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Since 1999, the Conservancy has been a partner in the Prospect Cemetery Revitalization Initiative, along with two other nonprofit organizations (Greater Jamaica Development Corporation and Prospect Cemetery Association) and the cemetery's owner of record, the City of New York Department of Parks & Recreation. The three nonprofit organizations raised over $2.2 million in public and private funds in this time to secure the four acre site, which is a City-designated landmark and National Register-listed property; restore its 1857 Chapel of the Sisters which now serves as a venue for jazz concerts and other events; clear the grounds of years of vegetative growth and undesirable trees; plant the entire cemetery with slow-growing, no-mowing, low maintenance grass; and conserve the oldest and most important markers. After 15 years of extensive work, Prospect Cemetery now looks like a cemetery – much changed from even three years ago.
Greater Jamaica Development Corporation (GJDC), a prominent community-based economic development group in Jamaica www.gjdc.org;
Prospect Cemetery, Jamaica Queens – View from the Long Island Rail Road from New York Landmarks Conservancy on Vimeo.
Prospect, looking like a cemetery… after 15 years of investment and hard work.
The video was shot by Andrew Farren, a trustee of Prospect Cemetery Association and a descendent of family buried there.