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
September 27, 2016
On Friday, September 30, NY4P and the National Park Service will honor the victims of 9/11 by planting 3,000 daffodil bulbs on Ellis Island as part of NY4P's Daffodil Project. The planting will be a testament to the perseverance and resilience of New Yorkers, and the hope and opportunity that Ellis Island represents. Learn more.
September 20, 2016
NY4P today announced that its Board of Directors has named Lynn B. Kelly as the new Executive Director. Kelly is currently the CEO and President of Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden in Staten Island, a role which she has held since 2010. She officially starts on December 1 and will succeed outgoing Executive Director Tupper Thomas. Learn more.
August 15, 2016
Eileen Remor has had a hand in shaping the Daffodil Project from the very beginning. At Partnerships for Parks she helped coordinate their efforts with NY4P and was instrumental in the Project's resounding success. This was in large part due to her experience working directly with New York open space users and advocates, and her deep understanding of the powerful role parks can play in healing communities. Learn more about Eileen.
July 20, 2016
On July 20, 2016 NY4P released a statement applauding the city's generous offer of $100 million to purchase the property necessary to complete Bushwick Inlet Park, and urging the property owner to accept. The surrounding communities are in desperate need of more open space, and not completing the park would set a dangerous precedent for the city. Read the full statement.
July 19, 2016
Being in a room with the staff at the District 4 office in Mill Pond Park in the Bronx, one can't help but smile. Their energy and optimism is infectious. Ask them about their job and they'll instantly tell you why they love their work, why it's so important to the community, and how their mutual respect for each other keeps them coming back year after year. Get to know Clinton, Kendra, and John.
July 19, 2016
Every year the NYC Parks Department brings on hundreds of seasonal staff members to keep up with the huge increase in usage during the busy summer months. This year Mayor de Blasio added three times as much funding for seasonal staff as in years past, which is great news for our open spaces. But why do parks need seasonal employees, and how does it all work? Read on for an overview of what goes on in NYC parks this time of year, and how the Parks Department operates to keep it all going. Learn more about summer in NYC parks.
July 18, 2016
Every report NY4P produces requires hundreds of hours of surveying, research, and data analysis. This is only possible with the contribution of the great interns we are lucky to work with every year. This year's team is working with an exciting new method of understand parks usage that has never before been used with a focus on NYC. The data they gather will ultimately enable us to advocate even more effectively for parks. Learn more about our interns and our summer research.
July 6, 2016
We are deeply saddened by the passing of Dr. Roscoe Brown, Jr., who served on the board of New Yorkers for Parks for many years. A tireless advocate for social justice, he was deeply committed to improving and protecting parks and open space in New York City. Dr. Brown's work for racial equality most notably began with his time in the Tuskegee Airmen, where he flew 68 combat missions. He and the other Tuskegee Airmen were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 2007. He went on to direct the Institute of Afro-American Affairs at New York University, was the president of Bronx Community College from 1977 to 1993, and then directed the Center for Education Policy at CUNY. Learn more about Dr. Roscoe Brown, Jr.'s life and work.
June 21, 2016
Overall, this is shaping up to be a good year for our city parks. Advocates from across the city signed NY4P’s letter to the mayor and the city council, came to the Rally 4 Parks, contacted their elected officials, and supported our work. Together we let City Hall know how important open space is to New York communities, and we have city a budget that reflects that. Mayor de Blasio dramatically increased the seasonal budget to deal with the enormous increase in park and playground use. The City Council also made some significant increases to the Parks Department budget. We can now look forward to better park maintenance during the summer months, a longer beach season, the preservation of essential staff positions, much-needed funding for tree stump removal, and increased access and improvements to parks and playgrounds across the city. See a more detailed breakdown of the city budget.
Recent Reports
2015 City Council District Profiles
City Council District Profiles provide comprehensive information about open space resources, including a district map of all public open spaces and other quality of life measures, such as health and socioeconomic statistics. Each Profile provides rankings for the number of residents per acre of park/playground, access to a park entrance, and capital spending on park in each district. The Profiles are a proven tool for communities advocating for better conditions and funding for their parks and open spaces. Find your Council District's Profile.
City Council District Profiles provide comprehensive information about open space resources, including a district map of all public open spaces and other quality of life measures, such as health and socioeconomic statistics. Each Profile provides rankings for the number of residents per acre of park/playground, access to a park entrance, and capital spending on park in each district. The Profiles are a proven tool for communities advocating for better conditions and funding for their parks and open spaces. Find your Council District's Profile.
The 2015 Report Card on Beaches
New York City's eight swimming beaches have made steady overall progress since New Yorkers for Parks began tracking them in 2007, despite the interruption of Hurricane Sandy. There is more work to do, though, to make these beaches consistently great. Read the report card.
New York City's eight swimming beaches have made steady overall progress since New Yorkers for Parks began tracking them in 2007, despite the interruption of Hurricane Sandy. There is more work to do, though, to make these beaches consistently great. Read the report card.
A Survey of Capital Projects Management Among New York City Government Agencies (2014)
The NYC Parks Department, which is responsible for carrying out capital improvements in parks, has been criticized by many for running behind schedule and over-budget on these projects. Working with Public Works Partners, NY4P has explored how the Department can improve its capital process through interviews with several City agencies that conduct capital projects, along with the City's offices of Management and Budget and Contract Services. This report offers a number of straightforward steps to ensure a timelier, more cost-effective, and transparent capital process. Read the full report.
The NYC Parks Department, which is responsible for carrying out capital improvements in parks, has been criticized by many for running behind schedule and over-budget on these projects. Working with Public Works Partners, NY4P has explored how the Department can improve its capital process through interviews with several City agencies that conduct capital projects, along with the City's offices of Management and Budget and Contract Services. This report offers a number of straightforward steps to ensure a timelier, more cost-effective, and transparent capital process. Read the full report.
Understanding Playground Utilization (2013)
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.
2016 Party 4 Parks
Each fall, the New Yorkers for Parks community gathers at our annual Party 4 Parks Gala to celebrate the City’s parks and open spaces and the people who have helped these vital spaces to thrive.
For our health, our city, our home—we hope you’ll join the growing list of New Yorkers who protect and promote parks all across NYC by joining us to celebrate on October 24.
Click here for tickets and sponsorship.
