Play Fair for Parks

FY26 Parks Committee Executive Budget Hearing

Tuesday, May 13 | 2 PM

Committee Room - City Hall

• Download the testimony template
• Sign up in person on the day of the hearing to testify
• Sign up to testify virtually here
• Submit written testimony to ny4p@ny4p.org and testimony@council.nyc.gov

The Mayor's Executive Budget does not restore critical Parks funding—years of budget cuts have left parks understaffed and underfunded.

• Restore and Baseline $65M to restore 795 jobs to the Parks workforce: Parks Enforcement Patrol, Forestry and Natural Areas staff, and Operations staff.
• Baseline the positions included in the Executive Budget: Urban Park Rangers, Forestry, Greenthumb staff.
• The Executive Budget does not address the staffing losses of the past three years, focusing instead on new needs.
• This means fewer cleanups, fewer safety patrols, less tree maintenance, and reduced programming.
• Baseline this funding—stop yearly budget cuts that keep parks in crisis.

• Is trash piling up?
• Are cleanups delayed?
• Are trees being maintained?
• Are hazardous limbs left untrimmed?
• Are safety patrols and PEP officers missing?
• Are community programs, events, or Urban Park Rangers less available?

• Parks serve every New Yorker—children, families, seniors, workers, and tourists.
• The Parks Department provides stable union employment for New Yorkers.
• Parks are essential green infrastructure that defend the city against climate change.

Staffing shortages mean:

• Dirtier parks—more trash, fewer clean-ups
• Less tree maintenance—hazardous limbs, fewer plantings
• Reduced safety patrols—fewer PEP officers
• Fewer community programs—less access for youth and seniors

Cuts to parks are cuts to public health, safety, and climate resilience