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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Kevin O'Keefe, Founder and President of Saint Vartan Park Conservancy, on Urban Green Spaces and Mental Health
5:49:08
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125 sec
Kevin O'Keefe, representing Saint Vartan Park Conservancy, emphasizes the importance of urban green spaces for mental health during the FY 2026 budget hearing. He urges the council to prioritize funding for true green spaces in parks, citing scientific studies on their mental health benefits.
- Highlights a study from SMU showing green spaces decrease the risk of psychiatric disorders
- Points to Singapore's initiative of creating 30 free public therapeutic gardens as an example
- Stresses the need for maintaining literal green spaces over hardtop areas, despite higher maintenance costs
Kevin O'Keefe
5:49:08
Yes.
5:49:08
I am Kevin O'Keefe and I am the founder and president of Saint Vartan Park Conservancy.
5:49:13
May is mental health month.
5:49:14
Perhaps underappreciated is the level of significance urban green space plays in improving mental health.
5:49:21
Our all volunteer conservancy and the parks department serve in partnership to steward a public garden in the park that was locked to the general public for decades.
5:49:29
The Conservancy hears from many of the garden visitors that access to this more than a quarter acre of nature in Midtown Manhattan has become an essential part of their mental health needs.
5:49:40
We want to recognize that too many times when the phrase green space is used, the space is actually not green and or other parts of nature, but hardtop.
5:49:50
Although it takes more resources to maintain literal green space, it's well worth the budget increases needed to do so.
5:49:58
Studies increasingly and clearly prove this out.
5:50:01
One timely study out of SMU concludes I'll share a quote from the study green spaces decrease the risk of psychiatric disorders including depression, anxiety, dementia, schizophrenia and ADHD.
5:50:17
More green spaces should be considered in city planning.
5:50:20
We see that places worldwide are responded with needed budget increases with improved mental health, the clear rationale.
5:50:28
I'll give you one example.
5:50:30
Let's look to Singapore.
5:50:31
There are 30 free public therapeutic gardens are being rolled out.
5:50:35
There the designers made sure to meet with scientists to understand how to best lift visitors' mental health and included elements from immune boosting horticultural zones to wheelchair optical courses.
5:50:48
Please, keep in mind for the FY '26 budget, not only park space, which of course is so important, but an added punch please for true green spaces and parks.
5:50:59
One final thought from the Conservancy, as we've heard expressed by parkies at various levels since 2022, commissioner Donnie, who has been a compassionate leader, we appreciate your leadership and vision for New York