Parks advocates say Mayor Zohran Mamdani has failed to fulfill a campaign promise to fund New York City’s greenspaces just as they reach a breaking point.
Dirty bathrooms, overfilled trash bins and unmowed lawns have become all-too-common sights across the city’s more than 1,700 parks. Park workers are also responsible for all of the city’s trees. Since this week’s blizzard, there were more than 1,800 complaints to 311 about tree damage. But the park’s forestry unit is among the divisions affected by recent staffing cuts.
“Each administration starts as though everything is fine,” said Adam Ganser, the leader of New Yorkers for Parks, a nonprofit advocacy group. “But the basic things that you want in a thriving park system have not been the norm in New York City for decades now.”
Adrian Benepe, a former parks commissioner, said that along with litter, he has noticed a dearth of gardeners. “And that shows pretty quickly because if you don't have gardeners maintaining a landscape, the weeds grow very fast in New York City,” he said.
“It’s kind of been heartbreaking because there was a time when the average park looked pretty clean and good, and that wasn't so long ago,” Benepe added.
After years near the top of the Trust for Public Land’s ranking of big U.S. cities with the best parks, New York City has fallen out of the top 10. In 2025, it was ranked 13th, trailing Washington, D.C., San Francisco and Boston.
Benepe, who previously worked for the Trust for Public Land, argued that the relative scarcity of open space means that New Yorkers “depend on parks far more than residents of other cities.”
Not only did the mayor’s preliminary budget fall short of his campaign promise to bring funding for parks up to 1% of the city’s total budget, but his proposal also cuts $33.7 million from the parks budget. The total proposed spending on parks is around $654 million. That’s out of a $127 billion budget, or roughly .5% — half of his pledge.
Former Mayor Eric Adams ironically began his tenure by adding more than 700 park positions, Ganser said. He also promised to devote 1% of the budget to parks but ended up making steep cuts that the parks have yet to recover from.
Last month, Ganser’s group urged Mamdani to commit to greater funding in a letter co-signed by more than 400 organizations. By their count, budget cuts from prior years have left the parks department short 600 positions.
Maintenance crews are stretched thin as a result of the staffing shortage. During the blizzard, parks staffers were deployed to help remove snow from roadways, bus shelters and crosswalks, Ganser said. “This of course means there are fewer parks workers in parks, clearing snow from parks,” he added.
The cuts to parks — and libraries — are poised to test Mamdani’s popularity among supporters who believed he understood the value of public spaces.
“He’s experienced the city as a young urbanist in a way that a lot of previous mayors have not,” Ganser said.
Last month, the mayor himself acknowledged that parks have been “neglected and underfunded.” The mayor’s office did not respond to a request for comment.
Mamdani has said the city is facing a “generational fiscal crisis.” Pointing to a $5 billion deficit, he has threatened to raise property taxes unless Gov. Kathy Hochul agrees to raise income taxes on the rich.
Ganser, however, rejects the notion that City Hall can’t find enough money for parks.
He says the mayor can make a “meaningful commitment” by restoring the 600 positions and allowing parks to fill new vacancies immediately.
He added: “When we come at an administration with statements about how important parks are, I don’t want to negotiate against ourselves.”
Liam Quigley contributed reporting.
Ballot Box
This week we're wondering: Should the snowball tossers be charged with assaulting a police officer?
Last week we asked: Should Mamdani use a property tax hike to address a budget gap?
“I think it is a good negotiation tool to use to [get] the state to take up the issue of raising funds for NYC's budget deficit. While I understand that such a raise could negatively affect some, most people who own property in NYC benefit the most from the services the city government provides.”
- Denes, Brooklyn
“The budget gap does not originate from individual property owners; the shortfall comes from our elected leaders not managing ‘the business’ of NYC. The very rich are living in a city that offers them anything they can imagine; there should be a high value in living in NYC, especially if you can afford to experience all the city’s offerings.”
- David, Queens
“I genuinely do not believe that he will raise property taxes. What I do believe is that he is trying to push Gov. Hochul to raise taxes on millionaires, and he is being very transparent and vocal with listing both options that are on the table. It basically puts her in the position of ’Are you truly on the side of the working class who are struggling amid an affordability crisis or are you on the side of the ultra-wealthy?’ Ultimately, her choice will give voters the answer to that question.”
- John, Brooklyn
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(2) A new version of a City Council bill would let the NYPD decide when city houses of worship should be protected from protesters by “buffer zones,” as well as how big those zones should be. Here’s more on the proposal.
(3) Councilmember Vickie Paladino has sparked outrage over a recent social media post her Democratic colleagues have called ‘Islamophobic.’ Here’s what she said.
(4) Black homeowners in Queens disagree with Mayor Mamdani’s threat to raise property taxes, but support his push to tax the rich. Here’s more on their stance.
(5) Gov. Kathy Hochul’s campaign said it won’t tap public matching funds as she seeks a second full term. Here’s why.
(7) State lawmakers and small business groups are hoping to build on Mayor Mamdani’s campaign pledge to “freeze the rent” by expanding rent control to commercial properties. Here’s more on the new bill.
