Page 14 - The Indian EYE 061325

COMMUNITY OP-ED JUNE 13, 2025 | The Indian Eye 14

“We Outside Summer” is a series

of investments and programming

to ensure a safe and fun summer

Not only will these new public spaces serve NYCHA residents, they’ll also serve those who live
in the neighborhoods around them. All of these projects together have helped increase the total

percentage of New Yorkers now within a 10-minute walk of a park to more than 84 precent

and Saturday Night Lights programs,
especially in NYPD precincts with
the highest levels of gun violence.
These programs give our kids a safe
place to gather and thrive.
We are additionally ensuring our
young people have on-ramps to suc-
cess right from the start through our
Summer Rising program that has
supported a record 100,000 summer
job opportunities annually for young
people. We know that if we invest in
our young people during the summer
ERIC ADAMS months and give them alternatives,
we can keep them safe and on the
right path.
espite all the rain we have Finally, we are making the
been getting recently, sum- world’s most iconic green space even
Dmer just unofficially began safer! Central Park is New York
in New York City with Memorial Central Park is New York City’s backyard but issues like illegal vending, overflowing trash, City’s backyard but issues like ille-
Day. The days are getting longer and gal vending, overflowing trash, ex-
warmer, our beaches are open, and, excessive noise, substance use have persisted for far too long (Agency file photo) cessive noise, substance use, and
for the first time in the city’s record- more have persisted for far too long,
ed history, there were no shootings doned lots into parks and put more public spaces and playgrounds at six and they often spike in the summer
on the Sunday before Memorial Day greenspace within walking distance NYCHA developments. Not only months and need to be addressed.
— further proof that our administra- of thousands of additional New York- will these new public spaces serve This past week, we announced the
tion’s approach to keeping New York ers who don’t currently have access NYCHA residents, they’ll also serve “Central Park Community Link,” a
City the safest big city in America is to them. We’re starting in East New those who live in the neighborhoods multi-agency response aimed at ad-
working. Last week, we kicked off York and Cypress Hill in Brooklyn, around them. All of these projects dressing public safety and improving
the “We Outside Summer,” a se- as well as Jackson Heights, East El- together have helped increase the to- the quality of life in and around Cen-
ries of investments, announcements, mhurst, and Corona in Queens, and tal percentage of New Yorkers now tral Park.
and programming across the five we will expand from there. within a 10-minute walk of a park to We know that New Yorkers and
boroughs to ensure New Yorkers Our “Vacant Lots to Parks” ini- more than 84 precent. tourists are fed up with quality-of-life
have a safe and fun summer in our tiative is a great example of govern- We know we also need to give concerns, and I want to be clear, our
parks, playgrounds, and everywhere ment working to cut red tape and our young people stimulating activ- administration does not tolerate an
else outdoors. We’ll continue to roll think creatively about delivering ities for the summer months when atmosphere where anything goes.
out announcements throughout the more green spaces to areas most in they are out of school. We need to We prioritize working hand-in-hand
summer, but here’s some of what need. It also builds on the work our reach them before they fall into the with communities to keep our neigh-
we announced this past week as we administration has done to expand rivers of violence, because by the borhoods safe, clean, and comfort-
continue to make New York City the access to parks. Since taking office, time someone has a gun in their able so that you can enjoy summer
best place to raise a family. we have added over 86 acres of park- hand, it is often too late. That’s why in the greatest city in the world. This
We know that as the weather land across New York City, putting we announced $13 million in perma- is just the start of the “We Outside
warms, New Yorkers are eager for tens of thousands of additional New nent funding to support at-risk youth, Summer,” and as the weather heats
more outdoor space. But for too Yorkers within walking distance of a justice-involved New Yorkers, and up, we’ll keep sharing more ways
many families, green space is out of park. people living in neighborhoods with we’re working to deliver a safe and
reach and too far from their neigh- But we’re not stopping there; as high rates of violence. And for the fun summer for all.
borhoods and communities. This is part of “We Outside Summer,” we second straight summer, we are in-
exactly why we kicked off work last also announced the completion of vesting $2 million to offer extended Eric Adams is the Mayor of
week to transform vacant, aban- a $23 million project to transform hours at select Beacon, Cornerstone, New York City, NY

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