How close is your nearest park? This is a question that tends to become quite important when you’re living in a city. Whether going to the park or visiting a garden, most people need to see some greenery in their daily lives. It gives us a sense of relaxation and connection to nature that’s impactful to us and our environment. New York especially can give you that want for trees and plants, but there are many green spaces that people might not realize are all around them. Some of these places tend to be locked behind the gates of the rich or at the cost of a ticket, other spaces are just unknown to the public eye. Finding and creating these spaces for the public is important, especially when discussing our mental health or New York's struggle with climate change. Not only do green spaces help keep us grounded, they allow for an impact on so many of the city's problems. From collecting massive rainfall to giving us a place to relax, these spaces help us while also helping our environment. All of these topics are important to cover when talking about green spaces in New York. Looking at the accessibility and environmental impact will give us an insight into how they can impact the future of green spaces in the city.

The images gathered here attest to the Forward’s unwavering commitment to public service journalism and to the importance of enhancing Jewish community engagement here and abroad. The paper was founded by socialists and read by a community of workers who saw calls for social justice, protests and demonstrations as means to attain their democratically achieved rights – and also as a way to inform the public.

In 1886, American labor unions chose May 1 as the starting day for a strike in favor of an 8-hour work day. From then on, it was a day to rally for workers’ rights and reformist causes. The Forward reported on these festivities, including field day sporting events by local unions and high-spirited performances that typically took place at Randall’s Island.