Oliver Koppell for City Council

Part 1 – Yes/No Questions

1. Maintenance

2. Capital

• Will you require that every capital parks project be accompanied by a plan for ongoing maintenance and/or funding? YES

3. Crime

4. Alienation

• Will you support more laws that require public notification and input when a park will be used for non-park purposes, to afford parks the protection they need from development or use by other agencies? YES

5. Open Space/Natural Areas

• Will you work toward creating, with significant community involvement, a comprehensive open space plan that will guide the overall acquisition, restoration, improvement, and maintenance of parks, natural areas, playgrounds and athletic facilities in the five boroughs? YES

Part 2 – Open Questions

a. What specific actions would you take to ensure that every park in every neighborhood has green ball fields, working water fountains and open bathrooms?
How would you fund your actions?

"In order to ensure that every neighborhood has green ball fields, working water fountains and open bathrooms I would support regular inspections and standards by the Parks Department. I also support committing at least 1% of the overall city budget to the Parks Department’s expense budget as well as supporting concession reform. Furthermore, I believe that when franchises and stadium plans are granted or established, requirements surrounding the maintenance of parks should be imposed."
b. What would be your plan to move from roaming crews to fixed crews for parks maintenance?

c. What funding / programs would you use to increase the full-time parks maintenance staff?

"Increased funding from the general tax revenue can be used to help move from roaming crews to fixed crews. The Parks Department can be required to create a staffing plan and the money from the general tax revenue can be used to hire more full time staff. For example, they could hire the best workers from the Job Training Program to become staff members."

· What specific actions would you take to revitalize the recreational and amateur sports programs that have been decimated by years of budget cuts?

"I support promoting funding to help revitalize recreational and amateur sports programs."
· What specific actions would you take to enable a much higher level of collaboration among the Parks Dept., Dept. of Youth & Community Development and the Dept. of Education?
"I fully support increased cooperation among the Parks Dept., Dept. of Youth & Community Development and the Dept. of Education. In addition, I hope that they will seek out more collaboration and perhaps even establish a liaison to assist them further."

· If NYC is awarded the Olympics in 2012 or 2016, what specific actions would you take to ensure that parks that are changed, altered or improved as Olympic venues are properly funded and maintained after the Olympics are finished?
"The Mayor’s office should be required to accompany the Olympic plan with a plan for maintenance of the park facilities used during the Olympics. This plan should include measures regarding the destruction and/or loss of all aspects of park facilities (like natural areas and commercialization) and how it will be covered financially."

· What specific actions would you take to reduce the cost of the annual insurance premiums that community gardeners must pay?
"The council should explore creating an insurance pool accessible to community gardeners. This would be similar to the insurance pool that was created for home contractors. This insurance pool could help greatly reduce the insurance premiums that community gardeners have to pay."

· What specific actions would you take to require that professional sports organizations assist in maintaining and operating public parks near their facilities?
"What franchises or stadium plans are granted or established, requirements surrounding the maintenance of parks should be imposed."

· How would you provide more multi-purpose facilities for amateur sports and recreation?
"The City should take the lead in providing multi-purpose facilities for amateur sports and recreation. In particular, I have been a longtime advocate of the development of the Kingsbridge Armory as an amateur sports training and performance facility."

· How would you improve upon recent investment in the NYC waterfront?
"I support the continued investment in the creation of recreational waterfront facilities and open spaces in New York City."

· What are your plans to ensure that citizens in all five boroughs have access to waterfront parks?
"I support the continued investment in the creation of recreational waterfront facilities and open spaces in New York City. I also support continued investment in transport systems to ensure that citizens can enjoy our waterfront parks."

· How would you fund the especially costly maintenance of waterfront parks?
"I will seek to find the maximum funds available in the city budget funds. There may be the possible opportunity to find money in additional concession revenues."

· What steps would you take to promote the use of and access to our city’s national parks (ie. Gateway National Recreation Area, National Parks of NY Harbor)?

· What is your vision for Governors Island?
"To promote the use of and access to our city’s national parks, I would support increased publicity about the parks as well as funding for better access, including ferry access. Governor’s Island should be accessible to all New Yorker’s. A multi-purpose development for both recreation and education would be positive uses of the island."