The FY27 budget baselined hundreds of Parks jobs, but Bensonhurst residents and unions say more Park Enforcement Patrol officers are still needed at Seth Low Park.

A black bear that wandered through White Plains neighborhoods climbed a tree and was tranquilized by NYSDEC; officials plan to relocate it upstate.

Janet Fash, New York City’s first female chief lifeguard, uses a new memoir to warn that uneven staffing and disputed interpretations of safety rules leave dangerous gaps on city beaches.

Clogged drains have left the P.S. 278 splash pad in Marine Park pooled with stagnant, trash‑filled water, and neighbors say temporary fixes aren't enough. They want immediate cleanup and a timetable for a long‑promised rebuild.

City records and complaints show hundreds of broken spray features this summer while advocates say cuts have left parks short-staffed. Repairs can take days or weeks.

A decades-old Parks Department rule requiring NYPD officers at public pools led to dozens of late openings last summer, shrinking swim hours as the 2026 season begins.

Grand Army Plaza South has reopened after a two‑year, $16M restoration. The Pulitzer Fountain and Pomona statue are back with bluestone, trees and upgraded systems.

A coyote dug under a six‑foot fence and injured a family dog in Irvington, then reportedly approached a toddler. Local police and village officials are urging vigilance during pupping season.

A carriage horse was found dead inside Central Park near 72nd Street, NYPD says. The death comes amid renewed calls to phase out horse‑drawn rides.

A new Parks & Trails New York study finds the 750‑mile Empire State Trail drives $1.87 billion in annual economic activity and nearly 9.8 million visits. The report highlights jobs, tax revenue and health benefits across New York.

A beaver was filmed swimming near the Gansevoort Peninsula — the first confirmed beaver sighting in Hudson River Park’s estuarine sanctuary.

Governor Hochul announced NY Kicks, a $6M fund pairing $5M for building soccer pitches with $1M for gear and coaching to boost access in disadvantaged communities.

A new analysis finds nesting wading birds in the NY–NJ harbor have plunged; the black-crowned night heron’s losses threaten local disappearance by 2035.