New Springville, Bloomfield, Travis, Grasmere, Arrochar, , Old Town, Dongan Hills, s t a t e n i s l a n d South Beach, New Dorp, Midland Beach, , c i t y Emerson Hill, Heartland Village, Lighthouse Hill, c o u n c i l 2009 d i s t r i c t 50 Oakwood, Oakwood Basin

Parks are an essential city service. They are the barometers of our city. From Flatbush to Flushing and Morrisania to Midtown, parks are the front and backyards of all New Yorkers. Well-maintained and designed parks offer recreation and solace, improve property values, reduce crime, and contribute to healthy communities.

s h o w c a s e : High Rock– Mt. Moses Park The Daffodil Project, a partner- ship between New Yorkers for Parks and the NYC Parks Department, was created as a citywide beautifcation project and living memorial to Sep- tember 11. Each year, thanks to the generous donation of B&K Flowerbulbs, the two groups dis- tribute hundreds of thousands of free daffodil bulbs for volunteers and community groups to plant in City’s parks and South Beach, South Beach open spaces. In 2008 Protectors of Pine Oak Woods, a neighbor- The Bloomberg Administration’s physical barriers or crime. As a result, hood conservancy group, planted PlaNYC is the first-ever effort to studies show significant increases in more than 1,000 daffodils in High sustainably address the many infra- nearby real estate values. Greenways Rock- Mt. Moses Park. Visit www. structure needs of , are expanding waterfront access ny4p.org for more information including parks. With targets set for while creating safer routes for cyclists on The Daffodil Project. stormwater management, air quality and pedestrians, and the new initia- and more, the City is working to tive to reclaim streets for public use update infrastructure for a growing brings fresh vibrancy to the city. population while addressing envi- ronmental concerns. Through ambi- New York City’s population is tious goals to increase access to parks projected to increase by one million and open spaces, New York’s fiscally new residents by 2030, and demand prudent administration affirms that for our 29,000 acres of parkland investing in parks is good business. will only grow. It is imperative that creative efforts to expand our open Park innovations have flourished in spaces continue—but perhaps more recent years. The creation of Hudson importantly, existing parks must be River Park and the revitalization of protected, maintained and adequate- allow access to areas ly funded to best serve current and that were previously off-limits due to future New Yorkers. City Council District Profiles City Council District Profiles Citywide

Citywide Parks by the A New Master Plan for Parks Numbers Significant steps have been made toward PlaNYC’s parks and open space targets, which include ensuring 29,000 that every New Yorker lives within a 10-minute walk Acres of parkland of a park and planting 1 million trees. Important 1,700 projects like the development of regional parks and Parks the “schoolyards-to-playgrounds” initiative, which opens schoolyards after hours to the public, increase 1,000 recreation space, thus resulting in an even greater Playgrounds need for maintenance funds.

2,300 PlaNYC shows the City’s commitment to Greenstreets improving open space and recreation opportunities. 12,000 Now, we must take the next step and create a master Acres of natural areas plan for New York City’s parks, which does not exist today. A master plan would respond to particular 600,000 neighborhood and regional needs and outline how Park trees best to expand the park system to serve current 2 million and future residents. Street trees Any expansion to the parks system requires 14 maintenance funding. Most city parks rely on Miles of beaches public funding, but this is not a predictable source as evidenced by the current economic recession. 800 While spending on park maintenance increased by Athletic felds 50 percent under Mayor Bloomberg between 2003 50 and 2008, a gloomy economic forecast can be expect- Recreation centers ed to result in cuts to the Parks budget in 2009 and beyond. Public-private partnerships will be affected 66 by the recession as well. Innovative funding streams Pools —as well as improved management strategies— can help ensure that the parks system will 6 weather these storms. Top: Breininger Playground, Ice rinks Above: , 22 Historic house museums Historical City Funding for the Parks Department (Adjusted) 1,000 $500 Monuments, sculptures and $400 historical markers d o l l a r s $300 o f

$200 m i l l i o n s $100 in

$0 ’89 ’90 ’91 ’92 ’93 ’94 ’95 ’96 ’97 ’98 ’99 ’00 ’01 ’02 ’03 ’04 ’05 ’06 ’07 ’08 ’09 ’10*

f i s c a l y e a r *2010 = Projected budget By the Borough:

STATEN ISLAND Park Park Inspection Program Ratings: Parks by the Staten Island vs. Citywide (% rated acceptable) Numbers Staten Island’s moniker is “the borough of parks” Staten Island Citywide due to its tremendous natural areas and large open 100% 4,742 spaces comprising 7,500 acres. Once constructed, Acres of natural areas the crown jewel of its park system will certainly be 90% Fresh Kills Park, which will become the City’s second 56 largest park, behind in . Playgrounds 80% At its completion Fresh Kills Park will span 2,200 acres and promises water access, including kayak 40 70% Comfort stations launches, sports fields, and play spaces for children. 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

The Parks Department conducts 5,000 park inspections annually 174 Five non-profit partner groups fundraise for through their internal rating system, the Park Inspection Program. Drinking fountains Staten Island parks, in addition to 10 groups that raise money to support parks citywide. 37 Athletic felds 48 Basketball courts 300 Greenstreets 8 Pools

Staten Island Park Staffing 17 Gardeners & Assistant Gardeners 102 City Parks Workers At left: , West Brighton & Associate Park Above: South Beach, South Beach Service Workers 19 Staten Island has the 2nd highest percentage of land devoted to parks of the fve boroughs. Park Supervisors Staten Island Citywide Park acreage 7,474 29,000 15 Recreation Directors & Percent of borough devoted to parks 20% 14% Specialists Staten Island has the lowest number of residents per acre of parkland of the fve boroughs. 7 Total population 444,000 8 million Playground Associates Residents per acre of parkland 59 276 17 Staten Island has the greatest tree canopy coverage of the fve boroughs. Parks Enforcement Patrol Tree canopy (trees on public and private land) 34% 24% (PEP) Offcers & Urban Park Rangers Number of street trees per mile of sidewalk 49 41 00.5 1Miles

High Rock Park, Grant City Staten Island / Council District 50

Q

CARR OLL PL New Jersey WESTER District Statistics

VEL Sunset Park AN BUREN ST V T ELIZABETH RIVER KILL VAN KULL AV a c r e a g e o f c i t y p a r k s St. George * Total district acreage 13,890 AV Howland Hook Port Ivory New Brighton AV Total parkland acreage 3,462

AV HENDERSON 38 Marine Terminal T RICHMOND Randall Manor POR

WELL CASTLETON AV Parks & playgrounds acreage 3,250 GOETHALS BR Tomkinsville 39 Percent City parkland

TREAD AV Arlington * of total district acreage Percent parkland 25% AP * Port Richmond LOUIS

WESTERN OOK PY OOK XFORD PL O ST

WBR AV Citywide 14% TLANDT ST MORRISON TROSSACH RD 44 COR

BEMENT HO WILLO West Brighton Stapleton W

ARD * BURNSIDE 49 AV Bay Ridge 1 AV 43 p o p u l a t i o n BROOKS LAKE Ranking of City parkland Elm Park AV AV acres/resident STARR AV Population 150,334 W MARTLING LAKE AV OXHOLM Grymes Hill OOK RD OOD Dyker Heights (1=highest, 51=lowest) W RD W EDGEW NOR WBR VALLEY LAKE A Population under 18 34,313 WILLO AV TER ST

T

RO CLOVE LAKE Bloomfield OMPKINS Graniteville WILLO OOD Y AL O Percent under 18 23% 4 GLENW

AK RD AV

GLEN ST AV Westerleigh 3 T LANDER

AR * AV AV Rosebank Bensonhurst 1 Acres parkland per 1,000 residents 23 Ranking of City parks &

STEW SOUTH Sunnyside REYNOLDS ST 1 JARDINE Castleton Corners AV 38 playgrounds acres/child Acres parks & playgrounds per 1,000 kids 95 2 NARR Park Hill ORY BL Shore Acres * VICT O 12 WS RD N 2122 Emerson Hill NARR 11 OWS RD S l a n g u a g e a c c e s s Concord 20 CD 50 Citywide * CROAK AV 50 39 GANSEV 19 Most common foreign language spoken at home Spanish Spanish AV 40Bath Beach

4

OOR 23 10 B ST

B ST 18 CAMERON LAKE Percent of homes speaking this language 5% 18% U ST U T BL 5 PER 24AV OLD TOWN RD MC CLEAN GRAVESEND BAY 8 AR 47 AV Sea View Arrochar New Springville 25 THUR c i v i c e n g a g e m e n t CD 50 Citywide SAXON South Beach Chelsea 9 Hospital and Home AV AV COLONIAL Registered voters 77% 76% * * 17 50 DELAW 13 Todt Hill * ARE AV Old To wn Number general parks-related 6 OHRBACK LAKE 26 50 Heartland Village STUMP POND 27 311 calls per 1,000 residents 20 10 W SHORE EP SR E 7 14 30Dongan Hills Number of parks-related 311 calls for maintenance SEA Cemetery VIEW RICHMOND RD AV MAIN CREEK AV per 1,000 residents 1 1 AD * 16 O 28 N RAILR 15 Sea Gate p a r k r e s o u r c e s CD 50 Citywide AV Grant City 32 Does not include capital funding allocated to multiple districts or citywide. Lighthouse Hill 31 NEW DORP LA 29 47 RICHMOND 4 ST 33 District-specific capital funding, 2004–2009 $2.2 million $4.2 million Midland Beach AV TTERSON Richmondtown 10 ST Fresh Kills PA 34 p a r k s i n s p e c t i o n p r o g r a m r a t i n g s ATLAN Cemetery WSON ST Results of the Parks Department’s internal inspections. CLA * MILL RD FY 2004 FY 2008

LEEDS ST ISERNIA 100 EBBITTS ST 36AV 35 AV BR 37Oakwood 51 OOKFIELD 80 91% 92% Greenridge * FINLEY 88% 86% AV 60 AV

W SHORE EP ET NB THUR AV Bay Te rrace AR WOODLAND MC OUD AV 40 STR rated

cent parks LOWER

Great Kills 20 “acceptable” r Pe AV LAREDO LINDENW Arden Heights 0

HOLL OOD RD CD 50 Citywide Y ALE ST AV Eltingville AKD TARLEE PL O ELLSW * * OR o p e n s p a c e CD 50 Citywide Number of community gardens per 1,000 acres <1 4 From Staten Island Community Board 2: Vacant lot acreage 2,005 8,512 LEGEND nn DPR community gardens Parks, playgrounds Percent vacant 14% 4% 1/2 Mile nn Other community gardens and beaches Council District Border nn DPR beaches h e a l t h 1 Prall’s Island 21 White Playground nn New York City Department of nn State and federal parkland Number of hospital admissions per 10,000 residents: CD 50 Citywide The Board would like to Parks and Recreation (DPR) Asthma 15 31 2 Saw Mill Creek Marsh 22 Arthur Von Briesen Park nn City-owned vacant land ‘‘ parks, playgrounds and Diabetes 5 11 see continued efforts along 3 Staten Island Industrial Park 23 Fort Wadsworth Q DPR schoolyards-to- greenstreets 4 Father Macris Park 24 Arrochar Playground playgrounds sites nn DPR natural areas e d u c a t i o n CD 50 Citywide the beach front for all our 5 Meredith Woods 25 Old Town Playground (Schoolyards-to-playgrounds is a citywide PlaNYC initiative Percent fourth graders meeting standards in math 86% 81% 6 Schmul Park 26 South Beach residents to enjoy...The Board to open schoolyards to the public during afterschool hours.) Percent fourth graders meeting standards in reading 71% 63% 7 Mohlenhoff Nursery Addition 27 Ocean Breeze Park continues to support the 8 William T Davis 28 Dongan Playground Wildlife Refuge 29 Midland Boardwalk and Beach Greenbelt Master Plan. 9 Fresh Kills Park 30 MacArthur Park 10 31 JHS Playground 11 Westwood Hill Park 32 Midland Field Statement of Needs for Fiscal Year 2008 12 Ingram Wood 33 Midland Playground 13 Blood Root Valley 34 Miller Field ’’ 14 La Tourette Park and 35 Cedar Grove Golf Course 36 Dugan Playground 15 Willowbrook Parkway 37 Clawson Playground 16 High Rock Park 38 Dyker Beach Park Tools for Action 17 Korean War Veterans Parkway Let your elected officials know how important parks are to you. 39 Leif Ericson Drive 18 Reed’s Basket Willow Swamp City Council Member: James S. Oddo [email protected] 40 Bath Beach Playground 19 Naples Playground Staten Island Community Board 1 (718) 981-6900 20 Brady’s Pond Park Staten Island Community Board 2 (718) 317-3235 Staten Island Community Board 3 (718) 356-7900 City of New York 311 or www.nyc.gov State and Federal Representatives www.elections.state.ny.us New Yorkers for Parks www.ny4p.org Naples Playground, Concord Midland Beach, Midland Beach

b o a r d c h a i r p h o t o g r a p h y Supporters About New Yorkers d a t a s o u r c e s Catherine Morrison Golden David Silverstein, Manager Altman Foundation for Parks All data is from 2008 unless noted. “Citywide”: Parks by the Numbers - NYC Department of Arthur Ross Foundation Parks and Recreation (DPR); Budget chart - Adopted Budgets, NYC Office of Management and e x e c u t i v e d i r e c t o r District 50 Photographer: New Yorkers for Parks is the only Greenacre Foundation Budget (OMB), FY 1989-2009, Preliminary Budget, OMB, FY 2010. “By the borough”: PIP Ratings, Christian DiPalermo Christine Kaelin independent watchdog for all the By the numbers & Staffing - DPR; Trees -“Trees Count!” Street Tree Census report, 2005-2006, DPR; Henry and Lucy Moses Fund city’s parks, beaches and playgrounds. This page: Population - Census2000; Language access - Infoshare.org; Civic engagement - NYC Board Ben Carlson d i s t r i c t p r o f i l e s s ta f f John N. Blackman, Sr. Foundation The city’s oldest and leading inde- of Elections and NYC Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications (DOITT), Bill DesJardins Cheryl Huber, Director Abby R. Mauzé Trust pendent expert on park conditions, FY 2008; Park resources and PIP ratings - DPR: Community Gardens - Council on the Environment of Tim Francis NYC; Vacant land - MapPLUTO copyrighted by the New York City Department of Planning, BYTES Alyson Beha The Armand G. Erpf Fund efficiency and funding, New Yorkers Susan McCartney of the BIG APPLE; Health - NYS Department of Health, 2006 via Infoshare.org; Education - NYC and Andrea Marpillero-Colomina The Dana Foundation for Parks has worked for 100 years Laura Napier NYS Departments of Education, 2007-2008, analysis by the Annenberg Foundation. The Rhodebeck Charitable Trust to ensure greener, safer, cleaner g r a p h i c d e s i g n e r Mark Sanders Norman and Rosita Winston parks for all New Yorkers. m a p d a t a Michael Bierman David Silverstein Foundation NYC Parks properties - DPR; State parks - NYS Department of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation; National parks - , 2006; Council District boundaries - BYTES of the Big Apple, DCP, 2005; Schoolyards-to-Playgrounds - DPR. The Future of New York City Parks

With the promise of Fresh Kills Park parks, the money is directed to the City’s in Staten Island and the completion of General Fund. New Yorkers for Parks has regional parks citywide, New York City’s long advocated for City Hall to allow the park system will expand over the coming Parks Department to retain a portion of decades in a manner not seen since the this revenue to offset maintenance costs 1930s. With sound planning and sufficient throughout the system, as is done in other funding, our park system will flourish. cities such as Chicago.

Although the City has an obligation to Property Taxes: Business Improvement fund parks, we have seen that in times of Districts have a long history of funding fiscal crisis, parks suffer. We must ensure park maintenance through tax revenues, that all parks—particularly those that with Bryant Park as the lead example. cannot rely on private funding—receive Friends of is pursuing adequate public support. this structure. Such arrangements place some of the costs of park maintenance While “friends of” groups and the robust on businesses or residents whose property volunteer program administered through values benefit from a well-maintained park. Partnerships for Parks have a positive im- pact on park maintenance, more dollars are Public-Private Partnerships: More than needed. Park advocates have long debated 30 park-specific non-profits around the how to ensure funding streams outside of city fundraise for specific parks—such as the city budget to maintain our parks in all Conservancy and the Riverside fiscal climates. The funding mechanisms Park Fund. Groups typically raise money below have been successful in New York for capital projects or ongoing park main- City and elsewhere. Now is the time to tenance; however, this strategy has worked carefully examine these strategies to plan only in high-income areas. for the future. Zoning Bonuses: Developer incentives Concessions: More than $50 million is to improve open space can produce earned annually from concessions such as successful results. In West Chelsea, the food stands and ice skating rinks operated City passed a special zoning amendment on City parkland. Some public-private that allowed developers to build higher in partnerships are allowed to keep a portion exchange for contributing to an ongoing of concession revenues earned in particular maintenance fund to benefit the new parks through unique agreements with public Park. This structure the City. But in the vast majority of should be explored citywide.

New Yorkers for Parks The Arthur Ross Center for Parks and Open Spaces 355 Lexington Avenue, 14th Floor New York, NY 10017

Tel: 212-838-9410 / Fax: 212-371-6048 Top: Madison Square Park, Manhattan Middle: Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, Queens www.ny4p.org Above: Vidalia Park, Bronx