Res. No. 499
Resolution calling on the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, legislation establishing a framework for cities to create park improvement districts
By Council Members Hudson, Hankerson and Louis
Whereas, A broad body of evidence demonstrates the importance of public parks for city residents’ health and well-being; and
Whereas, A study published in the medical journal The Lancet in 2008 showed that greater exposure to urban green space mitigates the negative health impacts of economic deprivation; and
Whereas, A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in 2019 showed that growing up in urban environments is associated with higher risk of mental illness, but access to green space and nature in childhood mitigates that risk; and
Whereas, A study published in The Lancet Planetary Health in 2021 estimated that thousands of premature deaths in European cities could be prevented each year by increasing city dwellers’ access to green space; and
Whereas, Other research has shown that, for city residents to fully realize the benefits of green space, local parks must be safe, attractive, and of high ecological quality; and
Whereas, In New York City neighborhoods with limited green space and growing populations, local parks come under increasing use pressure; and
Whereas, Although some New York City parks receive private funding for horticulture and maintenance, most parks lack such supplemental resources; and
Whereas, The State has established a mechanism under article 19-A of the General Municipal law through which towns and cities may create business improvement districts, but has given only towns a comparable framework for establishing special improvement districts for purposes other than promoting commerce; and
Whereas, Cities therefore lack a clear framework to create special improvement districts to maintain and improve public parks; and
Whereas, The establishment of park improvement districts would allow district residents and property owners to supplement funding for local park maintenance and horticulture, to support parks’ ecological functioning as needed refuge for humans and other species; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, legislation establishing a framework for cities to create park improvement districts.
ST
LS #21600
4/22/2026 11:54 AM