City Parks Foundation an organization that supports the activity of over 60,000 volunteers in parks each year. City Parks Foundation The City Parks Foundation is the only independent, nonprofit organization to offer programs in parks throughout the five boroughs of New York City. The organization works in over 750 parks citywide, presenting a broad range of free arts, sports, and education programs. Founded in 1989, it is one of the oldest and largest citywide parks organizations in the country. Programs offered by City Parks Foundation include free performing arts festivals such as Central Park SummerStage and the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival, which take
Charlie Parker of Bebop. In an interview with Paul Desmond, he said that he spent three to four years practicing up to 15 hours a day. Bands led by Count Basie and Bennie Moten certainly influenced Parker. He played with local bands in jazz clubs around Kansas City, Missouri, where he perfected his technique, with the assistance of Buster Smith, whose dynamic transitions to double and triple time influenced Parker's developing style. In late spring 1936, Parker played at a jam session at the Reno Club in Kansas City. His attempt to improvise failed when he lost track of the chord changes.