Budget Cuts to NYC Parks Jeopardize the Very Heart of Our Communities
Testimony & Public Comments
March 20, 2025
On Thursday, March 20, Policy and Advocacy Associate Jenny Veloz submitted testimony to the New York City Council for a preliminary budget hearing on parks and recreation. On behalf of CCC, the testimony calls on the Mayor and City Council to properly fund the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation to keep NYC parks, which are vital greenspaces for health and well-being in our communities, clean, safe, and accessible for all in an equitable way.
Read the full testimony below.
Testimony of Jenny Veloz, Policy and Advocacy Associate
Citizens’ Committee for Children of New York
Submitted to New York City Council FY26 Preliminary Budget Oversight Hearing Committee on Parks
March 20, 2025
Since 1944, Citizens’ Committee for Children of New York has served as an independent, multi-issue child advocacy organization dedicated to ensuring every New York child is healthy, housed, educated, and safe. CCC does not accept or receive public resources, provide direct services, or represent a sector or workforce; our priority is improving outcomes for children and families through civic engagement, research, and advocacy. We document the facts, engage, and mobilize New Yorkers, and advocate for solutions to ensure the wellbeing of New York’s children, families, and communities.
As a member of the Play Fair Coalition, which includes over 400 organizations from across the five boroughs, we would like to thank the Chair Brannan, Chair Krishnan, and all the members of the New York City Council Finance and Parks Committee for holding this hearing.
The pandemic elevated the importance of city parks, particularly as families sought safe and public opportunities to engage children.[i] Parks provide a vital service for families and children, helping promote play, exercise, and positive mental health. Children explore and learn in playgrounds and natural areas. In a city where few residents have access to a backyard, parks are an invaluable resource that foster physical and mental health, provide spaces for social interaction, and mitigate climate crisis.
The budget cuts to NYC Parks jeopardize the very heart of our communities. Years of underfunding have presented challenges for NYC Parks employees in keeping parks clean, safe, and accessible. NYC Parks now has fewer workers than it did before the pandemic despite increased demand and clear need for these spaces, and thousands fewer workers than it had decades ago. NYC Parks is chronically underfunded and understaffed. There are not nearly enough maintenance workers and PEP officers to keep our parks clean and safe.
Mayor Adams’ FY26 Preliminary Budget does not address the continued issues of staff shortages and lack of resources hindering the quality of City parks. New Yorkers can continue to expect trash strewn parks and playgrounds, delayed activation of sprinklers and water fountains during the summer, reduced hours and public programming at recreation centers, long-term bathroom closures, and neglected tree canopy care. While New York City’s budget has grown by 127% since 1980 and other frontline city agency’s budget has grown between 127%-165%, NYC Parks budget has only grown by 72%. NYC Parks budget has not kept up pace with other city agencies and neighborhood parks and green spaces are feeling the impact.
Parks are critical infrastructure for public health and safety and are drivers of social equity, and they should be funded as such. These cuts will make it even more difficult for the already understaffed, under-resourced Parks Department to carry out the basic work needed to ensure parks are equitable and accessible for all New Yorkers. CCC joins the Play Fair Coalition in calling on the City to fulfill the Mayor’s commitment to properly fund New York City parks by allocating $79.7 million in the FY26 Adopted Budget to restore and strengthen NYC Parks programs and workforce.
$65 million of this funding would go towards baselining workforce, which would include 60 PEP officers to ensure public safety in parks, 125 positions for Forestry and Natural Areas that would be responsible for tree care, urban canopy management and trails and forest restoration and 75 administrative positions for essential management and oversight. The remaining $14.7 million would renew key City Council funded parks staffing and initiatives that enhance community programs like
The Parks Equity Initiative, funding for GreenThumb and tree stump removal which helps mitigate heat resilience by replanting healthy trees.
Parks are critical infrastructure for public health and safety and are drivers of social equity. New York City has a responsibility to make sure that our parks are safe, clean and equitable for all New Yorkers. New Yorkers deserve a fully funded, safe, clean, green and resilient parks system.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
