Unlocking Revenue Potential for NYC Parks

NYC Parks continue to face tighter budgets and growing challenges, Concessions offers a great way to enhance the park experience and generate much needed revenue.

This week I was fortunate enough to attend a panel discussion led by Center for an Urban Future (CUF) announcing their comprehensive report on concessions in New York City parks. The panel included representatives from the NYC Parks department, friends of the High Line and Brooklyn Bridge Park Corporation among others. It was an exceptional example of advocacy putting forth policy and the folks with the agency to act endorsing and pushing for the change. I highly recommend reading full report. This blog is a highlight of the key point and some of my ideas on how to act on the suggestions.

New York City Parks are a crown jewel of the city. They serve as the backbone of our communities and neighborhoods. Today, we are asking more of our city parks than ever before while providing fewer and fewer resources. In addition to being everyone’s backyard, they now serve as the first line of defense against rising tides, play a growing role in the city’s resilience preparedness, act as a hub for arts and culture, and are increasingly relied on as part of our transportation network with the proliferation of micromobility. Parks continue to be victims of their own success seeing increased traffic and usage since the pandemic. For New Yorkers parks are not a luxury they are a necessity.

Despite all the roles our parks play, their budgets are continually cut, and state-of-good-repair maintenance is routinely delayed. With federal and state budgets becoming increasingly inconsistent, the Parks are in dire needs of new and reliable revenue. In a recent report, CUF, a local think tank, has advocated for expanding concession offers in NYC Parks as a way for the park system to become more self-reliant and to develop a consistent cash flow to help their bottom line. The current city charter is the main obstacle—currently, revenue generated from concessions and park activities goes back into city coffers rather than staying within the parks themselves. With the exception of Conservancy who get to keep their own revenue (think Central Park, Bryant Park, Madison Square Park), the economics do not incentivize the Parks department to invest money in these concessions that both raise revenue and enhance the overall park-going experience.

New York City Parks span over 1,700 parks across 33,000 square acres. This sprawling network touches nearly every neighborhood in the five boroughs. There are tremendous opportunities for concessions that enhance the visitors experience that are not being utilized. To put it perspective, CUF calculated that NYC earns $433 per acre of parks lands compared to London at $1,808. Currently there are only 400 concessions across the whole systems, more than 50% are push carts and only 15 full service restaurants. CUF projects that a modest increase in allowed concessions, including 20 destination worthy restaurants, could generate another $10 million a year, representing a nearly 25% increase in yearly revenue.

CUF has proposed solutions to support this change, including recommending modifications to the city charter to allow revenue retention within parks and establishing a consistent permitting process. The full report is linked below, and I highly encourage reading it.

Concessions are not merely food offerings its also kayak rides of Governors Island, Tennis courts in McCarren Park, Concerts at Centerstage, or Bike rentals along Riverside Park. Below are some of the great ideas to expand concessions and enhance the park experience for all visitors:

These are ideas shared by representatives on the panel that didn’t make the report:

1. Amiptheteaters – by CUFs count there are over 40 outdoor performance areas across the five boroughs, everything from hundred seat amphitheater to clam shell stages. Not a single ticketed event was held at these facilities last year. This is a missed opportunity. Temporary concession permits could also be issued to vendors for performance schedules creating a wonderful visitor experience and additional revenue.

2. Vending Machines – These vending machines would not be slining your normal fair, rather these vending machines would be set up to best serve the parks they are located in. Think frisbees, ball pumps, tennis balls and even charcoal where outdoor grilling is allowed.

3. Flushing Meadows- Corona Park – This is the fourth largest park in the city by average yet does not have a single concession stand. Its proximity to USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, home of the US open, and Citi Field brings millions of visitors to its doorsteps every year but misses out on potentially millions of concessions. Arthi Krishnamoorthy, Board Member of the Queens Museum (withing of the parks footprint) points out that dozens of non licensed vendors set up in the park already. More permanent concession infrastructure would lend them legitimacy, enable their business and benefit the parks as well.

I couldn’t help but think big too, here are some of my ideas:

4. Randall’s Island Golf Complex – to the surprise of most New Yorkers, Randall’s Island is home to a golf range and mini golf facility. It was slated for massive private investment and upgrades in 2019 that were scuttled to covid. This is another terrific asset that the Parks Department has to create a destination with huge concession upside.

5. Café at Carl Schurz – Carl Schurz is the gem of the east river park network. It does something very unique in that it serves folks of all ages including playgrounds, pickleball and basketball courts, shaded and sun baked lawns and promenades. What it is missing is a seasonal concessions. Two Aperol spritz would make a lovely addition to my evening walks. (Credit to my lovely and brilliant wife)

6. West 79th Stret Boat Basin – Located on West 79^th Street, the boat basin is tucked below the west side highway and riverside park. Currently it is undergoing a massive renovation in part to service the roadways above. Prior to its closure in 2019 the boat basin housed a restaurant, bar and active marina. Hopefully the renovation will return it to its utility with added benefits.

Our parks hold endless opportunities to enrich visitor experiences and unlock revenue streams— comment below with your ideas on how to enrich your local park.