Press Releases

For Immediate Release
October 13, 2022

Contacts:
Rebecca Weintraub, Joe Marvilli - press@planning.nyc.gov (212) 720-3471

Pulaski Park in Bronx Community District 1. This park was renovated after the Community Board identified it as a need. Credit: NYC Parks / Daniel Avila

NEW YORK — Department of City Planning (DCP) Director Dan Garodnick today asked New Yorkers to help shape the City budget process by bringing community needs and funding ideas to their Community Board this month. The New York City Charter requires each of the City’s 59 Community Boards to submit their District Needs Statements and Budget Requests by October 31, and each will hold a public hearing on their submission before it does. The submissions help to identify local funding and infrastructure priorities.  

“We are asking all New Yorkers to step up and let us know how we can best build up our communities,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “Community input is a key consideration in any project our administration undertakes, and many of the best ideas often come directly from community members. We rely on those on the ground to help guide our work, and the community board district needs process will allow New Yorkers to shape our priorities and make sure the city’s comeback proceeds full speed ahead.” 

“This is an all-hands-on-deck moment for New Yorkers, and we want to ensure that every voice heard as we prepare next year’s budget. Tell us what you think your neighborhood needs most, whether it is a new school, park renovations, climate resiliency improvements, or anything else,” said Department of City Planning Director and Chair of the City Planning Commission Dan Garodnick. “We want to hear from you.”

With DCP’s support, Community Boards are working to ensure maximum community participation in their official part of the annual budget process. DCP will continue to engage with boards to help them guide the process and provide training and support. 

• To find out more about the Community District Needs Process, you can visit our website here. 
• If you’d like to learn more about your Community Board, you can visit the DCP Community District Profiles page and select “Community Board.”  

Community Board top rankings are used to identify local needs and citywide trends and inform the next City budget. In 2021, the most pressing issues identified through this process were: 

• affordable housing 
• parks and open space 
• land use trends 
• traffic 

The District Needs and Budget Requests process has been an essential part of building New York City’s budget since 1979, and has resulted in many projects throughout the city being funded in the budget.  Recent examples include the renovation of Pulaski Park in Bronx Community District 1, the reconstruction of the Greenpoint Library in Brooklyn Community District 1, and the installation of street lighting on Roosevelt Avenue in Queens Community District 4.

Department of City Planning
The Department of City Planning (DCP) plans for the strategic growth and development of the City through ground-up planning with communities, the development of land use policies and zoning regulations applicable citywide, and its contribution to the preparation of the City’s 10-year Capital Strategy. DCP promotes housing production and affordability, fosters economic development and coordinated investments in infrastructure and services, and supports resilient, sustainable communities across the five boroughs for a more equitable New York City.

In addition, DCP supports the City Planning Commission in its annual review of approximately 450 land use applications for a variety of discretionary approvals. The Department also assists both government agencies and the public by advising on strategic and capital planning and providing policy analysis, technical assistance and data relating to housing, transportation, community facilities, demography, zoning, urban design, waterfront areas and public open space.