NEW YORK, New York — On Aug. 14, Mayor Eric Adams joined Department of Parks and Recreation Commissioner Iris Rodriguez-Rosa to outline a renewed vision for New York City’s parks, pools, and beaches. The press conference, held at City Hall, highlighted significant investments in infrastructure, programming, and accessibility, underscoring the administration’s commitment to ensuring that green spaces remain a save haven for residents in the city.
Mayor Adams opened the press conference by praising Rodriguez-Rosa’s decades of service to the city’s parks system, calling her tenure and leadership essential in shaping the next phase of development. “40 years of watching and being the backbone of our parks administration,” said Adams as he introduced her as the right leader to carry forward these park innovations.
Rodriguez‑Rosa’s appointment in June marked her as the first Latina commissioner of New York City Parks, capping a nearly 40‑year career with the department. On her first day, the Adams administration unveiled a $23 million transformation of NYCHA open space — nearly three acres across Queens, the Bronx, and Brooklyn — bringing about cleaner, friendlier playgrounds and gathering spaces within a 10‑minute walk of more than 10,000 residents.
Expanding accessibility and safety
Commissioner Rodriguez-Rosa emphasized that safety and inclusivity are at the center of the department’s initiatives. “The safety of the city is so important to us, and we always want people to feel that they can come to our parks and be a safe haven,” she said.
Rodriguez-Rosa also stressed the importance of ensuring that every neighborhood, regardless of income level, has access to recreational opportunities. “We wanna make sure that the community also understands that this is an affordable playground. Many of our residents can’t afford to go to different places or travel, so we’re hoping to give them amenities that they’re able to enjoy here in the city.”
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She added, “Parks are the green spaces that serve as a great equalizer in our city and ensure everyone can get outside and enjoy our nature areas, playgrounds, beaches, pools, and recreation centers.”
Facilities and programming
Rodriguez-Rosa detailed the wide range of facilities already available, including over 50 pools and 14 miles of beaches across the five boroughs. This summer alone, she noted, more than six million people have visited the city’s beaches. The department has also increased amenities to keep up with demand, including hundreds of restrooms and spray showers for children during heatwaves.
Programming has also become a central focus of the department’s development plan. “We want people to know that we’ve expanded from six locations to 10 locations throughout the city,” said Rodriguez-Rosa. In addition, the city has reintroduced senior swim programs to provide dedicated times for older residents to exercise and socialize in the water. In some locations, lap swimming hours have also been added.
The commissioner also highlighted efforts to improve lifeguard recruitment and retention — a challenge faced by many cities across the country. “Year after year in this administration, we have seen an increase in our lifeguard numbers,” she said. Rodriguez-Rosa further pointed out that lifeguarding can be a rewarding entry-level job for young New Yorkers.
“You can be 16-years-old and have this as your first job in the city. To become a city employee, it [pays] $22 an hour, which is not bad for a young person to start off with. And for returning lifeguards, continuously, we have a retention bonus of a thousand dollars.”
Engaging NYC’s diverse communities
An important part of the new strategy involves outreach to the city’s diverse communities to ensure that all New Yorkers feel welcome in their local parks.
Rodriguez-Rosa addressed questions about outreach to the Chinese community in particular, noting that Sunset Park in Brooklyn already serves as a hub for many Asian residents. “We encourage our Asian community residents to be able to come and enjoy some of our facilities and be part of it,” she told Vision Times. “We also have a good number of Asian lifeguards that are part of our system. So we encourage this wonderful community to be able to engage with us as well.”
Though she acknowledged the challenges posed by language and cultural barriers, she said the department was taking steps to bridge that gap. “I have a few people of Asian descent that work with us in parks. And I’m sure that they would be happy to be able to speak to [and engage] the community from the Asian perspective. That would be terrific,” she added.
Inclusivity at the forefront
Both Adams and Rodriguez-Rosa framed the new initiatives as part of a broader effort to position New York City’s parks as accessible sanctuaries for residents of all backgrounds. With millions relying on city parks, pools, and beaches each year for recreation, exercise, and community connection, the administration’s emphasis on safety, affordability, and inclusivity is designed to keep these spaces central to city life.
Rodriguez-Rosa closed her remarks by reinforcing the importance of continued community participation and media support in promoting parks programs. “We want people to enjoy [these spaces] and continue to come. We have hundreds of restrooms, spray showers, and we want people to understand that we provide all these amazing services,” she said, adding, “Not only do we [provide] the physical, but we also have programming,” she said.
As summer continues heating up and new programs roll out across the city, the mayor’s office and the Department of Parks and Recreation are hoping New Yorkers of all ages and backgrounds will take full advantage of the green spaces that, as Adams described, remain “our great equalizer.”
With reporting by Ryan Wu and Julie Wang.
