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Discussion on permitting process for athletic fields and courts
0:07:56
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101 sec
Council Member Krishnan addresses the importance of an equitable permitting process for athletic fields and courts. He highlights the current system and some of the challenges faced in allocating these spaces fairly.
- The Parks Department manages over 800 athletic fields, 1,800 basketball courts, and 550 tennis courts throughout the city.
- A few years ago, the Parks Department revamped the process to better allocate ball fields and courts, including implementing an interactive web-based system for permit applications.
- Concerns persist about the permitting process, including allegations of permit scalping and unauthorized use of fields.
- Krishnan emphasizes the need for a fair and equitable system that allows access for all New Yorkers, including nonprofit organizations and community groups.
Shekar Krishnan
0:07:56
The first facet that I just described goes to ways that we can make our public playgrounds more accessible to all.
0:08:05
There's also another way to think about accessibility too, and that is the permits and the approvals that sports leagues get to access fields and playgrounds.
0:08:15
If we can open up all of these spaces but we're not able to find an equitable way for organizations to access them, then we're not going to be achieving the goals that we are setting out to do.
0:08:27
So today, we'll also examine the athletic features of our park system and focus on the parks department's process for issuing permits for the use of its over 800 athletic fields, 1,800 basketball courts, and 550 tennis courts throughout the city, including ways to encourage and enforce more equitable use of these facilities and consider a broader use of other city owned facilities as well.
0:08:51
Now a few years ago, the Parks Department revamped the process to better allocate ball fields and courts for a wide range of applicants.
0:08:59
They also put into a place an interactive web based system to apply for permits.
0:09:03
Still, however, concerns persist about the whole process with various athletic field users from educational and youth athletic groups to adult athletic leagues and typical parks goers regarding how permitted sports activities are allowed and regulated.
0:09:19
Some have alleged that various permit holders have sold or scalped their permits to those who wish to use the field at a given time, trying to profit for themselves off of these public fields, while complaints regarding the unauthorized use of particular ball fields have continued to add to the confusion and uncertainty already felt by many.