Adams names Prospect Park Alliance President Donoghue as parks commissioner

February 4, 2022 Brooklyn Eagle Staff

Then-Parks Commissioner Mitchell Silver, Susan Donoghue and then-Councilmember Mathieu Eugene at Party for the Park, a celebration hosted by the Prospect Park Alliance, in 2019. Photo courtesy of Mathieu Eugene

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Mayor Eric Adams has appointed Susan Donoghue, president of the Prospect Park Alliance and the park’s administrator, as the city’s new parks commissioner.

Donoghue served in her leadership position at Prospect Park since 2014. As such, she oversaw strategy, planning and overall operations. She reported to both the Alliance’s Board of Trustees and the city’s parks commissioner, and managed a staff of 125.

“Serving as the president of Prospect Park Alliance and Park administrator has been one of the great honors of my career,” she said, in announcing the move. “I’m honored to be taking on a citywide leadership role in caring for New York City’s most essential resource, its parks and open spaces, and I will continue to cherish and support Prospect Park as a neighbor and park advocate.”

Donoghue was often quoted in Brooklyn Eagle articles about the park. For example, in August 2020, when the COVID pandemic was fully under way, she called for more volunteers to help in the park. “Prospect Park is showing serious signs of wear and tear, and without our normal workforce, we need our community to pitch in and keep this green space thriving.”

In November 2020, when the park’s historic Endale Arch was restored to its original splendor, Donoghue said, “Our design and construction team has outdone itself on its project, and we are thrilled to share this beautifully restored archway with our community.”

In January 2021, when several new entrances to the park were opened on the Flatbush Avenue side, she commented, “Prospect Park Alliance is committed to making Prospect Park open and accessible to all communities it borders.”

And in July of the same year, when the “Celebrate Brooklyn!” series of live concerts returned to the park, Donoghue said, “After the past challenging year, it is such a thrill to welcome the BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival back to the bandshell,” alluding to the fact that it had earlier been suspended due to COVID.

Before serving as Prospect Park administrator, Donoghue served in various high-level positions for the Parks Department, beginning in 2007. She is a Brooklyn resident, and has sometimes referred to Prospect Park as her backyard.

“Sue has made Prospect Park even better and we are thrilled that she will be bringing that initiative to the entire park system so that it can benefit more New Yorkers,” said Carter Strickland, VP Mid-Atlantic Region and New York State Director for The Trust for Public Land.