West Farms, Bronx River, Parkchester, b r o n x Westchester, Unionport, Schuylerville, Throgs Neck, c i t y Edgewater Park, Soundview, Bruckner, c o u n c i l 2009 d i s t r i c t 18 Castle Hill, Clason Point, Harding Park

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 : Soundview Park Until 2006 the City did not specifcally track crimes oc- curring on city parkland, and therefore no data was available to tell citizens about the safety of their parks. New Yorkers for Parks worked with the City Council and Mayor to pass legislation mandating the tracking of crime in the 20 largest parks, with the eventual goal of includ- ing every park. The program was recently expanded to include 30 parks, one of which is Soundview Park. New Yorkers for Parks is Space Time Playground, Castle Hill the only place where the public The Bloomberg Administration’s physical barriers or crime. As a result, can access data on park safety. Visit www.ny4p.org for more PlaNYC is the first-ever effort to studies show significant increases in information. sustainably address the many infra- nearby real estate values. Greenways structure needs of New York City, are expanding waterfront access including parks. With targets set for while creating safer routes for cyclists 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- Bryant Park 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, Queens Ice rinks Above: Central Park, Manhattan 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: Bronx

BRONX Parkland Alienation Park Inspection Program Ratings: Parks by the Bronx vs. Citywide (Percent rated acceptable) Numbers Although the Bronx has the most parkland of the Bronx Citywide five boroughs, much of that acreage is contained in 100% 2,596 Pelham Bay Park, at 2,766 acres the largest in the city. Acres of natural areas Bronx parks have been subject to two significant cases 90% of “alienation”: the taking of parkland for a non-park 191 use. In 2003, the City and State approved construc- Playgrounds 80% tion of a water filtration plant in Van Cortlandt Park, and in 2006, 22 acres of well-loved parkland 117 70% Comfort stations were alienated for a new Yankee Stadium. The Van 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Cortlandt Park case was high-profile and resulted in The Parks Department conducts 5,000 park inspections annually 374 mitigation funds for Bronx parks, but the alienation through their internal rating system, the Park Inspection Program. Drinking fountains at Yankee Stadium took place in only eight days with residents left in the dark. Both cases resulted in 144 soured relations between the City and the affected Athletic felds communities. Unfortunately, parkland can be legally 201 taken without public notification. The alienation pro- Basketball courts cess must be strengthened so that parkland in every borough can be preserved for New Yorkers. 436 Greenstreets Three non-profit partner groups fundraise for Bronx parks, in addition to 10 groups that raise money to 10 Pools support parks citywide.

Bronx Park Staffing 27 Gardeners & Assistant Gardeners 216 City Parks Workers At left: Van Cortlandt Park, Van Cortlandt Village & Associate Park Above: Poe Park, Fordham Service Workers 52 The Bronx has the highest percentage of land devoted to parks of the fve boroughs. Park Supervisors Bronx Citywide Park acreage 7,002 29,000 12 Recreation Directors & Percent of borough devoted to parks 26% 14% Specialists The Bronx has the 2nd lowest number of residents per acre of parkland of the fve boroughs. 5 Total population 1.3 million 8 million Playground Associates Residents per acre of parkland 190 276 23 The Bronx has the 2nd greatest tree canopy coverage of the fve boroughs. Parks Enforcement Patrol Tree canopy (trees on public and private land) 24% 24% (PEP) Offcers & Urban Park Rangers Number of street trees per mile of sidewalk 37 41 00.5 1Miles

Soundview Park, Soundview bronx City Council District 18

E WARING AV WARING AV

From Bronx Community Board 9: E 191 ST ASTOR AV AV District Statistics AV UGER PELHAM PY N WELL CR a c r e a g e o f c i t y p a r k s AV STILL 11 ON RD Belmont Total district acreage 2,496 BOST According to statistics, Community Board 9 WILSON Total parkland acreage 366 Pelham Parkway Jacobi Medical Center is seriously deficient in neighborhood park Weiler/Einstein Percent City parkland Parks & playgrounds acreage 307 ‘‘ AV AV Hospital of total district acreage Percent parkland 15%

CRESCENT acres, while community parks merely meet AV WILKINSON UMONT AV Citywide 14%

BEA

UGER AV minimum standards…. It is, therefore, BRADY AV

CR YA

SEMINOLE 20 TES Ranking of City parkland p o p u l a t i o n incumbent upon those responsible for parks/ MORRIS PK AV AV SOUTHERN BL AV acres/resident AV Population 164,277 AV NEILL 13 ASSETT (1=highest, 51=lowest) open space planning within this community HONE B Bronx E 182 ST Population under 18 49,748 MONT AV Psychiatric to acquire new parks and open space land BEL Center Percent under 18 30% Morris Park AV BR to bring the community to the minimum EN HOSP TE 20 Acres parkland per 1,000 residents 2 ONXD Ranking of City parks & CKETT

SA playgrounds acres/child TA BX S BX Acres parks & playgrounds per 1,000 children 6 recommended acreage. ALE

HUNT AV AV ONA PY AV OT WA MAPES CR AV l a n g u a g e a c c e s s CD 18 Citywide TERS PL Most common foreign language spoken at home Spanish Spanish HONEYWELL AV AV Statement of Needs for Fiscal Year 2008 AKER VR PY B Percent of homes speaking this language 35% 18% TA VanYLOR Nest HALPERIN

ONX R Westchester Square AV AV ’’ 15 BR E TREMONT c i v i c e n g a g e m e n t CD 18 Citywide AN AV O West Farms METROPOLIT VERING ST Registered voters 70% 76% Parks, playgrounds AV

AV DORSEY ST Number general parks-related ED ONX RIVER BR 5 W 311 calls per 1,000 residents 5 10 4 WHITE PLAINS RD ARDS UNIONPOR and beaches E 177 ST WRENCE Parkchester AV AV Number of parks-related 311 calls for maintenance

1 Starlight Park 11 Watson Gleason Playground LA ST 6 per 1,000 residents 1 1 3 T RD CROSS BX SVC RD S 2 174th Street Playground 12 Bronx River Parkway WESTCHESTER

E 174 ST p a r k r e s o u r c e s CD 18 Citywide 3 Noble Playground 13 Soundview Park Y AV *TERBUR AV WA AV Does not include capital funding allocated to multiple districts or citywide. 4 Taylor Playground 14 Story Playground SE VY 2 TA 7 District-specific capital funding, 2004–2009 $2 million $4.2 million YLOR AV E 172 ST BOONE 1 5 Castle Hill Playground 15 Space Time Playground FTELEY AV AV WESTCHESTER GRAFF 6 Caserta Playground 16 P. O. Serrano Playground COMMERCE AV 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 AV AV 7 Virginia Playground 17 Randall Playground E 172 ST POWELL Results of the Parks Department’s internal inspections. THIERIO UC 8 Havemeyer Playground 18 Pugsley Creek Park FY 2004BR FY 2008 MORRISON 100 T 8 UNDERHILL 9 Haviland Playground 19 Castle Hill Park AV Unionport ELDER AV 80 9 88% 86% 10 Black Rock Playground 20 Harding Park W 81% 82% AV ARD 11 1060 UCKNER EP AV BR 12 TSON WA AV AV SOUND 40 WAY rated cent parks BRUCKNER EXPRESS AV VIEW QUIMBY

20 “acceptable” C

ASTLE HILL r Pe AN EP AV LEGEND nn DPR community gardens 0

SHERID CD 18 Citywide 1/4 Mile nn Other community gardens 18 AV AV LAFAYETTE Council District Border DPR beaches PUGSLEY o p e n s p a c e CD 18 Citywide nn F

AILE ST 16 BO 14 * nn New York City Department of nn State and federal parkland YNT Y AV Number of community gardens per 1,000 acres 4 4 STOR 15 Soundview AV Parks and Recreation (DPR) ON Vacant lot acreage 93 8,512 nn City-owned vacant land Castle Hill VR PY ET NB METC parks, playgrounds and AV AV Q DPR schoolyards-to- SEWARD Percent vacant 4% 4% greenstreets AV ALF LAFAYETTE HUTCH R playgrounds sites AV nn DPR natural areas A AV 17 ALL AV SENEC RAND h e a l t h LONGFELLO Number of hospital admissions per 10,000 residents: CD 18 Citywide (Schoolyards-to-playgrounds is a citywide PlaNYC initiative 13 SOUND to open schoolyards to the public during afterschool hours.) VIEW Asthma 61 31

W 18 AV SCREVIN BOL Diabetes 15 11

AV

T ON

AV AV AV TON AV SPOFFORD NOR e d u c a t i o n CD 18 Citywide

HALLECK ST Percent fourth graders meeting standards in math 79% 81% 2 ST AV AV PATTERSON E Percent fourth graders meeting standards in reading 58% 63%

LELAND AV WESTCHESTER Hunts Point O'BRIEN CREEK

AV 19 FOOD CENTER RD 17 AV BRONX RIVER GILDERSLEEVE Y AV 20 EAST BA Hunts Point SOUND WHITEST AV Cooperative Market AV VIELE CORNELL VIEW 18 AV ONE 174th Street Playground, Soundview AV RYAWA Water Pollution Control Plant

Fish Market Tools for Action Let your elected officials know how important parks are to you. City Council Member: Annabel Palma [email protected] Bronx Community Board 9 (718) 823-3034 Bronx Community Board 10 (718) 745-6827 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 Noble Playground, Parkchester Riker’s Island 19

22 d a t a s o u r c e s 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 Catherine Morrison Golden David Silverstein, Manager Altman Foundation FLUSHINGfor Parks BAY All data is from 2008 unless noted. “Citywide”: Parks by the Numbers - NYC Department of

HAZEN ST 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 18 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 Laura Napier 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 College Point 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 Christine Kaelin 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 Susan McCartney 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 - National Park Service, 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 Hudson River Park 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 the Battery 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 High Line 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