Latest Parks and Open Spacess

New Yorkers are relying on parks and open spaces more than ever as an outlet to maintain their mental and physical health. But severe cuts to the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation's budget may lead to the deterioration of certain public parks in the future.

The economic impact of COVID-19 has led New York City to delay or abandon key aspects of its plan to fight climate change.

In late July, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced a series of upcoming actions that the state is taking to expand the protection and conservation of New York’s parks and open spaces.

On July 22, 2020, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Great American Outdoors Act, one of NYLCV’s top policy priorities, with overwhelming bipartisan support. The U.S. Senate passed a same-as bill in June.

The State Legislature recently passed several of our priority bills that will improve water quality, protect natural areas, remove toxins from our environment, and encourage clean transportation.

Last week, Mayor de Blasio and the City Council finalized the City budget, which drastically cuts environmental programs that are needed to combat climate change and fight for climate justice.

The Great American Outdoors Act has passed with overwhelming bipartisan support in the U.S. Senate by a vote of 73-25. The GAOA combines two major conservation bills: S.500 (the Restore Our Parks Act), which seeks to address the maintenance backlog on public lands, and S.1081, which permanently allocates $900 million a year to the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). More than 60 members co-sponsored the legislation including New York Senators Schumer and Gillibrand.

Although City parks make up 14% of NYC’s land, New York City's Parks Department receives only 0.6% of the City’s total budget, leaving parks and gardens neglected and overlooked as necessary infrastructure for successful and healthy neighborhoods.