FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, December 16, 2025
CONTACT: press@ny4p.org
Open Space Advocates Unveil “First 100 Days for Parks” Agenda for Mayor-Elect
After years of underinvestment, Play Fair for Parks Coalition urges Mamdani to follow through on "1% for Parks" budget pledge and restore 600+ critical NYC Parks positions
New York, NY (December 16, 2025) — New Yorkers for Parks (NY4P), together with the Play Fair for Parks Coalition (Play Fair), today released a new First 100 Days for Parks agenda outlining clear, achievable steps the incoming Mamdani administration can take to deliver rapid quality-of-life improvements for millions of New Yorkers. Building on the framework introduced in the coalition’s Parks 2030 platform, the plan urges the mayor-elect to make early, visible investments in the city’s parks — one of the most affordable public resources in New York.
The announcement comes as the Mamdani transition team begins shaping governing priorities and confronting the consequences of the Adams administration’s underinvestment. Despite pledging “1% for Parks,” Mayor Adams presided over historically low staffing levels, eliminating more than 600 positions even as it added a line item for 5,000 more police officers — whose projected overtime budget alone exceeds what advocates have sought to maintain the entire parks system. Recent cuts have perpetuated a parks system that does not serve New Yorkers, particularly lower-income and working class families, all well as it should.
Mayor-elect Mamdani campaigned on achieving 1% of the city budget for NYC Parks maintenance and operations. However he has not yet elaborated on the details of his approach.
Several Play Fair members are supporting the Mayor-elect’s transition Committee on Transportation, Climate and Infrastructure including Rebuild by Design, Prospect Park Alliance, Transportation Alternatives, Open Plans, Bronx River Alliance, WE ACT, and Waterfront Alliance. NY4P’s First 100 Days agenda shows how the mayor-elect’s campaign commitment can begin immediately with tangible results in every borough.
First 100 Days Priorities
Announce the path to 1% for Parks, including annual budget milestones beginning in the FY27 Preliminary Budget.
End the hiring freeze and restore 600+ staff positions eliminated under the previous administration, rebuilding critical capacity across Maintenance & Operations, Forestry, PEP, engineers, trade workers, and project management.
Prioritize basic infrastructure repairs — benches, drinking fountains, lighting, spray showers, and playground equipment — starting in the highest-need neighborhoods.
Launch a 100 Day Bathroom Blitz to audit, repair, and reopen every park bathroom, with a “Second Shift” to service 400 heavily used locations and extend summer hours.
Establish dedicated lawn crews in every borough and close the gap that leaves half of lawn and field commitments unmet.
Address the backlog in tree maintenance including over 20,000 uninspected trees and 35,000 open Forestry work orders, restoring public safety and climate resilience.
Adopt and fund the NYC Urban Forest Plan, including the goal of increasing tree canopy from 23% to 30%.
Direct the Parks Commissioner to produce NYC’s first Parks Master Plan, a long-term vision for a more resilient, better-maintained, equitable parks system.
Resolve longstanding nonprofit partner issues and expand Partnerships for Parks to support grassroots efforts.
Fully fund the Queensway, signaling a new era of investment in Queens communities.
“New Yorkers have been told for years that parks matter — but the Adams administration’s cuts showed the opposite. Mayor-elect Mamdani now has the chance to reset the city’s priorities and prove on day one that parks are essential infrastructure, especially for working families,” said Adam Ganser, Executive Director of New Yorkers for Parks. “These First 100 Days steps are basic, achievable, and immediately felt. If the administration commits to them, New Yorkers will see cleaner bathrooms by spring, greener fields by summer, more staff in their neighborhood parks, and a clear path to finally achieving 1% for Parks.”
“We’ve seen the effects of our Parks Department's budget not being prioritized by the Mayor— workers ending their shift not knowing whether they'll have a job tomorrow, broken water fountains and dirty bathrooms, and insufficient investment in preparing for climate change. The new administration has shown they are dedicated to dreaming bigger for New York City public spaces. I’m confident that we will have a partner in our advocacy for a fully funded Parks Department," said Council Member Shekar Krishnan, Chair of the Parks Committee.
“Parks are not a luxury as they are essential public infrastructure that New Yorkers in every neighborhood depend on for health, recreation, and community. After years of underinvestment, this First 100 Days agenda lays out clear, actionable steps to restore the basic services families expect, from clean and safe bathrooms to well-maintained playgrounds and open spaces. Investing in our parks is one of the most cost-effective ways to improve quality of life citywide, and it is long overdue to provide the Parks Department with increased staffing and funding to function properly and equitably,” said Council Member Julie Menin.
“New York City’s parks and open spaces are critical anchors that revitalize neighborhoods and protect and remind us of our shared humanity. Yet for decades, our parks system has been shaped by disinvestment. And into that gap, community-rooted nonprofit partners of all sizes have stepped in — not as substitutes for the public sector, but as lifelines that have kept our shared spaces clean, green, and active. Mayor-Elect Mamdani has a chance to move the needle in an impactful way to make real for all New Yorkers a well-resourced parks system for today and future generations," said Morgan Monaco and Merrit Birnbaum, Co-Chairs, Parks and Open Space Partners.
“Mayor-elect Mamdani has an opportunity at the outset of his first term to score a major win for New Yorkers in every corner of the city by making it clear – with quick and decisive action – that parks are and will remain a priority for his administration. That means taking care of the basics that for too long have been overlooked, like fixing bathrooms and making sure playgrounds and other infrastructure are safely maintained. It also means hiring enough staff to ensure all our parks are functioning as they should – both as places of recreation and as green infrastructure to mitigate the impacts of climate change – while committing to allocating 1% of the city budget to these critical green spaces. We look forward to working with Mayor-elect Mamdani and alongside our Play Fair partners in the coming year to make this the most parks-friendly administration yet,” said Alia Soomro, Deputy Director of NYC Policy for the New York League of Conservation Voters.
As the city confronts rising costs, deepening inequality, and climate threats, the First 100 Days agenda supports a policy turn to prioritize parks as the most affordable part of daily life in New York. Families rely on them for free recreation, seniors depend on them for social connection, and communities need them for climate relief, especially during extreme heat.
Investing in parks is an affordability strategy — and a democratic one. When parks are clean, open, and safe, every neighborhood benefits.
About New Yorkers for Parks
New Yorkers for Parks (NY4P) is the citywide independent organization championing quality parks and open spaces for all New Yorkers in all neighborhoods.
About Play Fair Coalition
Play Fair for Parks is a 400+ member coalition calling for #1Percent4Parks and elevating parks issues citywide. NY4P co-founded Play Fair with the New York League of Conservation Voters and District Council 37.