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    North                       The Indian Eye

                              AMERICANNewsline

             14                                                                                                                MARCH 13, 2026

                         Mayor Mamdani Announces $50

              Million Investment to Rebuild Parks in

                                Underserved Neighborhoods

             More than 116,000 New Yorkers across the five boroughs are expected to benefit as the city expands its

                  Community Parks Initiative and links improved park access to better mental health outcomes.

            OUR BUREAU                                                                                            successful at improving the level of
                                                                                                                  satisfaction and usage of neighbor-
            NEW YORK, NY
                                                                                                                  hood parks throughout the city.”
                     ayor  Zohran    Kwame                                                                            Huang added that the renova-
                     Mamdani on Thursday an-                                                                      tions created the conditions neces-
            Mnounced a $50 million capi-                                                                          sary for communities to benefit from
            tal investment to reconstruct 10 parks                                                                regular park use.
            in underserved neighborhoods across                                                                      “Importantly, the park renova-
            New York City, expanding access                                                                       tions created the necessary condi-
            to upgraded public spaces for more                                                                    tion for New Yorkers to benefit from
            than 116,500 residents.                                                                               using  these  parks  in  terms  of  their
                The funding will be delivered                                                                     health and wellbeing,” he said. “We
            through the city’s Community Parks                                                                    are  fortunate in  New  York  to  have
            Initiative (CPI), a program aimed                                                                     such strong leadership and efforts to
            at revitalizing parks in communities                                                                  continue improving the park spaces
            that have historically received fewer                                                                 in local communities through the ex-
            public investments. The announce-                                                                     pansion of CPI.”
            ment was made alongside Tricia                                                                            The CPI program follows a com-
            Shimamura,  commissioner  of  New   oritizes neighborhoods where parks   Urban planning experts say such   munity-driven design process that in-
            York City Department of Parks and   have not received major capital up-  investments  have  benefits  that  ex-  corporates feedback from residents
            Recreation, and coincided with the   grades in at least two decades and   tend beyond recreation. New stud-  and local organizations. Projects typ-
            release of new research from the   where factors such as poverty, popu-  ies conducted by researchers at the   ically include upgraded playground
            City University of New York linking   lation density and population growth   CUNY Graduate School of Public   equipment,  improved  recreation
            improved park infrastructure with   indicate higher community need.  Health and Health Policy indicate   facilities and expanded green space
            reduced stress and higher communi-    Shimamura said the new funding   that improved parks can contribute   designed for people of all ages.
            ty wellbeing.                     will further expand the city’s efforts   to better mental health and stronger   Among the parks scheduled for
               “For many New Yorkers, the park   to address long-standing disparities   community engagement.     reconstruction are Mott Playground,
            is their backyard — a place where   in access to quality public spaces.  According  to  findings  from  the   Fountain of Youth Playground and
            they can play a game of pick-up bas-  “All New Yorkers deserve access   Physical Activity and Redesigned   Morris Mesa Playground in the
            ketball, hold a picnic on the grass or   to clean, safe and high-quality parks   Community Spaces (PARCS) study,  Bronx;  Van  Dyke  Playground,  Roe-
            kick a ball with their kids,” Mamdani   — and through our Community Parks   residents in neighborhoods that   bling Playground and Elizabeth
            said. “These New Yorkers know the   Initiative, we’re proud to announce   received CPI park renovations re-  Stroud Playground in Brooklyn; Vla-
            difference between a park in disarray   the next 10 parks that will receive   ported spending more time in parks,  deck Park and the St. Nicholas Park
            and a park that city government has   key investments in underserved   particularly on weekdays and among   133rd Street Playground in Man-
            invested in.”                     neighborhoods,” she said. “These   adults with children and members of   hattan; Corona Health Sanctuary
               “That is why, today, we are proud   renovations  will  benefit  more  than   the Latino community.  in Queens; and Kaltenmeier Play-
            to announce $50 million worth of   100,000 New Yorkers across all five   The study also found higher lev-  ground on Staten Island.
            capital investments to ten parks   boroughs.”                       els of satisfaction with park quality,   City  officials  said  the  projects
            across the city — investments that    She added that the city has al-  maintenance and amenities, as well   will include improvements such as
            will allow  more  than 100,000 New   ready reimagined and rebuilt 70   as reduced stress levels among resi-  new play structures, seating areas,
            Yorkers in all five boroughs to expe-  parks through CPI over the past   dents who frequently used renovated   upgraded landscaping and enhanced
            rience a healthier, cleaner and more   decade,  with  another  47  projects   parks.                  accessibility features.
            accessible city,” the mayor added.  currently underway. In total, the   “Urban parks are increasingly be-  With the latest $50 million in-
                The projects will upgrade parks   program represents more than half   ing recognized around the world as   vestment,  the  city  aims  to  continue
            in  all  five  boroughs  and  bring  the   a billion dollars in capital investment   crucial for the wellbeing of citizens,”  closing long-standing gaps in park
            number of active CPI projects to 57   aimed at rebuilding parks and play-  said  Terry Huang, a distinguished   access while strengthening neighbor-
            citywide. Officials said the program   grounds that had not seen significant   professor of public health at CUNY.  hood resilience and community well-
            uses an equity-based model that pri-  upgrades for decades.         “It is exciting to see that CPI has been   being across the five boroughs.

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