Eight major conservancies are on track to meet or exceed their $15 million commitments to Community Parks Initiative-related sites
In November 2015, Mayor Bill de Blasio and NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver, FAICP, announced a $15-million package of conservancy engagements to improve parks in Community Parks Initiative neighborhoods. Just over a year later, the Mayor and Commissioner announced eight major conservancies involved are on track to meet or exceed their commitments.
See the original announcement – with Genius annotations detailing each updated commitment (click on the yellow highlights) – here.
“Public spaces that serve all New Yorkers are elemental to a strong, just city. Through the Community Parks Initiative, and the support and continued commitment of our conservancy partners, thousands of New Yorkers are seeing substantive improvements in parks that have been neglected for decades,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio.
“Parks are shared spaces – and supporting them is a shared responsibility. Over the past year, our conservancy partners generously stepped up and extended their expertise beyond their bases. By collaborating with NYC Parks and neighborhood volunteer groups, these eight conservancies are helping to bring world-class parks to all New Yorkers,” said Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver.
“Our system of parks is strengthened by its conservancies – especially when our conservancies are an active part of our parks system. That’s why I proposed the Neighborhood Parks Alliance, and why I am so excited by the partnerships that have grown out of that proposal,” said State Senator Daniel Squadron. “Participating conservancies deserve big credit for voluntarily stepping up to help neighborhood parks, and Commissioner Silver and Commissioner de Commissioner deserve big credit for making the Community Parks Initiative and these partnerships a reality. Thank you to Commissioner de Commissioner, Commissioner Silver, and all the participating conservancies.”
EDITOR'S NOTE:
Please click on the links to see just where this $15 million dollars is going. Not to parks that need city money but to the Bryant Park Corporation (BPC):, Central Park Conservancy (CPC):, Friends of the High Line (FHL):, Madison Square Park Conservancy (MSPC):, New York Restoration Project (NYRP):, Prospect Park Alliance (PPA):, Randall’s Island Park Alliance (RIPA):, and The Battery Conservancy (TBC):.
Now a quote from the New York City Council Speaker - “Every neighborhood in New York City deserves to have a spectacular park, no matter where you live or what your zip code may be,” said Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito. “The New York City Council has invested millions to make our parks more vibrant and sustainable across the five boroughs. Public spaces are a foundation of communities across New York City and by improving access to and quality of our City parks, we’re strengthening neighborhoods across the five boroughs. This City Council will continue to work with the de Blasio Administration and our conservancy partners to fulfill the goals of the Community Parks Initiative to enhance and expand parks throughout New York.”
I wonder if the Community Boards these eight parks lie in even made a single budget request of the Parks Department.
I know of many community board budget requests for local New York City parks came back "NO FUNDS AVAILABLE".
Commissioner Silver - Why don't you visit parks in outer boroughs where the bathrooms have not been working for many years, buildings are crumbling, play areas are uneven, and I could go on.
How about it Parks Commissioner Silver get off your butt and visit some of the parks you are in charge of, then tell us that all NYC parks are 100 percent functionable like these pet parks.
