All topics / Basic Services for All New Yorkers
Department of Parks and Recreation
New York City's parks system traces to an 1856 commission created solely to build Central Park; the 1870 Tweed Charter established a citywide Department of Public Parks with jurisdiction over all of Manhattan's parkland, the lineage from which today's Department of Parks and Recreation descends. NYC Parks now stewards more than 30,000 acres — about 14 percent of the city's land — including over 5,000 individual properties such as playgrounds, athletic fields, pools, and historic monuments across the five boroughs.
What's working
- How much recreation center attendance is there?: 1,513,022 — increasing as centers recovered from pandemic closures; FY26 dip reflects renovations
- How many recreation center memberships are there?: 162,269 memberships — increasing as recreation centers recovered from pandemic closures
- What percent of citywide acceptability rating for the overall condition of small parks and playgrounds, large parks & greenstreets?: 87% — beats target by 2%
- and 12 more below
What's getting worse
- What percent of acceptable by feature small parks, large parks & greenstreets — Safety surface?: 92% — misses target by 3%
- What percent of public restrooms in service (in season only)?: 94% — misses target by 1%
- What percent of spray showers in service (in season only)?: 94% — misses target by 1%
- and 3 more below
Critical indicators
With a numeric target
What percent of citywide acceptability rating for the overall condition of small parks and playgrounds, large parks & greenstreets?
87%Beats target by 2%
What percent of citywide acceptability rating for the overall condition of small parks and playgrounds, large parks & greenstreets?
87%Beats target by 2%
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual | Target |
|---|---|---|
| FY22 | 86% | 85% |
| FY23 | 87% | 85% |
| FY24 | 89% | 85% |
| FY25 | 87% | 85% |
| FY26 (YTD) | 87% | 85% |
87% in FY26 — met the City's own target for this indicator (2% above the 85% target), and it has trended toward improvement over the past 3 years of reported data.
Why this is tracked
Central Park, approved in 1853 and designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, was created partly on the premise that a large public park was a democratic amenity, meant to serve all New Yorkers rather than the wealthy alone. A single unified, citywide Parks Department was created in 1934 under Commissioner Robert Moses, who dramatically expanded the system's playgrounds, pools, and parkland over his 26-year tenure. Today's Department is the steward of that legacy, responsible for maintaining and operating parks and recreation facilities across all five boroughs so they remain functional public space rather than neglected land.
Robert Moses and the Modern Park System - NYC Parks, 160 Years of Central Park: A Brief History
What percent of citywide acceptability rating for the cleanliness of small parks and playgrounds, large parks & greenstreets?
93%Beats target by 3%
What percent of citywide acceptability rating for the cleanliness of small parks and playgrounds, large parks & greenstreets?
93%Beats target by 3%
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual | Target |
|---|---|---|
| FY22 | 92% | 90% |
| FY23 | 93% | 90% |
| FY24 | 94% | 90% |
| FY25 | 92% | 90% |
| FY26 (YTD) | 93% | 90% |
93% in FY26 — met the City's own target for this indicator (3% above the 90% target), and it has trended toward improvement over the past 3 years of reported data.
Why this is tracked
Central Park, approved in 1853 and designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, was created partly on the premise that a large public park was a democratic amenity, meant to serve all New Yorkers rather than the wealthy alone. A single unified, citywide Parks Department was created in 1934 under Commissioner Robert Moses, who dramatically expanded the system's playgrounds, pools, and parkland over his 26-year tenure. Today's Department is the steward of that legacy, responsible for maintaining and operating parks and recreation facilities across all five boroughs so they remain functional public space rather than neglected land.
Robert Moses and the Modern Park System - NYC Parks, 160 Years of Central Park: A Brief History
What percent of acceptable by feature small parks, large parks & greenstreets — Play equipment?
95%Right at target
What percent of acceptable by feature small parks, large parks & greenstreets — Play equipment?
95%Right at target
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual | Target |
|---|---|---|
| FY22 | 96% | 95% |
| FY23 | 96% | 95% |
| FY24 | 96% | 95% |
| FY25 | 96% | 95% |
| FY26 (YTD) | 95% | 95% |
95% in FY26 — met the City's own target for this indicator (right at the target), and it has stayed essentially flat over the past 3 years of reported data.
Why this is tracked
Central Park, approved in 1853 and designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, was created partly on the premise that a large public park was a democratic amenity, meant to serve all New Yorkers rather than the wealthy alone. A single unified, citywide Parks Department was created in 1934 under Commissioner Robert Moses, who dramatically expanded the system's playgrounds, pools, and parkland over his 26-year tenure. Today's Department is the steward of that legacy, responsible for maintaining and operating parks and recreation facilities across all five boroughs so they remain functional public space rather than neglected land.
Robert Moses and the Modern Park System - NYC Parks, 160 Years of Central Park: A Brief History
What percent of acceptable by feature small parks, large parks & greenstreets — Safety surface?
92%Misses target by 3%
What percent of acceptable by feature small parks, large parks & greenstreets — Safety surface?
92%Misses target by 3%
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual | Target |
|---|---|---|
| FY22 | 93% | 95% |
| FY23 | 94% | 95% |
| FY24 | 94% | 95% |
| FY25 | 94% | 95% |
| FY26 (YTD) | 92% | 95% |
92% in FY26 — missed the City's own target for this indicator (3% below the 95% target), though it has trended toward improvement over the past 3 years of reported data.
Why this is tracked
Central Park, approved in 1853 and designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, was created partly on the premise that a large public park was a democratic amenity, meant to serve all New Yorkers rather than the wealthy alone. A single unified, citywide Parks Department was created in 1934 under Commissioner Robert Moses, who dramatically expanded the system's playgrounds, pools, and parkland over his 26-year tenure. Today's Department is the steward of that legacy, responsible for maintaining and operating parks and recreation facilities across all five boroughs so they remain functional public space rather than neglected land.
Robert Moses and the Modern Park System - NYC Parks, 160 Years of Central Park: A Brief History
What percent of public restrooms in service (in season only)?
94%Misses target by 1%
What percent of public restrooms in service (in season only)?
94%Misses target by 1%
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual | Target |
|---|---|---|
| FY22 | 96% | 95% |
| FY23 | 94% | 95% |
| FY24 | 96% | 95% |
| FY25 | 94% | 95% |
| FY26 (YTD) | Not available | 95% |
94% in FY25 — missed the City's own target for this indicator (1% below the 95% target), and it has trended in the wrong direction over the past 3 years of reported data.
Why this is tracked
Central Park, approved in 1853 and designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, was created partly on the premise that a large public park was a democratic amenity, meant to serve all New Yorkers rather than the wealthy alone. A single unified, citywide Parks Department was created in 1934 under Commissioner Robert Moses, who dramatically expanded the system's playgrounds, pools, and parkland over his 26-year tenure. Today's Department is the steward of that legacy, responsible for maintaining and operating parks and recreation facilities across all five boroughs so they remain functional public space rather than neglected land.
Robert Moses and the Modern Park System - NYC Parks, 160 Years of Central Park: A Brief History
What percent of spray showers in service (in season only)?
94%Misses target by 1%
What percent of spray showers in service (in season only)?
94%Misses target by 1%
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual | Target |
|---|---|---|
| FY22 | 98% | 95% |
| FY23 | 98% | 95% |
| FY24 | 95% | 95% |
| FY25 | 94% | 95% |
| FY26 (YTD) | Not available | 95% |
94% in FY25 — missed the City's own target for this indicator (1% below the 95% target), and it has trended in the wrong direction over the past 3 years of reported data.
Why this is tracked
Central Park, approved in 1853 and designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, was created partly on the premise that a large public park was a democratic amenity, meant to serve all New Yorkers rather than the wealthy alone. A single unified, citywide Parks Department was created in 1934 under Commissioner Robert Moses, who dramatically expanded the system's playgrounds, pools, and parkland over his 26-year tenure. Today's Department is the steward of that legacy, responsible for maintaining and operating parks and recreation facilities across all five boroughs so they remain functional public space rather than neglected land.
Robert Moses and the Modern Park System - NYC Parks, 160 Years of Central Park: A Brief History
What percent of drinking fountains in service (in season only)?
97%Beats target by 2%
What percent of drinking fountains in service (in season only)?
97%Beats target by 2%
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual | Target |
|---|---|---|
| FY22 | 95% | 95% |
| FY23 | 96% | 95% |
| FY24 | 94% | 95% |
| FY25 | 97% | 95% |
| FY26 (YTD) | Not available | 95% |
97% in FY25 — met the City's own target for this indicator (2% above the 95% target), and it has trended toward improvement over the past 3 years of reported data.
Why this is tracked
Central Park, approved in 1853 and designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, was created partly on the premise that a large public park was a democratic amenity, meant to serve all New Yorkers rather than the wealthy alone. A single unified, citywide Parks Department was created in 1934 under Commissioner Robert Moses, who dramatically expanded the system's playgrounds, pools, and parkland over his 26-year tenure. Today's Department is the steward of that legacy, responsible for maintaining and operating parks and recreation facilities across all five boroughs so they remain functional public space rather than neglected land.
Robert Moses and the Modern Park System - NYC Parks, 160 Years of Central Park: A Brief History
How many street trees pruned — Block program cases are there?
64,673 treesMisses target by 327 trees
How many street trees pruned — Block program cases are there?
64,673 treesMisses target by 327 trees
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual | Target |
|---|---|---|
| FY22 | 43,463 trees | 65,000 trees |
| FY23 | 46,097 trees | 65,000 trees |
| FY24 | 54,448 trees | 65,000 trees |
| FY25 | 64,673 trees | 65,000 trees |
| FY26 (YTD) | Not available | 65,000 trees |
64,673 trees in FY25 — missed the City's own target for this indicator (327 trees below the 65,000 trees target), though it has trended toward improvement over the past 3 years of reported data.
Why this is tracked
MillionTreesNYC, run from 2007 to 2015, spent about $400 million to plant one million trees across the five boroughs, expanding the city's tree canopy by roughly 20%. The initiative was informed by tree-census data showing street trees delivered over $150 million a year in quantifiable benefits, including pollution removal, stormwater absorption, and cooling city blocks by up to several degrees. Unlike earlier tree planting, which mostly responded to individual resident requests, MillionTreesNYC used block-by-block planting targeted at low-canopy areas and public-health need, and it became a widely cited model for other cities' urban forestry programs.
MillionTreesNYC - NYC Parks, MillionTreesNYC: planting and tending the urban forest - Centre for Public Impact
What percent of capital projects completed on time or early?
82%Beats target by 2%
What percent of capital projects completed on time or early?
82%Beats target by 2%
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual | Target |
|---|---|---|
| FY22 | 80% | 80% |
| FY23 | 88% | 80% |
| FY24 | 85% | 80% |
| FY25 | 82% | 80% |
| FY26 (YTD) | Not available | 80% |
82% in FY25 — met the City's own target for this indicator (2% above the 80% target), though it has trended in the wrong direction over the past 3 years of reported data.
Why this is tracked
NYC's park system is aging faster than it is being rebuilt: a fifth of parks have not had a major infrastructure upgrade in 25 years, and citywide deferred-maintenance needs rose from about $14 million to over $35 million in the past decade, part of a broader state-of-good-repair backlog that reached roughly $616 million. Only about a third of the Parks Department's recognized repair needs are currently funded in the capital budget. This capital and infrastructure work - fixing bulkheads, drainage, retaining walls, and bridges within parks - is what determines whether park space stays safe and functional over the long run, not just clean day to day.
A New Leaf: Revitalizing NYC's Aging Parks Infrastructure - Center for an Urban Future, NYC Council Outlines the State of Support for City Parks
What percent of recreation centers rated acceptable for cleanliness?
100%Beats target by 5%
What percent of recreation centers rated acceptable for cleanliness?
100%Beats target by 5%
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual | Target |
|---|---|---|
| FY22 | 100% | 95% |
| FY23 | 100% | 95% |
| FY24 | 100% | 95% |
| FY25 | 100% | 95% |
| FY26 (YTD) | Not available | 95% |
100% in FY25 — met the City's own target for this indicator (5% above the 95% target), and it has stayed essentially flat over the past 3 years of reported data.
Why this is tracked
Central Park, approved in 1853 and designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, was created partly on the premise that a large public park was a democratic amenity, meant to serve all New Yorkers rather than the wealthy alone. A single unified, citywide Parks Department was created in 1934 under Commissioner Robert Moses, who dramatically expanded the system's playgrounds, pools, and parkland over his 26-year tenure. Today's Department is the steward of that legacy, responsible for maintaining and operating parks and recreation facilities across all five boroughs so they remain functional public space rather than neglected land.
Robert Moses and the Modern Park System - NYC Parks, 160 Years of Central Park: A Brief History
What percent of recreation centers rated acceptable for overall condition?
89%Beats target by 4%
What percent of recreation centers rated acceptable for overall condition?
89%Beats target by 4%
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual | Target |
|---|---|---|
| FY22 | 87% | 85% |
| FY23 | 79% | 85% |
| FY24 | 80% | 85% |
| FY25 | 89% | 85% |
| FY26 (YTD) | Not available | 85% |
89% in FY25 — met the City's own target for this indicator (4% above the 85% target), and it has trended toward improvement over the past 3 years of reported data.
Why this is tracked
Central Park, approved in 1853 and designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, was created partly on the premise that a large public park was a democratic amenity, meant to serve all New Yorkers rather than the wealthy alone. A single unified, citywide Parks Department was created in 1934 under Commissioner Robert Moses, who dramatically expanded the system's playgrounds, pools, and parkland over his 26-year tenure. Today's Department is the steward of that legacy, responsible for maintaining and operating parks and recreation facilities across all five boroughs so they remain functional public space rather than neglected land.
Robert Moses and the Modern Park System - NYC Parks, 160 Years of Central Park: A Brief History
Without a numeric target
How many public service requests does the Forestry division receive?
86,146 requests
How many public service requests does the Forestry division receive?
86,146 requests
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 91,785 requests |
| FY23 | 92,225 requests |
| FY24 | 110,413 requests |
| FY25 | 86,146 requests |
| FY26 (YTD) | Not available |
86,146 requests in FY25 — has no numeric target set by the City, and it has trended in the wrong direction over the past 3 years of reported data.
Why this is tracked
New Yorkers report park and recreation problems mainly through 311, which routes maintenance complaints, program questions, and tree service requests to the Parks Department around the clock. The Department describes its mission around five value pillars, including cleanliness, safety, and equity of access, and customer-service performance - like how promptly complaints are addressed - is one of the more direct ways the public can judge whether that mission translates into practice. Watchdog reporting has noted that 311 complaint resolutions are not always accurately tracked, which is part of why publicly reported response-time data matters.
Park Maintenance Complaint - NYC311, NYC Council - Parks & Recreation Report Card
How much recreation center attendance is there?
1,513,022 — increasing as centers recovered from pandemic closures; FY26 dip reflects renovations
How much recreation center attendance is there?
1,513,022 — increasing as centers recovered from pandemic closures; FY26 dip reflects renovations
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above. The dashed marker projects a full-year estimate at the current year-to-date pace.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 776,001 |
| FY23 | 1,647,046 |
| FY24 | 1,870,379 |
| FY25 | 2,057,794 |
| FY26 (YTD) | 1,513,022 |
| FY26 (projected) | ~2,017,363 |
Recreation center attendance was recovering from pandemic-related closures across this period: NYC Parks' own reporting says FY25's total of over 2 million attendees was the first time that mark was surpassed "since before pandemic related recreation center closures in Fiscal 2020," which explains most of the rise from FY22's low base. The subsequent partial-year dip in FY26 is attributed by Parks to facility closures for capital renovations at some centers.
Researched July 16, 2026 — NYC Department of Parks and Recreation, Fiscal 2025 Mayor's Management Report, NYC Department of Parks and Recreation, Preliminary Fiscal 2026 Mayor's Management Report
Why this is tracked
As New York's population surged in the 19th century and cholera and typhoid spread through crowded tenement neighborhoods, the state mandated free public bathhouses in large cities starting in 1895; by 1911, twelve had opened in Manhattan alone. In the 1930s, the Parks Department took over these bathhouses and, using Works Progress Administration labor, built eleven large outdoor pools that all opened within weeks of each other in summer 1936. That legacy continues today: the Department operates dozens of outdoor and indoor pools that are free or low-cost, alongside recreation centers offering programs for children, seniors, and people with disabilities, with a 2024 initiative committing over $1 billion to modernize aging pool infrastructure.
History of Parks' Swimming Pools - NYC Parks, History of Recreation in Parks - NYC Parks, Mayor Adams Launches Let's Swim NYC
How many people attend outdoor Olympic and intermediate pools during pool season?
1,008,021
How many people attend outdoor Olympic and intermediate pools during pool season?
1,008,021
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 986,448 |
| FY23 | 864,216 |
| FY24 | 974,931 |
| FY25 | 1,008,021 |
| FY26 (YTD) | Not available |
1,008,021 in FY25 — has no numeric target set by the City, and it has trended toward improvement over the past 3 years of reported data.
Why this is tracked
As New York's population surged in the 19th century and cholera and typhoid spread through crowded tenement neighborhoods, the state mandated free public bathhouses in large cities starting in 1895; by 1911, twelve had opened in Manhattan alone. In the 1930s, the Parks Department took over these bathhouses and, using Works Progress Administration labor, built eleven large outdoor pools that all opened within weeks of each other in summer 1936. That legacy continues today: the Department operates dozens of outdoor and indoor pools that are free or low-cost, alongside recreation centers offering programs for children, seniors, and people with disabilities, with a 2024 initiative committing over $1 billion to modernize aging pool infrastructure.
History of Parks' Swimming Pools - NYC Parks, History of Recreation in Parks - NYC Parks, Mayor Adams Launches Let's Swim NYC
How many recreation center memberships are there?
162,269 memberships — increasing as recreation centers recovered from pandemic closures
How many recreation center memberships are there?
162,269 memberships — increasing as recreation centers recovered from pandemic closures
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 100,385 memberships |
| FY23 | 117,116 memberships |
| FY24 | 141,486 memberships |
| FY25 | 156,078 memberships |
| FY26 (YTD) | 162,269 memberships |
Recreation center memberships climbed steadily through this period as centers recovered from pandemic-related closures. NYC Parks' own FY25 report notes memberships that year "surpass[ed] the membership levels prior to the COVID-19 pandemic," with particular growth among young adults, who can join for free -- consistent with FY22's relatively low starting point reflecting an incomplete post-pandemic rebound.
Researched July 16, 2026 — NYC Department of Parks and Recreation, Fiscal 2025 Mayor's Management Report
Why this is tracked
As New York's population surged in the 19th century and cholera and typhoid spread through crowded tenement neighborhoods, the state mandated free public bathhouses in large cities starting in 1895; by 1911, twelve had opened in Manhattan alone. In the 1930s, the Parks Department took over these bathhouses and, using Works Progress Administration labor, built eleven large outdoor pools that all opened within weeks of each other in summer 1936. That legacy continues today: the Department operates dozens of outdoor and indoor pools that are free or low-cost, alongside recreation centers offering programs for children, seniors, and people with disabilities, with a 2024 initiative committing over $1 billion to modernize aging pool infrastructure.
History of Parks' Swimming Pools - NYC Parks, History of Recreation in Parks - NYC Parks, Mayor Adams Launches Let's Swim NYC
What percent of New Yorkers living within walking distance of a park?
84.2%
What percent of New Yorkers living within walking distance of a park?
84.2%
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 83.6% |
| FY23 | 83.9% |
| FY24 | 83.9% |
| FY25 | 84.2% |
| FY26 (YTD) | Not available |
84.2% in FY25 — has no numeric target set by the City, and it has trended toward improvement over the past 3 years of reported data.
Why this is tracked
NYC's park system is aging faster than it is being rebuilt: a fifth of parks have not had a major infrastructure upgrade in 25 years, and citywide deferred-maintenance needs rose from about $14 million to over $35 million in the past decade, part of a broader state-of-good-repair backlog that reached roughly $616 million. Only about a third of the Parks Department's recognized repair needs are currently funded in the capital budget. This capital and infrastructure work - fixing bulkheads, drainage, retaining walls, and bridges within parks - is what determines whether park space stays safe and functional over the long run, not just clean day to day.
A New Leaf: Revitalizing NYC's Aging Parks Infrastructure - Center for an Urban Future, NYC Council Outlines the State of Support for City Parks
How many trees were planted?
34,667 trees
How many trees were planted?
34,667 trees
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 32,468 trees |
| FY23 | 31,088 trees |
| FY24 | 42,028 trees |
| FY25 | 34,667 trees |
| FY26 (YTD) | Not available |
34,667 trees in FY25 — has no numeric target set by the City, and it has trended toward improvement over the past 3 years of reported data.
Why this is tracked
MillionTreesNYC, run from 2007 to 2015, spent about $400 million to plant one million trees across the five boroughs, expanding the city's tree canopy by roughly 20%. The initiative was informed by tree-census data showing street trees delivered over $150 million a year in quantifiable benefits, including pollution removal, stormwater absorption, and cooling city blocks by up to several degrees. Unlike earlier tree planting, which mostly responded to individual resident requests, MillionTreesNYC used block-by-block planting targeted at low-canopy areas and public-health need, and it became a widely cited model for other cities' urban forestry programs.
MillionTreesNYC - NYC Parks, MillionTreesNYC: planting and tending the urban forest - Centre for Public Impact
What percent of immediate priority tree work resolved within 7 days?
96%
What percent of immediate priority tree work resolved within 7 days?
96%
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 99% |
| FY23 | 98% |
| FY24 | 97% |
| FY25 | 96% |
| FY26 (YTD) | Not available |
96% in FY25 — has no numeric target set by the City, and it has trended in the wrong direction over the past 3 years of reported data.
Why this is tracked
MillionTreesNYC, run from 2007 to 2015, spent about $400 million to plant one million trees across the five boroughs, expanding the city's tree canopy by roughly 20%. The initiative was informed by tree-census data showing street trees delivered over $150 million a year in quantifiable benefits, including pollution removal, stormwater absorption, and cooling city blocks by up to several degrees. Unlike earlier tree planting, which mostly responded to individual resident requests, MillionTreesNYC used block-by-block planting targeted at low-canopy areas and public-health need, and it became a widely cited model for other cities' urban forestry programs.
MillionTreesNYC - NYC Parks, MillionTreesNYC: planting and tending the urban forest - Centre for Public Impact
What percent of high-priority tree work resolved within 28 days?
99%
What percent of high-priority tree work resolved within 28 days?
99%
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 97% |
| FY23 | 98% |
| FY24 | 99% |
| FY25 | 99% |
| FY26 (YTD) | Not available |
99% in FY25 — has no numeric target set by the City, and it has trended toward improvement over the past 3 years of reported data.
Why this is tracked
MillionTreesNYC, run from 2007 to 2015, spent about $400 million to plant one million trees across the five boroughs, expanding the city's tree canopy by roughly 20%. The initiative was informed by tree-census data showing street trees delivered over $150 million a year in quantifiable benefits, including pollution removal, stormwater absorption, and cooling city blocks by up to several degrees. Unlike earlier tree planting, which mostly responded to individual resident requests, MillionTreesNYC used block-by-block planting targeted at low-canopy areas and public-health need, and it became a widely cited model for other cities' urban forestry programs.
MillionTreesNYC - NYC Parks, MillionTreesNYC: planting and tending the urban forest - Centre for Public Impact
How many major felonies reported on NYC Parks properties — Crimes against persons are there?
606 persons
How many major felonies reported on NYC Parks properties — Crimes against persons are there?
606 persons
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 626 persons |
| FY23 | 601 persons |
| FY24 | 673 persons |
| FY25 | 606 persons |
| FY26 (YTD) | Not available |
606 persons in FY25 — has no numeric target set by the City, and it has trended toward improvement over the past 3 years of reported data.
Why this is tracked
Central Park, approved in 1853 and designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, was created partly on the premise that a large public park was a democratic amenity, meant to serve all New Yorkers rather than the wealthy alone. A single unified, citywide Parks Department was created in 1934 under Commissioner Robert Moses, who dramatically expanded the system's playgrounds, pools, and parkland over his 26-year tenure. Today's Department is the steward of that legacy, responsible for maintaining and operating parks and recreation facilities across all five boroughs so they remain functional public space rather than neglected land.
Robert Moses and the Modern Park System - NYC Parks, 160 Years of Central Park: A Brief History
How many major felonies reported on NYC Parks properties — Crimes against property are there?
467 cases
How many major felonies reported on NYC Parks properties — Crimes against property are there?
467 cases
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 525 cases |
| FY23 | 588 cases |
| FY24 | 551 cases |
| FY25 | 467 cases |
| FY26 (YTD) | Not available |
467 cases in FY25 — has no numeric target set by the City, and it has trended toward improvement over the past 3 years of reported data.
Why this is tracked
Central Park, approved in 1853 and designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, was created partly on the premise that a large public park was a democratic amenity, meant to serve all New Yorkers rather than the wealthy alone. A single unified, citywide Parks Department was created in 1934 under Commissioner Robert Moses, who dramatically expanded the system's playgrounds, pools, and parkland over his 26-year tenure. Today's Department is the steward of that legacy, responsible for maintaining and operating parks and recreation facilities across all five boroughs so they remain functional public space rather than neglected land.
Robert Moses and the Modern Park System - NYC Parks, 160 Years of Central Park: A Brief History