Welcome to Friends of Roy Wilkins Park, Inc.
Friends of Roy Wilkins Park, Inc. (registered in the IRS Business Master File as FRIENDS OF ROY WILKINS PARK INC and also filed on Form 990-EZ as The Friends of Roy Wilkins Park, Inc.) is a grassroots, resident-led 501(c)(3) public charity (IRS EIN 20-1398389, Foundation Code 15, NTEE Code N32) headquartered at P.O. Box 341042, Jamaica, NY 11434-7042 (In Care Of Executive Director & IRS Principal Liaison Yvonne D. Richardson). Founded by local homeowners, seniors, and youth mentors in 1995 and granted federal tax-exempt status in May 2005, our mission is rooted in hands-on neighborhood mutual aid: protecting the 54-acre green landscape along Baisley Boulevard, Merrick Boulevard, Foch Boulevard, 115th Avenue, and 177th Street.
Perimeter Tree Belt & Soil Care
Every spring and autumn, resident gardening crews led by Executive Director & IRS Principal Liaison Yvonne D. Richardson and President Mary Ramsuer spread organic wood-chip mulch around street-facing and interior oak, maple, and honey-locust trees along Baisley Boulevard and 115th Avenue to retain root moisture and prevent soil compaction.
Seasonal Weeding & Pollinator Planting
Neighbors bring hand trowels, wheelbarrows, and pruning shears on Saturday morning work parties to remove invasive vines, edge flower beds near the Family Center walkway, and plant hardy perennial blooms that welcome neighborhood walkers and songbirds.
How You Can Help This Month: Bring a pair of work gloves to our Saturday morning tree-pit mulching circle or donate toward replacement rakes, pruning loppers, and biodegradable yard bags via our Neighbor Donations page.
Picnic Table Sanitization & Litter Patrols
Coordinated by Treasurer William Gordan and Secretary Dorlita Bullock, our picnic grove volunteers walk the central and southeastern lawns every weekend from May through October, wiping down wooden picnic tables, distributing extra trash and recycling liners to family reunion hosts, and sweeping walking paths.
Leave-No-Trace Neighbor Etiquette
Rather than relying on outside bureaucracy, our community practices self-reliant neighborhood pride. We post friendly neighbor-to-neighbor reminders encouraging barbecue and picnic groups to bag charcoal ash safely, protect tree roots from hot grills, and leave every meadow cleaner than they found it.
First-Monday Monthly Volunteer Meetings (10:00 AM – 12:00 Noon)
As established in our longstanding community bylaws, Friends of Roy Wilkins Park, Inc. holds its regular general volunteer meeting on the First Monday of every month from 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon. All homeowners, tenants, retirees, students, and local civic neighbors are warmly invited.
| Season | Meeting Schedule | Community Gathering Location | Primary Agenda |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autumn, Winter & Spring (September – May) |
First Monday of the Month 10:00 AM – 12:00 Noon |
Roy Wilkins Family Center 177-01 Baisley Boulevard, Jamaica, NY 11434 |
Horticulture tool inventory, tree-care scheduling, treasurer's report by William Gordan, and minutes by Secretary Dorlita Bullock. |
| Summer Outdoors (June – August) |
First Monday of the Month 10:00 AM – 12:00 Noon |
Shaded Park Grove Near Foch Boulevard & Merrick Boulevard, St. Albans, NY 11434 |
On-site inspection of picnic groves, summer youth volunteer orientation, and Community Day planning. |
View the automatically calculated dates for upcoming First-Monday meetings on our First-Monday Calendar page.
2025 Officers & Grassroots Financial Accountability
Every dollar contributed by our neighbors goes directly toward park gardening tools, picnic grove sanitation supplies, volunteer meeting printing, and our $1,000 neighborhood outreach mutual-aid program. All officers serve 100% voluntarily without salary.
| Officer Name | Role & Responsibility | Verified Weekly Volunteer Hours | Direct Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yvonne D. Richardson | Executive Director & IRS Principal Liaison (IRS BMF In Care Of: P.O. Box 341042, Jamaica, NY 11434-7042) | 20.0 hrs / week ($0 compensation) | (917) 863-7356 • info@forwp.org |
| Mary Ramsuer | President & Principal Officer (Form 990-EZ Principal Officer) | 20.0 hrs / week ($0 compensation) | (917) 863-7356 • info@forwp.org |
| William Gordan | Treasurer & Stewardship Fund Custodian | 15.0 hrs / week ($0 compensation) | (917) 863-7356 • info@forwp.org |
| Dorlita Bullock | Secretary & First-Monday Meeting Minutes Recorder | 10.0 hrs / week ($0 compensation) | (917) 863-7356 • info@forwp.org |
2025 IRS BMF & Form 990 Financial Highlights: Membership & Neighbor Contributions: $585 • Community Fundraising Gross Receipts: $2,350 (Total Gross Income: $2,935; Total Revenue: $1,285; Net Fundraising Income: $700) • Community Outreach Grant Program: $1,000 • Postage & Neighbor Notices: $155 • Member Bereavement Courtesy: $50 • Ending Net Assets Reserved for Park Care: $6,722.
