Mayor Zohran Mamdani has tapped longtime public servant Tricia Shimamura as the new head of New York City's vast parks system, touting it as a key component in his broader effort to make the city more livable and affordable.
In an appointment that highlights the importance of these green spaces, Mamdani emphasized that parks are not just places for recreation, but also centers of creativity and community hubs where people from all walks of life come together. "These are not just places of rest and relaxation," he said, "but they're a beating heart of our city."
Shimamura, who has spent years serving the public in various roles, including as Manhattan borough commissioner, brings a deep understanding of the parks system to her new position. She highlighted the significance of these spaces, calling them the "agency of affordability" and citing their role in providing safe places for children to play and learn.
Under Shimamura's leadership, the department aims to expand access to these green spaces, which already serve as the official backyard for many New York City families. The parks offer a range of programs and services, from swimming lessons at no cost to community gardens and recreation centers where people can connect with each other over sports or fitness activities.
Shimamura's appointment comes after a period of stagnant funding for the parks system under previous administrations. However, Mayor Mamdani has pledged to prioritize spending on these spaces, aiming to allocate at least 1% of the city's budget towards them.
Outgoing Commissioner Iris Rodriguez-Rosa, who became the first Latina to hold the role, will be remembered as a trailblazer in her decades-long service to the parks system. Her departure marks the end of an era, but Shimamura is poised to build on this legacy and take the parks system to new heights under Mayor Mamdani's leadership.
In an appointment that highlights the importance of these green spaces, Mamdani emphasized that parks are not just places for recreation, but also centers of creativity and community hubs where people from all walks of life come together. "These are not just places of rest and relaxation," he said, "but they're a beating heart of our city."
Shimamura, who has spent years serving the public in various roles, including as Manhattan borough commissioner, brings a deep understanding of the parks system to her new position. She highlighted the significance of these spaces, calling them the "agency of affordability" and citing their role in providing safe places for children to play and learn.
Under Shimamura's leadership, the department aims to expand access to these green spaces, which already serve as the official backyard for many New York City families. The parks offer a range of programs and services, from swimming lessons at no cost to community gardens and recreation centers where people can connect with each other over sports or fitness activities.
Shimamura's appointment comes after a period of stagnant funding for the parks system under previous administrations. However, Mayor Mamdani has pledged to prioritize spending on these spaces, aiming to allocate at least 1% of the city's budget towards them.
Outgoing Commissioner Iris Rodriguez-Rosa, who became the first Latina to hold the role, will be remembered as a trailblazer in her decades-long service to the parks system. Her departure marks the end of an era, but Shimamura is poised to build on this legacy and take the parks system to new heights under Mayor Mamdani's leadership.
. Don't get me wrong, parks are great for communities, but let's be real, it's just a Band-Aid on a bigger issue. What's the point of throwing money at the problem if we're still gonna have overpriced housing and struggling working-class families? I guess it's better than nothing though 
. Shimamura seems like a solid choice for the job, but can she really make a dent in the city's gentrification problems? Only time'll tell 
! She's got the perfect blend of experience and passion for making our green spaces truly accessible and awesome. I mean, have you ever seen a community garden or recreation center that actually feels like it belongs to the people? That's what Shimamura is all about - building connections and fostering creativity in our parks 
. And let's be real, after years of stagnant funding under previous admins, it's amazing that Mayor Mamdani is finally prioritizing spending on these spaces. I'm talking 1% of the city budget at least! That's huge 
. Iris Rodriguez-Rosa may be leaving us, but Tricia is ready to take the reins and make our parks even more vibrant and inclusive. Can't wait to see what she has in store 
.
It's about time we prioritize our public spaces, 'specially for the younger generation and low-income families. I'm hopin' she can make a real difference in people's lives, gettin' kids outdoors, teachin' 'em how to garden and play sports...it's all about buildin' community, ya know? 
The fact that Shimamura wants to expand access to these spaces is, like, so needed right now. And the swimming lessons at no cost? Genius! 
Plus, it's awesome that Mayor Mamdani's making parks a priority again after years of stagnant funding. Let's keep our city livable and affordable, one park at a time! 
getting more access to green spaces is like, the best thing ever 
especially with all the new programs & services they're introducing like free swimming lessons 
and community gardens 
it's like, mayor mamdani really gets it about making nyc more livable & affordable 
! Tricia Shimamura sounds like a total rockstar for NYC's parks system 
. Onward to making NYC even more livable and affordable, I say! 
. I mean, who doesn't love spending time in nature, right? And with more funding going towards parks, we can expect even more amazing programs and services to pop up 
! I'm feeling super optimistic about this new chapter in the parks system 
. Let's keep those green spaces thriving and make NYC an even better place to live!
. I mean, think about it... the city has all these amazing parks and green spaces just waiting to be shared with everyone. It's like a big ol' potluck table of humanity 
! If we can make those connections happen, that's when real magic happens 
. And Tricia Shimamura seems like the perfect person to bring that kind of vibe to the parks system... she gets it 
? But seriously, it's amazing to see Mayor Mamdani prioritizing spending on our green spaces. It's like, we need these safe places for kids to play and learn, and Shimamura is all about expanding access to them 
. But at the same time, I know she paved the way for Tricia Shimamura, so that's kinda awesome 
! And with Shimamura at the helm, I'm excited to see what she'll do with all that extra cash 
! Maybe we'll even get some more community gardens and swimming lessons for everyone 
!
? it would be so awesome for ppl to have a safe space 2 chill & meet new ppl shimamura seems like she's gonna do some real work 2 make those green spaces accessible 4 everyone, esp kids who deserve 2 play & learn in a safe environment 
! I mean, can you imagine a more perfect person for the role? She's got so much experience in the field and is all about making those green spaces accessible to everyone 
Interesting that she's making it all about community hubs! I think it's awesome that she's emphasizing affordability, like, who doesn't want a safe place for kids to play? 
. I mean, who doesn't love a good ol' community garden or a free swim lesson? 
And can we talk about how awesome it is that Shimamura's gonna expand access to these spaces? It's like, more opportunities for everyone to get outside and be active, whether it's swimmin' lessons or community gardens...