New York City Department of Parks and Recreation

The New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, also called the Parks Department or NYC Parks, is the department of the government of New York City responsible for maintaining the city's parks system, preserving and maintaining the ecological diversity of the city's natural areas, and furnishing recreational opportunities for city's residents and visitors.[1]

Department of Parks and Recreation
Department overview
FormedJanuary 6, 1870 (1870-01-06)
Preceding department
  • New York City Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Administration
JurisdictionNew York City, New York, U.S.
HeadquartersArsenal, New York City, New York, 10065, U.S.
Employees3,745
Annual budget$545.3 million (FY 2021)
Department executives
  • Susan Donoghue, Commissioner of Parks and Recreation
  • Iris Rodriguez-Rosa, First Deputy Commissioner of Parks and Recreation
Key document
Websitewww.nycgovparks.org

NYC Parks maintains more than 1,700 public spaces, including parks, playgrounds and recreational facilities, across the city's five boroughs. It is responsible for over 1,000 playgrounds, 800 playing fields, 550 tennis courts, 35 major recreation centers, 66 pools, 14 miles (23 km) of beaches, and 13 golf courses, as well as seven nature centers, six ice skating rinks, over 2,000 greenstreets, and four major stadiums. NYC Parks also cares for park flora and fauna, community gardens, 23 historic houses, over 1,200 statues and monuments, and more than 2.5 million trees.[2] The total area of the properties maintained by the department is over 30,000 acres (120 km2).[3] The largest single component of parkland maintained by the department is the 2,765-acre (1,119 ha) Pelham Bay Park in the Bronx. Other large parks administered by NYC Parks include Central Park in Manhattan, Prospect Park in Brooklyn, Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx, Flushing Meadows–Corona Park in Queens, and the Staten Island Greenbelt.[2]

NYC Parks produces many special events, including concerts and movie premieres. In the summer, the busiest season, the agency organizes free carnivals and concerts, and sends mobile recreation vans to travel throughout the five boroughs providing free rental equipment for skating, baseball, and miniature golf.

The symbol of the department is a cross between the leaf of the London plane and a maple leaf. It is prominently featured on signs and buildings in public parks across the city. The London plane tree is on NYC Parks' list of restricted use species for street tree planting because it constitutes more than 10% of all street trees.

Agency

The department is a mayoral agency, headed by a commissioner who reports to the Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Development.[4] The current Parks Commissioner is Susan Donoghue, who was appointed on February 4, 2022.[5] The current chair of the New York City Council Committee on Parks & Recreation is Shekar Krishnan.[6]

The department is allocated an expense budget and a capital budget. The expense budget covers the total expenses incurred by the agency, including salaries. The capital budget is dedicated solely for new construction projects, as well as major repairs in parks that have a useful life of more than five years and cost at least $35,000.

Its regulations are compiled in Title 56 of the New York City Rules.[7]

History

The original Parks Commission was formed in 1856 and was responsible only for Central Park. In 1870 the Tweed Charter gave it jurisdiction for all the parks in Manhattan. In addition each borough had its independent Park Commission. A unified citywide New York City Parks Department was formed in 1934 with Robert Moses as the commissioner, a position he held until 1960. In 1968 it was reorganized as the "Parks, Recreation & Cultural Affairs Administration. In 1976 it was given its current name.[8]

In 2001, the department underwent an investigation after the U.S. Attorney's Office received complaints from employees that they had suffered employment discrimination. The lawsuit alleged that NYC Parks violated the Civil Rights Act of 1964; according to the complaint, the NYC Parks' senior managers sought out and promoted whites to management positions without announcing job openings for those positions or conducting any formal interview processes. The complaint also said that since at least 1995, minorities have been significantly under-represented in NYC Parks' managerial ranks. In 2008, the City of New York agreed to pay a $21 million settlement to avoid going to trial.[9]

Organization
  • Commissioner of the Department of Parks and Recreation
      • Assistant Commissioner for Agency Compliance
      • General Counsel
      • Assistant Commissioner for Community Outreach and Partnership Development
      • Parks Advocate (Internal Investigative Officer)
      • Assistant Commissioner for Communications
      • Assistant Commissioner for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
      • Inspector General, assigned by the New York City Department of Investigation
    • First Deputy Commissioner
      • Deputy Commissioner/Chief Operating Officer
        • Assistant Commissioner for Citywide Operations
        • Assistant Commissioner for Forestry, Horticulture, and Natural Resources
        • Bronx Parks Borough Commissioner
        • Brooklyn Parks Borough Commissioner
        • Manhattan Parks Borough Commissioner
        • Queens Parks Borough Commissioner
        • Staten Island Parks Borough Commissioner
    • Deputy Commissioner for Capital Projects
      • Assistant Commissioner for Architecture and Engineering Program Management
      • Assistant Commissioner for Landscape Program Management
    • Deputy Commissioner, Urban Park Service and Public Programs
      • Assistant Commissioner for Public Programs
      • Assistant Commissioner for Urban Park Service
    • Deputy Commissioner for Administration/Chief Administrative Officer
      • Assistant Commissioner for Budget and Fiscal Management
      • Assistant Commissioner for Innovation and Performance Management
    • Deputy Commissioner of Planning and Development
      • Assistant Commissioner for Concessions and Internal Audit

Park law enforcement
Main article: New York City Parks Enforcement Patrol

The department maintains an enforcement division, called the Parks Enforcement Patrol (PEP), responsible for maintaining safety and security within the parks system. Parks Enforcement Patrol officers have peace officer status under NYS Penal Law and are empowered through this status to make arrests and issue tickets. PEP officers patrol land, waterways and buildings under the jurisdiction of the Department of Parks and Recreation on foot, bicycle, horseback, boat and marked patrol trucks. PEP officers are also responsible for physical site inspections of NYC park concession facilities to assure the concessionaires compliance with state laws.[10]

Urban Park Rangers

The Urban Park Rangers was founded as a pilot program in 1979 by then Parks Commissioner Gordon J. Davis, with the support and encouragement of Mayor Ed Koch. The program provides many free programs year-round, such as nature walks and activities. They also operate programs such as The Natural Classroom for class trips and the general public alike. "Explorer" programs are available for activities such as canoeing in the city's flagship parks in all five boroughs. NYC Urban Park Rangers are easily identified by their uniforms.[11]

Although NYC Park Rangers possess peace officer status, their primary mission is environmental education, protection of park resources, and visitor safety. Law enforcement in city parks is the responsibility of the New York City Police Department, and Parks Enforcement Patrol officers.

Community Parks Initiative

The Community Parks Initiative was launched in 2014 and is providing $318 million of capital funding to improve more than 60 parks mainly located in densely populated neighborhoods where there are significant rates of poverty. The park improvements, such as Ranaqua Park in the South Bronx, consist of playground equipment, lighting, seating areas, water fountains, synthetic turn fields, trees and greenery, and rain gardens to collect storm water.[12][13] The Longfellow Park renovation, also in the Bronx, is budgeted at $3.25 million and includes tree houses for children, bike racks, a sprinkler system for summer recreation, and a mini-state.[14]

Public-private partnerships

The New York City Department of Parks and Recreations maintains facilities and provides services through a network of public service workers, volunteers, and partnerships with private organizations.

The momentum for private partnerships increased dramatically during the mayoralty of Michael Bloomberg. Often the initiatives of Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe were controversial.[15]

Concessions

Most businesses that operate or generate revenue on New York City parkland are considered concessions and must obtain a permit or license from the Revenue Division of Parks. Pursuant to the City's Concession Rules, these licenses and permits are generally awarded through a public solicitation process, such as a Request for Bids (RFB) or Request for Proposals (RFP). Yorkville Sports Association (YSA) for three years operated the New City Parks Softball Concession that contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to the City's General Fund.

[16]

Approximately 500 concessions currently operate in parks throughout the five boroughs, and they generally fall into two categories: food service and recreation. The food service concessions range from pushcarts selling hot dogs to restaurants such as Tavern on the Green and Terrace on the Park. Recreational concessions include facilities such as ice rinks, stables, marinas, and golf courses. In fiscal year 2009, NYC Parks' Revenue Division helped collect over $110 million in revenue from various sources including concessions, lease agreements, like those for Citi Field and Yankee Stadium, special events, and dockage.[17]

Private partnerships

At the turn of the 20th century most of the staffing of New York City parks were patronage jobs. In the 1950s and 1960s, public sector unions organized most park workers which was considered at the time the first major political defeat of Robert Moses. During the city's fiscal crisis in the 1970s, the Department of Parks and Recreation City adapted practices such as using welfare recipients and volunteers to do work previously completed by unionized workers and to forge partnerships with nonprofit organizations and local sports leagues. Yorkville Sports (YSA) was one of those that helped maintain athletic fields prior to use and assumed responsibilities previously handled by the public sector. During this time the Central Park Conservancy and the Prospect Park Alliance were formed.[18]

GreenThumb
See also: Community gardens in New York City

GreenThumb was created in 1978 to utilize vacant city owned land as garden spaces. By 1989 there were over 1,000 gardens.[19] In the 1990s the program contracted as gardens were repurposed to build housing.[20] Currently, there are over 550 gardens supported by GreenThumb.[21]

List of Park Commissioners

Since 1934, when New York City Parks Department Commissioners were unified, the directors have been:[22]

Portrait Named individual Start date End date Tenure Mayor(s) served under
Robert MosesJanuary 18, 1934May 23, 196026 years, 4 monthsFiorello H. La Guardia
William O'Dwyer
Vincent R. Impellitteri
Robert F. Wagner Jr.
Newbold MorrisMay 24, 1960January 15, 19665 years, 8 monthsRobert F. Wagner Jr.
Thomas HovingJanuary 16, 1966March 15, 19671 year, 3 monthsJohn V. Lindsay
August HeckscherMarch 16, 1967December 31, 19725 years, 9 monthsJohn V. Lindsay
Richard M. ClurmanJanuary 1, 1973December 31, 19731 yearJohn V. Lindsay
Edwin L. Weisl Jr.January 1, 1974September 22, 19751 year, 9 monthsAbraham Beame
Alexander WirinSeptember 23, 1975December 28, 19753 monthsAbraham Beame
Martin LangJanuary 1, 1976June 30, 19771 year, 6 monthsAbraham Beame
Joseph P. DavidsonJuly 2, 1977January 20, 19786 monthsAbraham Beame
Gordon J. DavisJanuary 23, 1978April 1, 19835 years, 3 monthsEd Koch
Henry J. SternApril 2, 1983February 4, 19906 years, 10 monthsEd Koch
Elisabeth F. GotbaumFebruary 5, 1990December 31, 19933 years, 11 monthsDavid Dinkins
Henry J. SternJanuary 1, 1994February 3, 20028 years, 1 monthRudolph Giuliani
Adrian BenepeFebruary 4, 2002August 29, 201210 years, 6 monthsMichael Bloomberg
Veronica M. WhiteAugust 30, 2012December 31, 20131 year, 4 monthsMichael Bloomberg
Liam KavanaghJanuary 1, 2014May 12, 20145 months (Acting)Bill de Blasio
Mitchell SilverMay 12, 2014July 30, 20217 years, 2 monthsBill de Blasio
Margaret Nelson (Acting) August 2, 2021 September 24, 2021 Bill de Blasio
Gabrielle Fialkoff September 24, 2021 February 4, 2021 4 months Bill de Blasio
Liam KavanaghJanuary 1, 2022February 4, 20221 month (Acting)Eric Adams
Susan Donoghue[23] February 4, 2022 Present Eric Adams

See also

References
  1. New York City Charter § 531; "There shall be a department of parks and recreation the head of which shall be the commissioner of parks and recreation."
  2. "Frequently Asked Questions : NYC Parks". www.nycgovparks.org. Retrieved January 20, 2016.
  3. "About Parks : NYC Parks". www.nycgovparks.org. Retrieved January 20, 2016.
  4. "Citywide Organization Chart". www1.nyc.gov. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
  5. "Mayor Adams Appoints NYC Parks Leadership". The official website of the City of New York. February 4, 2022. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  6. "Committee on Parks and Recreation". New York City Council. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  7. "Rules & Regulations : NYC Parks". www.nycgovparks.org. Retrieved January 20, 2016.
  8. "New York City Parks Commissioners : NYC Parks".
  9. "Wright v. Stern: NYC Parks Case | NAACP LDF". www.naacpldf.org. Retrieved January 20, 2016.
  10. "Park Enforcement Patrol : NYC Parks". www.nycgovparks.org. Retrieved January 20, 2016.
  11. "Urban Park Rangers : NYC Parks". www.nycgovparks.org. Retrieved January 20, 2016.
  12. "Community Parks Initiative : NYC Parks".
  13. Mitchell, Alex (May 4–10, 2018). "Ranaqua Park reopens after major renovations". Bronx Times Reporter. p. 14.
  14. Valenzuela, Sarah (May 4, 2018). "Kids break ground on Longfellow Park restoration". Bronx Times Reporter. p. 20.
  15. Swan, Cathryn (July 19, 2013). "Pushing Privatized "Partnership" Agenda at New York City's Public Parks — Part 3". Huffington Post Blog.
  16. "Concessions Opportunities : NYC Parks". www.nycgovparks.org. Retrieved January 20, 2016.
  17. "Concessions : NYC Parks". www.nycgovparks.org. Retrieved January 20, 2016.
  18. Krinsky, John; Simonet, Maud (March 24, 2017). Who cleans the park? : public work and urban governance in New York City. Chicago. p. 5. ISBN 9780226435619. OCLC 979417574.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  19. "Topics of the Times". New York Times. April 19, 1989. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  20. Raver, Anne (January 9, 1997). "Houses Before Gardens, The City Decides". The New York Times. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  21. "About GreenThumb". NYC Parks. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  22. "New York City Parks Commissioners : NYC Parks". www.nycgovparks.org. New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. Retrieved September 29, 2017.
  23. "Mayor Adams Appoints NYC Parks Leadership". The official website of the City of New York. February 4, 2022. Retrieved March 22, 2022.

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