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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Adam Ganser, Executive Director of New Yorkers for Parks, on Parks Department Budget Restoration
2:33:59
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Adam Ganser, Executive Director of New Yorkers for Parks, testifies about the lack of budget restoration for the New York City Parks Department. He emphasizes that despite claims from the administration, the parks budget has not been fully restored, leading to staffing shortages and operational challenges.
- The Parks Department has lost over 700 positions since fiscal year 2023, which has not been addressed in the mayor's preliminary budget.
- Ganser highlights specific areas affected by budget cuts, including parks enforcement patrol officers, forestry and natural areas divisions, and urban rangers.
- New Yorkers for Parks and the Playfair for Parks coalition are demanding $79,800,000 in fiscal year 2026 to restore essential positions, citing public safety and quality of life concerns.
Adam Ganser
2:33:59
Testing.
2:34:01
Thank you Chairperson Krishnan and the members of the committee for the opportunity to testify today.
2:34:06
My name is Adam Ganzer.
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I'm the executive director of New Yorkers for Parks.
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We are the cofounders of a Playfair for Parks coalition and the only independent not for profit focusing solely on New York City's parks.
2:34:19
I wanna make something very clear.
2:34:21
The park, the preliminary budget has not restored the Parks Department.
2:34:24
And we've been hearing a lot about that today, but the administration is saying otherwise.
2:34:29
Parks has not been restored.
2:34:32
Over the last three plus years, the agency's budget has been cut repeatedly.
2:34:38
Since fiscal year twenty three, lost more than 700 positions.
2:34:44
While libraries and cultures have had Culturals have had their budgets restored, parks did not in June.
2:34:49
The mayor's preliminary budget for the next fiscal year does not address these lost positions, leaves the agency short staffed and unable to do the work that New Yorkers and our parks department depend on.
2:35:02
A few examples, the agency is critically low on parks enforcement patrol officers, which keep our parks safe for families and communities.
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The forestry and natural areas divisions have been gutted, notable given that we've had more than 400 brushfires in our city's parks last summer.
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50 of the agency's small team of urban rangers are on one shots as we discussed.
2:35:24
Those positions are going to expire at the end of the fiscal year.
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Administrative staff, tradespeople, programming staff, project managers, the list goes on.
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You heard a lot about operational efficiency from the Parks Department itself.
2:35:40
I think that's a euphemism for doing whatever they can with the little that they have.
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How does this impact New Yorkers?
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They're visiting parks and playgrounds that are less safe and poorly maintained.
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They're frustrated because bathrooms are closed.
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There are less parks programming.
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Parks repairs are taking longer.
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New Yorkers for Parks and the Playfair for Parks coalition are demanding $79,800,000 in fiscal year twenty six to restore these essential positions.
2:36:10
This is a public safety and a quality of life issue.
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Speaker Adams recognized this much when she called for full restoration of parks during her State of the City.
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We thank her and we thank you for your support.