New Parks and Recreation Department Commissioner named
Dear Friends,
We are pleased to announce that Mitchell J. Silver FAICP is the new Commissioner of New York City Parks & Recreation. Mr. Silver, a Brooklyn native who grew up near Prospect Park, received his Bachelors degree from Pratt Institute and his Masters degree in Urban Planning from Hunter College. He is a Fellow of the American Institute of Certified Planners and an internationally-renowned planning expert who has worked extensively on parks policy. He returns to New York from Raleigh, NC, where he is Chief Planning and Development Officer and Planning Director.
As Parks Commissioner, Mr. Silver will bring Mayor de Blasio’s progressive vision for the City’s public parks, playgrounds, community gardens and nature centers. In his press conference with Mayor de Blasio announcing his appointment, Commissioner Silver said: “This city’s parks, athletic fields and beaches all provide a unique, public space for education, physical exercise and recreation – and I look forward to expanding these opportunities to even more of New York’s residents. From Van Cortlandt Park to Coney Island Beach, every green space in this city deserves constant care and innovation; and I’m honored to lead the department as we pursue the Mayor’s vision for equal and expanded quality access to parkland in every neighborhood.”
The Mayor said Mitchell Silver “is a visionary. He’s someone who has devoted his career to thinking about where we need to go, and then finding ways to get it done. He has a passion for fairness and equality, and he brings it to the work of government, and understands that we have to ensure that parks and open spaces are available in every community, and are well-maintained in every community in this city.”
NYC Parks welcomes incoming Commissioner Silver to the Parks family, and congratulates him on becoming a Parkie.
Larry Scott Blackmon
Deputy Commissioner for Community Outreach
