On November 25, 2019, the Center for New York City Law welcomed New Yorkers for Parks back to New York Law School for another installment of Open Space Dialogues. The event was kicked off by Executive Director of new Yorkers for Parks Lynn B. Kelly, with welcoming remarks by Center for New York City Law’s Associate Director Brian J. Kaszuba, Esq. The topic of the evening was “Neighborhoods Facing Change.”
A presentation was given by Lucy Robson, the Director of Research and Policy for New Yorkers for Parks. Robson discussed the uses and findings of the three 2019 Open Space Index reports on (1) Bay Street Corridor, Staten Island, (2) Bushwick, Brooklyn, and (3) Long Island. Robson also made recommendations for the future of open space in each neighborhood.
Jarrett Murphy, the Executive Editor of City Limits, moderated a panel featuring Council Member Antonio Reynoso (District 34, Brooklyn), Bobby Digi, the President and CEO of Island Voice and Rebecca Karp, CEO and Managing Principal of Karp Strategies. The discussion centered on neighborhoods throughout the City that depend on open space as their critical infrastructure and the futures of the communities discussed in the reports. The panel discussed:
- Open space priorities, challenges and opportunities
- Rezoning Generally
- Mental and Emotional Reaction to vegetation and open space
- Using Open Space Data in Policy
- Economic Development
- Community Involvement in the Rezoning Process
- Global leaders in land development
- Participatory budgeting
- The state of the Parks Department
- Rebuilding trust in the zoning process
To watch the complete video of the event, click here or see below.
VIDEO: