Committee on Parks and Recreation meeting
May 27, 2026, 12:00 PM
Jointly with the Committee on Finance
The Committee on Parks and Recreation held an FY2027 executive budget hearing on the Department of Parks and Recreation, jointly with the Committee on Finance. The committee took testimony and recorded no votes.
What was discussed
- Reconvening and swearing in for the Parks and Recreation hearing After a recess, Chair Linda Lee reopened the afternoon session on the Department of Parks and Recreation FY2027 Executive Budget and Chair Ty Hankerson gave the Parks Committee's opening; Commissioner Tricia Shimamura and Parks Department staff were sworn in.
- Department of Parks and Recreation FY2027 budget testimony Commissioner Tricia Shimamura testified as head of the Department of Parks and Recreation on the agency's FY2027 Executive Budget, framing it as a difficult budget year for the administration.
- Why weren't Parks Enforcement Patrol positions restored in the Executive Plan? Chair Linda Lee pressed on the Parks Enforcement Patrol (PEP) positions left unfunded; Commissioner Tricia Shimamura called it an incredibly difficult budget year and said the agency is in ongoing conversations with OMB.
- How did Parks meet its savings-program targets? Chair Linda Lee asked how the agency met the savings targets; Commissioner Tricia Shimamura said the administration's goal was to review all operations closely, and Executive Financial Officer Stark explained how planting and other funds are delivered and staffed.
- What happens to the 40 positions cut in the vacancy reduction? Chair Linda Lee asked about the vacancy reduction of 40 positions saving $9.2 million in FY26 and $27.6 million in FY27; Commissioner Tricia Shimamura said the agency would try to move affected staff into other open or grant-funded lines, naming PEP, Green Thumb, and other one-shot-funded buckets.
- Which recreation centers will the $7.9 million in new recreation staff support? Chair Ty Hankerson asked where the recreation staff funded by the plan's $7.9 million would be stationed; Commissioner Tricia Shimamura named three recreation centers - Owen Dolen, St. Mary's, and Mary Cali Dalton - and said Parks tries to hire from local communities.
- Would parks be less safe without PEP officers? Chair Ty Hankerson asked whether cutting PEP would increase crime in parks; Commissioner Tricia Shimamura called PEP officers peace officers and one of the agency's best tools for keeping people safe in parks.
- What is the plan to get Parks to one percent of the city budget? Chair Ty Hankerson asked about the Mayor's campaign promise to bring the Parks budget to one percent; Commissioner Tricia Shimamura said she was enthusiastic about the promise and is in constant communication with the Mayor.
- How are PEP officers deployed across parks such as Roy Wilkins? Council Member Nantasha M. Williams asked about PEP staffing at Roy Wilkins and across Southeast Queens; Commissioner Tricia Shimamura and Deputy Commissioner Margaret Nelson said PEP is deployed strategically and gave figures of 73 sites, describing how locations are chosen.
- Do Central Park, street trees, and horticulture have enough staff? Council Member Gale A. Brewer argued even Central Park needs more PEP officers given e-bikes and heavy use, and asked about forestry and seasonal horticultural staff; Commissioner Tricia Shimamura said the agency cares for roughly 880,000 trees and described lifeguard certification, turning to First
- What happened to the $800,000 menstrual-product pilot in park bathrooms? Council Member Mercedes Narcisse asked for an update on the 2024 pilot to provide menstrual products in park bathrooms; Commissioner Tricia Shimamura agreed parks and recreation centers are part of the public-health discussion.
- What is the status of Queensbridge Park and One LIC rezoning capital commitments? Council Member Julie Won asked about capital projects tied to the One Long Island City rezoning, including $30 million in Queensbridge Park renovations and soil remediation; Commissioner Tricia Shimamura said she would follow up on the capital tracker specifics.
- Will the baseline increase expand lifeguard staffing, especially at Rockaway after recent drownings? Chair Ty Hankerson asked whether the baseline increase would expand lifeguard staffing and how the agency would prioritize Rockaway after recent drowning deaths; Commissioner Tricia Shimamura pointed to 200 new positions starting at the top of the fiscal year and ongoing lifeguard certification
- Will Parks support pay equity and adjust its snow-removal budget? In round two, Chair Ty Hankerson asked whether Parks would support pay equity in contract negotiations and change how it budgets for snow removal; Commissioner Tricia Shimamura backed better pay for staff and said OMB recognized the agency's role, discussing the $3.7 million shifted to cover
- How will the racial equity plan address race and gender disparities in the agency? Council Member Nantasha M. Williams asked about disparities in title and pay by race and gender within Parks; Commissioner Tricia Shimamura and Deputy Commissioner Margaret Nelson described apprenticeships, internships, Parks Academy, and professional-development pathways for staff advancement.
- What will the park concession expansion generate, and what about the WCS contract? Chair Ty Hankerson asked about the $11 million in additional revenue projected from expanding park concessions and about the Wildlife Conservation Society contract; Commissioner Tricia Shimamura said Parks has around 400 concessions of wide variety and described the long-standing WCS relationship
- Close of the Parks hearing Chair Ty Hankerson closed the Parks and Recreation portion ("Parks for everyone") and Chair Linda Lee gaveled out the second day of FY2027 executive budget hearings.
Agenda
1 item
- T2026-1901 NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL FISCAL YEAR 2027 EXECUTIVE BUDGET HEARINGS 12:00 p.m. Department of Parks and Recreation Jointly with the Committee on Finance Hearing Held by Committee