We are thrilled to honor Joseph Tansey, co-founder of Garrison Investment Group, with the Robert M. Morgenthau Citizenship Award at this year’s Riverside Revue in recognition of his extraordinary contributions to Riverside Park and the surrounding community. 

Joe is a seasoned investor and business leader. As co-founder of Garrison Investment Group, a credit and asset-based investment firm, he served on the boards of multiple Garrison investment funds. In addition to founding Garrison, Joe worked at HPS Investment Partners, Fortress Investment Group, Goldman Sachs & Co., and at Starwood Capital Group, throughout his career.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Joe has demonstrated a deep and lasting commitment to civic life and public spaces. A longtime board member of the Conservancy since 2012, he has played a vital role in strengthening the organization’s financial stability and advancing equitable care across all six miles of Riverside Park. His dedication reflects a personal connection to the park, where he has spent years coaching with the West Side Little League, exercising, and enjoying time with his family. 

Joe lives overlooking Riverside Park South with his wife, Sue Lin Tansey, and their two sons, who have participated in West Side Little League as boys. Through his leadership, generosity, and enduring commitment to community, Joe exemplifies the spirit of the Robert M. Morgenthau Citizenship Award.

Joanne Morse will be honored with the Charlotte Mayerson Volunteer Spirit Award at this year’s Riverside Revue in recognition of her pioneering leadership and decades of hands-on dedication to Riverside Park. 

A true trailblazer in community-driven park stewardship, Joanne served as the first Volunteer Coordinator for the then named Riverside Park Fund, now known as the Riverside Park Conservancy. In this foundational role, she helped build and shape one of New York City’s earliest and most impactful urban volunteer programs – recruiting, organizing, and supporting hundreds of volunteers who played a critical role in restoring and maintaining Riverside Park during a time of limited public resources.

Joanne’s legacy is deeply rooted in the landscape of Riverside Park itself. She was instrumental in establishing the native plant gardens at 108th Street, helping to introduce horticultural practices that continue to enrich the Park’s ecological health and beauty. Her commitment to park stewardship and community engagement has left a lasting imprint on generations of park users and volunteers alike.

For many decades, Joanne has also been a devoted member of The Garden People, one of Riverside Park’s longest-running volunteer gardening groups. Through her work with this dedicated community of stewards, she has helped cultivate not only vibrant green spaces, but also a spirit of shared responsibility and neighborhood pride that defines Riverside to this day. She has truly enjoyed many good times in the park, with so many people from the community. 

Joanne’s extraordinary volunteerism exemplifies the very spirit of the Charlotte Mayerson Volunteer Spirit Award. Her vision, leadership, and enduring commitment have helped transform Riverside Park into a thriving, community-powered public space—and continue to inspire all who care for and enjoy it.