NYC Council Parks Committee to Address Maintenance Workers, Park Security, and Federal Funding Cuts at Budget Hearing

  The NYC Council Parks Committee, chaired by Council Member Mark Levine will hear testimony from the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) and parks advocates regarding the department’s Fiscal Year 2018 budget.

  Key topics to be addressed will include:

·         Calling upon the Mayor to baseline $9.7m in expense funding for 150 gardening and maintenance workers left out of the Mayor’s preliminary budget

·         The addition of 80 Park Enforcement Patrol (PEP) officers, in response to a 28% increase in crimes committed in City parks between FY15 and FY16, including an even higher rate during the first four months of FY17

·         The potential loss of $4.5m in federal Community Development Block Grant funding, devastating the GreenThumb program which works mainly in low and moderate income neighborhoods, and has a 40 year history of community improvement, beautification and community building

·         Major new and renewed investment in Parks capital projects and programs over the next decade coupled with continued attention into the length and efficiency of the overall Parks capital process.

Where: City Hall Committee Room

When: Thursday, March 3 @ 10 AM

Who:

·         Parks Committee Chair Council Member Mark Levine

·         Members of the City Council Parks Committee

·         Parks Commissioner Mitchell Silver

·         Park Advocates