Championing quality parks and open spaces for all New Yorkers in all neighborhoods.
Championing quality parks and open spaces for all New Yorkers in all neighborhoods.
Championing quality parks and open spaces for all New Yorkers in all neighborhoods.
Championing quality parks and open spaces for all New Yorkers in all neighborhoods.
Championing quality parks and open spaces for all New Yorkers in all neighborhoods.
Championing quality parks and open spaces for all New Yorkers in all neighborhoods.
Championing quality parks and open spaces for all New Yorkers in all neighborhoods.
Championing quality parks and open spaces for all New Yorkers in all neighborhoods.
Championing quality parks and open spaces for all New Yorkers in all neighborhoods.
Championing quality parks and open spaces for all New Yorkers in all neighborhoods.
Championing quality parks and open spaces for all New Yorkers in all neighborhoods.
Championing quality parks and open spaces for all New Yorkers in all neighborhoods.
Championing quality parks and open spaces for all New Yorkers in all neighborhoods.
Championing quality parks and open spaces for all New Yorkers in all neighborhoods.
What's New
Park Equity Begins with a Better Public Budget
April 10, 2014
As the FY 2015 Parks Department budget is debated, there are several specific budget and policy reforms that the de Blasio administration can undertake in the name of equity and fairness. Read more
April 10, 2014
As the FY 2015 Parks Department budget is debated, there are several specific budget and policy reforms that the de Blasio administration can undertake in the name of equity and fairness. Read more
2014 Daffodil Project Awardees Announced
April 9, 2014
NY4P will honor six outstanding Daffodil Project participants Thursday at the annual Daffodil Breakfast at Bryant Park Grill. Read more
April 9, 2014
NY4P will honor six outstanding Daffodil Project participants Thursday at the annual Daffodil Breakfast at Bryant Park Grill. Read more
A New Parks Commissioner
March 21, 2014
Mayor Bill de Blasio has appointed Mitchell Silver as the next commissioner of the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation. Read our statement
March 21, 2014
Mayor Bill de Blasio has appointed Mitchell Silver as the next commissioner of the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation. Read our statement
Tupper Thomas Named Executive Director of New Yorkers for Parks
February 18, 2014
Tupper Thomas, a nationally renowned parks expert who spearheaded the rebirth of Brooklyn's Prospect Park, has been named Executive Director of New Yorkers for Parks. Read more
February 11, 2014
With Mayor de Blasio poised to announce the next NYC Parks Commissioner, we present our new transition memo, “Four Ways to Equitably Improve NYC’s Parks.” Read more
With Mayor de Blasio poised to announce the next NYC Parks Commissioner, we present our new transition memo, “Four Ways to Equitably Improve NYC’s Parks.” Read more
In Memoriam: Greg Hopper
February 10, 2014
Greg Hopper was a nearly constant presence in Harlem River Park for more than ten years, and made people from all walks of life feel welcome there. But when he passed away of a heart attack on December 26, he left a void along the shores of the lower Harlem that may be impossible to fill. Read more
February 10, 2014
Greg Hopper was a nearly constant presence in Harlem River Park for more than ten years, and made people from all walks of life feel welcome there. But when he passed away of a heart attack on December 26, he left a void along the shores of the lower Harlem that may be impossible to fill. Read more
Holly Leicht Appointed HUD Regional Administrator for New York/New Jersey
January 2, 2014
New Yorkers for Parks Executive Director Holly Leicht has been appointed by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan to serve as Regional Administrator of HUD Region II, which comprises New York and New Jersey. Her final day at NY4P will be January 10. Read more
One Year Later, Beleaguered Park’s Prospects Looking Up
December 16, 2013
One year ago, Flushing Meadows Corona Park faced an uncertain future. Going forward, more than $25 million in private commitments will fund park improvements and help start a new non-profit alliance, thanks in part to a study NY4P commissioned. Read more
Bronx Shapes Advocate’s Identity as She Greens its Parks
December 16, 2013
Through her Bronx is Blooming organization, Jenn Beaugrand has helped thousands of volunteers transform South Bronx spaces that were once more synonymous with the burnt-out buildings alongside them than anything grown within. Read more
Who's Using NYC's Playgrounds?
December 11, 2013
In an era of budget constraints, how can New York City’s Parks Department most efficiently allocate public dollars? Answering that question requires tracking visitor patterns across the park system. In a new study, Understanding Playground Utilization, NY4P partnered with NYU to demonstrate how such a model could work – specifically, in ten playgrounds across the city. Read more
Park Equity Debated at Talking Transition Event
November 26, 2013
How can the de Blasio administration create a more equitable parks system? That was the topic of a New Yorkers for Parks forum at the Talking Transition tent in SoHo last Thursday. Read more and watch a video of the event.
Improving Capital Projects in NYC Parks
November 26, 2013
Rents in New York City may be too damn high, but according to many park advocates and elected officials, the Parks Department's process for building capital projects is too damn slow. Read more
Coming Home in Sheepshead Bay
November 7, 2013
As the south Brooklyn community doggedly recovers from Hurricane Sandy, the Daffodil Project tradition – a constant there since 2001 – has taken on heightened meaning among neighborhood volunteers. Read more
Rebirth in the Rockaways
November 7, 2013
No single moment – not fleeing her home, living in her car for two weeks, nor waiting in interminable gas lines – struck Rockaways resident Doris McGlaughin quite as hard as realizing the damage wrought on her neighborhood’s green spaces. Determined to bring them back, she catalyzed a literal rebirth in her community. Read more
November 7, 2013
No single moment – not fleeing her home, living in her car for two weeks, nor waiting in interminable gas lines – struck Rockaways resident Doris McGlaughin quite as hard as realizing the damage wrought on her neighborhood’s green spaces. Determined to bring them back, she catalyzed a literal rebirth in her community. Read more
Recent Reports
In this study, NY4P partnered with New York University to demonstrate how a model for tracking visitor patterns across the park system could work – specifically, in ten playgrounds across the city, across the four seasons. The report includes a discussion of how such a tracking method could help the city assess not only Parks Department resource allocation, but also initiatives such as the Department of Transportation’s Public Plazas Program. The study also details specific observations reported by users of the ten playgrounds and provides detailed briefs on each property. Read the full report.
New York City Council Districts 4 and 5 fall far short of nearly every one of the 15 New York City-specific benchmarks that comprise NY4P’s Open Space Index (OSI) – even when Central Park and Privately Owned Public Spaces are taken into account. In addition to the findings, our fourth OSI survey offers preliminary recommendations for East Side open-space improvements, including reimagining underutilized public spaces, pairing new development with open space improvements, and realizing the full potential of the East River waterfront. Read the full report.
Read the full report.
Read the full report.
Our first Report Card on Large Parks assessed the conditions of 45 parks between 20 and 500 acres. The good news: the vast majority scored an A or B, and only one park received a failing grade. Read the full report.
Report Card on Beaches (2011)
Our third Report Card on Beaches looked at the seven municipal swimming beaches with an eye toward trends across six years. The average beach score increased from an F in 2007 to a B+ in 2011. Read the full report.
Lower East Side (2010)
The Open Space Index:
Lower East Side (2010)
In 2010, NY4P developed the Open Space Index methodology, which is based on a set of 15 NYC-specific benchmarks against which we measure open space maintenance, access, variety and environmental sustainability, generating data on the study neighborhood’s strengths and needs. Our first report assessed Manhattan's Lower East Side. Read the full report.
Supporting our Parks: A Guide to Alternate Revenue Strategies (2010)
In a time of strained municipal budgets, NY4P has become a leading voice on creative financing mechanisms for new parks. This report provides a balanced, comprehensive look at potential revenue streams to generate funding outside of New York City's budget to support parks while preserving their character and ensuring equitable distribution of parks resources citywide. Read the full report.
Our History
For more than 100 years, NY4P has promoted and protected parks and open spaces in New York City. Since our founding in 1908, our mission has been to ensure that all New Yorkers in all neighborhoods have access to quality parks and open spaces. That mission has inspired us to wage – and win – battles with Robert Moses over parkland alienation, advocate for landmark playground and waterfront parks projects, engage low-income teenagers in community beautification and environmental initiatives, and conduct and publish award-winning open space research.
Throughout our history, we have seen parks foster healthy lifestyles, social interaction, community stability and civic pride. More than just working on behalf of New Yorkers for better parks and open spaces, we’re working for New Yorkers on behalf of a better New York.
Read more about our past accomplishments here.