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Q&A
Schoolyards to Playgrounds program and interagency collaboration
0:38:10
·
3 min
Council Member Krishnan and Parks Department representatives discuss the Schoolyards to Playgrounds program and potential for expanding interagency collaboration.
- Overview of the Schoolyards to Playgrounds program and its impact on park access
- Discussion on current partnerships between Parks Department and DOE
- Exploration of potential for expanding access to indoor facilities like pools and gyms
Matt Drury
0:38:10
Having said that, yeah, we work very closely with NYC Schools on what is now constituted as the Schoolyard to Playground program, largely from our end that consists of providing technical analysis and information that identify specific sites that could benefit, namely if it's serving property that would expand access to folks that don't currently live within what we call a walk to a park, which is sort of the metric, again, noted in the the city has a goal of 85% of all New Yorkers living within Wachita Park.
0:38:43
And we're getting very, very close.
0:38:44
I think we're 83%, eighty four %.
0:38:46
But these schoolyard playgrounds, thanks to NYC Schools' great partnership, have really helped advance those numbers and opened up access to thousands and thousands of New Yorkers.
0:38:55
So that is an ongoing as I think Councilmember Brewer noted, the mayor announced 11 new sites will be added to the program.
0:39:02
I believe those are coming online July or so I think after this school year, so this summer.
0:39:07
So we're very excited.
0:39:09
So this is an ongoing it's been going you know, the effort has been ongoing for decades and is continuing.
Shekar Krishnan
0:39:15
Thank you.
0:39:15
And I appreciate the clarification on the concerns or opposition you have in terms of being technical in nature.
0:39:23
So then how you know, my you know, taking a step back again, what has there been conversations with Parks and DOE beyond JOPs and beyond this playground to schoolyards initiative, other ways to open up, for example, gyms, basketball courts, or otherwise.
0:39:41
Has there been any thought given to that in discussions about expanding the access to facilities?
Matt Drury
0:39:48
There have been a variety of partnerships over the years that have taken many different forms and fashions in terms of aquatic education.
0:39:57
Our Swim for Life program is a really close partnership with DOE that does take place at some DOE facilities.
0:40:03
So there are a variety of ways in which there is sort of nice really nice synergy and partnership.
0:40:07
I will say in terms of broader public access to open space, schoolyards to playgrounds has been the sort of primary vehicle towards making that happen.
0:40:15
But we're obviously always open to creative approaches and new conversations.
Shekar Krishnan
0:40:19
Because I think that we just Understanding the concerns of having a plan and working with other agencies, I think we also want to make sure that agencies are not siloed off from each other and we find ways, and you all have a great collaboration with DOE on one specific program.
0:40:33
But it seems to me, like I said before, we're already doing it with school pools for Swim for Life and other programs.
0:40:39
I do believe that should come next too where we're opening up more of the indoor pools for use or even, you know, other facilities too.
0:40:47
So I think for us, it's very important is that you all are finding ways to get beyond the hurdles of making plans with other agencies and finding ways to communicate to do so because that shouldn't hold us back.
0:40:57
But, you know, you mentioned in particular this play School Yards to Playgrounds initiative.
0:41:01
I think it's a great program.
0:41:02
I do want to recognize too that the Adams administration in the state of the city, it was great to hear them expand that program.
0:41:10
It's been doing very well.
0:41:11
You all work with Trust Republic Land.
0:41:13
It's an excellent organization.
0:41:14
I've seen personally the difference they make with the playgrounds in that program.
0:41:19
Have you all explored or considered partnerships with TPL, Trust Republic Land, outside of Schoolyards to Playgrounds and other initiatives too?