A citywide push for increased investment in New York City’s public parks culminated Sunday with a rally at Grand Army Plaza in Prospect Park.
Organized by New Yorkers for Parks and the Prospect Park Alliance, the event brought together residents, elected officials and advocacy groups to urge Mayor Eric Adams and the City Council to restore critical funding to the NYC Parks Department.
The rally marked the finale of a coordinated Week of Action that featured more than 60 grassroots events across all five boroughs. Speakers underscored the importance of parks as essential infrastructure supporting public health, climate resilience and social connection.
Elected officials, including Council Members Crystal Hudson and Shahana Hanif, voiced strong support for restoring $79.7 million to the Parks Department—a move that would reinstate 795 vital staff positions.
“Parks are the lifeblood of our city,” said Council Member Crystal Hudson.
Council Member Shahana Hanif, co-chair of the City Council’s Progressive Caucus, pointed to recent environmental threats as further evidence of the need for sustained funding.
“In the past two years alone, Prospect Park has seen unprecedented devastation from a brush fire caused by severe drought this past November, as well as extreme flash flooding from a severe storm the year prior, which resulted in devastation requiring FEMA funding. Our parks are essential infrastructure, and the City needs to move beyond a cycle-to-cycle funding model by increasing its baseline funding. Parks saved our city during the pandemic. Now is the time to make sure they get their fair share of the budget,” said Morgan Monaco, president of the Prospect Park Alliance.
New York City has more than 1,700 parks, playgrounds and recreation centers, but decades of budget cuts have left many deteriorating, understaffed and underserved. With the Fiscal Year 2026 budget deadline approaching, advocates are pressing city leaders to recognize the crucial role green spaces play in health, equity and environmental preparedness.
As the city weighs its budget priorities, the message from Prospect Park to the Bronx was clear: New Yorkers want stronger investment in their parks.
