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Q&A
Council Member Riley questions Parks Department on basketball court access and summer league accommodations
0:48:21
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174 sec
Council Member Kevin C. Riley engages in a Q&A session with Margaret Nelson from the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation, focusing on access to basketball courts and accommodations for summer leagues during inclement weather. They discuss the number of available courts, permitting processes, and potential collaboration with public schools to provide alternative spaces.
- The Parks Department has 1,765 outdoor basketball courts and 21 gyms in recreation centers.
- The department doesn't permit outside groups to use recreation centers due to existing memberships and programming.
- There's no data collection on summer leagues cancellations due to bad weather, which Riley suggests would be helpful information.
Kevin C. Riley
0:48:21
Thank you so much, chair, and good afternoon again.
0:48:24
Thank you so much for explaining that you're not opposed to it.
0:48:27
It's just some technicalities that we have to discuss.
0:48:30
Currently, you stated how much basketball courts and how much recreational gyms are in the parks?
Margaret Nelson
0:48:37
Sure.
0:48:38
So we have 1,765 outdoor basketball courts and in our 36 recreation centers, we have 21 gyms that
Kevin C. Riley
0:48:48
have basketball So it's kind of a You
Margaret Nelson
0:48:50
can kind of see.
0:48:50
And so, you know, in looking at your bill, when you're just looking at our assets, right, we permit there's 535 permits for the basketball course in the season, forty six thousand hours, you know, of time.
0:49:05
So for outdoor.
0:49:07
Yeah.
Kevin C. Riley
0:49:07
Okay.
0:49:08
And do does normally what's the process if Summer League wants to get access to those recreational spaces that the Parks Department has?
Margaret Nelson
0:49:15
So we don't permit outside groups coming into any of our recreation centers because we're we have a membership that pays to access our centers, and then we provide programming.
0:49:27
So, again, one of our concerns with the Bell is we don't want to displace, you know, our existing youth that are coming to the to make time for another organization.
0:49:37
But we hear that, you know, we we share the goal of of folks when they're rained out to be able to go somewhere else, but we feel like we're providing a lot of great recreational activity year round in our rec center.
Kevin C. Riley
0:49:48
And do you guys collect data on, summer leagues when they're they can't ex, execute their tournament because of inclement rain or bad weather?
Margaret Nelson
0:50:00
Whether we keep track of when a when a
Kevin C. Riley
0:50:03
I'll repeat the question.
0:50:05
Do you keep track of when the summer leagues aren't able to have their programs that weekend?
0:50:11
Do you have any data regarding that information?
0:50:14
No?
Margaret Nelson
0:50:14
No.
0:50:15
We do not.
0:50:16
Sorry.
Kevin C. Riley
0:50:16
Okay.
0:50:17
Alright.
0:50:17
It would be helpful because it would've gave us an understanding to know how frequently this happened.
0:50:22
Just for instance, I know last year in about July or August, '1 of those months, it was like raining every weekend but it would be nice Monday through Friday like how it is now.
0:50:33
Yeah.
0:50:33
So yes, I I don't wanna displace anybody who pays for a membership.
0:50:38
I I don't believe anybody wants to but we just want to make sure that we're working with other agencies out there to provide the spaces.
0:50:46
So I'm really open to discussing any technicalities that we have to upgrade within the piece of legislation but really just wanna emphasize how important this is because I know the goal for the Parks Department is to grant safe space, clean air, and public spaces to people in the community.
0:51:04
I believe New York City Public Schools can help you guys out with that as well.
Margaret Nelson
0:51:07
Thank you.
Kevin C. Riley
0:51:08
Thank you.
0:51:08
So I'm looking forward to connecting with you guys.
0:51:10
And chair, like I said, once again, thank you so much for hosting this hearing.
Margaret Nelson
0:51:14
Thank you.