Mayor Unveils $50M Plan to Renovate 10 NYC Parks

Investments will improve parks in all five boroughs, expanding access to safe, welcoming public spaces.

Published on Mar. 6, 2026

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Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and NYC Parks Commissioner Tricia Shimamura announced $50 million in new capital investments to renovate 10 parks through the Community Parks Initiative (CPI) for Fiscal Year 2027. The investments will improve parks in underserved neighborhoods across all five boroughs, expanding access to safe and welcoming public spaces.

Why it matters

The park renovations are part of an ongoing effort to provide equitable access to high-quality public green spaces, which studies have shown can have significant mental health and social benefits for local communities. The CPI program targets parks that have not seen significant upgrades in decades, aiming to improve conditions in neighborhoods with the highest need.

The details

The $50 million in funding will go towards reconstructing and upgrading 10 parks across the five boroughs, including adding new play equipment, recreation amenities, and enhanced green spaces. Over the past decade, NYC Parks has already reimagined and reconstructed 70 CPI projects, with another 47 currently underway, representing over $500 million in capital investments.

  • The $50 million in new investments will be made in Fiscal Year 2027.
  • Over the past decade, NYC Parks has already completed 70 CPI projects, with another 47 currently underway.

The players

Zohran Kwame Mamdani

The Mayor of New York City.

Tricia Shimamura

The Commissioner of the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation.

Terry Huang

A Distinguished Professor of Public Health at the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy.

CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy (CUNY SPH)

A research institution that has studied the health and quality-of-life benefits of the CPI park renovation projects.

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What they’re saying

“For many New Yorkers, the park is their backyard - a place where they can play a game of pick-up basketball, hold a picnic on the grass or kick a ball with their kids. These New Yorkers know the difference between a park in disarray and a park that city government has invested in.”

— Zohran Kwame Mamdani, Mayor

“All New Yorkers deserve access to clean, safe and high-quality parks - and through our Community Parks Initiative (CPI), we're proud to announce the next 10 parks that will receive key investments in underserved neighborhoods. These renovations will benefit more than 100,000 New Yorkers across all five boroughs.”

— Tricia Shimamura, NYC Parks Commissioner

“Urban parks are increasingly being recognized around the world as crucial for the wellbeing of citizens. It is exciting to see that CPI has been successful at improving the level of satisfaction and usage of neighborhood parks throughout the city.”

— Terry Huang, Distinguished Professor of Public Health, CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy

What’s next

The 10 parks announced today will bring the total number of active CPI projects to 57, with the goal of continuing to expand access to high-quality public green spaces across New York City.

The takeaway

This investment in neighborhood parks is part of a broader effort to provide equitable access to public spaces that can improve mental health, social connections, and overall quality of life for New Yorkers, particularly in underserved communities.