NEW YORK—At a press conference on the steps of city hall on Tuesday, community and park advocates and union representatives called on Mayor Michael Bloomberg to restore cuts made to the Parks Department budget.
Under Bloomberg’s $63.6 billion dollar executive budget, the Park Department’s budget would be reduced from $264 million to $230 million. The Parks Department’s budget would consist of less than 0.37 percent of the city’s budget, despite that it’s responsible for 14 percent of the city’s land.
The NYC Park Advocates stated in a release that such cuts would “heavily impact” park maintenance, security, horticulture, recreation, and public programs, and quality of life. For instance, the cuts would shorten swimming season by two weeks and close four public swimming pools across four boroughs, affecting more than 1,000 full-time and seasonal staff positions.
According to the city’s financial plan for fiscal years 2010 to 2014, the department’s full-time staff could be downsized by 20 percent by the end of the next fiscal year, from 3,722 to 2,974, most of which are basic cleaning staff throughout the year. In addition, thousands of part-time and seasonal jobs may also be lost.
“Taking care of parks simply isn’t a priority with this administration. Parks are essential, especially in these difficult economic times,” said Geoffrey Croft, president of NYC Park Advocates, in a news release. NYC Park Advocates is a nonprofit park advocacy group dedicated to all city, state, and federal parkland in New York City.
Until 1960, the city allocated 1.4 percent or more of its budget toward the maintenance and operation of the parks, which is more than three times what it is today.
Under Bloomberg’s $63.6 billion dollar executive budget, the Park Department’s budget would be reduced from $264 million to $230 million. The Parks Department’s budget would consist of less than 0.37 percent of the city’s budget, despite that it’s responsible for 14 percent of the city’s land.
The NYC Park Advocates stated in a release that such cuts would “heavily impact” park maintenance, security, horticulture, recreation, and public programs, and quality of life. For instance, the cuts would shorten swimming season by two weeks and close four public swimming pools across four boroughs, affecting more than 1,000 full-time and seasonal staff positions.
According to the city’s financial plan for fiscal years 2010 to 2014, the department’s full-time staff could be downsized by 20 percent by the end of the next fiscal year, from 3,722 to 2,974, most of which are basic cleaning staff throughout the year. In addition, thousands of part-time and seasonal jobs may also be lost.
“Taking care of parks simply isn’t a priority with this administration. Parks are essential, especially in these difficult economic times,” said Geoffrey Croft, president of NYC Park Advocates, in a news release. NYC Park Advocates is a nonprofit park advocacy group dedicated to all city, state, and federal parkland in New York City.
Until 1960, the city allocated 1.4 percent or more of its budget toward the maintenance and operation of the parks, which is more than three times what it is today.
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