FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Monday, March 23, 2026
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Play Fair Coalition Rallies at City Hall Demanding Fully-Funded NYC Parks in FY27 Budget
New York, NY — Members of the Play Fair for Parks Coalition rallied on the steps of City Hall today alongside elected officials to call for increased investment in New York City’s parks system, urging the Mamdani administration to fulfill its commitment to dedicate 1% of the City budget to NYC Parks.
The rally took place ahead of the City Council Parks & Recreation Committee’s Preliminary Budget Hearing, where advocates testified about the urgent need to restore and expand funding for the city’s parks and open spaces. Speakers highlighted that the Mayor's preliminary budget is $33 million less than the approved budget for FY26 — which leaves nearly 300 critical parks employees in limbo with their jobs set to expire at the end of this fiscal year and does not include any measures to address the additional nearly 600 staffing lines lost during the Adams administration.
Coalition members stressed that sustained underinvestment has real consequences for New Yorkers: fewer staff to maintain lawns and playing fields, delayed repairs, poorly maintained trees, reduced programming, and closed or deteriorating facilities such as bathrooms and rec centers. Increased funding would allow NYC Parks to deliver the tangible improvements New Yorkers rely on every day — from cleaner parks and better-maintained landscapes to more functional playgrounds, open restrooms, and expanded recreation center hours.
“Parks are where New Yorkers gather, exercise, and experience nature without leaving their neighborhoods. The Mayor has recognized that parks are essential to quality of life and to making New York City affordable. But this preliminary budget falls far short of that vision. New Yorkers deserve a parks system that is clean, safe, and thriving in every neighborhood — and that requires the City to follow through on its commitment to invest 1% of the budget in parks,” said Adam Ganser, Executive Director of New Yorkers for Parks.
For decades New York City has spent less than 1% of its budget on parks — leaving the agency without the resources needed to properly maintain the system’s more than 30,000 acres of open space. Advocates argue that continuing this pattern of underinvestment perpetuates inequities across the city, with too many communities lacking access to clean, safe, and well-maintained parks.
“Our parks are spaces of reprieve for millions of New Yorkers and visitors alike,” said Council Member Sandy Nurse. “Everyone uses our parks and it’s time the city fully invests in them. We’re tired of inoperable bathrooms, broken water fountains, and dirty parks. A fully funded Parks Department increases public safety and pride, ensuring our communities can enjoy our parks year-round.”
“Parks are the beating heart of this city. They’re where people go to celebrate, play sports, and take a breather. In a city where we don’t have much space to ourselves, we need to be investing in clean, safe, well cared-for parks, not cutting funding,” said Council Member Tiffany Cabán.
“New Yorkers do not experience parks as a line item. They experience them as the playground down the block, the bathroom that should be open, the field that should be maintained, and the green space that makes city life bearable. That is why cutting park funding makes no sense. Our neighborhoods need cleaner parks, functioning facilities, and enough staff to keep these public spaces in good shape. Parks are essential, and the budget should treat them that way,” said Council Member Christopher Marte.
“By cutting Parks funding by 33 million, we’re continuing decades of disinvestment in our local parks, delaying repairs, maintenance, reduced programming, and deteriorating facilities,” said Council Member Julie Won. “Every New Yorker deserves clean, safe, and well-maintained parks. The City must follow through with the commitment made to fund parks at 1% of the City budget. Fully funding NYC Parks means healthier communities, safer neighborhoods, and public spaces that work every day.”
“Parks are not a luxury; they are a lifeline—especially for communities that have been historically underinvested,” said Council Member Shahana Hanif. “When bathrooms are locked, fields go unmaintained, and rec centers cut hours, it’s children, older adults, people with disabilities, and those who rely most on our parks who bear the burden. The Mamdani administration has a real opportunity to change that. Delivering 1% for Parks isn't just a budget line—it's a commitment to every New Yorker that their community deserves to be cared for.”
“New Yorkers value their parks, and we need to make sure we’re investing in them in a smart and sustainable way. That means not only maintaining the parks we have, but also looking ahead and preserving open space wherever we can. Too often, we see available land disappear—whether it’s being developed or converted into uses that don’t serve the broader community. Once that land is gone, it’s gone for good. We should be using our capital budget strategically to acquire and preserve more parkland, especially in growing communities where access to open space is critical. Parks aren’t a luxury—they’re essential to quality of life, public health, and the character of our neighborhoods. If we want a better city, we need to plan for it now,” said Council Member Frank Morano.
“Trees and green spaces do more than make for beautiful scenery – they improve air quality, cool our communities, and absorb stormwater, making them crucial to mitigating the growing impacts of climate change, especially in low-income communities and communities of color. After decades of disinvestment, it is time for a rebirth of our parks system, and that begins with the Mayor and City Council restoring staffing, investing in park maintenance, and moving toward dedicating 1% of the city budget to parks,” said Alia Soomro, Deputy Director for NYC Policy, NY League of Conservation Voters.
"New York City's natural areas make up 12,000 acres, or fully one third, of our city's park system. Maintaining the health and quality of these spaces is critical for ensuring New York City is more resilient in the face of a rapidly changing climate,” said Oded Holzinger, executive director of the Natural Areas Conservancy. “We’re deeply disappointed to see that the Fiscal Year 2027 preliminary budget does not include a renewal of funding to support vitally needed natural areas staff, leaving 31 Parkies unsure of whether they will have a job after June 30. We stand with our colleagues in the Play Fair coalition and urge Mayor Mamdani and the City Council to ensure the NYC Parks budget includes adequate funding for our natural forests, wetlands, and trails,” said Emily Walker, Senior Manager External Affairs, Natural Areas Conservancy.
"Parks are an integral part of our shared public realm that shapes how New Yorkers move, gather, and connect. Every New Yorker, in every neighborhood, deserves access to safe, welcoming public spaces and parks. This is a small share of the City budget with an outsized impact on the fabric of our communities. We are tasked with creating the city our children and grandchildren will inherit. If we want the New York of tomorrow to be a livable, equitable city, now is the time to invest in parks, not cut funding,” said Sara Lind, Co-Executive Director of Open Plans.
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. For over a century, NY4P has led the movement to protect, invest in, and celebrate New York City’s parks.
About Play Fair Coalition
Play Fair for Parks is an advocacy campaign and 450+ member coalition calling for #1Percent4Parks and elevating parks issues citywide. New Yorkers for Parks co-founded Play Fair along with the New York League of Conservation Voters and District Council 37, the NYC Parks workers’ union.