Contact: Colleen Roche (212) 788-2958
Jennifer Chait (212) 788-8479
Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani and Parks Commissioner Henry Stern today announced that the City's 1,500 parks are cleaner and better maintained than they have ever been before. The 1997 Parks Inspection Program (PIP) showed that the City's parks scored an acceptable rating of 95 percent for cleanliness and 75 percent for overall condition, the highest ratings recorded since the inspection system was revised in 1992.
"What we have accomplished in our parks is just one example of our commitment to improving the quality of life for all New Yorkers," Mayor Giuliani said. "Every day, the Parks Department clears the grounds of litter, cleans the parks of graffiti and improves the conditions of our play equipment. By continuing to do this more and more effectively, we send a message that abuse and vandalism will not be tolerated."
"These quality of life issues affect the everyday lives of all New Yorkers," the Mayor continued. "And while we have made many improvements, there is still much we can do to further improve the condition of our parks and playgrounds. Just as we have aggressively addressed the problem of graffiti, we will tackle the problem of littering, in a continuing effort to improve the common space that we all share. I want to thank Henry Stern and the Parks Department for their efforts in maintaining the high standards of our City's parks."
Commissioner Stern said, "Through Workfare, accelerated capital spending and better maintenance, we have been able to ensure that parks and playgrounds throughout the five boroughs are safe and clean for New Yorkers to enjoy."
The cleanliness score tracks graffiti, glass, litter, weeds, and damaged lawns. The overall condition rating combines the cleanliness score and seven structural features of play equipment, safety surfaces, paved surfaces, sidewalks, benches, fences and tree conditions.
The Parks Inspection Program results found that from 1993 to 1997:
Since FY 1994, the City has more than tripled the Parks Department capital budget from $51 million to $172 million in FY 1998. This enabled the reconstruction of 70 playgrounds and replacement of antiquated play equipment at 84 additional sites. To maintain these improvements, 23 maintenance workers were hired to supplement the fleet of "Dr. Playground" maintenance vans. In addition, 6,000 Workfare participants helped in the removal of 3.7 million square feet of graffiti.
Park inspectors visit City parks at least once a year. The inspection year runs from Spring 1997 to Winter 1998. Although park inspections have taken place since 1986, the standards were made more rigorous when the grading system was revised in 1992.