The City Planning Commission approved the acquisition of 6,000-square-foot community garden and passive recreation lot to place under jurisdiction of the Parks Department. On July 16, 2017, the City Planning Commission issued a favorable report on a joint application filed by the Department of Parks and Recreation and the Department of Citywide Administrative Services to acquire private property at 237 Maple Street in the Prospect-Lefferts Gardens neighborhood of Brooklyn. The acquired property would be used … <Read More>
Search Results for: Parks
Breakfast Archive: Adrian Benepe and City Parks
On July 6, 2015 the Appellate Division, First Department voted unanimously to enjoin construction of a shopping mall and movie theater on the site of the former Shea Stadium in Willets Point, Queens. The suit was brought in part by advocates of New York City’s parks, the latest in a long history of actions by New Yorkers to represent their valued open spaces. On October 21, 2005 Adrian Benepe, then Commissioner of the Department of … <Read More>
Mayor Announces Citywide Community Parks Initiative
$130 million secured to invest in 35 under-resourced parks throughout NYC. On October 7, 2014, Mayor Bill de Blasio and Department of Parks & Recreation Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver announced a $130 million investment in 35 community parks throughout the five boroughs. This is the first phase of a multi-faceted program to support investment in the most under-resourced parks and communities, known as the Community Parks Initiative. The Mayor’s capital budget raised $110 million … <Read More>
Parks contests audit findings
Parks agreed to implement only some of the Comptroller’s 22 recommendations. The City’s Department of Parks and Recreation solicits and awards concessions to operate golf courses, tennis courts, restaurants, and food carts on City parkland. Parks oversees about 500 concessions, and generally follows the competitive sealed bids and competitive sealed proposals processes. Revenue from these concessions equal more than half of Parks’ budget for Parks programs and services. Concession revenues in Fiscal Years 2008, 2009, … <Read More>
Sale of 4 closed FDNY firehouses sparks controversy
Mayor’s Office agrees to create community committees to find new users. On April 9, 2007, the Planning Commission approved four applications by DCAS to sell four closed firehouses in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens. The plan sparked controversy with residents, community boards, Borough Presidents Scott Stringer and Marty Markowitz, and Council Members Bill de Blasio and David Yassky, who argued that their districts needed increased FDNY services and, if the firehouses remained closed, only a community … <Read More>
City Celebrates Renovations of Breukelen Basketball Courts in Brooklyn
On October 30, 2024, New York City Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue, in collaboration with other critical stakeholders, celebrated the renovation of the basketball courts at Breukelen Ballfield in East New York, Brooklyn This $1.8 million project was funded by the Joe and Clara Tsai Foundation’s Social Justice Fund. The fund provides neighborhoods facing acute levels of gun violence resources and recreation opportunities.