Open Space Alliance for North Brooklyn (OSA)

Open Space Alliance serves as a fiscal sponsor to several similar conservation groups as well as unrelated left-of-center activist groups in New York. ³

Background

Open Space Alliance for North Brooklyn was founded in 2003 as a conservation group advocating for increasing and protecting public parks within the Brookyln borough of New York City. The group also advocates for “leveraging resources from more affluent parts…[to] less advantaged areas.” It follows left-of-center principles influenced by critical race theory in its mission to make the city’s parks more “equitable” and “accessible.” ^{1 2}

Activities

In 2008, Open Space Alliance for North Brooklyn signed an official agreement of operation with the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. That year, it hired an executive director who was immediately allowed to serve as the North Brookyln Parks Administrator at the same time. ¹ As of 2025, it was still an official partner of the New York City Parks Department. ⁴ It also works directly with the city Department of Transportation, the New York State Department of Transportation, and with several local officials. ²

Partnerships

Open Space Alliance for North Brooklyn is listed as one of more than 40 allied organizations of Churches United for Fair Housing (CUFFH), a left-of-center New York City-based affordable housing-focused organization that engages in advocacy on immigration and economic policy. ^{5 6}

Financials

In 2023, Open Space Alliance reported revenue of $983,975, total expenses of $1,147,143, and net assets of $-167,267. ⁷

Funding

In 2019, Open Space Alliance for North Brooklyn received $63,975 from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. ⁸

In 2022, Open Space Alliance received $30,000 from Walentas Foundation and $96,900 from City Parks Foundation. ^{9 10}

In 2023, Open Space Alliance for North Brooklyn reported receiving $22,747 in government grants. ¹¹

Grantmaking

Open Space Alliance serves as a fiscal sponsor to several conservation groups as well as social justice activist groups based in New York. These include Greenpoint Tree Corps, El Puente Leaders for Peace and Justice, 61 Franklin Street Garden, Friends of Bushwick Inlet Park, Friends of WNYC Transmitter Park, Friends of Cooper Park, Friends of American Playground Greenpoint, McGolrick Park Neighborhood Alliance, Friends of William Sheridan Playground, and Friends of BO Green. Open Space provides financial support, oversight, management, accounting, tax compliance, and various administrative services to these groups. ³

Leadership

As of 2023, Katherine A. Horowitz was the executive director of Open Space Alliance for North Brooklyn. Its board at that time was chaired by NYU Langone neurosurgeon Erich Anderer and co-chaired by Two Trees Managements external affairs director David Lombino and business coach Diane Zelvin. ^{12 13 14 15}

Other board members included Keith Berger, Joe Vance, Karli Bainbridge, Kate Bernstein, Ward Dennis, Sean Feeney, David Helbraun, Jeremiah Kane, Elyse Love, Elyssa Marcus, Nam Phan, Jane Pool, Mark Salinger, Doug Steiner, and Dewey Thompson. ¹²

Board members are obligated to contribute financially to the group and attend board committees. The board includes local elected officials who serve as advisors. ¹