Mayor Zohran Mamdani has tapped Tricia Shimamura, a seasoned public servant with decades of experience, to helm New York City's vast and underfunded parks department. As snow falls across High Bridge Park in the Bronx, Mayor Mamdani sees this appointment as crucial to his broader effort to make the city more livable and affordable.
For him, parks are far from just green oases – they're vibrant community hubs where people come together, fostering creativity and connection among all New Yorkers. "These aren't just places of rest and relaxation," he emphasized. "They're centers of artistry, gathering spaces for our most vital social fabric."
Shimamura's appointment is seen as a nod to her tireless dedication to public service, which spans stints in social work, senior roles in government, and leadership positions at institutions like Columbia University. As Manhattan borough commissioner, she oversaw park operations across the borough, overseeing everything from playgrounds to community gardens.
Under Shimamura's guidance, the city's parks system will aim to be a beacon of affordability, offering safe spaces for children to play, learn, and grow. From swimming lessons at poolside facilities to table tennis tournaments in community centers, every corner of the department will strive to nurture connection among New Yorkers from all walks of life.
This appointment marks an era of renewed commitment to parks funding, with Mayor Mamdani pledging at least 1% of the city's budget towards the sprawling system. As Iris Rodriguez-Rosa steps down after decades of service as the first Latina commissioner, Shimamura takes the reins, poised to build upon her predecessor's legacy and usher in a new era of vibrant community spaces for all New Yorkers.
For him, parks are far from just green oases – they're vibrant community hubs where people come together, fostering creativity and connection among all New Yorkers. "These aren't just places of rest and relaxation," he emphasized. "They're centers of artistry, gathering spaces for our most vital social fabric."
Shimamura's appointment is seen as a nod to her tireless dedication to public service, which spans stints in social work, senior roles in government, and leadership positions at institutions like Columbia University. As Manhattan borough commissioner, she oversaw park operations across the borough, overseeing everything from playgrounds to community gardens.
Under Shimamura's guidance, the city's parks system will aim to be a beacon of affordability, offering safe spaces for children to play, learn, and grow. From swimming lessons at poolside facilities to table tennis tournaments in community centers, every corner of the department will strive to nurture connection among New Yorkers from all walks of life.
This appointment marks an era of renewed commitment to parks funding, with Mayor Mamdani pledging at least 1% of the city's budget towards the sprawling system. As Iris Rodriguez-Rosa steps down after decades of service as the first Latina commissioner, Shimamura takes the reins, poised to build upon her predecessor's legacy and usher in a new era of vibrant community spaces for all New Yorkers.
"The biggest adventure you can take is to live the life of your dreams." 
- Oprah Winfrey 
! Did you know that NYC has over 1,200 parks & playgrounds, covering more than 35% of its total area? 
It's crazy to think about how much potential these spaces have to bring people together! 
According to a study by the Trust for Public Land, every dollar invested in NYC's parks system generates around $10 in economic returns, making it an investment worth exploring 
. I'm also loving the fact that Mayor Mamdani is committing at least 1% of the city's budget towards parks funding – that's a significant boost to these underfunded hubs 
! Here are some stats to get you pumped:
. As someone who loves spending time outdoors, especially with their little ones, this is exactly what we need. Affordable spaces for kids to play, learn, and grow? Yes, please! And can we talk about the community gardens and table tennis tournaments? Genius! 
It's all about bringing people together and fostering connection among all New Yorkers. And let's be real, it's gonna take a lot of hard work, but with Mayor Mamdani's commitment to funding the parks system (at least 1% of the budget is a HUGE deal!), I'm so stoked to see what Shimamura has in store for us 
. It's about time we start taking care of our green spaces and making them truly accessible to everyone! 
. I mean, think about it, no green space = no people's mental health to speak of 
. Shimamura's the real MVP, been around for ages and still killing the game 
. 1% budget? That's a good start, but like, how many parks are we talkin' about here? A whole city has more than just High Bridge Park 
. Still, I'm hyped to see some actual changes happen in these spaces 
. Can't wait to see what Shimamura brings to the table 
. And I'm all about that 1% budget pledge - let's get this parks fundin' up to speed 
. Can't wait to see what she does with it 
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. I mean, who doesn't love spending time outdoors with their community, right? 
Parks are where we can all come together, share ideas, and get stuff done 
, I'm loving the renewed commitment to parks funding - it's about time we invested in our people and our planet 
! Shimamura's got my vote for making NYC an even more amazing place to live 
. Bring on those affordable pools, community gardens, and table tennis tournaments 
I mean, we've been talking about underfunding parks for years and it hasn't changed much... yet. 
. I hope the city can actually meet its promise of allocating at least 1% of the budget towards park funding, that would be a huge win for us students who love exploring nature during school breaks 
. Fingers crossed this new era brings about some awesome changes!
. Don't get me wrong, I love parks too, but let's not pretend they're some kind of magic solution 
. And now, under Shimamura's guidance, we're gonna see a real shift towards makin' these spaces accessible and affordable for every New Yorker 
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. Tricia Shimamura seems like the perfect person for the job, she has so much experience in public service and I love that she wants to make sure everyone has access to these beautiful spaces 
. And let's not forget about affordability - it's time we made our parks accessible to everyone, regardless of income 
️. I love that she's not just focusing on aesthetics, but also on community building and making parks accessible to everyone 
. Can't wait to see what Shimamura and her team come up with!