Mayor Zohran Mamdani's selection of Tricia Shimamura as the new head of New York City's parks department marks a significant shift in his efforts to revitalize the beleaguered system. With over 30,000 acres of parkland and countless playgrounds, sports courts, and community gardens, city officials acknowledge that these spaces have become increasingly vital in providing affordable access to green areas for families and individuals.
According to Mamdani, parks are more than just places for leisure activities – they serve as vibrant hubs of creativity and community engagement. "These aren't just places of rest and relaxation; they're centers of creativity, places of community where all people come together," the mayor stated during a recent announcement at High Bridge Park in the Bronx.
Shimamura, a seasoned public servant with over two decades of experience in government and non-profit work, brings a wealth of knowledge to the role. Most recently, she served as Manhattan borough commissioner for the city's Department of Parks and Recreation, overseeing park operations across the borough. Her impressive resume also includes stints as a social worker, senior roles in city and federal government, and a stint as director of government relations at Columbia University.
Mayor Mamdani praised Shimamura's dedication to working-class New Yorkers, noting that she "has fought tirelessly for working people" throughout her career. Under his administration, parks funding will be boosted by at least 1% of the city's budget, a promise aimed at reversing years of stagnation under previous administrations.
Outgoing commissioner Iris Rodriguez-Rosa was also recognized by Mamdani for her decades-long service to the department and her trailblazing status as the first Latina to hold the role. The mayor acknowledged that while parks funding has been anemic in recent years, his administration is committed to making a meaningful impact on this critical city resource.
According to Mamdani, parks are more than just places for leisure activities – they serve as vibrant hubs of creativity and community engagement. "These aren't just places of rest and relaxation; they're centers of creativity, places of community where all people come together," the mayor stated during a recent announcement at High Bridge Park in the Bronx.
Shimamura, a seasoned public servant with over two decades of experience in government and non-profit work, brings a wealth of knowledge to the role. Most recently, she served as Manhattan borough commissioner for the city's Department of Parks and Recreation, overseeing park operations across the borough. Her impressive resume also includes stints as a social worker, senior roles in city and federal government, and a stint as director of government relations at Columbia University.
Mayor Mamdani praised Shimamura's dedication to working-class New Yorkers, noting that she "has fought tirelessly for working people" throughout her career. Under his administration, parks funding will be boosted by at least 1% of the city's budget, a promise aimed at reversing years of stagnation under previous administrations.
Outgoing commissioner Iris Rodriguez-Rosa was also recognized by Mamdani for her decades-long service to the department and her trailblazing status as the first Latina to hold the role. The mayor acknowledged that while parks funding has been anemic in recent years, his administration is committed to making a meaningful impact on this critical city resource.
! I mean, it's about time we saw some serious change and investment in our green spaces 
. As someone who loves spending time outdoors with their fam, it means the world to me that there's someone on board who genuinely cares about making these areas accessible for all 
. Plus, 1% boost in funding is a big deal 
. I'm excited to see what Shimamura and Mayor Mamdani have in store for us!
I'm loving this new head for NYC's parks! She sounds like a total rockstar 
, and it's so great that Mayor Mamdani is finally giving the department some much-needed love 
. Boosting funding by 1% of the budget is a huge deal – let's hope it makes a real difference on the ground 
, that's something we should all be celebrating! 
... all these new parks and green spaces sound nice and all, but what's the real deal here? Is it just a PR stunt to make Mayor Mamdani look all good-guy-ish? 
. is it really that hard for cities to prioritize green spaces and make them accessible to everyone? 
. Guess we'll just have to wait and see how it all plays out 
.
. Plus, its awesome that she reps working-class new yorkers - that's real change i can get behind! 
i mean, the colors are just insane! it's like someone poured a box of crayons all over the hillside 
but seriously, it's one of those hidden gems that's easy to miss if you're not looking for it. anyway, back to the parks thing... yeah, 1% boost is cool and all, but have they thought about making the playgrounds more accessible for people with disabilities? 
. I mean, I've lived in New York City for a while now and I know how important these green spaces are – especially with all the crazy traffic we have here 
. It's great to hear that Tricia Shimamura is on board to make sure everything runs smoothly and that she's all about working-class people 
.
. I love how Mayor Mamdani sees parks as more than just places for picnics – they're like community hubs where you can make friends and stuff 
. And don't even get me started on the maintenance – it's always something with the budget 
... Fingers crossed this admin delivers!
She seems nice, but we'll see how this all plays out. I guess it's about time someone got the funding boost those parks so desperately needed. 
The Bronx is gonna get a facelift, and I'm kinda excited to see what all the fuss is about... 
her experience is insane btw, 2 decades in gov and non-profit work? that's some serious know-how 
and iris rodriguez-rosa gets the love too... trailblazing is everything 
.
. How's she gonna fix that and still make parks hubs of creativity? seems kinda contradictory to me 
.
), it's about making sure everyone has access to green spaces where they can hang out with their families and friends. Mayor Mamdani's all about community engagement and creativity, and Shimamura's on board with that! Plus, the fact that she's a total rockstar in her own right (I mean, decades of experience and social work under her belt) is just, like, whoa... Can't wait to see what changes she brings! 
! Like, it's super important for our cities to have accessible green spaces, especially with all the crazy stuff we're dealing with in life. The mayor is totally on point with his plan to boost funding by 1% - that's a big deal, fam 
!
. Let's get ready for some serious park revival in NYC! 
So I'm thinking what's next? Are they gonna fix the playgrounds or just paint some new murals at High Bridge Park? 
Like, don't get me wrong, it's great that Mayor Mamdani is trying to boost funding for parks but we need to see some real action on the ground. All this sounds like a nice PR stunt to me...