New Yorkers for Parks has analyzed the mayor's executive budget
NY4P
We Respond to the Mayor's Budget
Friday, May 22, 2015
We also welcome the $5 million base-lined for 80 new PEP officers citywide, and $6 million for street and park tree pruning and care. But we see major gaps in funding that would provide for cleaner, safer parks and gardens citywide. For around $65 million, less than one percent of the total budget, the city can make good on its pledge to advance the larger park equity goal this year. Here are our recommendations:
- Restore $8.7 million for full time gardeners and park maintenance workers, allowing NYC Parks to rely less on roving crews of temporary workers and more on a secure, permanent workforce.
- Add $5.4 million for 200 new playground associates, who play an integral role in keeping parks and playgrounds safe and well-kept during the warm months when parks are busiest.
- Add $5 million in capital funding and $1 million in expense funding to the GreenThumb program. At a time when the city’s community gardeners need assurance that the administration respects their contribution to our city’s health, a $1 million addition would increase outreach staff, who provide support and oversight of community gardens citywide. $5 million in capital would allow infrastructure improvements in gardens across the city, many of which are in high- need communities. These will help the gardens flourish as true community open spaces.
- Restore the $750,000 added last year to hire additional community outreach staff through Partnerships for Parks. These professionals create long-term engagement with community stakeholders in the parks that CPI has targeted. Their technical expertise is crucial now, with CPI’s first 35 playgrounds still in the design process, and not slated for completion until 2017.
- Provide $500,000 for a master-planning process in at least four neighborhood parks, to intelligently prepare for future capital projects at these key sites.
- Add $50 million in discretionary capital spending for sites that require action. Communities that have seen projects start based on local funding may see unanticipated costs to complete them, and other communities may need new park projects. The Commissioner could use discretionary funding to manage contingencies, changes and critical new needs throughout the system.
Anyone who loves parks join New Yorkers for Parks and Councilmember Mark Levine at a rally on the City Hall steps on May 27 at 11 a.m. For pennies on the dollar, the city can strategically invest in making public spaces clean, useful and safe- and in protecting the mayor’s equity agenda.
Parks Make Gains in Participatory Budgeting
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
NY4P was honored to participate in this City Council term's participatory budgeting process, which included 24 districts. Citizens in these districts voted on public priorities, and in many cases came out strongly for parks and open spaces. Projects improving close to 40 parks, playgrounds and green spaces drew upwards of $12 million out of a total $32 million allocated this year. We see a vibrant future for this democratic tool, and congratulate all who participated. Read more about the results here.
Rally for Parks and Gardens May 27
May 2015
Join New Yorkers for Parks, Councilmember Mark Levine, community gardeners and other fellow open space advocates from every borough as we call on the Mayor and City Council to commit much-needed funding for our city's parks and gardens.
Bring your friends, neighbors, colleagues, family members- anyone who cares about NYC's open spaces.
Wednesday, May 27th
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
City Hall Steps
Building One Livable City
www.gothamgazette.com /index.php/opinion/ 5741- Building-one-livable-city-parks-levine-thomas
...
These budget cuts will hit parks in low- and moderate-income neighborhoods particularly hard since they don't benefit from the private funding which supports parks in wealthier areas. Regional parks like St. Mary's in the Bronx or Astoria Park in Queens, which serve as anchors for their communities, will be left particularly wanting. We propose funding a master planning process for such mid-sized parks to make sure they get the investment they deserve....
We need a budget that reflects this reality, with funding for the workforce that makes our parks thrive: gardeners, maintenance workers, safety officers, lifeguards, park rangers, playground staff, and more.
Yes, it is indeed possible for New York City to grow while becoming a more equitable and livable place. But, this can only happen if we invest in the public green spaces that are so critical to a healthy life. On Wednesday at 11 a.m., you can join us, New Yorkers for Parks, fellow parks enthusiasts, and members of the City Council for a rally at City Hall, where we'll continue the call for more parks funding in the budget.
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by New York City Council Member Mark Levine and Tupper Thomas,
Executive Director of New Yorkers for Parks
At the #rallyforparks with broad coalition calling for more funding for a visionary park equity agenda! pic.twitter.com/TN02Iv9C6r
— Mark D. Levine (@MarkLevineNYC) May 27, 2015
Thanks to @Costa4NY @NYCGreenfield , @DanGarodnick , @CoreyinNYC , @bradlander , @ydanis, @CMReynoso34 , , @StephenLevin33 , Andy Cohen.
@CitizensNYC ,@ASLA_NY, @greenthumbgrows , @NaturalAreasNYC , @QueensWayNYC , @nylcv
Today @bradlander shows the benefits of greenspace with help from @ASLA_NY at the #rallyforparks pic.twitter.com/ZrprPmMCC6
— New Yorkers 4 Parks (@NY4P) May 27, 2015
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