Brooklyn BP Adams announced $5M to improve city parks in 2015

August 27, 2014 From Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams

Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams announces the parks funding component of his FY15 capital budget plan at a press conference he held in Heckscher Playground in Bushwick. He's joined by (pictured, from left to right) Ed Janoff, Regina Myer, representatives from Los Sures, Carlos Menchaca, Rafael Espinal, Diana Reyna and Kevin Jeffrey. Photo Credit: Stefan Ringel/Brooklyn BP’s Office

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Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams unveiled the parks funding component of his capital budget plan during a press conference at the Hecksher Playground in Bushwick. Standing beside the leadership of the Department of Parks and Recreation, elected officials, park advocates, and community leaders from across the borough, he outlined the details of his $5.2 million in allocations during Fiscal Year 2015, which represents a nearly ten percent proportional increase to parks funding from Brooklyn Borough Hall in comparison to Fiscal Year 2014.

“I made the conscious decision to invest more in our parks because our parks are for every Brooklynite,” said Borough President Adams. “It does not matter if you are young or old, if you are rich or poor—our parks bring together Brooklynites of every age, race and income level. I will continue to use my capital budget to ensure that improvements to our parks and our open space are made across the borough in an equitable fashion—from Cobble Hill to Canarsie and from Bay Ridge to Brownsville.”

“Parks are community anchors that provide environmental and neighborhood benefits,” said Deputy Brooklyn Borough President Diana Reyna. “Our Borough President, Eric L. Adams, recognizes that flowers, parks and open spaces are contagious and when Brooklynites experience them, they want more of them. It is critical to the health of our communities that our parks are maintained and new ones created; and I’m proud that our Borough President is prioritizing our quality of life.”

“NYC Parks is committed to improving the public spaces that serve all of New York’s diverse neighborhoods,” said Brooklyn Parks Commissioner Kevin Jeffrey. “We are grateful to Borough President Adams and all of the elected officials who joined us at Heckscher Park in Bushwick today to pledge their support for Brooklyn’s parks, and we look forward to making the borough cleaner, greener, and more resilient.”

“Prospect Park is a hub for educational, recreational, and cultural activities in Brooklyn for local residents and tourists who visit annually,” said Council Member Laurie A. Cumbo, who partnered with the Prospect Park Alliance in securing funding for improvements to Flatbush Avenue. “I am proud to work in collaboration with Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams to support the beautification of our parks and the preservation of its resources for today and tomorrow’s generation.”

“I am proud that I was able to secure $1.25 million for a new multipurpose turf at Heckscher Park, and grateful for the partnership of the Brooklyn Borough President,” said Council Member Rafael Espinal.” Safe, clean parks are vital to a healthy community and a top priority for me. I’m a firm believer that you don’t have to be the hippest neighborhood to have the coolest parks.”

“Parks like Brooklyn Bridge Park and McGolrick Playground are some of the finest in New York City and it is important that we continue to invest in them. The capital investments made into these parks and those throughout Brooklyn will beautify our cherished green spaces and our Borough as a whole,” said Council Member Stephen Levin. “I am proud to work with Borough President Adams on these investments in Brooklyn’s parks.”

“The City of Brooklyn was very fortunate in the 1860’s to have the foresight of its civic leadership to create Prospect Park and that leadership remains critical today as the Park requires continued investment to provide a green space that is as necessary to the lives of Brooklynites today as it has always been,” said James Snow, acting president of the Prospect Park Alliance. “Borough President Eric Adams has shown his leadership through his support for Prospect Park with this allocation of $500,000 to start the restoration of the Park’s perimeter along Flatbush Avenue.”

“Brooklyn is a borough of neighborhoods, and in North Brooklyn—where rapid growth has put open space at a premium—residents depend greatly on their neighborhood parks for fresh air, physical activity, and relaxation,” said Ed Janoff, Executive Director of Open Space Alliance for North Brooklyn, whose organization secured $500,000 in funding to McGolrick Park. “Open Space Alliance for North Brooklyn is thrilled to see Borough President Adams’ and Council Member Levin’s commitment to neighborhood park facilities like the McGorlick Park playground, where we look forward to new play equipment and landscaping for generations of little Greenpointers.”

“The generous allocation by Borough President Eric Adams will help GallopNYC build a permanent, dedicated therapeutic horsemanship facility where we can help hundreds of Brooklynites with disabilities walk, talk, connect, focus, behave and learn, inspiring each one to live life as fully, productively and independently as possible,” said Alicia Kersaw of Gallop NYC, whose organization received $500,000 to renovate their stable area in Prospect Park. “Our project still requires several levels of community and city review and approvals and we look forward to working with the Alliance, Parks and the Borough President to bring it to life.”

Following remarks by recipients, Borough President Adams presented them each of them with an honorary check with the seal of Brooklyn Borough Hall and an oversized check, made out to “One Brooklyn,” for parks.