Greenway, Freshkills Park Alliance, Friends of Governors Island, Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy, Natural Areas Conservancy, and others contributed routes to Greenway Adventures NYC.
• NYC Greenways CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 March 2021BGI is founding member of the NYC Greenways Coalition, a collective of 30+ greenway-aligned groups focused on completion of an equitable 400-mile greenway network across NYC.
• #Greenways4NYC CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021BGI is part of the #Greenways4NYC coalition calling for $1 billion federal investment to fully connect a 400-mile protected five-borough greenway network. Coalition letter sent to NYC Congressional Delegation March 2021.
• Regional Plan AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Strategic partner in the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway User Study along with BGI, Numina, and NYC DOT. Long-time strategic advocate for greenway development in NYC.
• NuminasupportingTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2019Technology partner for the Greenway User Study, providing sensors to count bike and pedestrian traffic on the greenway 24/7.
• New York City Department of TransportationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Government partner in the Greenway User Study. NYC DOT is responsible for building and maintaining greenway infrastructure in NYC.
• Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation (BNYDC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBNYDC owns the Brooklyn Navy Yard where the Naval Cemetery Landscape was developed. Through this partnership, BGI designed and completed the restoration of the site, which opened in spring 2016. BNYDC continues as a supporter ($2,500-$5,000 tier).
• Horticultural Society of New York (The Hort)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Hort collaborated on the installation project for the Naval Cemetery Landscape, contributing horticultural expertise to the project.
• Marvel ArchitectscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMarvel Architects collaborated on the design of the Naval Cemetery Landscape installation project. Continues as supporter ($5,000-$10,000 tier).
• Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape ArchitectscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects collaborated on the design of the Naval Cemetery Landscape installation project.
• Columbia UniversitysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerColumbia University collaborated on the Naval Cemetery Landscape installation project.
• GRANT EngineeringsupportingTechnology or IntegrationGRANT Engineering provided engineering expertise for the Naval Cemetery Landscape installation project.
• The Green SchoolsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Green School, an environmentally themed high school (NYC School District 14, K454), collaborated on the Naval Cemetery Landscape installation project.
• Brooklyn Community Housing and Services (BCHANDS)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerBCHANDS, an operator of assisted living facilities for populations including the chronically homeless, collaborated on the Naval Cemetery Landscape installation project.
• Voltaic SystemssupportingTechnology or IntegrationNavy Yard neighbor that generously loaned the bird monitor and solar panel powering it at the Greenway Botanical Garden.
• Brooklyn Book BodegasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners on the Brooklyn Bodega Bookshelf program, providing free nature books for children at the garden.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Friends of the High Line: NYC-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that conceives, builds, and stewards a public elevated waterfront greenway. Closest functional analog to BGI in terms of mission, advocacy-led development of a linear waterfront park, and reliance on donations and government partnership.
• Regional Plan Association: NYC-based nonprofit research, planning, and advocacy organization. Direct strategic partner of BGI on the Greenway User Study; comparable as a regional planning/advocacy nonprofit that produces research to influence NYC infrastructure decisions.
• Freshkills Park Alliance: NYC nonprofit advocating for the transformation of the Fresh Kills Landfill into a major park. Comparable as a coalition-led nonprofit advocating for and developing a large-scale NYC green space through public-private partnership.
• East Coast Greenway Alliance: Coalition that builds and advocates for a 3,000-mile multi-use greenway from Maine to Florida, including the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway section. Directly comparable as a regional greenway advocacy/development organization with similar mission and partner-network model.
• Transportation Alternatives: NYC-based nonprofit advocating for safe streets, bike infrastructure, and transit. Comparable as a city-scale advocacy organization pushing for protected bike lanes and greenways, with overlapping partners (NYC DOT) and a similar donor base.
• Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy: Brooklyn/Queens nonprofit that stewards Jamaica Bay parklands. Comparable as a borough-scale parks nonprofit in the same geography, and a partner organization of BGI's Greenway Adventures NYC.
• Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy: Brooklyn-based nonprofit that supports Brooklyn Bridge Park, a waterfront park of similar scale. Shares BGI's Brooklyn geography, park stewardship role, foundation/corporate fundraising mix, and prior-employer overlap (BGI team member previously worked there).

Broad incumbents

• Hudson River Park Trust: Public-benefit corporation that operates and maintains the 4-mile Hudson River Park along Manhattan's waterfront. Comparable as a large-scale NYC waterfront park operator, though it is a public authority rather than a nonprofit advocacy organization.
• Trust for Public Land: National nonprofit that creates parks and protects public land, including active projects in NYC. Comparable as a larger, established conservation/park-creation nonprofit, though operating at a much broader national scale than BGI.

Emerging players

• Natural Areas Conservancy: NYC nonprofit focused on restoring and stewarding natural areas in city parks. Comparable as a local environmental stewardship nonprofit with overlapping volunteer and ecological-restoration work in NYC.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/bkgreenway
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@bkgreenway
• Facebookfacebook.com/brooklyngreenwayinitiative
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/brooklyn-greenway-initiative
• Instagraminstagram.com/bkgreenway

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Brooklyn Greenway Initiative