Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.
AGENCY TESTIMONY
Discussion of Intro 643-2024 and NYC Parks recreation centers
0:31:14
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179 sec
Intro 643-2024 proposes a plan to facilitate the use of indoor basketball courts, including those in privately owned gyms and NYC schools, for organized leagues when outdoor courts are impacted by weather. NYC Parks outlines its current recreation center offerings and limitations regarding this proposal.
- NYC Parks has 36 recreation centers with popular indoor gymnasiums and other facilities
- Recreation center memberships are free for New Yorkers age 24 and under, and affordable for adults and seniors
- Centers offer diverse programming, including basketball games, clinics, and leagues
- NYC Parks is investing in reconstructing existing facilities and opening new ones
- The agency opposes Intro 643-2024 as drafted, citing inability to create plans for properties not under their jurisdiction
Margaret Nelson
0:31:14
In a similar fashion, Intro June would require NYC Parks in consultation with NYC schools to create and implement a plan to facilitate the use of indoor basketball courts including those in privately owned gyms as well as gyms under the jurisdiction of NYC schools for use by organized basketball leagues when the use of outdoor basketball courts is impacted by weather.
0:31:39
NYC Parks has 36 recreation centers around the city, many of which have very popular indoor gymnasiums including basketball courts which are enjoyed by thousands of New Yorkers every day along with facilities such as indoor pools, weight rooms, dance studios, art studios, game rooms, and media labs.
0:31:58
We are very proud of the fact that our recreation centers offer a range of programs for people of all ages and interests and our memberships are completely free for New Yorkers age 24 and under and extremely affordable for other adults and senior citizens.
0:32:15
Our gymnasiums operate with rotating programming schedule that is posted at each location and on our agency website and though we strive to offer a balanced diversity of fitness and sports activity at all our locations, basketball is definitely one of the most popular uses of our gyms.
0:32:33
On any given day at our recreation centers, you can find adult pickup basketball games, youth open basketball play in our Saturday Night Lights program, drop in basketball instructional clinics for youth and adults, and scheduled league play like our Junior Knicks Basketball League for boys and girls aged eight through 17.
0:32:52
We know these recreation centers are vital resources for our communities, so we are investing hundreds of millions of dollars in completely reconstructing existing facilities like the Brownsville Recreation Center, as well as opening brand new facilities like the Mary Kelly Dalton Recreation Center in Staten Island and the Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center in Brooklyn, which we look forward to opening to the public later this year.
0:33:18
Given the robust offering programming at our recreation center gyms, we do not have the capacity to make these spaces available for private permitted use.
0:33:28
But when outdoor basketball enthusiasts are faced with a rainy day or rising temperatures, our indoor courts are an incredible resource for anyone with an NYC Parks Recreation Center membership, which again is available to all New Yorkers for very low or no cost whatsoever.
0:33:45
In regards to both of these bills, we are always supportive of increasing access to open recreational spaces where New Yorkers can play and exercise, but it would be inappropriate and infeasible for New York City Parks to undertake the creation of a strategic plan relating to properties that are not under our jurisdiction, whether that's property under the jurisdiction of NYC schools or privately owned property.
0:34:07
And therefore we oppose Intro five sixty six and Intro six forty three as they are currently drafted.