NEW ROCHELLE, NY (June 7, 2025) — The City of New Rochelle Department of Parks and Recreation, alongside the Ward Acres Conservancy, will host the Hands and Hooves 2025 Sustainability Festival at Ward Acres Park on Saturday, June 7, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The event, held across from William B. Ward Elementary School, celebrates the return of goats to the park and promotes sustainable practices.
The festival features exhibits by local partners and vendors, live music, food trucks, demonstrations, and nature and historical walks. Composting of event waste will be a key focus, emphasizing eco-friendly practices.
Visitors can take a short walk from the festival site to observe a herd of about 30 goats from Fat and Sassy Goats of Rhinebeck, NY, clearing invasive plant growth. The goats, contained within child- and pet-friendly solar-powered fencing, will be in the park from June 2 to approximately June 10. For safety, petting the goats is not permitted.
The event is partly sponsored by The Young Companies, whose projects, including the upcoming Tennis Innovators Academy on Quaker Ridge Road, aim to revitalize New Rochelle. Free parking is available at Ward Elementary School or along Broadfield Road where permitted, though attendees are encouraged to walk, bike, or take the BeeLine 45Q. Visitors should bring water bottles for refilling, picnic blankets, sunscreen, and keep dogs leashed and well-behaved, with pet waste cleanup required.
Ward Acres Park, a 68-acre site in New Rochelle’s Wykagyl section, includes open fields, woodlands, Westchester County’s largest dog park, a community garden, historic ruins, a biodiversity preserve, and walking paths. The Ward Acres Conservancy, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, partners with the City of New Rochelle, while Friends of New Rochelle Parks and the Westchester Parks Foundation, which has invested over $20 million in county parks, support park enhancements.
For updates on participants and the event schedule, visit https://www.wardacresconservancy.org/blog.
This article was drafted with the aid of Grok, an AI tool by xAI, under the direction and editing of Robert Cox to ensure accuracy and adherence to journalistic standards.