NEW YORK—In a city dominated by concrete buildings and skyscrapers, public green space is both rare and essential for the 8.5 million people who call New York City home and the millions more who come for work.

According to Crain’s New York, however,  “Most conservancies in New York City have modest revenues and struggle to keep their parks at a standard of care that New Yorkers rightly expect.” The Battery Conservancy, on the other hand, overcomes challenges to keep its educational programs running and its park pristine, accrediting donations and volunteers for many of its operations.

Melanie Simmerman, the conservancy’s director of institutional funding, said, “We have opportunities for individuals, small groups, and for our corporate partners to volunteer in The Battery and Battery Urban Farm.” On November 7, the organization addressed its “trusty volunteers” on Twitter, writing, “We need your help planting bulbs.”

The Battery Conservancy, a nonprofit in downtown Manhattan, works to protect and improve the neighborhood’s 25-acre public park: The Battery. Serving as an oasis for wildlife and humans alike, the conservancy “fill[s] the neighborhood (and city’s!) need for public green space,” according to Nicole Brownstein, outreach coordinator for the organization.

The Battery welcomes “over six million people, including residents, workers, students, and tourists from around the world annually,” according to the park’s website. Up until October 2014, the park was home to Zelda, a wild turkey known and beloved by residents and visitors alike. On its Facebook page, the organization wrote, “The Battery Conservancy staff is deeply saddened to announce that Zelda, our beloved wild turkey, has recently passed away.” Dawn Penny Russell wrote on the group’s Facebook page,”Loved seeing her walking around. Tourists were always so shocked to see a turkey walking around in Manhattan.”

In addition to designing, building, and gardening in the park, the organization provides a myriad of other services. “We also offer educational programming to local public schools, rent out farm plots to public schools, and have other public programming opportunities within the confines of our urban farm located in the park,” said Brownstein. The conservancy also manages the gangways for water taxis and the Ellis and Liberty Island Ferries.

Brownstein described fundraising as one of the biggest obstacles facing the organization, a seemingly common challenge for conservancies in NYC. “Since we are a public space, there is a false perception that we are city-funded.” The organization relies on “private donations and corporate sponsorships, with some funds from the Parks Department.” Brownstein added, “We hold two annual benefits that raise the majority of the money we need to operate the park, and we also have an end-of-the year appeal to our entire park community.”

In addition to funding, nearby construction also poses a challenge for the organization, according to Brownstein. The subway lines running beneath the park were nearly destroyed by Hurricane Sandy and are now being reconstructed. This project, in addition to the creation of a new Battery Bikeway that will run from Eastern to Western Manhattan, has left portions of the park under construction.

In her 2014 TED Talk, former New York City Planning Commissioner Amanda Burden said, “Cities are fundamentally about people, and where people go and where people meet are at the core of what makes a city work. So even more important than buildings in a city are the public spaces in between them.” The residents and workers in this neighborhood benefit from the public space that is cared for by the conservancy. Agla, who works and lives in Battery Park City, admires the scenery of the park and enjoys bringing her daughter there to play. Callum Booker, who spent his summer working in the neighborhood, said, “I would utilize the park quite often.” Russell also reviewed the park on the group’s Facebook page, writing, “Gorgeous park with lots to see and do. Just breathtaking!”

In addition to serving park-goers, the conservancy caters to other organizations. Growing over 100 types of vegetables, the conservancy provides schools and nonprofit organizations, like food pantries, with fresh produce.

Despite the challenges of fundraising, nearby construction, and the death of its beloved wild turkey, The Battery Conservancy continues to “rebuild” and “revitalize” the park that was originally populated by Native Americans and the Dutch.

Brownstein said, “Our vision for the future is to make our park even better, expand our programming to reach broader audiences, and to ensure that this space is kept clean and beautiful.”

The nonprofit protects and improves green space in downtown Manhattan.