Play Fair Statement on Mayor Adams’ Parks Second Shift Announcement

May 8, 2025

While we appreciate the addition of second-shift positions, there’s more work to be done. A fundamental gap persists between the investments to date in NYC Parks and the agency's basic operational needs. The department remains burdened by hundreds of lost positions due to prior budget cuts and hiring freezes, and the recently released Executive Budget did not address this insufficiency.

Parks are essential to quality of life for all New Yorkers, which is why NYC Parks urgently requires $65M for 795 jobs and $14M to keep our parks safe and communities healthy. This includes essential PEP officers, robust funding for public programming and the maintenance of our natural areas. The time for decisive investment in our parks is now, and we look forward to working with the administration to ensure a truly livable city for future generations.