Parks faces large backlog after winter storm; advocates press council to boost staffing and baseline funding

Commissioner Trisha Shimamura told the committee Parks received more than 1,800 tree-related service requests after winter storm Hernando, carried out roughly 1,200 inspections and created over 1,000 work orders; that response prioritized the most hazardous sites within 48'72 hours. Parks also said the FY26 budget included roughly $37 million in OTPS for tree care and reported roughly 250 staff currently assigned to tree work (around 60 foresters and 90 climbers/pruners).

Council members repeatedly questioned Parks about a growing backlog and constituent complaints that nonurgent but persistent conditions are not addressed for long periods. Parks staff and foresters acknowledged a backlog on the order of tens of thousands: Parks cited approximately 34,000 tree-risk work orders and roughly 17,000 uninspected service requests in testimony while also stressing that the highest-risk cases are triaged first. Advocacy organizations and conservancies (including New Yorkers for Parks, Natural Areas Conservancy, Riverside Park Conservancy and others) urged the Council to baseline additional funding and to increase permanent civil-service staffing so maintenance can be proactive rather than emergency triage.

Union representatives and Parks staff highlighted that consultant arborists and contractor work often cost more than equivalent city civil-service staff, and that high contractor reliance can reduce institutional oversight when inspection and project-management staffing is thin. Community groups and park conservancies said they sometimes hire contractors privately to close gaps, but they stressed that volunteer and donor funds are not a substitute for a fully funded, permanent Parks workforce.