…that continues until June 30 when the annual operating budget determines allocations for each agency. Once again, we’re joining the public outcry for a better deal for New York City parks.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani campaigned on a promise to boost funding for parks as a matter of equity and public health, but his first spending plan keeps funding for the agency essentially flat.

New Yorkers for Parks (ny4parks.org) is leading the advocacy campaign for the City to allocate at least 1 percent of the total operating budget to NYC Parks & Recreation. Years of disinvestment resulted in skeleton staffing with a dire shortage of skilled workers to perform maintenance and administration while keeping parks safe with Park Enforcement Patrol (PEP) officers.

When the Mayor swore in Tricia Shimamura as Commissioner of Parks, he stated, “Our parks are not only a sanctuary, they are also truly accessible and affordable to each and every person who calls the city home.” But will Mayor Mamdani deliver?

Reaching the 1 percent target would require hundreds of millions more annually. According to the preliminary budget, the Parks Department would receive about $709.9 million out of a $124.6 billion budget, or 0.57%.

According to a NY Times survey, the public ranks parks and libraries as a Number One priority, but the two agencies always face the biggest cuts when it comes to balancing the annual budget.

Nonprofit organizations like Friends must fill the gap with the help of generous park lovers like you. Great parks are the hallmark of great cities, and we won’t settle for less. So join our cause. Get involved, volunteer and donate. The greater our numbers, the stronger our voice!

Read Friends’ testimony and get involved.

Testimony