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Why New York City’s Public Spaces Are Under Threat Due to COVID-19

New York’s parks and open areas have always been an important part of the city, but as residents have sheltered in place over the past few months, these green spaces have taken on a critical role in public health and wellness. “There's been an incredible, incredible surge in usership,” says Sue Donoghue, president of the Prospect Park Alliance, noting that people are using all areas of the park and spreading out into spaces that aren’t normally utilized, to maintain social distance. “The pandemic has highlighted how essential all parks are to the physical and mental health of our community,” says Dan Garodnick, president of the Riverside Park Conservancy.

But the COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on the New York Parks Department and the organizations that help keep these spaces well maintained. More than 25 not-for-profit organizations work with the city to support 50% of the public parks and open spaces with operations, maintenance, community services, and programs. These groups raise 85% of their budgets through earned revenue and private donations, and they anticipate a drastic decline in both funding sources.

People practice social distancing in white circles in Madison Square Park during the coronavirus pandemic on May 24, 2020, in New York City.

Daily Life In New York City Amid Coronavirus Outbreak

People practice social distancing in white circles in Madison Square Park during the coronavirus pandemic on May 24, 2020, in New York City.
Photo: Noam Galai/Getty Images

“Our parks are facing a triple threat right now,” says Garodnick. “Loss of funding for their own organizations, coupled with a loss of volunteer support because of social distancing, and, of course, what looks like a hit to the Parks Department’s own operational budget.” The Parks Department’s 2021 budget may be reduced by $61.3 million, and a report compiled by Parks and Open Space Partners NYC, a coalition of parks advocacy groups, estimates that there could be an average drop in revenue of 32% this year, with one organization estimating that it could lose up to 68% of its income. This will result in $37 million less spent on the city’s parks and public spaces including 40,000 lost hours of maintenance and 110,000 lost hours of horticultural care.

And the arrival of summer is making things more difficult. “Usually at this time of year, parks would add workers to help deal with the huge influx of visitors, and that's not happening,” says Donoghue. The city has canceled its Summer Youth Employment program, which provides 247 jobs, for 2020 and 2021. Donoghue notes that because of COVID-19, the Prospect Park Alliance has lost revenue from closed concessions, such as the Prospect Park Tennis Center, and the inability to rent venues for weddings and other events. Public events in the spring and summer bring more visitors—and dollars—into the parks, and according to the report, as of April, 3,826 public events had been canceled.

Prospect Park, in Brooklyn, is just one of many popular public spaces threatened by decreased funding due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prospect Park

Prospect Park, in Brooklyn, is just one of many popular public spaces threatened by decreased funding due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Photo: Julienne Schaer / NYC & Company

The loss of resources endangers future projects for these spaces, but also impacts the current health and safety of these natural areas. “We are behind on a number of important initiatives in the park, whether it's ball field care or invasive removal, all of which has an impact on the health of the space and also the safety for visitors,” says Garodnick. Organizations are also concerned that the increased number of visitors and decreased staffing for patrols and management will result in damage to the natural environment. Both Garodnick and Donoghue say the most important thing visitors can do to help is to pick up after themselves and take their trash with them when they leave the park.

To keep the community engaged, many parks and open spaces are heading online. Riverside Park Conservancy has moved its Summer on the Hudson program online and will offer more than 250 events including concerts, educational sessions, exercise classes, and dance parties. Many parks are also offering online tours and educational resources.

The parks have also used this time to come together, meeting once a week over Zoom to share resources and best practices for fundraising, advocacy, and outreach. “The parks group coming together to form this coalition has been a real bright spot in this otherwise difficult time,” says Donoghue.

Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest