Study critical of park operations

The nonprofit Citizens Budget Commission released a study today criticizing the management and funding of the city’s public parks. The report notes that parks in wealthier neighborhoods, and those operated by nonprofit groups that are not affiliated with the Parks Department, are in better condition than the bulk of parks the Parks Dept. oversees. The report noted that although financing for parks has increased during the Bloomberg administration, a lack of data collection at individual parks has meant the Parks Dept. uses its budget inefficiently. The Parks Dept. conceded that it could improve its operations. “We agree that more can be done to develop more sophisticated analytical tools for measuring park use and worker efficiency,” said spokesman Warner Johnston. more [NYT]