In our mission statement we advocate “for the park concerning funding for preservation, renewal and restoration of the park and it's facilities in partnership with the Department of Parks.”.

Two major initiatives of the conservancy were the renewal of the Library Plaza and the restoration of the historic Schiff Memorial Fountain. As part of the Parks WIthout Borders project, Library Plaza was beautifully redesigned. We continue to raise funds for restoration of the Schiff fountain.

The newly designed plaza is a sustainable green space with new paving, ample seating, a mini-amphitheater, chess tables and chairs. People can enjoy the peace of the park while having lunch, reading or just relaxing in the shade.

The historic Schiff Fountain was donated to the people of the Lower East Side in 1894 by philanthropist Jacob Schiff and is currently in a critical state of neglect.  The fountain has lost the upper basin and bronze ornamentation.  The lions are broken and no water flows from it’s spouts.  The inscription that reads “and there shall come water out of it that the people may drink. Exodus XVII:VI” is faded with age.

The conservancy wishes to return the fountain to its former glory complete with upper basin, ornamentation and running water.