With approximately 2,500 trainees working in New York City’s parks, playgrounds, and recreation centers, the Parks Opportunity Program (POP) is one of the nation’s largest transitional employment programs. In preparation for private sector careers, POP participants gain transferable skills in fields such as security, horticulture, administration, maintenance, and customer service.
In addition to maintaining high-quality parks and playgrounds throughout the city, POP participants receive employment services, classroom training, and career counseling. POP actively anticipates and responds to changing market needs by creating individual program tracks to match trainees to jobs in growing industries. POP has established specialty training programs that focus on disconnected youth (ages 18-24), non-custodial fathers, as well as participants interested in horticulture and electrical engineering.
Since its inception in 1994, POP’s six-month training program has placed over 10,000 trainees into full-time positions.
Parks Opportunity Program
Arsenal West
24 West 61st Street, 2nd Floor
New York, NY 10023
(212) 830-7754 (phone)
(212) 830-7791 (fax)