Ecological Design Intern

(Paid Opportunities) Return to Paid Opportunities

Start Date: Summer 2023, dates TBD  Compensation: Unpaid

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. Highlights of Parks’ work over the last year include: 
• Expanding our tree canopy by planting a milestone 13,000 trees in FY22 -- more trees than were planted in the past five fiscal years
• Building and improving our spaces with more than 600 capital projects across the city in progress
• Increasing hours at nine of our Recreation Centers, giving New Yorkers greater access to positive programming and safe spaces
The work of our staff goes far beyond the maintenance of New York City's nearly 30,000 acres and more than 2.5 million trees. Parks is the City's leading programmer of cultural, athletic, and social activities, including nature walks, volunteer programs, sports clinics, historic house tours, and much more. In addition, Parks produces special events, concerts and movie premieres, and manages agreements with more than 300 businesses that operate on public parkland.

UNIT DESCRIPTION
The Natural Resources Capital Design and Construction team is responsible for the design and the construction of capital construction projects which restore, protect, or enhance natural areas in all five boroughs of NYC.

Responsibilities/Duties

Our intern would be responsible for graphic design of project fact sheets that describe the work of our team and group. Using completed projects archived documents (before and after photos, drawings, renderings, etc.) the intern would create project Fact Sheets (using the template they created), with an eye towards narrating the evolution of our programs over the years. Additionally, the intern would be tasked with developing rendered-drawing palettes and standards to fit the variety of needs of the landscape architects and foresters within Design and Construction. 
This internship should teach prospective landscape architects about the possibilities of working in natural areas. The work will involve interaction with all teams withing the Natural Resource Group (NRG), providing an opportunity to learn about natural resource management, ecology, stewardship, forestry, and ecologically driven design and construction.

Qualifications/Requirements

Student earning a master's or bachelor's degree in graphic design, landscape architecture, communication or related field with a demonstrated interest in natural resources and/or urban ecology.
 
Skills required: 
Design Software (Adobe Suite)
Design skills (graphics, layout, composition, image optimization)
Writing ability
Critical Thinking

Additional Information

How to apply
Please email cover letter and resume to Leslie.Nusblatt@parks.nyc.gov
Movement in the face of civil service lists is prohibited under civil service law. The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy

Telecommunications device for the deaf: (212) 504-4115
 

Contact Information

NYC Parks
Website: Apply Online