Elected officials, community members and advocates gathered in Mott Haven on Friday to demand action from the City’s next mayor to prioritize and fund a more robust vision for New York’s parks system that centers needs of the city’s hundreds of smaller, often severely under-resourced neighborhood green spaces.
Over 75 participants in Friday’s “Mott Haven Walk & Talk to Build a Strong Parks System,” organized and led by New Yorkers for Parks, toured local infrastructure from Graham Triangle to the Mitchel Houses, Pulaski Park, Harlem River Yard/Waterfront and María Sola Garden. At each stop they drove attention to open space policy priorities. Calls to action included:
- Increase waterfront access for Bronx residents by reimagining toxic industrial infrastructure as parks with climate resilient design. Residents are currently almost entirely blocked off from the waterfront. South Bronx Unite is developing a Mott Haven/Port Morris Waterfront Plan to this effect with the success of similar initiatives in Hoboken as one case study in effective adaptation.
- Invest in heat and flood mitigation redevelopment of local open spaces like Pulaski Park which are among the city’s most vulnerable, according to a Rebuild By Design report. Nearly half of Bronx parks are in flood risk zones and South Bronx residents are among the city’s most susceptible to Urban Heat Island impacts.
- Increase funding for NYC Parks to 1% of the City budget to ensure fully staffed and safe, clean, accessible parks for all New Yorkers.
- Increase parks investment in NYCHA campuses such as the Mitchel Houses, where lack of access to green space is an urgent environmental justice concern.
- Enable broader green design interventions such as more tree planting and cool roofs to achieve Urban Forest Plan goals and counteract Urban Heat Island impacts.
Elected attendees were led by Assembly Member Amanda Septimo along with representatives from the offices of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Senator José M. Serrano, and Council Member Diana Ayala. Advocates and community groups included South Bronx Unite, New Yorkers for Parks, Rebuild by Design, The Bronx is Blooming, Bronx River Alliance, Bronx Community Board 1, Rebuild by Design, NYC Greenways Coalition, New York League of Conservation Voters, Waterfront Alliance, Open Plans, WE ACT For Environmental Justice, The City Sponge and Mott Haven Dogs.
New Yorkers for Parks and the 400+ member Play Fair for Parks Coalition released a new Parks 2030 platform as a comprehensive roadmap for the city’s next mayor to reverse divestment in open spaces across the city. During last Wednesday’s mayoral debate, candidates Mamdani and Cuomo pledged to increase NYC Parks funding to 1% of the City’s annual budget while Curtis Sliwa said he would ensure 2% for parks. However, none of the candidates have a clearly defined platform and Mayor Adams reneged on similar promises while in fact funding for the agency fell to a decade low at 0.55% of the budget in 2025.
“With a mayoral transition at hand, now is the time to fund a more robust vision for our parks system. The South Bronx reflects the City’s decades of underinvestment and lack of a coherent open space strategy. Given all candidates have pledged to increase the Parks Department’s budget to 1% of the City’s budget, funds that would do much to ensure parks are safe, clean and accessible for all, we are optimistic our next mayor will deliver on their promise in a way we did not see from the Adams administration, which gave only lip service to the commitment with no follow through,” said Adam Ganser, Executive Director, New Yorkers for Parks.
“Half of Bronx parks today are in flood zones while South Bronx residents remain among the city’s most vulnerable to Urban Heat Island impacts. Funding for parks maintenance, flood-proofing redevelopment of waterfront parks and additional climate resilience infrastructure has for too long remained a back burner conversation. That has to change. I am eager to work with the next mayoral administration toward a real commitment to address parks and open spaces needs in our communities,” said Assembly Member Amanda Septimo.
“South Bronx Unite is ready to work with a new Mayoral administration that is serious about advancing environmental justice in South Bronx communities, like Mott Haven and Port Morris, that bear the deadly consequences of having a disproportionate amount of polluting infrastructure and an inequitable lack of natural green spaces. For every new pier in Manhattan, there remains no equity-rooted access to our peninsula’s waterfront. Through decades of disinvestment, our community has a legacy of turning vacant lots into thriving community gardens and burnt-down buildings into affordable housing. Friday’s Mott Haven Walk & Talk with our partners made clear that a new era of development must take place where South Bronxites’ visions and lived experiences are meaningfully centered in city planning to reverse the long-term harm inflicted upon our community’s families,” said Matthew Shore, Director of Planning & Development, South Bronx Unite.
“Lack of waterfront access is a significant concern in our district. As the City considers an Industrial Plan with implications for energy infrastructure in the South Bronx, it is critical that any final proposal meaningfully reflects the needs and feedback of local residents. This is an opportunity to improve neighborhood quality of life by emphasizing the importance of green design and we must avoid repeating past mistakes in downplaying the importance of robust, resilient parks and open spaces in our communities,” said Cesar Yoc, Chairperson, Committee on Environmental Justice and Sanitation, Bronx Community Board 1.
“The Bronx River Alliance is a proud member of the Play Fair for Parks coalition, and stands in solidarity with our partners supporting clean, green, and equitable parks. We are committed to the essential work of the Bronx Climate Justice Task Force – to address the extreme urban heat, air pollution, and flooding that plague communities across the borough. Nature-based solutions including green corridors, living waterfronts, and accessible natural areas in parks need to be prioritized – not just for climate resiliency, but for the health and well-being of our communities,” said Victoria Toro, Outreach Manager, Bronx River Alliance.
“For too long, toxic industrial infrastructure has cut off neighborhoods from their rightful access to the water,” said Furhana Husani, Director of Programs and Climate Initiatives at Waterfront Alliance. “Waterfront Alliance stands with our partners in calling for bold investment in climate-resilient parks and open spaces. These spaces must reflect the lived realities of South Bronx residents and honor their leadership in shaping a healthier, more connected future.”
Friday’s “Mott Haven Walk & Talk” is the first in a series of similar events to be held across the boroughs with local and citywide leaders assessing the state of local parks infrastructure, after decades of underfunding has left many neighborhoods with deteriorating parks conditions.
About New Yorkers for Parks
New Yorkers for Parks (NY4P) is the citywide independent organization championing quality parks and open spaces for all New Yorkers in all neighborhoods. For over a century, NY4P has led the movement to protect, invest in, and celebrate New York City’s parks.
