Delivering the parks that New Yorkers deserve undoubtedly requires increased public funding. Unfortunately, the city is facing multibillion dollar deficits in the coming years, and the mayor has proposed cutting $53.8 million in city funding from the Parks budget to help close the gap. Even if the City Council and administration work together to restore this funding, it’s unlikely there will ever be enough dollars allocated through the budget process to meet New York’s ever-growing parks and open space needs. That’s why city leaders need to get creative and seek out new sustainable sources of funding for parks.

In this op-ed, CUF's John Surico and Eli Dvorkin make the case for achievable options for the city to generate new recurring revenues to support a healthier and more equitable parks system, and highlight the Center for an Urban Future's new report which outlines 20 specific revenue ideas for parks and open spaces. 

Read the full op-ed here.

This op-ed builds on CUF's research on how to support the city's social, economic, and ecological infrastructure, Paying for the Growing Needs of NYC’s Parks: 20 Fresh Ideas to Fund Parks and Open Spaces, A New Leaf: Revitalizing New York City's Aging Parks Infrastructure, and Stretching New York City's Capital Dollars.