From Newburgh Wants a Park to We Love Crystal Lake
We’re so excited to share some big news with you today. For the past few years, many of you have known our work as Newburgh Wants a Park. Together, we’ve rallied, celebrated, and advocated for Crystal Lake.
Now, we’re ready to take the next step. From here forward, our movement will be known as the We Love Crystal Lake initiative by Newburgh Sanctuary (formerly The Sanctuary Healing Garden)..
This new name reflects how far we’ve come—not just wanting a park, but actively building love, care, and community around this land. It’s about celebrating our relationship with Crystal Lake and committing ourselves to stewarding it together. At our last gathering, you may have even seen our fans in action—literally! A photographer captured portraits of people holding “We Love Crystal Lake” fans, symbolizing the joy and energy of this new chapter.
Why the Change?
When we began, the vision was about asking the City of Newburgh to protect Crystal Lake. That vision has grown into a movement that’s already shaping the future of this space. The name We Love Crystal Lake captures that evolution: it’s no longer just about wanting a park, it’s about loving it into existence.
What We Love Crystal Lake Stands For
The We Love Crystal Lake initiative is a community-led effort to support, preserve, and celebrate Crystal Lake, a 109-acre green space owned by the City of Newburgh. Through stewardship, art, wellness, education, and events, we aim to show the value of this land and build momentum for its permanent protection.
Our goal is clear: to work with the City of Newburgh to designate Crystal Lake as a public park. Doing so would create Newburgh’s largest protected greenspace—strengthening community, restoring connections to nature, and improving quality of life for generations to come.
What Does It Mean to Be a Steward?
A steward of Crystal Lake is any resident, business, or community-based organization that supports Crystal Lake’s permanent protection.
As a steward, you’ll:
Receive our newsletter with campaign updates
Get a We Love Crystal Lake sticker to show your support
Be invited to events and celebrations at Crystal Lake
Join a network of neighbors working to protect and uplift this space
In return, we ask you to:
Visit Crystal Lake often and share its beauty
Spread the word—by reposting social media, forwarding newsletters, or inviting friends and neighbors to events
Join Us!
Your support and dedication are invaluable. Together, we will make a difference—not just for today, but for generations to come.
👉 Become part of the We Love Crystal Lake Initiative by signing up here:
