Arsenal Gallery: Vital Parks for All: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

New York City's parks are vital. In an era of unprecedented challenges ranging from extreme weather, sudden storms, physical and mental health crises, and increased park use, our park system needs to be prepared now more than ever to meet the city's demands—not only today, but tomorrow as well. Vital Parks for All: Investing in NYC's Living Infrastructure is a framework for equitably strengthening the health, communities, and environment through our parks system and empowering New Yorkers with data to advocate for their neighborhood's green spaces effectively. 

From modular bridges and bathrooms to floating pools and oyster castles, Parks' solutions for today's problems are informed by a long history of serving the public. Vital Parks for All: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow offers audiences a broad view of the agency's ongoing efforts. The show highlights connections between past, present, and future with a selection of rarely seen photos from the Parks archive, coupled with contemporary imagery, text, and data generated from the Vital Parks explorer tool. Viewers will leave the exhibition with a comprehensive understanding of how NYC Parks measures, invests, and allocates vital resources across the city.

An opening reception will be held on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, 6pm to 8pm. Refreshments will be served. 

This exhibition is FREE and open to the public. For more information, visit nyc.gov/parks/art. 

Image: Swimming pools open for the summer around the city, Fisher Pool, Queens, 1972, NYC Parks Photo Archive