Van Cortlandt Park Alliance - Please Take Action to Help with Upcoming Parks Budget Cuts

On Thursday afternoon, 3/21, the Parks Committee of the City Council will hold a hearing to stop the huge budget cuts being threatened by City Hall.

The upcoming cuts will be devastating! 

 

The time to act is NOW! 

 

Sign the NY4P letter to the Mayor.

 

Write a letter to the City Council and upload it here by Wednesday at 1pm. 

Please write about how much VCP +/or other parks mean to you. 

 

Join us on Thursday, 3/21 at noon for a rally on the steps of City Hall. 

 

Testify! Sign up to testify on 3/21. 

 

Here are the facts. Please feel free to include them in your letter. 

• The NYC Parks budget has been cut by 5%, or $25M, for this fiscal year (FY2024). 
• NYC Parks is already chronically underfunded and understaffed: there are not nearly enough maintenance workers and PEP officers to keep our parks clean and safe.
• The FY2025 Preliminary Budget is $583M, nearly $55M less than the budget for this fiscal year.
• The hiring freeze and reduced budget will result in nearly 1,000 fewer parks workers, making it impossible for the agency to ensure parks are safe, clean, green, and resilient across the city.
• If enacted, New Yorkers can expect trash strewn parks and playgrounds, delayed activation of sprinklers and water fountains amidst unprecedented summer heat, reduced hours and public programming at rec centers, long term bathroom closures, and neglected tree canopy care.
• NYC Parks now has fewer workers than it did before the pandemic despite increased demand and clear need for these spaces, and thousands fewer workers than it had decades ago.
• The NYC budget has grown by 127% since 1980, and every other frontline city agency’s budget has grown by between 127%-165%, while NYC Parks has only grown by 72%.
• We demand 1% of the city budget for NYC Parks. Mayor Adams repeatedly committed to this investment but hasn’t yet followed through.
• Parks are critical infrastructure for public health and safety and are drivers of social equity. They should be funded as such.
• All New Yorkers deserve safe, clean, green and resilient parks, pools, beaches and recreation centers.

Our Contact Information

Van Cortlandt Park Alliance

80 Van Cortlandt Park South, Ste. E1
Bronx, NY 10463

718-601-1460

http://vancortlandt.org