Trust for Public Land Statement from NY Director on Mayor Mamdani’s First Budget Investment in New York City Parks, Calls It an Important Step Toward Reversing Years of Underinvestment
NEW YORK, NY — Trust for Public Land’s New York Director, Tamar Renaud issued the below statement upon news today of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s FY27 budget, which baselines funding for nearly 300 New York City Parks employees and marks an important first step toward fulfilling the administration’s commitment to dedicate 1% of the city’s budget to parks.
The investment comes as New York City has steadily lost ground in Trust for Public Land’s annual ParkScore® rankings. Since the beginning of the decade, the city’s park system has fallen from the nation’s top 10 to No. 20, reflecting years of underinvestment compared to peer cities despite the essential role parks play in supporting public health, climate resilience, and quality of life.
“Since the beginning of this decade, New York City’s park system has fallen from the nation’s top 10 into the top 20 in Trust for Public Land’s ParkScore rankings—a reflection of years of underinvestment in one of the city’s most essential public assets,” said Tamar Renaud, New York State Director for Trust for Public Land. “This first budget sends an encouraging signal that Mayor Mamdani is serious about reversing that trend and following through on his commitment to dedicate 1% of the city’s budget to parks by the end of his first term. That’s the kind of sustained investment needed to ensure every neighborhood has parks that are safe, welcoming, and well maintained while making New York a healthier, more affordable, and more livable city.”
Trust for Public Land’s 2026 ParkScore rankings found that New York City invests approximately $247 per resident in parks—well below the $393 per resident average among the nation’s top 10 park systems. Yet those investments pay dividends. Trust for Public Land’s latest research found that every $1 invested in parks and recreation generates $3 in economic benefits, while New York City park users save more than $1,000 each year through free or low-cost recreation and amenities—five times the national average of about $200 annually. These findings reinforce that parks are essential infrastructure that makes New York healthier, more affordable, and more economically competitive.
Trust for Public Land looks forward to working with the Mamdani administration, the City Council, and partners across the Play Fair for Parks coalition to build on today’s investment and ensure New York City’s park system once again ranks among the nation’s best.
Trust for Public Land has made a significant and lasting impact across New York State, protecting more than 124,000 acres of land and helping connect over 5.8 million people to the outdoors. The organization has advanced 583 active and completed projects statewide, including more than 225 Community Schoolyards™ that transform school grounds into vibrant green space for children and families. Together, this work reflects TPL’s long-standing commitment to expanding access to nature, strengthening communities, and ensuring that all New Yorkers can benefit from high-quality parks and open spaces close to home.
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About Trust for Public Land
Trust for Public Land (TPL) is a national nonprofit that works to connect everyone to the benefits and joys of the outdoors. As a leader in equitable access to the outdoors, TPL works with communities to create parks and protect public land where they are needed most. Since 1972, TPL has protected more than 4 million acres of public land, created more than 5,504 parks, trails, schoolyards, and iconic outdoor places, raised $112 billion in public funding for parks and public lands, and connected nearly 10 million people to the outdoors. To learn more, visit tpl.org.
