Enacting a Ticket Surcharge to Help Fund NYC Parks

There’s never been a more pressing need to develop new dedicated revenue streams to fund parks across the five boroughs. New Yorkers have been flocking to parks in record numbers since the pandemic, putting new strain on park infrastructure. But city investment in parks maintenance and operations has failed to keep pace. While there is a strong case for city leaders to reverse the chronic underfunding of parks in New York, winning this case may become more challenging in the coming years as federal support for New York shrinks and budget pressures grow.
This forum explored one new revenue option worth considering: a modest surcharge on tickets sold at the city’s major stadiums, arenas, and concert venues, with the revenue dedicated exclusively to park maintenance. It discussed how a ticket surcharge would work, how much revenue it would generate, why New Yorkers would benefit, and what steps are needed at City Hall and in Albany to enact a surcharge and ensure that the revenue supports parks. The conversation also shed light on how other cities have enacted similar ticket surcharges to help maintain vital infrastructure.
Speakers included:
Brad Hoylman-Sigal, New York State Senator
Adam Ganser, Executive Director, New Yorkers for Parks
Lynn Bodnar Kelly, Executive Director, New York Restoration Project; Co-Chair, NYC Parks and Open Space Partners (POSP)
Heather Lubov, Executive Director, City Parks Foundation
Morgan Monaco, President, Prospect Park Alliance; Prospect Park Administrator​; Co-Chair, NYC Parks and Open Space Partners (POSP)
This symposium was made possible through generous support from the NYC Green Fund. We are also grateful for general support from The Clark Foundation, The Altman Foundation, and ongoing support from a number of other philanthropic funders.