Page 22 - The Indian EYE 072525

NORTH AMERICAN Newsline JULY 25, 2025 | The Indian Eye 22

WE OUTSIDE SUMMER

Mayor Adams Continues Program by Announcing

11 Schoolyards to Open to Public as part of

“Schoolyards To Playgrounds” Plan

New Sites Will Open Schoolyards to New Yorkers During Summer and Weekends, Putting 20,000

Additional New Yorkers Within 10-Minute Walk of Park

OUR BUREAU thrive.”
“Free, accessible public spaces
NEW YORK, NY
like our parks and these playgrounds
ew York City Mayor Eric Ad- make our city safer, more beautiful,
ams, New York City Public and more livable,” said NYC Parks
NSchools (NYCPS) Chancellor Commissioner Rodriguez-Rosa.
Melissa Aviles-Ramos, and New York “We’re so grateful to our partners at
City Department of Parks and Rec- New York City Public Schools who
reation (NYC Parks) Commissioner will continue to care for and direct-
Iris Rodriguez-Rosa have announced ly manage these spaces as they open
the opening of 11 new sites in the to the public. We’re proud of our
city’s “Schoolyards to Playgrounds” work expanding public space access
program, delivering on another key throughout the five boroughs, and
commitment of Mayor Adams’ 2025 I thank Mayor Adams for his com-
State of the City. Schoolyards to Play- mitment to investing in our shared
grounds increases access to green greenspaces and public realm.”
space for New Yorkers in neighbor- Part of We Outside Summer, the
hoods not within walking distance announcement is another example of
of a park by opening up schoolyards how the Adams administration is en-
to the public when not in use by the ments by putting 20,000 more New ty Mayor for Operations Jeff Roth. suring families across New York City
school — during the summer, after Yorkers within a 10-minute walk of “Opening school yards for the sum- can have a safe and fun summer. In
school, and on the weekends. Begin- green spaces. Our schools are home mer, in the evening, and on weekends May 2025, Mayor Adams kicked off
ning this month, these sites will be to incredible playgrounds, spaces that in areas without a lot of public green We Outside Summer and announced
open beginning at 8:00 AM until dusk shouldn’t be locked away after the space is exactly the kind of com- a new effort to transform vacant lots
year-round. school day or when the school year mon-sense, family-friendly initiative into greenspace, and, just last month,
Part of Mayor Adams’ Fiscal ends, especially in neighborhoods that helps New York become the best Mayor Adams announced new pub-
Year 2026 Executive Budget — com- without a lot of public green spaces big city in which to raise a family.” lic bathrooms in parks across the
monly referred to as the city’s “Best — and now fewer of them will be. We “Access to playgrounds is about five boroughs, the opening of public
Budget Ever” that was adopted by the have to keep our city a place where more than just recreational play; pools with increased lifeguard staff-
New York City Council last month everyone can raise a family, and this it’s about building stronger, health- ing levels, and the return of Adult
and voted on unanimously last week announcement is another way we’re ier communities where students can Lap Swim and expansion of free
— the Adams administration is per- supporting families across the five develop their social-emotional skills Learn to Swim programming. In
manently investing $770,000 toward boroughs.” and build healthy exercise habits,” May, the Adams administration also
these additional sites, which will put “Our city’s playgrounds are cru- said NYCPS Chancellor Melissa announced $13 million in funding
green space within a 10-minute walk cial for the public schools they’re Aviles-Ramos. “By continuing in- for youth programming, investing in
of an additional 20,000 New Yorkers. attached to. They’re also civic spac- vestment in these spaces, we are initiatives to support at-risk youth,
Today’s announcement also con- es in their own right, giving parents providing our children and families justice-involved New Yorkers, and
tinues “We Outside Summer,” Mayor and families room to play and relax with safe, welcoming environments people living in neighborhoods with
Adams’ new initiative that includes outside of their homes,” said Depu- to connect, be physically active, and high rates of violence.
a series of announcements, events,
investments, and new programming
across the five boroughs to ensure
New Yorkers have a safe, enjoyable
summer outside.
“New York City is the greatest
city in the world to be a kid and today,
we’re going to make it even better by
making it easier for our kids to play
close to home,” said Mayor Adams.
“Today, we are delivering on another
one of our State of the City commit-

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