New Yorkers head to Fort Greene, demanding more green for NYC parks

"NYC parks advocates gathered in Brooklyn on Saturday to push for more investment into local green spaces amid looming budget cuts to the parks department. Organized by New Yorkers for Parks (NY4P), a group that champions the city's green spaces, the event was both a rally and a walking tour starting at Fort Greene Park. It brought together elected officials, nature advocates, and residents to highlight various open-space challenges and opportunities."

"The event was organized in part to respond to Mayor Zohran Mamdani's allocation of 0.5% of his proposed $127 billion preliminary budget to fund city parks a figure that falls short of the 1% he pledged on the campaign trail last year. Advocates called for more funding through the 1% for Parks campaign and underscored the urgency of delivering equitable access to high-quality open spaces throughout the city."

"The event also shed light on the needs of more than 12,000 local NYCHA residents in the Fort Greene and Brooklyn Navy Yard area, where advocates said open space quality, accessibility and connectivity remain uneven despite significant residential growth. During the event, advocates discussed their ideas for park priorities, including advancing a new community garden at NYCHA Whitman Houses; exploring the formation of a Fort Greene Improvement District to benefit parks and open space east of Flatbush Avenue; and improving bus operations and safety along the DeKalb-Lafayette corridor, including potential protected bike lanes."

"Today's walking tour made clear that as Fort Greene and the Brooklyn Navy Yard continue to grow, investment in parks and open space must keep pace, said Kathy Park Price, director of advocacy and policy at NY4P. Price added that NY4P gets consistent calls for safer streets and greener spaces. At a time of proposed budget cuts, the city must commit to sustained, equitable funding, including through the 1% for parks campaign, to ensure every New Yorker has access to the open spaces they deserve,"

Advocates gathered in Brooklyn to call for increased investment in local green spaces as budget cuts threaten the parks department. The event, organized by New Yorkers for Parks, included a rally and a walking tour beginning at Fort Greene Park. Participants highlighted shortfalls in proposed parks funding, noting a 0.5% allocation compared with a 1% pledge. They emphasized equitable access to high-quality open spaces across the city and pointed to uneven park quality, accessibility, and connectivity in the Fort Greene and Brooklyn Navy Yard area, including needs for more than 12,000 NYCHA residents. Proposed priorities included a new community garden at NYCHA Whitman Houses, a Fort Greene Improvement District, and safer, greener transportation along the DeKalb-Lafayette corridor, including potential protected bike lanes.

Read at www.amny.com