New York City Department of Parks and Recreation
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The City of New York Department of Parks & Recreation is the branch of government of the City of New York responsible for maintaining the city's parks system, preserving and maintaining the ecological diversity of the city's natural areas, and furnishing recreational opportunities for city's residents.
The total area of the properties maintained by the department is over 28,000 acres (113 km²).
The department maintains more than 1,700 parks, playgrounds and recreation facilities across the five boroughs. It is responsible for over 950 playgrounds, 700 playing fields, 550 tennis courts, 35 major recreation centers, 30 outdoor pools, 14 miles of beaches, and 13 golf courses, as well as seven nature centers, six ice skating rinks, four zoos, four botanical gardens, and four major stadia. Parks also cares for park flora and fauna, community gardens, historic houses, statues and monuments, and more than 2.5 million trees.
The City of New York Department of Parks & Recreation produces many special events, including concerts and movie premieres. In the summer, the busiest season, the agency organizes free carnivals and concerts, and sends mobile recreation vans to travel throughout the five boroughs providing free rental equipment for skating, baseball, and miniature golf.
The largest single component of parkland maintained by the department is the "forever wild" Pelham Bay Park in the Bronx, with an area of 2,765 acres (11 km²). The department is also responsible for such "flagship" parks facilities as Central Park, Prospect Park, Van Cortlandt Park, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, and the Staten Island Greenbelt.
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[edit] Agency
The department is a mayoral agency. The current Parks Commissioner is Adrian Benepe, who was appointed by Mayor Michael Bloomberg on January 25, 2002. The department maintains a quality of life division, called the Parks Enforcement Patrol (PEP), responsible for maintaining safety within the parks system in coordination with the NYPD. For example, an NYPD sub-station has been established on the Orchard Beach boardwalk.
The department is allocated an expense budget and a capital budget. The expense budget covers the total expenses incurred by the agency, including salaries. The capital budget is dedicated solely for new construction projects, as well as major repairs in parks that have a useful life of more than five years and cost at least $35,000.
[edit] Concessions
Over 500 concessions are currently in operation within NYC Parks. Generally, these fall into the categories of either food services or recreational services. The food service concessions range from pushcarts selling hot dogs and pretzels to restaurants such as Tavern on the Green, Caffe on the Green, and the Loeb Boathouse. Some of the recreational concessions include ice rinks, indoor tennis bubbles, horse stables, marinas, etc.
[edit] Urban Park Rangers
The Urban Park Rangers, in addition to parks enforcement, provide many free programs year-round, such as nature walks and activities. They also operate programs such as The Natural Classroom for class trips and the general public alike. "Explorer" programs are available for activities such as canoeing in the city's flagship parks in all five boroughs.
[edit] External links
- City of New York Department of Parks & Recreation official site
- Parks History
- Interactive Park Map of New York City
see also: List of New York City parks
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