Madison Square Park Conservancy has appointed Holly Leicht as its next Executive Director, effective September 6, 2022.

Holly brings 25 years of experience leading urban planning, preservation, and development initiatives, joining the Conservancy from Empire State Development (ESD) where she has served as Executive Vice President of Real Estate Development & Planning since 2017. During her tenure, Holly oversaw New York State’s signature real estate projects, including the extension of the High Line, the revitalization plan for Penn Station Area, and the National Urban League’s new national headquarters and civil rights museum, among other key projects. 

Prior to joining ESD, Holly served in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) from 2014 to 2017. Appointed by President Obama, Holly oversaw four field offices in New York and New Jersey, administering $6 billion in housing and urban development programs as well as over $15 billion in disaster recovery funds. Among her achievements in the office was her leadership of the regional Superstorm Sandy recovery efforts.

Holly also served as Executive Director of New Yorkers for Parks from 2011 to 2014, where she championed the significance of parks and open space for all New Yorkers through an integrated approach of research, advocacy, and strategic partnerships, and worked at Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, where she directed planning studies for revitalization of Lower Manhattan, and at Municipal Art Society of New York managing urban planning, design, and historic preservation advocacy work, including championing the preservation of community gardens throughout New York City. Holly earned her J.D. from Northwestern University School of Law and her B.A. from Yale University.

Holly’s leadership, vision, and passion for parks will greatly benefit the Conservancy as it continues to care for and improve Madison Square Park in the years to come.

Click here to view the full press release.

(Photo Credit: Rashmi Gill)