City Council Passes Parks Financing Legislation

On Thursday, June 12th, the New York City Council voted 47-0 in favor of Intro 699A, a new bill that requires the
Parks Department to provide the Council with an annual report of private donations and services to our parks on
a park by park basis. New Yorkers for Parks negotiated with the City Council, the Parks Department, and with key
non-profit park partners to ensure this was a consensus bill. As such we applaud this vote because it is a great first
step to creating a transparent park system. We thank Chairwoman Helen Foster for her leadership on this
very important issue: increasing transparency and accessibility of information.

Parks Advocacy Day 2008

This year we had over 200 people join for the 6th Annual Parks Advocacy Day. We had borough specific
town halls to discuss local park issues and then had a media panel to help advocates learn how to
advance their park concerns in the media. We were delighted to have Council Member Joseph P. Addabbo
join us this year as we collectively ask the Council to restore the Parks Department budget.

Tracking Crime In NYC Parks

New Yorkers for Parks Releases First Ever
Report on Park Safety

Prior to legislation passed in 2005, the NYPD did not report
crimes in parks, but rather at the closest street intersection.
The legislation mandated that the NYPD track crime in the
city’s 20 largest parks. New Yorkers for Parks’ new report,
“Tracking Crime in NYC Parks,” provides analysis of the
first 18 months of tracking crime in the 20 largest city parks.
The report also offers recommendations to expand
the program and increase park safety.

View the Press Release

Download the Executive Summary

Download the Full Report

Download the Parks Department Response