On July 26, 2023, Parks Department Commissioner Sue Donoghue, NYC Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, Assembly Member Manny De Los Santos, Council Member Carmen De La Rosa, and Community Board 12 joined community members to cut the ribbon on the renovated Monsignor Kett Playground in Inwood, Manhattan. The project—which required $9.5 million in funding from the Mayor’s Office—is the largest reinvestment the City has made in this open space.
Department of Parks & Recreation
Parks Dept Celebrates Reopening of Noble Playground in the Bronx
On August 1, 2023, the Parks Department announced the completion of a $2.5 million renovation to Noble Playground in the Van Nest section of the Bronx. The playground is located on Noble Avenue between Bronx River Avenue and East 177th Street.
Naples Playground in Staten Island Reopens After Renovations
NYC Parks spent $3.115 million in reconstructing the park’s basketball courts and play area. On June 1, 2023, NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue, Council Member David Carr, Principal Deanna Marco and students from P.S. 9 joined other community members to celebrate the reopening of Naples Playground in Concord, Staten Island. The park, which had been closed for renovations since April 2022, reopened in April 2023.
City Beaches Open for the Summer
This past weekend, City beaches opened for swimming for the summer. From May 27 to September 10, 2023, swimming is permitted when lifeguards are on duty from 10 AM to 6 PM, and prohibited when lifeguards are off duty. All beaches are free and open to the public.
Parks Dept. Cuts Ribbon on New Park in Highbridge
On March 28, 2023, Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue and Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson joined community representatives and advocates to celebrate the opening of Corporal Fischer Park, a new park in Highbridge that replaced a formerly empty fenced off lot. The new park is on West 170th Street between Nelson Avenue and Shakespeare Avenue.
Parks Adds “Second Shift” Dedicated Staff to Address Park Cleanliness on Evenings and Weekends
On March 20, 2023, the Parks Department announced that 240 new “second shift” employees had been recently hired to address park cleanliness issues on evenings and weekends. The new deployment of workers will operate on Thursdays through Sundays during evening hours to address trash, litter and graffiti at certain hotspots around the city. The staff’s efforts to clean up trash and litter will also serve as part of the city’s efforts to push back against … <Read More>