Parks at a tipping point with proposed cuts

Parks are threatened by over $70 million in funding cuts — nearly $50 million in proposed cuts in Mayor Adams’ FY24 preliminary budget, plus $25 million via mandated 4% PEG cuts to agencies citywide. These combined cuts bring us dangerously close to Covid-19 funding levels, when parks saw their worst conditions on record. We’ve seen the impact of these austerity measures, and we can’t let them happen again. 

We commend the City Council’s preliminary budget response, which rejects these proposed cuts and calls on the mayor to fund 1,000 additional Parks staff, plus critical resources for GreenThumb, natural areas, and forestry maintenance. Now, the Council must push back on PEG cuts and fund all 280 Play Fair positions. 

In response to these threats, we held a Play Fair rally at City Hall Park, hosted a City Hall Advocacy Day to lobby Council Members about parks funding needs, and issued a statement calling attention to the omission of parks in Mayor Adams' PlaNYC report. This weekend, Play Fair members throughout the city will table in their local parks to collect petition signatures.

Thank you for rallying with the Play Fair Coalition!

We saw phenomenal turnout during last month's Play Fair rally at City Hall Park. A big thank you to all the Play Fair advocates, NYC Parks workers, New York City Council Members, and students who rallied with us or testified to the critical importance of NYC Parks at the preliminary budget hearing!

Among the many advocates who testified at the City Council hearing were students Emma, Camila and Jerick from Samara Community School in the Bronx, Evangeline from Fort Greene Prep, and Zoey from PS46 in Brooklyn. Click the link below to hear the powerful message they shared about parks equity and access.

Play Fair Spotlight: Jamaica Bay Rockaway Parks Conservancy

This month we’re excited to highlight the Jamaica Bay Rockaway Parks Conservancy (JBRPC). JBRPC works to expand public access; increase recreational and educational opportunities; foster citizen stewardship and volunteerism; preserve and restore natural areas; enhance cultural resources; and ensure the long-term sustainability of Jamaica Bay and the Rockaways. 

JBRPC partners with governmental agencies, elected officials, non-profits, the business community, and the public. Projects include stabilizing and fortifying the dunes that buffer the coastline from storms and sea level rise; planting beach grass and cleaning up debris; restoring marsh and forest; building new trails; and successfully advocating for the expansion of the US Army Corps of Engineers’ sand replenishment project to Riis Beach. 

Is there a Play Fair advocate or organization you’d like to see us highlight? Nominate them by emailing us at ny4p@ny4p.org

Support the Daffodil Project and celebrate springtime blooms!

The daffodils are blooming… and budget battles are underway. With your partnership we’re keeping the call for 1% of the City budget for parks loud and clear so all NYC parks can flourish and enrich the lives of millions of New Yorkers.

As part of its 20th anniversary in 2021, the Daffodil Project launched a creative awareness campaign featuring a new logo design by Michael De Feo, a New York City-based artist celebrated for his floral paintings and urban art.

Your gift makes a big difference! Receive a beautiful limited edition screen print, numbered and signed by De Feo with your gift of $250 or more.  

NY4P in the News

Crain’s New York Business: Parks budget fails to live up to Mayor Adams’ pledge—again 

Spectrum News NY1: New report calls for Mayor Adams to commit 1% of city budget to parks

Staten Island Advance: What would 1% of NYC’s budget do for Parks Department operations? New report details the need. 

amNY: Open space advocates demand increased funding for NYC Parks Dept., hold rally ahead of budget hearing 

Gotham Gazette: Advocates, City Council Members Push Mayor to Invest More in Parks 

Join the movement for parks

Parks deserve 1% of the NYC budget

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New Yorkers for Parks
55 Broad Street
Floor 11
New York, NY 10004
United States