EAST Open Space Index New Yorkers for Parks The Arthur Ross Center for Parks and Open Spaces 55 , 23rd Floor New York, NY 10004 (212) 838-9410 www.ny4p.org

New Yorkers for Parks is the citywide independent organization championing quality parks and open spaces for all New Yorkers in all neighborhoods.

This study was made possible by generous contributions from The Aetna Foundation, The J.M. Kaplan Fund, and the Council, including Christine Quinn, Speaker; Domenic M. Recchia, Jr., Finance Chair; and Melissa Mark-Viverito, Parks and Recreation Chair.

New Yorkers for Parks’ research is also supported, in part, by the Altman Foundation, David L. Klein Jr. Foundation, Henry and Lucy Moses Fund, John N. Blackman Sr. Foundation, Leon Levy Foundation, The Lucius N. Littauer Foundation, The William and Mary Greve Foundation, and The Winston Foundation.

We are grateful to members of Mount Sinai Children’s Environmental Health Center, Department of Preventive Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine for their partnership on this study. In particular, we would like to thank Maida P. Galvez, MD, MPH; Philip Landrigan, MD; Barbara Brenner, DrPH; Kevin Chatham-Stephens, MD; and Kathleen McGovern, MPH.

Board of Directors Directors Council Staff Edward C. Wallace, Chair Micaéla Birmingham Holly Leicht, Executive Director Catherine Morrison Golden, Vice Chair Jenny Dirksen Alyson Beha, Director of Research, Planning & Policy Mark Hoenig, Secretary Elizabeth Greenstein Katie Denny, Director of Development Elaine Allen, Treasurer Kate Kerrigan Jessica Feldman, Research & Planning Analyst Luis Garden Acosta Carol Loewenson Sam Mei, Fiscal Manager Martin S. Begun David J. Loo Emily Walker, Community Outreach & Events Coordinator Milovan Blair Thomas L. McMahon Robin Weinstein, Director of Operations & Finance Dr. Roscoe Brown, Jr. Jennifer M. Ortega James Yolles, Director of Communications Margaret A. Doyle Thomas Paulo Audrey Feuerstein Oliver Spellman Additional Project Staff Richard Gilder Paul Willen Sara Margolis, Research and Planning Intern Paul R. Gottsegen John S. Winkleman Rosamund Palmer, Research and Planning Intern George J. Grumbach, Jr. Paola A. Zanzo-Sahl Scott Ulrich, Research and Planning Intern Lynden B. Miller Ira M. Millstein Design: Raven + Crow Studio Ron Moelis Photos: Copyright © 2012. New Yorkers for Parks. All Rights Reserved. Philip R. Pitruzzello Map data: NYC Department of Parks and Recreation, 2012; NYC Christopher Rizzo Department of City Planning, 2012; NYC Department of Information Fern Thomas Technology and Telecommunications, 2005; The Municipal Art Society, Virginia Veras Planning Center, 2004. Carmen Walker-Gay Cover: East Playground,

Copyright © 2012. New Yorkers for Parks. All Rights Reserved.

2 New Yorkers for Parks TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 letter from the executive director 20 RECOMMENDATIONS

2 INTRODUCTION 25 nEXT STEPS

3 THE OPEN SPACE INDEX 26 APPENDICES 26 Appendix A: Data Collection 5 OPEN SPACE INDEX 29 Appendix B: Field and Court Dimensions 6 East Harlem OSI Results 30 Appendix C: Study Area Maps 8 Active Open Space 10 passive Open Space 31 ENDNOTES 12 Total Open Space 14 Access and Distance 16 Environmental Sustainability 18 park Maintenance

East HarlemConservatory Open SpGarden,ace Ind Centralex P1ark McNair Playground letter from the executive director

New Yorkers for Parks created the Open Space Index to empower New rules about public use and hours of access? If the PlaNYC Schoolyards- Yorkers to advocate for the open space investments they determine are to-Playgrounds initiative was expanded to some of the 30 area schools for most needed in their communities. We provide the data on how their parks off-hours public use, and if places were identified that could be transformed and public spaces stack up against citywide standards, but it’s the community into new public plazas? residents themselves who decide how to use that information to improve their neighborhoods. For example, our 2010 Open Space Index of Jackson And what if East Harlem residents were better connected to their parks? If Heights, , became the springboard that civic groups and elected busy intersections at the entrances to the East River Esplanade were safer officials needed to garner political support and funding for a public plaza, a and more pedestrian friendly? If a comprehensive network of public spaces Play Street, and a new park in their community. – akin to the Malls on the west side – linked the neighborhood’s parks to one another? If there were more ways to get to Randall’s Island? We’re confident that this report, based on hundreds of hours of on-the- ground surveying and data analysis, can be a similar catalyst for East Harlem. What you’ll find in this report are facts and figures, as well as some preliminary East Harlem has many strengths to build on. It’s rich with ballfields, basketball recommendations to begin a dialogue about the future of East Harlem’s courts and playgrounds, and few parts of the city enjoy such an impressive open spaces. The Open Space Index is just a starting point: how this data array of community gardens. But there are ample opportunities to do more gets used is up to those who live and work and play in this neighborhood, with existing resources. More than 100 acres of New York City Housing those who best know the public spaces that we have counted and measured Authority (NYCHA) open space is fenced off and inaccessible. These grassy and compared. swaths certainly provide environmental benefits, but imagine how much more beneficial they might be with creative programming. The East River It’s your neighborhood. What comes next is up to you. Esplanade and Randall’s Island are tremendous nearby resources – but many residents, especially less mobile ones like children and seniors, have difficulty Holly Leicht getting to them since pedestrian crossings can be dangerous and far apart. Executive Director Some community gardens are often locked during public hours, and many school playgrounds sit empty after the final bell rings.

What if the East Harlem community and City worked together to maximize public access to these spaces? If more of NYCHA’s lawns were opened up and programmed? If all community gardens adhered to GreenThumb’s

East Harlem Open Space Index 1 Introduction

Why We Need an Open Space Index A Partnership with Health Researchers

New Yorkers for Parks’ (NY4P) Open Space Index (OSI) is a set of fifteen NY4P is conducting the East Harlem OSI through an exciting partnership with New York City-specific open space and sustainability standards designed to researchers from Mount Sinai School of Medicine Children’s Environmental provide residents, community groups, and public officials with data about Health Center, Departments of Preventive Medicine and Pediatrics (Mount the strengths and weaknesses of local open space conditions. Communities Sinai). In order to understand the relationship between health, physical can use the OSI to assess and prioritize their open space needs, identify activity, and open space, Mount Sinai researchers and New Yorkers for Parks environmental sustainability opportunities, and organize and build advocacy are integrating data about the people and places of East Harlem. campaigns. Public officials can use the OSI to more effectively target capital spending on park improvements. For over a decade, researchers from Mount Sinai have been studying the health of a group of children growing up in East Harlem. In particular, they The OSI, shown on page 3, is the product of a three-year research and have been examining how features of the built environment influence development endeavor by NY4P. Each target was developed through an physical activity and health. The OSI’s nuanced measures of open space will analysis of current New York City open space conditions, a wide survey help answer questions about what types of parks inspire children to play, of measures used in other cities, and interviews with experts in the fields how different varieties of open space impact children’s health, and how the of community-based planning, environmental justice, environmental science, quality and proximity of these spaces influence whether children use them. open space planning, and real estate. The data presented in this report represents the first phase of our partnership In the spring of 2009, NY4P first piloted the OSI in the with Mount Sinai. Each team will release additional findings in the next phase: neighborhood of . In 2010 we conducted an OSI assessment of Mount Sinai will publish their results on the relationship between access the open spaces and parks of Jackson Heights, Queens, and we are pleased to open space and children’s health in medical journals; NY4P will release now to release our third OSI assessment, focusing on East Harlem. Our goal policy reports with strategies for incorporating Mount Sinai’s findings into over time is to conduct enough neighborhood assessments so that the OSI park and open space planning, encouraging the design and maintenance of grows from being a primarily local tool to being a source for citywide open spaces that promote active recreation and children’s health. In conjunction space planning, helping us to identify trends across boroughs and the city, with the release of each publication, NY4P will share the findings with the to target resources more effectively, and to plan for the future open space East Harlem community and New York City public officials. needs of all New Yorkers.

2 New Yorkers for Parks introductioTnhe Open Space Index

Open Space Elements Open Space Index Standards

Active and Passive Open Space

Active Open Space & Facilities: 1 acre of Active Open Space/ 1,000 residents

Play Areas 1 Play Area/ 1,250 children

Athletic Fields 1.5 Fields/ 10,000 residents

Courts 5 Courts/ 10,000 residents

Recreation Centers 1 Recreation Center/ 20,000 residents

Passive Open Space: 1.5 acres of Passive Open Space/ 1,000 residents

Community Gardens 1 Community Garden/ 10,000 residents

Total Acres of Open Space 2.5 acres of Open Space/ 1,000 residents

Access and Distance to Parks

Walking Distance to a Pocket Park (Less than 1 acre) 100% of residents are within a 5 minute walk (¼ mile)

Walking Distance to a Neighborhood Park (1-20 acres) 100% of residents are within a 5 minute walk (¼ mile)

Walking Distance to a Large Park (Greater than 20 acres) 100% of residents are within a 10 minute walk (½ mile)

Environmental Sustainability

Urban Tree Canopy Cover Neighborhood-specific goals established by the U.S. Forest Service

Permeable Surfacing within Parks 70% of surfacing permeable

Park Maintenance

Parks Rated "Acceptable" Overall 85% of inspections "acceptable"

Parks Rated "Acceptable" on Cleanliness 90% of inspections "acceptable"

East Harlem Open Space Index 3 4 New Yorkers for Parks Circle East Harlem Open Space Index East Harlem Study Area

V A V H 3 A a E r V l D e I A E m S 5 13 0 G S R E 1 T i 3 IN v 5 L e ST N B r R S D O r i Open Space AS v M L e G U W S O T V K D A P N D X IS E I C O R V R R Marcus F H N A E O O L Garvey E 3 M 12 L 5 AS T Park ST M

Morningside A

V Park L B Index L L E W O P E C 12 V 0 S A T AM K V AD AR In the fall of 2011, NY4P conducted a field survey of East Harlem P A 2 to assess the OSI features within the study area. Trained surveyors

E 11 covered over 250 blocks on foot collecting data on the amount of 6 S T V A T

Passive and Active Open Space and counting Recreation Centers, AN S V A A E L N P Play Areas, Courts, Community Gardens and Fields. Surveyors also O T Central G Randall's E 1 Thomas IN 1 0 Island Park X ST Jefferson took measurements of the permeable and impermeable ground E L Park V E V A 1 surface in parks and open spaces. A 0 N 6 5 S O T V IS A D 1 A V V M E A A 1 02 2 K ST AR In addition to taking physical measurements, surveyors made P

E 1 detailed drawings, took photographs, and reconciled on-the-ground 02 ST data with map records publicly available from City agencies. R E D 96 R S D T F

¯ 0 0.125 0.25 0.5 Miles Study Area Surrounding Park Properties Study Area Park Properties

The East Harlem OSI is the first in a series of reports by NY4P and Mount Sinai School of Medicine that will investigate the relationship between access to open space and children’s health. NY4P conducted the OSI survey to correspond with the boundaries of Mount Sinai School of Medicine’s ongoing Growing Up Healthy in East Harlem study. The study area stretches from the East River to Morningside Park, covering several neighborhoods, including East Harlem and a small portion of Central Harlem. The OSI study area falls within portions of Surveying in Central Park East Manhattan Community Boards 10 and 11, and City Council Districts 8 and 9. For Surveying in Blake Hobbs Playground Community Playground maps of the political boundaries within the study area, please see Appendix C.

East Harlem Open Space Index 5 east harlem Open Space Index results

East Harlem Open Space Elements OSI Standards OSI Results Active and Passive Open Space Active Open Space & Facilities: .3 acres of Active Open Space/ 1,000 residents 1 acre of Active Open Space/ 1,000 residents Play Areas 5.4 Play Areas/ 1,250 children 1 Play Area/ 1,250 children Athletic Fields 2.1 Fields/ 10,000 residents 1.5 Fields/ 10,000 residents Courts 8.4 Courts/ 10,000 residents 5 Courts/ 10,000 residents Recreation Centers .3 Recreation Centers/ 20,000 residents 1 Recreation Center/ 20,000 residents Passive Open Space: .9 acres of Passive Open Space/ 1,000 residents 1.5 acres of Passive Open Space/ 1,000 residents Community Gardens 2.7 Community Gardens/ 10,000 residents 1 Community Garden/ 10,000 residents Total Acres of Open Space 1.2 acres of Open Space/ 1,000 residents 2.5 acres of Open Space/ 1,000 residents Access and Distance to Parks Walking Distance to a Pocket Park (Less than 1 acre) 93% of residents are within a 5 minute walk 100% of residents are within a 5 minute walk Walking Distance to a Neighborhood Park (1-20 acres) 82% of residents are within a 5 minute walk 100% of residents are within a 5 minute walk Walking Distance to a Large Park (Greater than 20 acres) 84% of residents are within a 10 minute walk 100% of residents are within a 10 minute walk Environmental Sustainability Urban Tree Canopy Cover 12% existing tree canopy 39% possible tree canopy Permeable Surfacing within Parks 71% of surfacing permeable 70% of surfacing permeable Park Maintenance Parks Rated Overall "Acceptable" 81% of inspections “acceptable” 85% of inspections “acceptable” Parks Rated "Acceptable" on Cleanliness 89% of inspections “acceptable” 90% of inspections “acceptable”

Neighborhood statistics: 1,202.4 acres; 143,104 residents; 31,977 children (2012 NYC DPR; 2010 U.S. Census SF-1 data)

6 New Yorkers for Parks Features that Meet or Exceed Features that Do Not Meet OSI Standards OSI Standards

Fields Active Open Space

Courts Passive Open Space

Play Areas Total Open Space

Community Gardens Walking distance to Pocket, Neighborhood and Large Parks Permeable Surfacing in Parks Recreation Centers

Overall Park Maintenance

Tree Canopy Coverage

Mis Vecinos Garden Empty tree pits along the East River Esplanade

East Harlem Open Space Index 7 Active Open Space

Active Open Space and facilities offer places for recreational sports, exercise and play. This type of parkland is critical to maintaining mental and physical health.

East Harlem East Harlem Open Space Elements Open Space OSI Standards OSI Results Measures Active Open Space & Facilities: 40 acres .3 acres of Active Open Space/ 1,000 residents 1 acre of Active Open Space/ 1,000 residents Play Areas 139 5.4 Play Areas/ 1,250 children 1 Play Area/ 1,250 children Athletic Fields 30 2.1 Fields/ 10,000 residents 1.5 Fields/ 10,000 residents Courts 120.5 8.4 Courts/ 10,000 residents 5 Courts/ 10,000 residents Recreation Centers 2 .3 Recreation Centers/ 20,000 residents 1 Recreation Center/ 20,000 residents

East Harlem exceeds the OSI standards for the number of Fields, Courts and Play Areas per resident. While there is a shortage of Total Open Space per resident, existing parks are well-stocked with a variety of recreational equipment and programmed spaces.

Harlem River Park Field

8 New Yorkers for Parks East Harlem Open Space Index Recreation Center Locations

V A E 1 K 35 PAR ST

V V H A A a 3 E r V l D A e I m S 5 E 1 G 30 R S i E IN L T v 1 B e 3 N r 5 S ST R D Recreation Center O AS r i M L v G e U O W S V

T A D K

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N X D S E O I I R C R F N ^ V R H E A L O O Marcus E 3 M 12 L 5 AS T Garvey ST M

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V Recreation Centers L B L L E W Fall Short of OSI Standard O P E 12 C V 0 A ST AM K V The Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) AR AD P A 2 operates two Recreation Centers in the study

E area: Thomas Jefferson Recreation Center in 11 6 ST V A and Pelham Fritz Recreation T

AN S Center in . Both centers A E V L A P N contain outdoor pools, indoor recreation, and O E T 1 10 Thomas G ST IN ^Jefferson computer resource facilities, and both offer active X E Park L programming including dance and fitness classes. V V A A N 5 Youth under 18 have free access to DPR Recreation O V IS E 10 A D 2 1 A S V T V A E Centers throughout the city. M A 1 2 06 K ST AR P E 1 02 ST While there are many organizations in the East

R Harlem study area that provide valuable recreational E 9 D 6 R ST D F opportunities for children, including StreetSquash and Harlem RBI, the OSI only counts Recreation Centers with DPR-comparable entrance fees and accessibility—i.e., spaces in which any child can play free of charge. ¯ 0 0.125 0.25 0.5 Miles Study Area Parks with Recreation Centers ^ Recreation Centers Other Park Properties East Harlem Open Space Index 9 Passive Open Space

Passive Open Spaces such as lawns, esplanades, plazas, beaches, natural areas, and community gardens offer places to relax, stroll, socialize, and experience the outdoors. These spaces provide respite from city life and give residents a chance to interact with the natural environment. Parks with benches, shade and peaceful passive programming are important resources that support the healthy aging of seniors.1

East Harlem East Harlem Open Space Elements Open Space OSI Standards OSI Results Measures Passive Open Space 122 acres .9 acres of Passive Open Space/ 1,000 resident 1.5 acres of Passive Open Space/ 1,000 residents Community Gardens 39 2.7 Community Gardens/ 10,000 residents 1 Community Garden/ 10,000 residents

East Harlem falls short of the OSI standard for total acres of Passive Open Space per resident. Most of the study area’s Passive Open Space is concentrated in Central Park. Passive open spaces such as the and DOT Greenstreets at the entrance to the RFK Bridge on provide visual amenities and environmental benefits but are inaccessible to users for activities such as picnicking, sun bathing or reading.

Sitting Area in Thomas Jefferson Park

10 New Yorkers for Parks East Harlem Open Space Index Community Gardens

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C X D R V E O R H Marcus R A N O 3 F O E ! E 1 L M Garvey 2 ! L 5 Community Gardens AS T ST Morningside M Park

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Park V L !! B Exceed OSI Standard

L ! L E ! W O P E C 12 V 0 With 39 Community Gardens, East Harlem is home A ST ! AM K ! V AD AR A to a large and diverse stock of small passive open P ! ! ! 2 ! ! spaces, from family vegetable gardens to manicured ! E 1 gardens to club houses for socializing and card ! 16 ! ST ! ! V ! ! !! A ! playing. NY4P surveyors observed well-tended gardens ! T! AN S A displaying bright colors and the remnants of summer V ! E A L ! P N ! ! Central O ! crops when we visited in the fall of 2011. T E Randall's G 1 Park 10 Thomas IN ST Island X Jefferson E L Park

V ! Many organizations manage community gardens in V A A N ! 5 O E S ! ! 1 V I 0 A East Harlem, including New York Restoration Project, E 6 D 1 ST 1 A 0 ! V 2 V M S A A T 2 The Trust for Public Land, and groups with license ! K AR P ! agreements through DPR’s GreenThumb program. E 1 02 ST The GreenThumb program requires community

R gardens to post public hours and contact information. E D 96 R ST D F However, NY4P surveyors observed great variation in the upkeep and public accessibility of community gardens in East Harlem. Some gardens had clearly posted hours and rules for participation. Other gardens

0 0.125 0.25 0.5 Miles were locked during posted hours or failed to display ¯ required information. We observed gardens used for Study Area Study Area Park Properties private purposes including storage and car parking. These hard-won oases of urban greenery should be ! Community Gardens Surrounding Park Properties accessible for all to enjoy.

East Harlem Open Space Index 11 Total Open Space

Total Open Space is the aggregate of Active and Passive Open Space in East Harlem. This includes courts and fields, lawns, pathways, plazas, and playgrounds— the entire spectrum of open space that provides East Harlem residents with opportunities for play, relaxation, socializing and contact with nature.

East Harlem East Harlem Open Space Elements Open Space OSI Standards OSI Results Measures Total Acres of Open Space 168 acres 1.2 acres of Total Open Space/ 1,000 residents 2.5 acres of Total Open Space/ 1,000 residents

The amount of Total Open Space per East Harlem resident falls far short of the OSI standard. However, the space that does exist is programmed for a variety of recreational opportunities, exceeding standards for Courts, Fields and Play Areas. With 39 Community Gardens, the neighborhood also contains verdant Passive Open Space.

McCabe Field

12 New Yorkers for Parks EHandballast Harlem Courts Op ate nC rackSpac ise W Indacke xPlayground 13 Access and Distance

In densely populated urban areas, the distribution and accessibility of open space is critically important. While the East Harlem OSI study area is bordered by Central Park and the East River Esplanade, these parks are beyond the reach of many neighborhood residents. Residents not living in the immediate area of these parks are not likely to utilize the spaces with frequency. Tranquil open spaces are particularly important to vulnerable populations, such as the ill, disabled, and elderly, who are less likely to participate in active recreation but stand to benefit immensely from exposure to the outdoors.

East Harlem Open Space Elements OSI Standards OSI Results Access and Distance to Parks Walking Distance to a Pocket Park (Less than 1 acre) 93% of residents are within a 5 minute walk 100% of residents are within a 5 minute walk Walking Distance to a Neighborhood Park (1-20 acres) 82% of residents are within a 5 minute walk 100% of residents are within a 5 minute walk Walking Distance to a Large Park (Greater than 20 acres) 84% of residents are within a 10 minute walk 100% of residents are within a 10 minute walk

For distance measurement calculations, see Appendix A.

While some East Harlem residents reside 16% of East Harlem outside of the recommended walking residents live more than distance to a Pocket, Neighborhood or a ten-minute walk from Large Park, 100% of East Harlem residents a Large Park. These are within walking distance of at least one residents, including type of park, and residents of all but two over 5,000 children, blocks live within walking distance to either are concentrated in the a Pocket or a Neighborhood Park. We eastern portion of the encourage progress toward the goal that neighborhood. residents live within the recommended walking distance to all three types of park, as each offers different amenities and Intersection with poor provides different benefits to users. sight lines along

14 New Yorkers for Parks Pocket Park: Less than one acre neighborhood park: 1-20 acres large park: Greater than 20 acres

Pocket Parks usually accommodate one or two Neighborhood Parks typically offer a broad The expansive acreage of Large Parks allows for features such as a play area, a court, or a passive range of recreational opportunities, allowing the widest range of recreational activities, as sitting area. Their small size limits the services park-goers to enjoy both recreation and well as space for distinctive resources such as they can provide to a community, yet they are outdoor relaxation. East Harlem Neighborhood lakes, golf courses, natural areas and greenways. critical amenities for residents without much Parks such as Blake Hobbs and Crack is Wack Large Parks provide swaths of uninterrupted mobility, such as caretakers with small children, Playgrounds offer multiple Courts and Play green lawns and natural landscaping, aesthetic the elderly and the infirm. Areas, as well as seating areas and landscaped features that in dense cities can often only be greenery. experienced in large parks.

of residents of residents of residents are within a are within a are within a 5-minute walk to a 5-minute walk to a 10-minute walk to a POCKET PARK NEIGHBORHOOD LARGE PARK PARK

East Harlem Open Space Index East Harlem Open Space Index East Harlem Open Space Index Walking Distance to Pocket Parks Walking Distance to Neighborhood Parks Walking Distance to Large Parks

H V a V V r A A l 3 V V 3 A e H A A m V 3 E E H A a ID R r V a V E D S i E l I E r 1 v V e S A 1 l A 3 D m 3 e G 0 e I A E 5 0 E 5 S r S 1 G S m N T E 5 3 E T 1 I 1 0 R N 3 D 3 G 1 I R 5 5 S i 3 S N T v 5 T r S N N L i R L i T I e S v v L T B e B r R O e N B S r S R D O M S D O r M AS AS i L r L M AS v i L e G v G e W G U W U S S T K U W O T K O

S V V P

N P O T D D A V K N A S S I I D A P I C X N D I X D R C R V X IS E V E O R Marcus D O H I R A H C R A R E O R V Marcus N O 3 F N O F O E R R O 3 E H A E E Garvey 1 F N Marcus L M 2 E O L M 12 L 5 3 L O E Garvey L 5 AS T ST M 12 AS T ST Park L Garvey 5 M M AS T S Park T A Morningside

Morningside A M Park V V Morningside

A L Park L Park B V B Park L L (! B L L L E L E L W E W O O W P E P O E C 12 P C 12 V 0 E V 0 S 1 A T C 2 A ST V 0 S AM K A T AM K V AM K V AD AR A AD AR A P V P 2 AD AR 2 P A 2

E E 1 11 16 E 6 ST 11 ST V 6 V A S A T V T A T T AN AN S S AN A S A E V E L A A V V L P E P A A L N P Central N N O Central T Randall's O E O E T 1 T G 1 Thomas Park 10 Randall's Central E 1 G S G 1 Park IN 0 Island T 1 Randall's ST IN N 0 Thomas X Jefferson Island Park I ST E X X L E E Jefferson Island Park L L V Park V A A 5 V V V A A V A N 5 N A O N E V 5 S 1 O O I 0 A S E V E V 6 I S 1 D E 1 10 A I 0 A 1 ST D 2 E 6 A 0 S 1 D 1 S 1 V 2 V A T 0 T M S A V V A 2 V A T M E V S 2 A A 1 M T A K 0 A 2 6 2 K S K T AR P AR AR P P E E 10 10 2 E 1 2 ST 02 ST ST R R E D D 9 R E 9 6 R E D 6 R ST D 9 S D F 6 R T F S D T F

0 0.125 0.25 0.5 Miles 0 0.125 0.25 0.5 Miles ¯ 0 0.125 0.25 0.5 Miles ¯ ¯

Study Area 1/4 mile to Pocket Parks Study Area 1/4 mile to Neighborhood Parks Study Area Large Parks 1/2 mile to Large Parks Randall's Island Access Points Pocket Parks Other Park Properties Neighborhood Parks Other Park Properties Other Park Properties

East Harlem Open Space Index 15 Environmental Sustainability: Permeable Surfacing

Parks are critical to New York’s long-term environmental sustainability. Trees, grass and plants absorb air pollution, provide habitats for wildlife, and reduce air temperatures.2 Natural ground surfacing slows stormwater runoff and provides a natural filter to contaminants before they reach our rivers and bays. Lack of green space and shade can affect the park-going experience and may dissuade parents and caretakers from bringing their children to parks.

East Harlem Open Space Elements OSI Standards OSI Results Environmental Sustainability Permeable Surfacing within Parks 71% 70% Permeable Surfacing within Parks – Excluding Central Park 54% 70%

The proportion of parkland in East Harlem that is covered in permeable surfacing meets OSI standards. However, if

Impermeable surfacing in East River Playground we exclude Central Park, only 54% of open space in East Harlem is permeable, and if we limit our analysis to the primary places where children play—i.e., parks that contain Play Areas and/or Courts—only 47% of the open space in East Harlem is permeable. This means that children in East Harlem are often playing on asphalt.

Permeable pathways and plantings in Carver Community Garden

16 New Yorkers for Parks Environmental Sustainability: Tree Canopy

Trees provide multiple ecosystem services to New York City: they remove pollutants from the air, their leaves absorb and store carbon dioxide, they cool the air, and the permeable ground in which they grow helps absorb and manage stormwater runoff. These services are natural solutions that can save the City millions of dollars in annual pollution control.

At the request of DPR, the United States Forest Service completed an analysis of New York City’s urban tree canopy in 2006. 3 The 2006 report finds that all 188 New York City neighborhoods have the potential to increase their tree canopy coverage. In light of these findings, the City initiated MillionTreesNYC, which is facilitating the planting of one million trees with the ultimate goal of achieving 30% citywide tree canopy coverage by 2030. East Harlem—with limited street tree coverage and high rates of childhood asthma—was selected as a MillionTreesNYC “Trees for Public Health” neighborhood. In these target neighborhoods, DPR conducts block-by-block street tree plantings, and nonprofit organizations, including New York Restoration Project, oversee plantings and outreach throughout the community. Between October 2007 and June 2012, MillionTreesNYC contributed street trees to the majority of streets in East Harlem.4

East Harlem Potential Urban Open Space Elements Tree Canopy Tree Canopy Cover Cover Environmental Sustainability Urban Tree Canopy Cover* 12% 39%

*Average current and potential tree coverage for East Harlem North, East Harlem South, Central Harlem North/Polo Grounds, and Central Harlem South PlaNYC neighborhoods, from 2006 US Forest Service report to the City of New York.

The current Tree Canopy Cover in East Harlem falls far short of potential. Empty tree pits provide one opportunity for additional tree planting. We found 66 empty tree pits along the East River Esplanade— over one quarter of the total tree pits—and there appear to be additional areas in which more trees could be planted.

Harlem Art Park

East Harlem Open Space Index 17 Park Maintenance

New York City’s parks serve as front- and backyards for many New Yorkers. Keeping parks clean and safe is essential to attracting visitors and ensuring they feel comfortable and welcome. DPR’s Park Inspection Program (PIP) is a systematic assessment of parks conditions. PIP scores, which provide “acceptable” or “unacceptable” ratings for overall park maintenance and cleanliness, are publicly available on DPR’s website. The OSI standards conform to the New York City Mayor’s Management Report targets for park performance.5

DPR also publishes the “acceptable” and “unacceptable” ratings for the 17 park features that are evaluated in the overall PIP score (see Appendix A for a complete list of features). In East Harlem, between July 1, 2008 and June 30, 2012, litter was the most common problem, followed by the quality of paved surfaces and graffiti. Different maintenance problems require different remedies. Fixing faulty pavement requires elected officials to allocate capital improvement funds, while volunteer “friends” groups can organize clean-ups to tackle litter problems.

Park Inspection Program Scores – July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2012

East Harlem Parks Open Space Elements East Harlem NYC Citywide* OSI Standards excluding Central Park Parks Rated "Acceptable" Overall 81% 79% 83% 85% Parks Rated "Acceptable" on Cleanliness 89% 87% 89% 90%

*City of New York Mayor’s Management Report The percent of “acceptable” Cleanliness PIP Scores for East Harlem’s parks is comparable to the citywide average and to the OSI standard.

The percent of “acceptable” Overall PIP Scores falls below the citywide Fence in disrepair in Deferred maintenance along the East River Esplanade Martin Luther King Jr. Playground has created hazardous pathway conditions average and the OSI standard.

When we remove Central Park from the analysis, the remaining parks in our study area perform below the citywide average and OSI standards on both Cleanliness and Overall PIP ratings. , a privately-funded nonprofit that manages Central Park under contract with the City, is able to dedicate resources to park maintenance that are unavailable to other parks in the study area. The portions of Central Park in our survey area are well- maintained, receiving 98% “acceptable” Cleanliness and 96% “acceptable” Overall PIP Scores.

18 New Yorkers for Parks Wicky’s Garden Recommendations

This report provides East Harlem residents and community leaders with data about their neighborhood’s open space resources. There are few opportu- East Harlem Open Space Index nities for parkland expansion in East Harlem,6 so innovative solutions are NYCHA Open Space needed to ensure that all residents have safe access to open spaces with a variety of programming opportunities and landscapes. While NY4P offers the following general recommendations for public officials, City agencies, com- V A V H 3 A a munity organizations and East Harlem residents, the next step is a community E r l V e D I A E m S 1 5 30 G S R E T i 1 dialogue to determine how to use this information to prioritize East Harlem’s N v 3 I 5 L e S N B r T

R S D O r i needs. AS v M L e G U W S

O T V K

D A P N S X I D I E C O R V R R H Marcus A F N E O O E 3 L M Garvey 12 L 5 AS T ST Morningside M Park

A

Park V L B L L Maximize Public Use of E W O P E 1 1 C 2 V 0 S A T AM K V Existing Open Space AD AR A P 2

E 11 6 S T V  Develop an Open Space Strategy for NYCHA Properties A T

AN S A E V L P A The greatest untapped open space resource in East Harlem is property N Central O E T 11 Thomas Randall's G 0 S Park N T Jefferson Island owned by the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA). While tower-in- I X E Park the-park planning was intended to create open space in exchange for height, L V V A A N 5 O the open spaces at many NYCHA developments feel like an afterthought at V IS E 10 A D 2 1 A S V T V M A E best, a nuisance at worst. There are over 200 acres of NYCHA-owned prop- A 1 2 06 K ST AR erty in the East Harlem OSI study area, less than 20% of which is covered by P E 10 7 2 building footprints. We encountered four community gardens on East Har- ST

R lem NYCHA sites, but most of NYCHA’s lawns and green spaces are fenced E D 96 R ST D off and inaccessible. These spaces present opportunities for more community F gardens, active recreation, and passive enjoyment. Certainly considerations such as the cost of maintenance, security and tenant preferences must come to bear on decisions about programming this underutilized land, but a com- prehensive rethinking of these spaces could improve the health and quality of 0 0.125 0.25 0.5 Miles life of public housing residents and their neighbors. ¯ Study Area NYCHA Open Space NYCHA Building Footprints Other Park Properties

20 New Yorkers for Parks  Ensure that Community Gardens a ten-minute walk of an open space, the New East Harlem Case Study: are Truly Public York City Department of Transportation (DOT) implemented an innovative program to turn un- Play Streets derutilized streetscapes into pedestrian plazas. Community groups can nominate spaces for this Play Streets temporarily transform city transformation with the support of their Com- streets into traffic-free zones where children munity Board and elected officials, and DOT can play and neighbors can congregate. works with selected nonprofits to create pedes- trian-friendly public spaces. DOT seeks applica- tions from nonprofit organizations committed to For six Thursdays during July and August of the planning and upkeep of plazas, particularly in 2010, Transportation Alternatives (T.A.) and neighborhoods with limited open space.9 Creat- Harvest Home Farmer’s Market converted ing public plazas with plantings and seating would East 104th Street between Second and provide residents of East Harlem additional pas- Third Avenues into a Play Street. Over 850 sive open space and could turn impermeable While East Harlem has a wealth of community children visited the block, taking part in roadway into permeable green landscape. gardens, public use and access varies widely. organized activities supervised by local and We observed gardens being used as temporary Expand the Schoolyards-to-Playgrounds Program citywide organizations. The East Harlem parking lots, gardens with locked gates during Play Street coincided with market days, posted open hours, and gardens that functioned Schoolyards-to-Playgrounds is another PlaNYC bringing physical activity together with fresh, as semi-private social clubs. We also came initiative intended to bring every New York City across gardens without posted hours or con- resident within a ten-minute walk of a park or healthy food. According to T.A., Play Streets tact information. Community Board 11’s Fiscal playground. Over 200 Department of Educa- transform roads into “havens for kids to play Year 2013 District Needs Statement calls for tion playgrounds, formerly closed except dur- soccer, jump rope and take yoga lessons compliance with GreenThumb rules to prevent ing school hours, have been transformed into without fear of being hit by a car.”10 “the use of their gardens for what appears to be publicly-accessible play spaces, and 30 more are 8 private use by tenants,” a sentiment we share, Play Streets are one way to supplement park but enforcement of GreenThumb rules is dif- space in neighborhoods with few locations ficult given the program’s limited resources and staffing. GreenThumb is perhaps the most cost- for active recreation and create community effective means of creating new open space and gathering spots in areas usually reserved should be adequately funded to reflect its im- for automobile and pedestrian traffic. The portant role. 2011 PlaNYC update includes support for and expansion of the Play Streets program.  Continue Successful PlaNYC T.A. offers steps for organizing Play Streets Open Space Initiatives and encourages community groups to submit Play Street Expressions of Interest Encourage Community Applications to with the NYC Department of Health and DOT’s Public Plaza Program Mental Hygiene.11 As part of the PlaNYC initiative to ensure that every New York City resident lives within East Harlem Open Space Index 21 planned for development by 2013. The East Harlem OSI study area contains three Schoolyards-to-Playgrounds—P.S. 185, P.S. East Harlem Open Space Index 241 and P.S. 208—that are now open for public use outside of school hours. Walking Distance to East River Esplanade

This initiative has proven effective in increasing recreational op-

V portunities in underserved neighborhoods and should be funded A V 3 A H E a V to support another round of sites. With over 30 additional public D r I A E l S 1 e 5 30 m G E S 1 T R 3 IN 5 schools in the East Harlem OSI study area, there are opportuni- i ST N L v B e R r S ties for more Schoolyards-to-Playgrounds. O D M AS r i L v G e U W S

O T V K

D A P N S D X I I E C O R V R R H Marcus F N A O O E E 3 L M Garvey 12 L 5  Build Upon and Enhance Existing AS T ST Morningside M Park

A

Park V L Open Space Resources B L L E W O P E C 12 The Community Board 11 Fiscal Year 2013 District Needs State- V 0 S A T AM K V ment recognizes the need for recreational opportunities for East AD AR P A Harlem youth and requests that the “currently over-utilized” 2 Thomas Jefferson Recreation Center receive “a second floor ad- E 1 16 dition to the current building to accommodate the increased us- ST V A age.”12 This would increase active recreation space for children in T AN S A V E East Harlem. A L P N Central O T E G 1 Randall's Park N 10 I ST X Island The East River Esplanade could be enhanced with more trees to E L buffer the noise and emissions of the FDR Drive and make walk- V V A A N 5 O E V ing, running or biking on it an all-around better experience, while IS 1 06 A D E S 1 A 10 T V 2 V M S A also adding to East Harlem’s Tree Canopy Cover. The Esplanade A T 2 K

AR also suffers from serious structural deterioration, presenting haz- P

E ardous conditions for pedestrians and cyclists who must navigate 10 2 S uneven surfaces and holes in the pathways. T R E D 96 R S D T F

¯ 0 0.125 0.25 0.5 Miles

Study Area East River Esplanade Entry Points Large Parks 1/4 mile to East River Esplanade

22 New Yorkers for Parks pedestrian fatalities and 3,482 injuries in Com- Connect munity Board 11 between 1995 and 2005.14 T.A. 2 offers a number of suggestions for the DOT to make streets safer for pedestrians, including People to Parks providing longer street crossing times; timing pedestrian crossing signals to begin before ve- While open space is limited in East Harlem, there hicular traffic signals, giving pedestrians a “head are creative ways to better connect existing start” traversing intersections; and extending neighborhood spaces into a network of diverse the curb where 96th, 106th, 116th and 125th open space features and streetscapes. Streets Streets meet the Avenues. and sidewalks comprise 80% of public space in New York City,13 but unless they are safe, ac- CIVITAS, a neighborhood advocacy organiza- Nearby Inspiration: cessible passageways, they can serve as barriers tion serving the and East Har- rather than connectors. In East Harlem, concern lem, identified the entrance to the East River Broadway Malls about pedestrian safety and a dearth of access Esplanade at as a particularly dan- points to the waterfront sharply curtail opportu- gerous crossing point.15 CIVITAS, together with On the west side of Manhattan, nities for connecting people to the area’s existing T.A., successfully advocated for a pedestrian stretching from 60th Street to 168th open space resources. crossing signal at the intersection of the FDR Street, the Broadway Malls provide over Drive and 96th Street, which DOT installed in 10 acres of greenery in the medians The FDR Drive is a significant barrier to access- the spring of 2012. They are currently explor- along Broadway. The Malls contain ing the East River Esplanade. There are only four ing other design interventions such as increased points at which pedestrians can cross the FDR to signage, crosswalk paintings and street paver decorative plantings, shade trees, seating access the East River Esplanade and piers. And realignment to signal a transition from the FDR and pedestrian passage. The Broadway there are only two locations in East Harlem— Drive to neighborhood streets. Mall Association curates temporary 103rd Street and 125th Street—to cross onto art installations along the length of the Randall’s Island, which should serve as a major  Promote Streets as Connectors Malls. The current fall 2012 exhibition open space resource for the community (see Among Parks features seven sculptures by the Brazilian map on page 24). artist Saint Clair Cemin, situated along In the summer of 2010, DPR, in conjunction the Malls from at Columbus  Make Passageways to Parks Safer with partner organizations including the NYC Circle to 157th Street in Washington Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and If streets and sidewalks are to serve as pathways the National Park Service, released a walking Heights. In the previous exhibition, between parks, they must be safe for pedestri- map of East Harlem with publicly-marked trails visitors could travel the length of ans and bicyclists. Today, East Harlem residents between Thomas Jefferson and Marcus Garvey Broadway following a map of sculptures must contend with some of the most dangerous Parks. Artist James De La Vega created markers by Peter Woytuk while listening to an intersections on the East Side of Manhattan. The and wayfinding signs along the route. The path interactive cellphone audio guide.16 This intersection of 125th Street and Lexington Av- encouraged fitness through walking, while pro- is just one example of how individual enue saw the second highest number of vehicle/ moting the integration of disparate spaces into streets become integrated into a larger pedestrian crashes on the entire East Side be- a coherent neighborhood patchwork of paths system of walkways. tween 1998 and 2008. According to Transporta- and parks. Continued support for this and simi- tion Alternatives (T.A.), there were 19 cyclist and lar programs will encourage healthy behavior East Harlem Open Space Index 23 and promote the use of parks as a system of connected spaces. East Harlem Open Space Index A network of sidewalks connecting people and parks must ac- Walking Distance to Large Parks and commodate people of all ages and abilities. In October 2011 East River Esplanade DOT launched the City Bench program, providing 1,000 bench- es to communities around New York City. This federally fund- H a r l ed program encourages more walkable streets. According to a e V A V m 3 A R E i 2008 New York Academy of Medicine study on healthy aging, V v D E e I A S 13 r 5 0 G S D T E the majority of seniors report that places to stop and rest along IN r 1 i 3 L v 5 N B e S R T 17 S the street are “very important” components of well-being. East O M AS L G U W Harlem, home to the city’s first “Aging Improvement District,” S O T V K

D A P N S D X I I hosted the launch of the City Bench program with the installation C E O R R R Marcus F H N E O O L E M Garvey 12 of two benches in front of the Leonard Covello Senior Center on L 5 AS T ST Morningside M Park

A

East 109th Street between 1st and 2nd Avenues. New York City Park V L B L (! residents can suggest locations for City Bench installation, and the L E W O program encourages proposals for benches near senior centers P E C 12 V 0 A ST and community health centers, as well as along busy commercial AM K V AD AR P A and transit corridors. Applications are available online at http:// 2 www.nyc.gov/citybench.

E 11 6 S T V A  Expand Access from East Harlem T AN S V A A E to Randall’s Island L N P O T Central G E Randall's N 1 I 10 Park X S Island E T East Harlem residents have two points of access to the bike paths, L

V V A E fields, tennis courts, golf greens and other recreational facilities on A 10 5 N 6 S O T V IS Randall’s Island: vehicle and pedestrian access at 125th Street, and A D 1 A V V 18 M A A E the newly-opened 103rd Street Footbridge. CIVITAS sponsored 10 2 K 2 ST AR a feasibility study that proposed two alternate pedestrian bridge P

E locations along the 10 2 isolated stretch of ST

R land from 103rd E D 96 R ST D to 125th Streets. F Other proposals include ferry ser- V A vice and free shut- 3 0 0.125 0.25 0.5 Miles tle buses.19 ¯

Randall's Island Access Points Walking distance buffers to East Side Access

Pedestrian access to Randall’s Island East River Access Points 1/2 mile to Large Parks Study Area Large Parks

24 New Yorkers for Parks Next Steps: A Continuing Collaboration between NY4P and Mount Sinai

Winter 2012-2013 Researchers from Mount Sinai analyze data on the relationship between children’s health and the built environment.

SUMMER 2013 NY4P releases a follow-up report that takes an in-depth look at the relationship between open space and children’s health in East Harlem based on Mount Sinai’s research.

Ongoing NY4P shares health and open space recommendations with residents, community leaders, and elected officials in East Harlem and citywide.

East Harlem Open SpaEastce IndRiverex Esplanade 25 Play Areas: Play equipment, such as swings and structures for climbing, contained Appendix A: on a contiguous section of safety surfacing

Data Collection Open Space Element OSI Standard

Play Areas 1 Play Area/ 1,250 children In April 2010, New Yorkers for Parks released the first Open Space Index report. The report documented the need for and development of open space standards for Collecting Data New York City and applied those standards to a pilot study of the Lower East Side Collecting data on play areas requires surveying neighborhood parks on foot. Sur- of Manhattan. NY4P’s development of the Open Space Index began with an exten- veyors, led by NY4P staff, visit all parks and playgrounds in the study area to identify sive survey of open space policies and metrics used in other cities. While many of play equipment. For the purposes of the Open Space Index, play equipment situ- these standards do not work for New York City’s unique population density and ated within a contiguous section of safety surfacing equals one play area. Most New geographic constraints, they provided thoughtful groundwork for developing the York City public play areas are operated by DPR. We also include in our calculation OSI targets. NY4P also drew upon existing New York City open space and sustain- PlaNYC Schoolyard-to-Playground sites, NYCHA playgrounds that are open to the ability goals, such as those laid out in PlaNYC, and recommendations by experts public, and private schoolyards with explicitly stated hours of public accessibility. in relevant fields such as urban planning and environmental advocacy. The pilot study that NY4P conducted of the Lower East Side of Manhattan in the spring of 2009 helped us refine the Open Space Index. The results of the pilot study were Athletic Fields: Soccer, football, cricket, baseball, and hockey fields, as well as published in the 2010 Open Space Index report. ice rinks

Open Space Element OSI Standard Active Open Space: Play areas, fields, courts, pools, beaches, golf courses, greenways, bikeways and recreation centers Athletic Fields 1.5 Athletic Fields/ 10,000 residents

Open Space Elements OSI Standards Collecting Data Collecting athletic field data requires surveying neighborhood parks on foot. While Active Open Space & Facilities 1 acre/ 1,000 residents DPR’s website often includes fields on park maps, sometimes the information is Play Areas 1 Play Area/ 1,250 children incomplete. Led by NY4P staff, surveyors visit all parks in the study area to con- firm the number and types of fields available. When fields overlap one another, Athletic Fields 1.5 Athletic Fields/ 10,000 residents surveyors count the maximum number of fields that can be used simultaneously. Courts 5 Courts/ 10,000 residents For instance, if two baseball fields are drawn atop a soccer field, the area will be counted as two fields. Recreation Centers 1 Recreation Center/ 20,000 residents

Collecting Data Courts: Basketball, handball, volleyball, tennis and bocce courts Calculating a neighborhood’s active open space acreage requires measuring the play areas, courts, fields, swimming pools, beaches, golf courses, greenways, bikeways Open Space Element OSI Standard and recreation centers. Surveyors, led by NY4P staff, employ a variety of methods to obtain this data. Most courts, fields and pools follow national size standards Courts 5 Courts/ 10,000 residents (listed in Appendix B); however, occasionally these elements are not standard size. When a court, field or pool is shaped irregularly, surveyors use a measuring wheel Collecting Data to measure the areas. A measuring wheel must also be used to calculate the size of Collecting data on courts also requires surveying neighborhood parks on foot. play areas. In the case of beaches, greenways, bikeways, golf courses and recreation While DPR’s website often includes courts on park maps, sometimes the informa- centers, DPR can often provide data on acreage. However, when a measurement is tion is incomplete. Surveyors, led by NY4P staff, visit all parks in the study area to not available, these features are measured manually as well. confirm the number and types of courts available. All tennis, basketball, volleyball, 26 New Yorkers for Parks handball and bocce courts are counted toward this total. When half-basketball Community Gardens: Publicly-accessible participant-run gardens managed courts are identified, they are counted as ½ of a court. under the auspices of GreenThumb or another community organization

Recreation Centers: DPR indoor recreation facilities, and other indoor Open Space Element OSI Standard recreation facilities with comparable fees and public accessibility Community Gardens 1 Community Garden/ 10,000 residents

Open Space Element OSI Standard Collecting Data New York City’s community gardens are owned and operated by a variety of enti- Recreation Centers 1 Recreation Center/ 20,000 residents ties including DPR, the Trust for Public Land, New York Restoration Project, and others. NY4P obtains community garden data from DPR and GrowNYC. Survey- Collecting Data ors, led by NY4P staff, visit each garden to confirm the data. Data on recreation centers comes from a variety of sources. DPR lists its recre- ation center locations on its website.20 Surveyors, led by NY4P staff, also identify community centers run by non-profits, NYCHA and other agencies through field Total Acres of Open Space: The aggregate of all active and passive work and in consultation with local officials. If these sites offer recreational op- open spaces in the neighborhood portunities, are publicly-accessible, and maintain a fee structure comparable to DPR recreation centers, they are included in the neighborhood’s recreation center Open Space Element OSI Standard count. Total Open Space 2.5 acres of open space/ 1,000 residents Passive Open Space: Lawns, esplanades, plazas, beaches, natural areas, planted areas, and community gardens Access and Distance: Walking distance to Pocket, Neighborhood and Large Parks Open Space Element OSI Standard

Passive Open Space 1.5 acres/ 1,000 residents Open Space Elements OSI Standards

Access and Distance Collecting Data Passive open space acreage is calculated using a number of sources and methods. Walking Distance to a 100% of residents are within Maps obtained from DPR and other City agencies, NYC Audubon Society, and Pocket Park (Less than 1 acre) a 5 minute walk (1/4 mile) other sources provide data on parks, beaches, community gardens and natural Walking Distance to a 100% of residents are within areas. NY4P staff uses GIS (Geographic Information Systems) mapping software to Neighborhood Park (1-20 acres) a 5 minute walk (1/4 mile) calculate the acreage of community gardens, natural areas, beaches and parks. For Walking Distance to a 100% of residents are within large parks that are primarily passive but contain some active recreation, NY4P Large Park (Greater than 20 acres) a 10 minute walk (1/2 mile) subtracts the active space acreage from the total park acreage to obtain the passive open space acreage. For neighborhood parks that tend to be occupied primarily by Collecting Data active open space, NY4P calculates the passive acreage by measuring lawns, espla- NY4P measures access to parks by using GIS mapping software. This tool allows nades, planted areas and other passive spaces within parks using a measuring wheel. NY4P to calculate walking distances to parks by drawing ¼- and ½-mile radius cir- Often these spaces are permeable, and the measurements can be re-used for the cles, or “buffers,” around each park. NY4P calculates ¼ mile buffers around Pocket permeable surfaces element of the OSI. Information on privately-owned public pla- and Neighborhood Parks and ½ mile buffers around Large Parks. This includes zas developed through the City’s incentive zoning program are obtained from the parks that are located within the recommended walking distance for neighborhood Department of City Planning’s website.21 The locations of PlaNYC’s Plaza Program residents but fall outside of the study area. To calculate distance buffers to Randall’s are obtained from the Department of Transportation’s website.22 Island, a Large Park accessible only by two bridges, we subtracted the length of the

East Harlem Open Space Index 27 bridges from one half mile, and calculated a buffer for the residual distance (1/2 mile Park Maintenance: DPR Park Inspection Program (PIP) “acceptable” ratings minus the bridge length) around the bridge entry points in East Harlem. For access for overall maintenance and cleanliness to the East River Esplanade, a Neighborhood Park, we calculated ¼ mile buffers around each of the four entry points to the Esplanade. Open Space Elements OSI Standards Tree Canopy: Neighborhood-level tree canopy capacity from the U.S. Forest Parks Rated “Acceptable” Overall 85% Service Parks Rated “Acceptable” on Cleanliness 90% Open Space Element OSI Standard Parks Rated “Acceptable” Overall: DPR Park Inspection Program (PIP) acceptable Urban Tree Canopy Cover Varies by neighborhood rating for overall maintenance of the following features: Litter, Glass, Graffiti, Weeds, Ice, Benches, Fences, Paved Surfaces, Play Equipment, Safety Surface, Collecting Data Sidewalks, Athletic Fields, Horticultural Area, Lawns, Trails, Trees, Water Bodies The Open Space Index uses the potential neighborhood-level tree canopies pub- lished in the U.S. Forest Service’s 2006 study, “A Report on New York City’s Parks Rated “Acceptable” on Cleanliness: DPR Park Inspection Program (PIP) Present and Possible Urban Tree Canopy,” as each neighborhood’s target. Using acceptable rating for cleanliness of the following features: Litter, Glass, Graffiti, GIS data and aerial photography, the Forest Service calculated New York City’s Weeds existing Urban Tree Canopy (UTC) at 24%. By identifying all land not covered by water, roads or buildings as possible planting locations, the study estimated that Collecting Data New York City’s UTC could be expanded to 42%.23 To calculate park maintenance results, the Open Space Index uses the “Overall Condition” and “Cleanliness” ratings from DPR’s Park Inspection Program (PIP) for all parks within the survey area over the last three years. The PIP results are listed Permeable land including tree pits, natural areas, Permeable Surfacing: on each park’s page on the DPR website. For both categories, NY4P calculates a planted green areas, community gardens, natural grass fields, artificial turf fields, and neighborhood’s result by adding the number of park inspections that rated accept- other porous surfaces within parks able and dividing that number by the total number of inspections in area parks over the last four years. NY4P uses the Mayor’s Management Report park performance Open Space Element OSI Standard targets for the proposed OSI standards.

Permeable Surfacing within Parks 70%

Collecting Data NY4P collects permeable surfacing data by surveying neighborhood parks on foot and identifying all tree pits, natural areas, planted green areas, community gardens, natural grass fields and artificial turf fields within the area’s parks.24 In parks that are primarily concrete, we measure each individual permeable space with a measuring wheel. In parks with large swaths of natural surfacing, it is more efficient to measure the impermeable surfaces and subtract them from the park’s overall acreage to find the permeable surfacing acreage for that park.

28 New Yorkers for Parks Appendix B: Field and Court Dimensions

Field and Court Dimensions

Type Square footage Baseball Field (Standard) 70,65025 Baseball Field (Little League) 25,44726 Basketball Court 4,20027 Bocce Court 85028 No fixed size, measure cricket fields Cricket Pitch & Field with a measuring wheel Football Field 57,60029 No fixed size, contact course manager Golf Course or use DPR website Handball Court 68030 Hockey Rink 17,00031 No fixed size, measure tracks with a Running Track measuring wheel Pool a) Long-Course 12,30032 b) Short-Course 3,37533 c) Diving Pool 4,50034 Soccer Field (standard) 54,00035 Soccer Field (small) 27,00036 Tennis Court 5,94037 Volleyball Court 1,80038

East Harlem Open Space Index 29 Appendix C: Study Area Maps

East Harlem Open Space Index East Harlem Open Space Index Study Area and City Council Districts Study Area and Community Boards

V A

5

E 1 V 30 A S T 5

S W

E T K 1 30 NI P S T CHO S S W T E K RRI 1 2

NI 5 P L O S A M T CHO S S T V E A 1 A M RRI 2 5 V L O K S A M R T

S A T E P 1 A M 20 V ST E V 1 A 20 S K V T R A A E P 11 V K 6 A S R T E V A 1 V NT P 16 A S A A T N S NT A A O E T E S E L 1 A 110 P E 1 E ING V 0 L V S 1 S X A T 06 T P A E 3 V S V V L A T K A A R V 2 3 5 A V A A E P V 10 2 V 1 A 2 A S 5 T 1 E E 1 V 10 02 A 2 S ST N T O DR T E 9 6 NG E ST DR I 96 F X S E T L ¯ 0 0.25 0.5 1 Miles ¯ 0 0.25 0.5 1 Miles Study Area Council District 9 Council District 4 Study Area Manhattan Community Board 10 Park Properties Council District 8 Park Properties Manhattan Community Board 11

30 New Yorkers for Parks endnotes 1 finkelstein, R., Garcia, A., Netherland, J., and Walker, J. (2008). “Toward an Age-Friendly New York City: A Findings Report.” The New York Academy of Medicine. 2 Rosenzweig, C., Solecki, W., Parshall, L., Gaffin, S., Lynn, B., Goldberg, R., Cox, J., and Hodges, S. (2006). “Mitigating New York City’s Heat Island with Urban Forestry, Living Roofs, and Light Surfaces.” http://www.giss.nasa.gov/research/news/20060130/103341.pdf 3 Grove, J. M., O’Neil-Dunne, J., Pelletier, K., Nowak, D., and Walton, J. (2006). A Report on New York City’s Present and Possible Urban Tree Canopy. http://nrs.fs.fed.us/nyc/local-resources/downloads/Grove_UTC_NYC_FINAL.pdf 4 http://www.milliontreesnyc.org/downloads/pdf/M_Summer12.pdf 5 city of New York Mayor’s Management Report, September 2012. 6 Our field survey team noted 66 vacant lots. All of these sites are smaller than half an acre. According to 2008 PLUTO maps, only 15 are City owned (about 1.6 acres), and 51 are privately held (about 3.1 acres). 7 calculated in ArcGIS from MapPLUTO data, New York City Department of City Planning, 2008. 8 community District Needs for the Borough of Manhattan, Fiscal Year 2013. http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/pdf/pub/mnneeds_2013.pdf 9 nYC DOT Plaza Program: http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/sidewalks/publicplaza.shtml 10 Transportation Alternatives. (2011). Play Streets: A Case Study. http://www.transalt.org/files/newsroom/reports/2011/PlayStreets_CaseStudy.pdf 11 www.transalt.org/files/newsroom/reports/2011/PlayStreets_BestPractices.pdf 12 community District Needs for the Borough of Manhattan, Fiscal Year 2013. http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/pdf/pub/mnneeds_2013.pdf 13 http://nyc.gov/html/dot/pr2008/pr08_022.shtml 14 Transportation Alternatives. (2011). East Side Action Plan: A Community Vision for Safer East Side Streets. http://www.transalt.org/files/newsroom/reports/2011/East_Side_Action_Plan.pdf 15 cIVITAS 96th Street Esplanade Pedestrian Access: http://civitasnyc.org/live/east-96th-street-pedestrian-access-to-the-esplanade/#more-2331 16 http://www.broadwaymall.org/our-programs/public-art/ 17 http://www.nyam.org/news/docs/AgeFriendly.pdf 18 Only 20% of East Harlem residents own vehicles (2005-2009 American Community Survey estimates for State Assembly District 68). 19 The RBA Group. (2006). Bridge the Gap: Connecting Manhattan and Randall’s Island. http://civitasnyc.org/live/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Final-Report.pdf 20 new York City Department of Parks and Recreation. http://www.nycgovparks.org/facilities/recreationcenters. 21 new York City Department of City Planning. http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/html/priv/priv.shtml. 22 new York City Department of Transportation. http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/sidewalks/publicplaza.shtml. 23 J. Morgan Grove, Jarlath O’Neil-Dunne, Keith Pelletier, David Nowak, Jeff Walkton. “A Report on New York City’s Present and Possible Urban Tree Canopy.” Table 6: Existing, Possible, and Relative UTC by Neighborhood, p 20, July 2006. http://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/nyc/local-resources/downloads/Grove_UTC_NYC_FINAL.pdf. 24 The Open Space Index does not separate out artificial turf fields into a unique permeability category because of the variety of turf systems used in city parks and the lack of public research on turf permeability. 25 Outfield and foul ground sizes vary. See Grady L. Miller, “Baseball Field Layout and Construction,” Environmental Horticulture Department, Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, Publication date: June 2001, Revised: July 2001. http://www.baseball-almanac.com/stadium/baseball_field_construction.shtml 26 Ibid. 27 proDunkHoops is a company that provides equipment for basketball courts as well as information on basketball courts themselves. Information provided on the website is taken from the NBA, NCAA and NFHS. http://www.produnkhoops.com/support/guides/basketball_courts/court_dimensions.html. 28 Bocce Standards Association http://www.boccestandardsassociation.org 29 For Professional & NCAA football field dimensions, see the Sports-Know-How website. http://www.sportsknowhow.com/pops/football-field-ncaa.html. 30 International Handball Federation. http://www.ihf.info/upload/PDF-Download/rules_english.pdf 31 Sports-Know-How. http://www.sportsknowhow.com/hockey/dimensions/hockey-rink-dimensions.html. 32 for NCAA Standards for Swimming and Diving Pools, see the Recreonics website. http://www.recreonics.com/fyi/ncaa_standards.htm. 33 Ibid. 34 Ibid. 35 See the Sports-Know-How website. http://www.sportsknowhow.com/soccer/dimensions/soccer-dimensions.html. 36 http://www.coachingsoccer101.com/fielddimensions.htm 37 See the Sports-Know-How website. http://www.sportsknowhow.com/tennis/dimensions/tennis-court-dimensions.html. 38 See the Sports-Know-How website. http://www.sportsknowhow.com/volleyball/dimensions/volleyball-court-dimensions.html East Harlem Open Space Index 31