Committee on Parks and Recreation meeting
March 4, 2026, 10:00 AM
The committee held an oversight hearing on ensuring the long-term health and growth of New York City's tree stock.
What was discussed
- Parks and MOCEJ testify on the health and growth of the city's tree stock NYC Parks Commissioner Tricia Shimamura, in her first testimony as commissioner, presented the agency's approach to the city's tree canopy alongside Assistant Commissioner of Forestry and Horticulture Ben Osborne, Chief of Legislative Affairs Matt Drury, and the Mayor's Office of Climate and
- Why did some low-income neighborhoods lose canopy, and what would it take to plant faster? Chair Ty Hankerson pressed Parks on the equity gap in canopy — citywide cover rose from 2017 to 2021 but some low-income, high-heat neighborhoods lost trees. Commissioner Shimamura said the agency approaches its work through an equity lens, using DOHMH Heat Vulnerability Index data to prioritize HVI
- How does Parks handle the 311 pruning backlog and its inspector rating system? Council Member Chris Banks questioned Parks on service-request backlogs and quality control. Assistant Commissioner Osborne and Commissioner Shimamura described a seven-year block-pruning cycle (one in seven trees pruned per year), a risk-based triage that prioritizes the most serious hazards, and
- How is Parks making trees resilient to storms and meeting its planting commitments? Council Members Yusef Salaam, Christopher Marte, Gale Brewer and Mercedes Narcisse questioned Parks on storm resilience, planting commitments and tree conditions. Shimamura and Osborne described emergency response through NYCEM's Downed Tree Task Force after the February 2026 snowstorm, tracking of
- What integrity and compliance checks govern Parks' tree contracts? In a second round, Chair Hankerson questioned Parks on contracting integrity, asking about M/WBE classification of maintenance contracts, whether the agency tracks contractor hourly wages, and what penalties apply when a contractor submits false information. Assistant Commissioner Osborne said Parks
- Parks and forestry advocates urge restored, baselined forestry funding Advocacy organizations testified on staffing and funding. Lynn Bodnar Kelly, Executive Director of the New York Restoration Project, described free-tree giveaway programs New Yorkers can request online. Sarah Balistreri spoke to Partnerships for Parks' technical-assistance trainings, Alia Soomro of
- Park conservancies and Fort Greene advocates testify on tree preservation Park-specific groups testified on local tree stewardship and preservation. Merrit Birnbaum described a conservancy with about 60 full-time staff that hires private arborists on a limited basis, and Tami Lin Moges cited a report on the health and environmental benefits of trees. Lucy Koteen and Joan
Agenda
1 item
- T2026-1330 Oversight - Ensuring the Long-Term Health and Growth of the City’s Tree Stock. Hearing Held by Committee