New York City Insider: Media Release: Manhattan CB12, Northern Manhattan Electeds, & Manhattan Borough Parks Commissioner Castro Tour Inwood Hill Park.

 THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK

OFFICE OF COUNCIL MEMBER YDANIS RODRIGUEZ

 

Thursday, August 5th, 2021

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

**MEDIA RELEASE** 

Manhattan CB12, Northern Manhattan Electeds, & Manhattan Borough Parks Commissioner Castro Tour Inwood Hill Park.

NY, Inwood-- Today Community Board 12 organized Walkthrough inside Inwood Hill Park alongside Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez, Congressman Adriano Espaillat, Assemblymember Carmen De La Rosa, NYS Senator Robert Jackson, Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, and Manhattan Borough Parks Commissioner William T. Castro. CB12 Chairman Eleazar Bueno, Elected officials, and community members discussed much needed park renovations and improvements. 

Many Upper Manhattan parks and green spaces like Inwood Hill Park have been neglected for decades leaving areas of the park in disarray and in unsafe conditions. Local electeds and community members addressed their concerns during the walkthrough with the Department of Parks Commissioner William T. Castro. Community members and local electeds have called for additional park lights, directional signals for "dead end" paths, additional garbage cans, paved park routes, and  park beatifying initiatives similar to those seen in Central Park. 

Northern Manhattan is composed of over 500 acres of city parkland second only to Central Park. Local residents have been calling for additional resources to ensure residents can have  enjoyable and safe parks. 

"We have made much progress working with the current administration to bring resources to Northern Manhattan parks and playgrounds. However, the conditions of our parks are far from where we should be. I thank Manhattan Parks Commissioner Castro for joining us during the walkthrough and listening to our concerns and what we hope to see come to our parks. Decades of neglect and disinvestments have left our parklands in poor and unsafe conditions," said Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez. "I will continue to work alongside community board 12, local elected officials, and Manhattan Parks Commissioner Castro to ensure we're bringing additional park lights, directional signals for "dead end" paths, garbage cans, paved park routes, and park beatifying initiatives for all Northern Manhattan Parks".

"For far too long, parks and public greenery in our communities have been neglected and left to deteriorate - and we are here to say that it's simply unacceptable," said Congressman Adriano Espaillat (NY-13). "Our neighborhood has hundreds of acres of city parkland, second only to Central Park, and it's our duty to ensure these spaces are kept clean, safe and available for residents - and the next generation - to enjoy. We are united in our efforts and call for more park lights, more paved park routes, and other crucial renovations that would reinvigorate these long overlooked public lands that so many of our constituents deserve to be able to enjoy and utilize."

"I'm glad to join elected officials, community board members, neighborhood leaders, and city agencies as we work together to find solutions to improve and transform Inwood Hill Park, a jewel of northern Manhattan for the enjoyment and safety of all," said Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer.

"Our Uptown parks and green spaces need adequate support, increase safety measures and increased infrastructure investments.  Our parks and public spaces are critical in ushering in a just recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.  Ensuring our residents are safe and comfortable must be a priority." Said Assembly Member Carmen De La Rosa. "We thank Commissioner Castro, CB 12 and local residents for convening this walkthrough to see areas of improvement at Inwood Hill park to continue to be a safe haven for all the families in our community ."

Senator Jackson said, "We get disproportionately less funding and fewer resources for our large parks in Northern Manhattan in comparison to other places in the city. And we need that type of investmentment here, especially with the high number of working-class families whose only space for recreation are these beautiful parks. Our green spaces are the only safe haven they have and are vital for their well-being as well. My office and I will continue to work alongside Community Board 12, fellow elected officials, and Manhattan Parks Commissioner Castro and the whole team at Northern Manhattan Parks to ensure we're effectively resourcing these wonderful parklands."