FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Tuesday, June 30, 2026

New York, NY — The Play Fair for Parks Coalition (Play Fair) today responded to Mayor Mamdani and Speaker Menin’s announcement of a handshake deal on the City’s FY27 Budget.

Coalition leaders applauded the establishment of baselined funding for nearly 300 parks staff while cautioning that much work remains to reach the mayor’s pledge to increase Parks Department funding to 1% of the budget by the end of his term.

Statement from Play Fair Co-Founders, New Yorkers for Parks Executive Director Adam Ganser and New York League of Conservation Voters President Julie Tighe:

The Play Fair Coalition applauds the Mamdani administration and City Council's baselining funding for 276 parks workers whose jobs were at risk in this year's budget negotiations. This $29 million investment will allow existing Parks Enforcement Patrol, GreenThumb, Urban Parks Rangers, City Parks Workers, Forestry workers and more to go to bed tonight knowing they will have permanent jobs going forward. This investment adds stability to the agency on these key staffing lines.

For an agency beleaguered by years of staffing cuts, including more than 600 losses under former mayor Adams, the baselining of these nearly 300 workers is a cause for celebration and has been a cornerstone of our advocacy for many years.

At the same time, this investment does not change the overall headcount of the Parks Department, rightly described by Commissioner Shimamura as the City’s “agency of affordability.” Despite positive steps, there are no net staffing or budget gains this year and there remains a long road ahead towards funding the Parks Department at 1% of the City’s overall spending — a commitment which the mayor and the majority of the Council have made time and again. We will continue to hold the administration accountable to the mayor’s promise to achieve 1% for Parks by the end of his term and we look forward to working with both Mayor Mamdani and the Council to ensure all New Yorkers can equitably enjoy the benefits of these beloved public spaces.

Play Fair partners similarly welcomed the FY27 NYC Parks budget investments while recognizing more is necessary to reach the 1% for Parks goal for which the coalition has long advocated:

"Since the beginning of this decade, New York City's park system has fallen from the nation's top 10 into the top 20 in Trust for Public Land's ParkScore rankings – a reflection of years of underinvestment in one of the city's most essential public assets. This first budget sends an encouraging signal that Mayor Mamdani and his administration are serious about reversing that trend and following through on a commitment to dedicate 1% of the city's budget to parks by the end of his first term. That's the kind of sustained investment needed to ensure every neighborhood has parks that are safe, welcoming, and well maintained while making New York a healthier, more affordable, and more livable city," said Tamar Renaud, NYS Director of Trust for Public Land.

“Today nearly 300 Parks workers can breathe a sigh of relief knowing their jobs are no longer threatened by the annual budget dance. The Parks and Open Space Partners coalition is grateful to Mayor Mamdani for following through in the Executive Budget, and to the Council – especially Parks Committee Chair Hankerson and Speaker Menin – whose persistence in negotiating for New Yorkers have brought us to the point of baselining essential positions. As representatives of some of the largest parks and open spaces across the five boroughs, we know better than most how the sustained loss of jobs has impacted the quality of life of park users. This year's budget is a real win for Parks workers, but it produces no net gains in staffing or funding overall. The City has a long way to go before Parks reaches 1% of the budget, and we look forward to working with our partners in government to hold them to that goal,” said Merritt Birnbaum, President & CEO - Riverside Park Conservancy and Rebecca Pryor, Executive Director of Guardians of Flushing Bay — Co-Chairs of Parks and Open Space Partners.

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 400+ 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.