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Q&A
Expanding access to school playgrounds and funding for custodians
3:42:17
·
65 sec
Council Member Brewer discusses her bill to open more school playgrounds to the public and asks about support and funding for this initiative. Commissioner Donoghue expresses support for expanding public access to these spaces.
- The Parks Department supports opening more school playgrounds to the public
- Over 200 schoolyards were previously opened as public playgrounds during the Bloomberg administration
- Funding for custodians to maintain these spaces would come from the Department of Education's budget, not the Parks Department
Gale A. Brewer
3:42:17
And then just quickly on playgrounds, you know, have a bill that says the, of the school playgrounds that are not open now, we have great ones that are jointly operated, trust of public land.
3:42:28
Is that something that you'll support?
3:42:30
Obviously the money would be needed for the custodians at
3:42:34
But it does seem to me that what's another way to get a more open space would be to open up some of those playgrounds.
3:42:39
Is that something that you're supporting?
3:43:10
Do you have any funding allocated for that?
3:43:12
Because obviously the cost is for the, custodians.
Sue Donoghue
3:42:33
the Yes.
3:42:33
Absolutely.
3:42:41
Absolutely, council member.
3:42:43
In fact, I was, you know, at the Parks Department during the Bloomberg administration, and the schoolyards to playgrounds was an important element of Plan YC, and we opened over 200 schoolyards to playgrounds to the public.
3:42:56
I know firsthand how beneficial they are to communities.
3:42:59
It was in the mayor's state of the city to open some additional schoolyards to playgrounds.
3:43:04
We are all for capturing any and all public open space that we can to provide more opportunities for New Yorkers
3:43:14
It's the maintenance cost exactly for opening and closing for the custodians.
3:43:19
That does not go in our budget.
3:43:20
That goes in DOE's budget.
Margaret Forgione
3:43:10
to decide.