Greenfield calls 2017 ‘Year of the Parks’

Councilmember starts major cleanup campaign

January 9, 2017 By Paula Katinas Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Councilmember David Greenfield says clean parks are part of keeping the environment healthy. Photo courtesy of Greenfield’s office

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Councilmember David Greenfield, who has made renovation projects in his district a cornerstone of his tenure, is moving his efforts up a notch by launching an effort to clean and maintain local recreation areas.

Greenfield (D-Borough Park-Midwood-Bensonhurst) has dubbed 2017 “The Year of the Parks.”

Under the program, which will last throughout 2017, contracted employees will fan out through parks in Greenfield’s council district on a regular basis to remove litter, care for plants and do general maintenance work as needed.

“I am already in the process of fully renovating every single park in my district, but as that happens, it’s important that we don’t forget the importance of regular cleaning and maintenance,” Greenfield said. “People don’t want to take their children to dirty, unkempt parks. My new program will make sure that our park remains clean and litter-free.”

For Greenfield, the cleanup of parks is a natural extension of his work to renovate and rebuild the recreation areas in his district. To date, he has secured $35 million in funding for parks renovation projects in his district.

Two of the most recent projects involved the rehabilitation of Gravesend Park on 18th Avenue and 58th Street in Borough Park and the renovation of Seth Low Playground on Avenue P and West 13th Street in Bensonhurst.

Since his election to the City Council in 2010, Greenfield has also spearheaded other neighborhood beautification efforts.

He developed the NYC Cleanup initiative, which directs cleanup funding to commercial streets around the city. Now in its third year, the program will be funded to the tune of $7 million in 2017.

Greenfield said he uses the NYC Cleanup funding to clean every major commercial street in his district including 13th, 16th and 18th avenues, Avenue J, Avenue M and Kings Highway.

“For the health of our environment and the well-being of our families, it’s important that we work to keep our communities clean. I am proud to fight for programs and organizations that do just that,” Greenfield said.