Manhattan Borough President Brewer, Council Member Rosie Mendez and Mayor de Blasio
Mayor Bill de Blasio and NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver announced in Sauer Park the final list of Community Parks Initiative (CPI) parks. CPI was launched in 2014 in response to Senator Daniel Squadron‘s efforts to bring Park Equity to NYC.
“Every child deserves bright, green space right in their neighborhood…I commend Senator Squadron for putting forward a proposal that sparked a critical conversation around how to improve smaller parks in less wealthy neighborhoods and engage the city’s park conservancies in that effort,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio.
Photos of the park pre-renovation:
CPI Projects:
Bronx: Prospect Playground and Mapes Ballfield
Brooklyn: Bartlett and Lewis Playgrounds, Penn Triangle
Manhattan: Bill Bojangles and Harlem Lane Playgrounds, Joseph C. Sauer Park, Playground One
Queens: Chappetto Square
Staten Island: Mariners Harbor Playground
Council Member Mark Levine Chair of the City Council Parks Committee: “We want every park in NYC to be as great as those parks that are fortunate enough to have well-funded conservancies. The City Council has also moved to close the Parks equity gap this fiscal year, by allocating funds through the Parks Equity Initiative to parks stewardship groups that don’t receive significant private money. I’m thrilled by the partnerships we are announcing today….”
History:
As debates happened on park funding important questions on the issue of the privatization of parks emerged in a fuller light:
NYTimes Michael Powell weighed in: “Reducing Some Parks to the Status of Beggars”
We see a resurgence of that debate in the demise of “Diller’s Island”. From “Inside Philanthropy“”…the fundamental failing of what became known as Diller Island was that, as a plan for a public space, it was just far too reliant on and driven by one man’s vision and wealth.”
“The Community Parks Initiative, launched by Mayor de Blasio, is NYC Parks’ first major equity initiative and part of OneNYC, the Mayor’s plan for a strong and just New York City. CPI is a multi-faceted investment in the smaller public parks that are located in New York City’s most densely populated and growing neighborhoods where there are higher-than-average concentrations of poverty.”
The Mayor also addressed the current crisis in Puerto Rico and the City plan to send assistance.
He urged NYers to donate specific items (nothing else!!) to these Fire Department locations Manhattan Locally:
Engine 28/ Ladder 11: 222 E. 2nd Street, New York, NY 10009 (Lower East Side)
- Diapers
- Baby food
- Batteries
- First Aid Supplies
- Feminine Hygiene Products