University Heights, Morris Heights, b r o n x Highbridge, West Concourse, East Concourse, c i t y Concourse Village, Claremont, Bathgate, c o u n c i l 2009 d i s t r i c t 16 Morrisania, Melrose, Crotona Park East

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 : Mullaly Park “Parkland alienation” is the taking of parkland for a non-park use. Today, parkland can be taken for development too easily, and in a dense city where parks are our front and back yards, this can have a devastating effect. New Yorkers for Parks has worked with the legal community to strengthen the alienation process and protect parks that are in danger of being alienated. In 2006, the New York City Council and State Legislature approved the seizure of 22 acres of well-loved Gouverneur Playground, Claremont Village parkland including a portion of The Bloomberg Administration’s physical barriers or crime. As a result, Mullaly Park to build the new Yankee Stadium despite strong PlaNYC is the first-ever effort to studies show significant increases in community opposition. To down- sustainably address the many infra- nearby real estate values. Greenways load New Yorkers for Parks’ edu- structure needs of New York City, are expanding waterfront access cational brochure on alienation, including parks. With targets set for while creating safer routes for cyclists please visit www.ny4p.org 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

Merriam Playground, Highbridge bronx City Council District 16

96 MIR E 1 ST IAM STEN 97 ST OR L W KINGSBRIDGE RD VA MAJ

DP

AV * PON From Bronx Community Board 3: ON CREST * District Statistics AV E 194 ST a c r e a g e o f c i t y p a r k s

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DA Total district acreage 1,424 E 190 ST Community District 3 additionally Total parkland acreage 56 10 Parks & playgrounds acreage 47 ‘‘supports the restoration of the Parks Percent City parkland Fordham 11 of total district acreage Percent parkland 4% Enforcement Patrol and the Urban * 14 W 183 ST Citywide 14%

AV 43 Park Ranger Program and urges the * E p o p u l a t i o n DR M L KING JR BL ON Ranking of City parkland * AV AV * LT HARLEM RIVER acres/resident WA Population 163,334 New York Department of Parks in- (1=highest, 51=lowest)

QUEDUCT TIEBOUT A E 186 ST Population under 18 58,010 E 182 ST volvement in the development of W 181 ST Percent under 18 36% 47 Acres parkland per 1,000 residents <1 enhanced recreational programs for 3 Ranking of City parks & AV W BURNSIDE 3 playgrounds acres/child Acres parks & playgrounds per 1,000 children 1 2 * its major parks and facilities. AV *

HENNESSY PL W TREMONT C l a n g u a g e a c c e s s CD 16 Citywide

E 180 ST AV Most common foreign language spoken at home Spanish Spanish Morris Heights E 179 ST * E BURNSIDE Y RD Percent of homes speaking this language 32% 18% Statement of Needs for Fiscal Year 2008 ARR 15 QU AV 1 c i v i c e n g a g e m e n t CD 16 Citywide ’’ 4 * AV AV W 176 ST AV Registered voters 64% 76%

BELMONT Parks, playgrounds GRAND Number general parks-related 5 E 178 ST AV 311 calls per 1,000 residents 2 10 ANTHONY Number of parks-related 311 calls for maintenance and beaches Mount Hope AV 7 MAJOR DEEGAN EN NB WNSEND per 1,000 residents 0 1 W ASHINGT 6 TO TER 1 Roberto Clemente State Park 15 Nelson Playground R

CA ON BR 2 Cedar Playground 16 Mullaly Park 8 AV OSS BX EP ET RP E 175 ST p a r k r e s o u r c e s CD 16 Citywide CR East Tremont 3 Walton Park 17 Grant Avenue Park E 174 ST Does not include capital funding allocated to multiple districts or citywide. 9 W 172 11ST BELMONT 4 Mount Hope Playground 18 Little Claremont Park 10 12 E 173 ST * District-specific capital funding, 2004–2009 $8.9 million $4.2 million 5 Galileo Park 19 Gouverneur Playground AV TE FA IR 6 Half-Nelson Playground 20 Drew Playground 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 Mount Eden AV THGA CR E 175 ST W 170 ST GRAND CONCOURSE 13 E 173 BAST OT Results of the Parks Department’s internal inspections. ARK ONA PK N 7 Bridge Park 21 Morgan Playground P FY 2004 FY 2008 E 172 ST Bathgate 8 Sedgwick Playground 22 unity Park 100 GA AV * E 172 ST 14 ON MOHE AT 9 Bridge Playground 23 Mott Playground 80 T W 88% 88% 86% FUL 82% E 170 ST 10 Plimpton Playground 24 Hines Park E 171 ST 60 CLAREMONT PY MARCY PL 18 40 11 West Bronx Recreation 25 Youth Village rated

cent parks Center AV ONA PK E

20 “acceptable” 26 Behagen Playground OT 17 ON CR r Pe 12 Globe Playground High Bridge 27 Charlton Garden 0 AV AV E CD 16 Citywide 13 ogden Plimpton Playground ASHINGT WILKINS 1 28 Dunbar Playground AV W 19 CR OTONA PK S Concourse Claremont Village AV 14 Merriam Playground E 167 ST 29 Cauldwell Playground 15 OMWELL o p e n s p a c e CD 16 Citywide SEDGWICK W 165 ST CR AV COLLEGE AV MINFORD PL Number of community gardens per 1,000 acres 22 4 3 HOE 16 AV 20 Vacant lot acreage 51 8,512 LEGEND nn DPR community gardens 21 E 169 ST ON RD Percent vacant 4% 4% 1/4 Mile nn Other community gardens 16 WEBSTER 23 BOST Council District Border nn DPR beaches 22 AV h e a l t h ON nn New York City Department of nn State and federal parkland T Number of hospital admissions per 10,000 residents: CD 16 Citywide AV FUL Parks and Recreation (DPR) E 164 ST nn City-owned vacant land E 168 ST Asthma 83 31 parks, playgrounds and GERARD HOME ST MAJOR DEEGAN EN SB 24 25 Diabetes 27 11 greenstreets Q DPR schoolyards-to- E 164 ST

playgrounds sites AV nn DPR natural areas E 157 ST ARMS RD e d u c a t i o n CD 16 Citywide (Schoolyards-to-playgrounds is a citywide PlaNYC initiative MORRIS E 167 ST Morrisania WEST F Percent fourth graders meeting standards in math 71% 81% to open schoolyards to the public during afterschool hours.) BR YA Percent fourth graders meeting standards in reading 47% 63% 26 NT

AV E 161 ST 27 SIMPSON ST Concourse Village AV AV

AV ALE E 156 ST V ARK E 163 ST OSPECT P AV 28 PR 29 INTER OSE AV

MELR AV

UNION E 163 ST OOK

BR E 150 ST AV AV

Melrose IR

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JA E 153 ST ST

WSON ST X ST AV E 156 ST DA FO LONGW Longwood

OOD TLANDT AV 17 WESTCHESTER LAFAYETTE AV AV AV E 152 ST Tools for Action COUR Let your elected officials know how important parks are to you. E 140 ST MA AV City Council Member: Helen D. Foster [email protected] TRINITY ARK P Bronx Community Board 3 (718) 378-8054 E 145 ST

AV Bronx Community Board 4 (718) 299-0800 AV LEGGETT

Bronx Community Board 5 (718) 364-2030 WO MORRIS AV

R City of New York 311 or www.nyc.gov E 147 ST THEN ST AV CONCORD BA

8E 142 ST State and Federal Representatives www.elections.state.ny.us RIDER UCKNER BL New Yorkers for Parks www.ny4p.org BR Mott Playground, East Concourse

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 16 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 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