Landmarks Designates Joseph Rodman Drake Park and Enslaved People’s Burial Ground

On December 12, 2023, the Landmarks Preservation Commissioner voted to designate the Joseph Rodman Drake Park and Enslaved People’s Burial Ground as a landmark. The park is located on the block with Oak Point Avenue to the north, Drake Park South to the south, Longfellow Avenue to the west and Hunts Point Avenue to the east. Drake Park was opened in 1910, and contains two colonial-era cemeteries. Prior to European settlement, Hunts Point was home <Read More>


City Officials Break Ground on New Park in the Bronx

On November 30, 2023, Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue and New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) President and CEO Andrew Kimball joined elected officials to celebrate the groundbreaking of a new park in the South Bronx. The new park, located on Exterior Street between 144th and 146th Streets, will bring waterfront access and new open space for local Bronx residents. 


Comptroller Audit Finds Non-Compliance with “Fair Share” Charter Provisions

On November 9, 2023 the New York City Comptroller released an audit and report detailing the failures of the City to comply with “Fair Share” Requirements for City Services and Facilities. Under the 1989 City Charter Revisions, “Fair Share provisions” require that the City must make an effort to provide communities with their fair share of amenities and the City must make an effort to combat citywide issues equitably among all communities. The new analysis … <Read More>


Council Passes Bill to Require Reports on Lifeguard Training and Emergency Events at Pools and Beaches

On September 14, 2023, the City Council voted to approve a bill that addresses a national spike in drownings. The bill, effective as of last month, requires all public pools and beaches to submit a lifeguard training and emergency report. Bill 1017-A, sponsored by Council Member Shekar Krishnan, will require the Parks Department to submit an annual report to the Mayor and City Council, detailing lifeguard staffing levels and training for the city’s pools and … <Read More>



Council Bill Proposes Increased Safety and Responsiveness Requirements for Tree Risk Management

On September 14, 2023, New York City Council Member James Gennaro introduced Int. 1169 to set stricter safety standards, timelines, and procedures under the Department of Parks and Recreation’s Tree Risk Management Program. The bill amends Local Law 20 – passed by the City Council on January 9, 2022 – that governs tree inspection and health assessments by the Department of Parks and Recreation. Pursuant to Local Law 20, a member of the general public … <Read More>