Meet our Team

Nicole Galasso is the Chief of Staff at the Randall’s Island Park Alliance. In this position, Nicole serves as a righthand support, liaison and advisor to the President, while providing organizational leadership and administrative oversight. Nicole has worked for RIPA for over four years and oversees human resources facets including employee relations, benefits administration, policy creation and implementation and payroll. She provides guidance during departmental and general organizational changes, helps departments devise and execute cohesive plans and assists our CFO with budget projections. Nicole also works to further develop synergies between administrative departments. She serves as the Assistant Secretary of the Board of Trustees and is a lead on RIPA’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Task Force. Nicole has extensive experience working in the non-profit sector and also has a strong background in project management and Human Resources management in the architectural industry.

Nicole holds a BA from Queens College and a Master’s degree in Industrial-Organizational Psychology from Baruch College. She also holds a certification as a Society For Human Resources Management Senior Professional (SHRM-SCP).

Peter Hunter is the Chief Director of Operations for the Randall’s Island Park Alliance. He oversees Park operations including capital improvements, amenities, and safety protocols, and supervises RIPA’s Horticulture, Operations and Sports Field departments. He also collaborates with the Park Administrator to coordinate with NYC Parks and other agencies.

Peter has extensive experience overseeing field maintenance departments and supervising private golf facilities and has spearheaded major projects while working with budgets of $1M+. He has worked with RIPA for six years and has deep knowledge of the Park’s operations, events, green spaces, and protocols. Peter joined RIPA as a Turf Crew Member in 2015 and was promoted to Sports Field Manager in 2016, and he has been the Sports Field Director for the past five years.

Peter holds a Bachelor of Science in Turfgrass Science from Pennsylvania State University.

As RIPA’s Chief Director of Planning, Anne is responsible for planning, developing and managing grants and allocations for capital construction at Randall’s Island Park, with a focus on access improvements and environmental restoration. She is also responsible for development of strategic planning on behalf of the Alliance, working closely with the President and the Board of Trustees, toward improved organizational capacity as well as improved and increased Park access and programming. She is committed to protecting and creating access to the Island’s remarkable waterfront.

Anne holds a BA from Yale University and a PhD from New York University, where she taught for many years, and is AICP certified. She brings 20 years of experience in capital and strategic planning and development to her work at Randall’s Island Park.

David Salerno is the Randall’s Island Park Administrator. David oversees the operation of the Park, including daily maintenance, Park amenities, permitting, capital improvements, and coordination with Parks and the other agencies who operate on the Island.

David was promoted to Deputy Administrator after 15 years as the Manager of Concessions and Events for Randall’s Island overseeing large scale events such as Governors Ball, Electric Zoo and the Frieze Art Fair. He was recently promoted to Randall’s Island Park Administrator after three years in his role as Deputy Administrator.

David has a BA in English Literature from Rutgers University and Master’s Degree in Urban Planning from Hunter College.