Advocates are urging Mayor Eric Adams to lift a hiring freeze and restore essential jobs in NYC Parks Department, which has faced budget cuts for years. The coalition Play Fair for Parks is asking for $62 million to hire more staff and improve park upkeep. City council members are also advocating for more funding for parks. Despite some recent investments, Parks Department staffing has been hit hard by budget cuts, impacting their ability to maintain parks amidst a rise in park usage.
Advocates for parks in New York City are calling on Mayor Eric Adams to lift a hiring freeze and restore essential jobs in the Parks Department. Over the past decade, the department has faced consistent budget cuts, leading to the loss of nearly 800 staffing lines and the cancellation of essential programs. The coalition known as Play Fair for Parks, which includes New Yorkers for Parks, the League of Conservation Voters, and District Council 37, is urging the mayor to allocate more funding for parks in the upcoming city budget modification in November.
The group is specifically requesting the restoration of $62 million and an end to the hiring freeze that has left many Parks Department initiatives understaffed. This funding could enable the agency to hire community coordinators, gardeners, administrative managers, exterminators, and other essential positions. They are also advocating for $1 million to support the city’s Urban Forest Plan, aiming to achieve a 30% tree canopy in the coming decades.
The Mayor’s Office of Management and Budget is expected to release the budget modifications in November, following the mayor’s directive for city agencies to identify budget cuts. Last year, a hiring freeze was implemented as part of the Program to Eliminate the Gap (PEG), leading to significant cuts within the Parks Department. However, initiatives like the job corps program were later restored.
Councilmembers Justin Brannan and Shekar Krishnan have expressed support for increased funding for parks, emphasizing the need for additional staff to maintain and improve the city’s parks system. An analysis revealed that the Parks Department’s share of the city’s budget has decreased since Mayor Adams took office, despite investments in capital projects.
While the Parks Department has highlighted investments in park maintenance and safety, sources within the agency have emphasized the need for more staff to support new initiatives and meet the rising demand for park services. The advocacy coalition and city officials are pushing for increased funding to ensure that parks are well-maintained, staffed adequately, and accessible to all New Yorkers.
Source: TheCity.NYC
