Friends of Dag Hammarskjold Plaza

NEWS

Budget Cuts to Park System as Economy Faulters

This year, the mayor’s executive budget pruned $8.8 million from the NYC Parks Department, which included lopping $3.7 million from Park Maintenance and Operations (M&O). A hiring freeze will further cripple an agency that is chronically understaffed. The Department of Parks’ Preliminary Budget for Fiscal 2009 allocates $214 million for M&O. That’s less than half of one percent of the city’s annual budget to care for the nation’s largest municipal park system. If it weren’t for FRIENDS, Dag Park would be in trouble!

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Concession Reform, Why It Matters

Beginning with the Giuliani administration, the Mayor’s office has pressured Parks to produce income through its concessions. This year, the city expects to collect $82.7 million from concessions operated on park property, recreational permits, and stadium rentals. Concessions are commercial ventures operating on public land, so at the very least, the park where the concession is located should derive some direct benefit. However, there’s no direct benefit except in a few cases where a contract has been negotiated between a powerful park conservancy group and the Mayor’s office.

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Scultpure Exhibit: Horsing Around the Arrows of Time

Sculptor Eleonora Kupencow offers commentary on the steel pieces now on display in Dag Hammarskjold Plaza.

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