City Hall, NY – Today, Council Members Gale Brewer and Kevin Riley celebrated their legislation that expands public access to school playgrounds and basketball courts automatically becoming law, after inaction by the mayor within 30 days of their passage. Introduction 566-B, sponsored by Council Member Gale Brewer, will increase public access to school playgrounds on weekends and during after school hours, prioritizing environmental justice neighborhoods. Introduction 643-A, sponsored by Council Member Kevin Riley, will require the City to post information online on how basketball leagues can access Department of Education (DOE) indoor basketball courts when the weather does not allow for the use of outdoor courts and conduct a study to improve overall access to indoor basketball courts.  

Together, the two new laws will expand New Yorkers’ access to recreational facilities under the control of city public schools. There are currently 945 school buildings across the city with an outdoor school yard, but just 288 of them—about 30 percent—are open to the public outside of school hours. Additionally, the vast majority of basketball courts in the city are outdoors and access to them is limited during bad weather and in the coldest months. 

“Expanding public access to our school recreational spaces outside of school hours can help strengthen the mental and physical health of all New Yorkers,” said Speaker Adrienne Adams. “The Council’s passage of this crucial legislation and its enactment into law will ensure more neighborhoods can equitably benefit from underutilized school playgrounds and indoor basketball courts. I thank Council Member Brewer, Council Member Riley, and all of our colleagues and stakeholders for their support for these new laws.” 

“Council Member Brewer and Riley have passed two important bills that will increase access to playgrounds and recreational facilities in our city,” said Council Member Shekar Krishnan. “We’ve seen how transformative it is for neighborhoods when they have access to playgrounds, and Council Member Brewer’s bill is going to make it easier for our city to expand access by working with schools to open up their playgrounds to the community. Council Member Riley’s bill gives our teens a place to play basketball when it’s cold or raining outside, because access to indoor facilities shouldn’t be a privilege afforded to only a few. I’m proud that as the Chair of the Parks Committee, my committee is increasing access to play spaces and ensuring that every New Yorker has access to playgrounds and indoor basketball courts.” 

Introduction 566-B requires the Department of Education (DOE), in consultation Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR), to create and submit to the Mayor and the Speaker of the Council an annual report on how to expand public access to school playgrounds. The plan would need to prioritize playgrounds that are located in environmental justice areas and include, for the upcoming year, a list of at least 15 school playgrounds that could be maintained and operated by DPR and DOE and used by the public on weekends and after school hours, a list of the duties of DPR and DOE in relation to increasing the number of playgrounds available to the public, the estimated budget required, and any challenges with implementing the plan. The law takes effect immediately. 

“There are 945 school buildings with an outdoor school yard. Just 288 of them—about 30 percent—are open to the public outside of school hours. My bill will grow that number by at least 15 per year, prioritizing low-income communities with the least access to outdoor open space,” said Council Member Gale A. Brewer. “Outdoor recreation is critical to the physical, mental, and social well-being of young people. I am grateful that children in my council district can access many excellent public playgrounds every day. We want all children to have the same access to parks and playgrounds that we enjoy on the Upper West Side.” 

Introduction 643-A requires that the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR), with the Department of Education (DOE), post information on its website on how to access DOE indoor basketball courts when the weather does not allow for the use of outdoor basketball courts. The bill would also require DPR, with DOE to conduct a study on how to improve overall access to indoor basketball courts on days when the weather does not allow for the use of outdoor basketball courts. The study would evaluate how to improve the efficiency of the permitting process for indoor basketball courts and the feasibility of allowing members of the public to use DOE indoor basketball courts on days when the weather does not allow outdoor basketball courts use during times when school is not in session. The law takes effect in 180 days. 

“These two Local Laws mark a major step forward in how we think about public space and equity in our city,” said Council Member Kevin C. Riley. “Together, we’re expanding access to school playgrounds and indoor basketball courts—ensuring that every child and every community has the opportunity to thrive, rain or shine. My bill, the Indoor Hoops Act (formerly Int. 643-A), breaks down barriers that have kept too many youth off the court for too long, opening doors to year-round recreation, mentorship, and growth. I’m proud to lead this charge alongside Council Member Brewer and the NYC Council as we build a stronger, more inclusive future for all New Yorkers.” 

“Since 1996, the Trust for Public Land has partnered with city agencies and many City Council Members to convert over 230 asphalt lots into vibrant school-community playgrounds,” said Joan Keener, Deputy Director, Trust for Public Land. “Numerous studies show that access to outdoor play and nature relieves stress, increases physical activity, improves mental health, and decreases social isolation for both adults and youth. These shared schoolyards depend on annual custodial funding to ensure they remain safe, clean and accessible to the community outside of school hours. The passage of these bills provides an easy, cost-effective way to increase play space within a walkable distance from home. Opening additional schoolyards for public use each year, prioritizes those in environmental justice areas, helps to close the gap in unequal access to quality park space in the city.” 

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