New York City’s green space expansion continues as Mayor Eric Adams and local officials open more schoolyards for public use. Beginning this month, eleven additional school sites will make their outdoor areas accessible to the community, offering new recreational spaces in neighborhoods with limited greenery. In a statement obtained by the Office of the Mayor, Adams claimed, "New York City is the greatest city in the world to be a kid and today, we’re going to make it even better by making it easier for our kids to play close to home."
This move is part of the "Schoolyards to Playgrounds" program, which Adams touted during the 2025 State of the City address. The initiative, said to be a cornerstone of his "We Outside Summer" campaign, strategically opens up schoolyards for public use when schools are out of session. The spaces are set to remain open year-round, from 8:00 a.m. until dusk. The city has allocated $770,000 to support the initiative, ensuring these areas stay accessible and maintained throughout the year, according to the Mayor's office.
The program goes beyond recreation. Mayor Adams, along with New York City Public Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos and NYC Parks Commissioner Iris Rodriguez-Rosa, emphasizes that the initiative is about more than just adding swings and slides. "Access to playgrounds is about more than just recreational play; it’s about building stronger, healthier communities where students can develop their social-emotional skills and build healthy exercise habits," Aviles-Ramos told the Office of the Mayor. The goal is to transform these spaces into community hubs where families can come together and children can play freely.
Chief Public Realm Officer Ya-Ting Liu commented, noting, "Having a safe place near home to play with your child isn’t a luxury for New York families — it’s a necessity." With the recent additions, the total number of schoolyards open to the public has risen to over 300, advancing the city’s goal of providing all New Yorkers with access to a park within a short distance, as per the official press release.
Amid a series of summer initiatives—including the addition of new park restrooms and increased lifeguard staffing at public pools—the "Schoolyards to Playgrounds" program highlights the Adams administration’s efforts to expand access to outdoor spaces. With more schoolyards opening to the public, access to local green space is becoming increasingly common. This announcement builds on earlier efforts to convert vacant lots into green areas and follows a previous $13 million investment in youth programming, all aimed at supporting a safe and active summer for New Yorkers, as noted in the same press release.
