c. Martin Seck

Carry In, Carry Out Pilot Launches

December 16, 2020

NYC Parks and Prospect Park Alliance are piloting a “Carry In, Carry Out” trash management plan for the Prospect Park woodlands, starting at Lookout Hill, a nearly 25-acre natural area in the mid-section of the park.

“During this challenging time, we have learned firsthand just how valuable our green spaces are as they have served us in a myriad of ways: for quiet recreation; exercise; as community hubs and more. For these reasons, we appreciate Prospect Park Alliance’s support by launching this “Carry In, Carry Out” pilot trash plan,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver, FAICP. “We thank the Alliance for their work to bring this pilot online as we work to keep our parks beautiful and clean. We urge New Yorkers everywhere to dispose of trash in designated receptacles or follow this model and take it with them when they leave.”

“Prospect Park is home to Brooklyn’s last remaining forest, and these fragile woodland habitats can be easily trampled and disrupted, which is why we are piloting a “Carry In, Carry Out” trash management strategy in this area,” said Sue Donoghue, Park Administrator and President of Prospect Park Alliance. “This strategy will not reduce the number of staff focused on trash management, nor the number of trash pick ups or receptacles, but move this activity to the entrances of our woodlands to keep trash receptacles and large vehicles off woodland paths.”

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“Carry In, Carry Out” is a trash management strategy commonly employed in national parks that removes trash receptacles from fragile nature areas, and places the responsibility on the park patron to carry any trash generated during their visit out of the park. In Prospect Park, trash receptacles will be positioned at all main entrances to Lookout Hill (see map above), and additional signage will be placed throughout the woodlands reminding park patrons of this policy.

NYC Parks and Prospect Park Alliance will pilot this program over the course of the year, with the hope of expanding to all of the park’s woodlands.

Interested in learning more about park stewardship efforts and how you can help keep the park green and vibrant? Visit our Get Involved page.