Wednesday, May 6, 2026, 1 p.m. (New York City time), 250 Broadway - 8th Floor - Hearing Room 1
Committee: Committee on Parks and Recreation
The Committee on Parks and Recreation, chaired by Council Member Ty Hankerson, held an oversight hearing examining the Parks Department's engagement with community-based organizations and volunteers, with a focus on Partnership for Parks, a joint program of NYC Parks and the City Parks Foundation. Deputy Commissioner Margaret Nelson and other Parks officials testified about volunteer programs including It's My Park Day, GreenThumb, the stewardship program, the Catalyst program, and permit processes. City Parks Foundation Executive Director Heather Lupo described the green fund grants, Catalyst program, and a request to expand the Parks Equity Initiative funding. Council members including Mercedes Narcisse, Frank Morano, Pierina Ana Sanchez, and Yusef Salaam questioned officials on volunteer oversight, license agreements, permit difficulties, park inspections, smoking enforcement, field lighting, and equity in private funding. The committee also heard Intro 822, co-sponsored by Council Member Shanel Thomas-Henry with Council Member Maloney, to co-name a street honoring Pelé ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Public testimony included park stewards, swim organizations, and Mount Prospect Park advocates. No votes were read aloud during the hearing.
0:06 1 2 3 Settle down. Guys were
0:06 going to begin to settle down!
0:11 Down, please. Oh , good
0:12 afternoon. Good afternoon.
0:13 Welcome to the New York City
0:14 council hearing on a committee
0:15 on parks and recreation at
0:17 this time, please. Sounds
0:18 electronics and do not
0:19 approach. The day is at this
0:22 time as well. Please, no food
0:23 or drinks are to be allowed in
0:24 the hearing room. Thank you.
0:34 Maybe again. Good morning
0:35 every afternoon. Everyone
0:37 . I'm Ty Hankerson, chair of
0:39 the committee on parks and
0:40 recreation is good to see
0:42 everyone here I'd like to
0:43 welcome everyone to
0:44 participate in today's hearing
0:45 who has come to our state
0:48 while the park system is
0:49 anchored by the work done by
0:49 the parks department and
0:53 public and the public
0:53 resources devoted to it the
0:54 full range of how it operates
0:55 and the benefits of our parks
0:58 provide, um, cannot b
0:59 erealized without the
1:00 engagement of countless
1:01 partner organizations and
1:05 volunteers. New yorkers love
1:05 to get involved in their
1:06 communities to improve the
1:07 quality of life for themselve
1:08 sand their neighbors parks
1:12 offer up the best opportunity
1:14 for doing
1:14 . So whether it be through
1:17 directly maintaining and
1:18 beautifying our parks or
1:20 providing cultural,
1:21 recreational and sports
1:24 programming. The main entity
1:26 involved in four cerin
1:28 ggreater engagement is
1:28 partnership for parks.
1:31 Which is a joint program run
1:32 by the nonprofit City parks
1:34 foundation and the parks
1:37 department
1:37 . Its mission is to start
1:38 ,strengthen and support
1:39 neighborhood park groups and
1:41 to link these.
1:42 Groups together so that they
1:43 can become active participant
1:44 sin caring for their respective
1:49 parks, the partnerships
1:49 outreach coordinators.
1:50 To happen to all available
1:52 resources to mobilize people
1:54 into friends of the park
1:57 groups
1:57 . These friends of group
1:58 sconnect local people and
2:00 organizations with parks
2:00 department in order to work as
2:02 partners to improve their
2:06 local parks
2:06 . Technical assistance is also
2:07 provided to help these groups
2:09 learn skills on how to manage
2:10 care for and maintain the
2:12 areas they serve as well as
2:14 providing information and
2:15 access to funding, which is
2:19 necessary the span of
2:19 community engagement with
2:20 parks is wide as the parks
2:22 department itself offers
2:24 direct opportunities
2:25 volunteers such as green thumb
2:27 shape up or to become a
2:28 stewart to assist with forests
2:29 and wetland restoration
2:32 ,planting and pruning street
2:33 trees or monitoring local
2:37 wildlife New yorkers clearly
2:38 clearly want to engage and the
2:40 numbers prove it. For example,
2:43 in June 2023 parks launched
2:46 let's green and we see to
2:48 increase the numbers of
2:50 volunteers helping to beautif
2:51 ytheir local parks with
2:53 apparently over 40000
2:56 0volunteers getting involved
2:57 with their parks most recently
3:01 . In July 2025 over 1 milonli
3:01 volunteers engaged with parks
3:04 resulting in more than 200
3:07 million volunteer hours being
3:08 documented something to be
3:12 celebrated. They support, what
3:19 involvement does sorry over.
3:23 The trend is clear and efforts
3:25 to encourage volunteerism and
3:27 civic participation and caring
3:28 for our parks is needed t
3:30 osupplement the work of the
3:31 department and is another step
3:32 to achieving greater park
3:36 equity. It is important t
3:37 onote that there are hundreds,
3:37 if not thousands of small
3:39 community based groups tha
3:40 twould love to take on a
3:43 greater role in caring for
3:46 support their efforts anda
3:50 those that cannot. So we need
3:55 to do all we can to alleviate
3:56 this disparity and support
3:58 these smaller groups so that
3:58 they can thrive.
4:01 I'd like this hearing to be
4:02 used as a springboard t
4:03 oencourage greater
4:05 participation by individuals
4:06 in local community groups in
4:08 the parks system by making it
4:10 easier to engage with the City
4:13 and in turn making the parks
4:14 department more responsive to
4:16 concerns raised by its
4:18 partners and its volunteers in
4:18 order to do that. However we
4:21 need to obtain some greater
4:23 detail on what the current
4:25 processes and oversight
4:27 elements that are involved in
4:28 and how it functions
4:31 . Since it remains somewhat of
4:32 a mystery to many New yorkers,
4:35 for example, how much staff is
4:36 employed by the partnership
4:38 .how are they distributed
4:39 throughout the system.
4:41 What is their funding
4:42 allocation from public and
4:45 private sources. What would b
4:46 ean ideal funding about what
4:47 would be an ideal funding
4:50 about what are the duties of
4:51 outreach coordinators and how
4:53 many parks do they support
4:56 what involvement does it hav
4:57 ewith parks department capital
4:58 projects and how has the
4:59 partnership been folded and to
5:02 contribute and to contribution
5:05 to ongoing community parks
5:08 initiative. Let me read that
5:09 again. So I hope that makes
5:10 sense because it makes sense
5:11 to me. Hold on. We'd like to
5:20 do a deeper dive iont the
5:23 programming the partnership
5:25 and how distribution, uh, is
5:29 coordinated throughout the
5:30 system with the funding
5:30 allocation is from both public
5:32 and private sources. What
5:34 would be an ideal funding
5:38 amount. What are the duties of
5:39 outreach coordinators and how
5:40 many parks do they support,
5:43 we'd like to know how the
5:45 partnership works with parks
5:47 department in terms of capital
5:49 projects in terms of
5:52 procurement, that's better. It
5:53 is my hope that this hearing
5:54 will set the stage for this
5:56 council and the administration
5:58 to continue work to get to
6:00 continue working together t
6:00 otackle the disparities that
6:01 exist in our park system and
6:04 recognize that encouraging
6:05 volunteerism and participation
6:06 and caring for our parks. It's
6:07 just a crucial step achieving
6:10 equity as ensuring sufficient
6:11 amounts of public funding for
6:16 our parks. I'm curious t
6:16 oexplore these bills today and
6:17 engage with what members o
6:18 fthe parks department and the
6:19 public have to say regarding
6:21 this. Thank you again and
6:22 welcome to everyone. Now I'll
6:24 turn it over to our committee
6:25 counsel krista story to swear
6:26 in members of the parks
6:29 department and also before w
6:29 edo that, I'm going to turn it
6:30 over to my colleague council
6:32 michelle Thomas.
6:33 Henry uh, for remarks
6:34 regarding our bill.
6:36 Thank you, Hankerson and the
6:38 entire committee on parks and
6:40 rec. So you be be hearing
6:42 intro. 8 22 Today, which I am
6:44 proud to support legislation
6:46 that I am co sponsoring with
6:49 council Maloney to honor t
6:51 oglobal icons through the co
6:52 naming of pele weigh in theory
6:58 on freeway
6:58 . And while this legislation
6:59 recognizes greatness on the
7:00 field. This is really about
7:04 community and culture. You see
7:05 what makes soccer so powerful
7:06 is that it belongs to everyone
7:09 , no matter where you come
7:10 from the game creates
7:12 community and that started
7:15 with pele
7:15 . Pele was not just one of the
7:16 greatest soccer players of all
7:18 time he helped transform
7:19 soccer into a global language
7:22 for millions of people around
7:23 the world, pele was their
7:25 introduction to the joy and
7:27 possibility of soccer itself
7:28 ,he showed young people,
7:31 especially black and brown
7:32 children, they could be part
7:34 of something greater and in
7:35 doing so he brought beauty,
7:39 creativity and humanity to.
7:40 The game in a way that
7:41 inspired generations across
7:45 continents. That Mayor is the
7:45 spirit of queens, and that is
7:46 why I'm honoring it honoring
7:51 pele here matter so deeply in
7:52 just weeks the world will
7:54 arrive in New York City for
7:55 the 2026 fifa world cup more
7:58 than visitors are expected to
8:00 come to our region generating
8:03 billions in economic activity
8:05 and creating opportunities for
8:06 workers and small businesses
8:08 across the City. This
8:10 legislation is the chance to
8:11 show the world who we are, it
8:14 would help connect visitor
8:15 snot just to the game, but to
8:18 the culture and communities,
8:18 then make this City special
8:21 when people come to queens
8:22 during the world cup, they
8:24 will experience the energy of
8:26 our business corridors, the
8:27 flavors from every corner of
8:28 the world. The sounds, the
8:31 languages, the storefronts and
8:31 the pride that make this this
8:35 borough, unlike anywhere else,
8:37 naming pele way becomes par
8:38 tof that experience it.
8:40 Encourages visitors to mov
8:41 ebeyond the stadiums and into
8:43 the supporting communities
8:47 . To experience the culture,
8:48 diversity and that makes
8:51 queens the world's borough and
8:52 when the final whistle blows
8:54 the legacy of this moment
8:55 should still live on in the
8:58 neighborhoods, corridors and
8:59 communitieshat t welcomed the
9:00 world in thank you. Thank you,
9:06 councilmember at this time
9:06 alternative to our committee
9:08 counsel to square in our
9:11 members of the agency thank a
9:15 chair with the representatives
9:16 of the parks department
9:16 ,please raise your right hand
9:18 if you're able, do you affirm
9:19 to tell the truth, the whole
9:21 truth and nothing but the
9:21 truth in your testimony before
9:24 this committee today and
9:25 respond honestly to council
9:30 member questions. Oh, thank
9:34 you. Thank you. I'd like t
9:34 oacknowledge, uh, that we've
9:36 been joined by council members
9:40 muranoarci nsse song Nurse
9:42 mart Thomas Henry, christiane
9:43 Lee and salon. Thank you for
9:47 joining us, all right, we'll
9:48 start with some brief
9:49 questions for me and then I'll
9:50 just I'll turn it over to my
9:53 colleagues. I'm sorry. You
9:57 know. You know, I just don't
9:57 want you to what it was. I'm
9:59 sorry. Go ahead
10:03 , I blame it on the weather,
10:03 we'll get to the question from
10:06 and come good afternoon chair.
10:08 Hankerson, members of the
10:09 parks committee and other
10:10 members of the City Council.
10:12 My name is margaret nelson,
10:14 the deputy commissioner for
10:15 public programs and community
10:17 engagement for parks and I'm
10:19 joined here today by carina
10:20 smyth, our assistant
10:21 commissioner for strategic
10:24 community engagement. Matt
10:25 jury, our chief of citywide
10:27 legislative affairs. We are
10:27 pleased to be here today
10:30 alongside our incredible
10:30 partners at the City parks
10:33 foundation to testify about
10:34 one of the most critical
10:35 aspects of our agency
10:38 engagement with community
10:39 based organizations and
10:42 volunteers robust public
10:42 engagement is a central plank
10:45 of our agencies strategic
10:47 our parks employees havee
10:53 direct engagement and
10:54 interaction with the public in
10:56 a huge variety of ways whether
10:58 it's a shape up class
10:59 instructor at a local parks
11:01 recreation center and urban
11:03 park ranger leading curious
11:04 part visitors on a nature walk
11:07 , a City parks worker advising
11:08 visitors where the nearest
11:10 bathroom is our local borough
11:12 staff attending community
11:13 board meetings and counsel
11:15 participatory budget info
11:17 sessions or capitol team
11:18 hosting a design public design
11:21 input session. Practically
11:22 every member of our agency
11:24 staff has the privilege of
11:26 regularly engaging directly
11:26 with the public an experience
11:30 we value deeply. One major
11:32 avenue for this engagement is
11:35 our agencies direct
11:36 relationship with countless
11:37 individuals, volunteers and
11:39 local community organizations
11:40 that are working alongside us
11:41 to make sure their local parks
11:44 reflect their community's
11:45 needs and priorities. We are
11:48 very proud of the work our
11:50 dedicated staff to care for
11:51 our City parks and our efforts
11:53 are bolstered and supported by
11:55 engaged and empowered New
11:57 yorkers making these faces
11:58 even more active and vibrant
12:00 and sources of community pride
12:03 hundreds of local groups
12:04 dedicate their precious tim
12:06 eand energy throughout the year
12:07 in our city's parks and public
12:10 spaces benefiting from
12:11 connection to nature and t
12:13 oone another. All I having
12:15 while all while having an
12:16 impact on the environment for
12:19 New yorkers looking to get
12:20 more involved in their local
12:21 parks. They can visit our
12:22 agency website to learn more
12:24 about a wide range of
12:27 potential opportunities from
12:28 becoming a member of your
12:28 local green thumb community
12:31 garden helping plant a tree or
12:33 monitor horseshoe crabs and
12:34 coney island through our
12:37 stewardship program or joining
12:37 . It's an it my part, it's my
12:39 park event in their community
12:41 led by your incredible
12:42 partnership for parks tea
12:45 mpartnership for parks or is a
12:47 unique public private
12:49 partnership between New York
12:50 City parks and City parks
12:53 foundation and serves as our
12:55 primary mechanism to support
12:57 and champion grassroots
12:58 volunteers by giving them the
12:59 tools they need to advocat
13:01 eand care for their
13:02 neighborhood parks and green
13:03 spaces in a dedicated,
13:07 sustained way pft equips
13:10 people, organizations and
13:11 government with resources and
13:13 opportunities to ensure these
13:14 spaces are dynamic community
13:17 assets pf offers resources and
13:19 opportunities to neighborhood
13:20 organizations and all 5 5
13:22 boroughs while driving equity
13:25 by prioritizing investment in
13:26 areas that have experienced
13:31 historic disinvestment
13:31 .support includes tools and
13:33 supplies, training and
13:34 coaching on topics like group
13:36 development event planning,
13:37 working with elected officials
13:40 and fund and through our
13:41 partnership with City parks
13:43 foundation p f p makes
13:45 hundreds of thousands of
13:46 dollars in programming and
13:49 capacity grants each year and
13:51 even provides fiscal
13:51 sponsorship too enable
13:54 informal groups to receive
13:55 grants for their activities in
13:59 20 25 alone, pflp distributed
14:00 over 900000 and grant funds to
14:04 grassroots groups to conduct
14:05 stewardship and programming
14:08 through our pft community