Community District
Find the planning projects in your community district.
All Projects
- 125th Street Corridor
- 2nd Avenue Subway
- 421-a tax incentive program
- 980 Madison Tower
- Access to the Region's Core (ARC)
- Albee Square Mall Tower
- Atlantic Yards
- Bayside Rezoning
- Bayswater/Far Rockaway Rezoning
- Bedford Stuyvesant Rezoning
- Briarwood Rezoning
- Bricktown Centre
- Brig Redevelopment, Wallabout Brooklyn
- Brooklyn Academy of Music Cultural District
- Brooklyn Greenway
- Brooklyn Navy Yard
- Bush Terminal Park
- Clinton Hill/Ft. Greene Rezoning
- College Point Police Academy
- Columbia University Expansion
- Columbus Circle
- Con Ed Site Redevelopment
- Coney Island Development
- Cooper Square Urban Renewal Area
- Cross Harbor Freight Tunnel
- Domino Sugar Factory
- Downtown Brooklyn
- Downtown JFK-LIRR Link
- DUMBO Rezoning
- Dyker Heights/Fort Hamilton Rezoning
- East River Plaza
- East River Science Park
- East River Waterfront
- East Side Access
- Far Rockaway and Mott Creek Rezoning
- Far West Village Rezoning
- Federal Housing Policy
- Fieldston Landmark Designation
- Flushing Development
- Fordham Expansion
- Forest Hills Rezoning
- Fresh Kills Master Plan
- Fulton Street Transit Center
- Gansevoort Marine Transfer Station
- Garment District Rezoning
- Gateway Center at Bronx Terminal Market
- General Theological Seminary Tower (Chelsea)
- Governors Island
- Gowanus Development
- Greenpoint-Williamsburg Rezoning
- High Line Redevelopment + Whitney Museum
- HUB Retail and Office Center
- Hudson Railyards
- Hudson River Park
- Hudson Yards Rezoning & Development
- Hunter College Health-Professions Tower
- Hunts Point Vision Plan
- Inwood/Sherman Creek Waterfront Rezoning
- Jamaica, Queens Development and Rezoning
- Javits Convention Center Expansion
- JetBlue JFK Terminal
- Kingsbridge Armory
- Kissena Park Rezoning
- Lincoln Center Redevelopment
- Long Island City
- Lower East Side Rezoning
- Lower Manhattan Development
- Maspeth - Woodside Rezoning
- Mets Stadium Construction
- Middle Village-Glendale Rezoning
- Midwood Rezoning
- Mott Haven School Campus
- Moynihan Station
- Museum for African Art
- New Madison Square Garden
- New Rego Park, Queens Mall
- New York City Building Code
- New York City Hospital Redevelopment
- New York Diamond Tower
- New York Historical Society Tower
- No. 7 Line Extension
- North Brother Island
- North Tribeca Rezoning
- NYC 2012 Olympic Bid
- NYU Development
- One Madison Ave Clocktower
- P.S. 64 Redevelopment
- PlaNYC 2030
- Plaza Hotel Redevelopment
- Policy Developments - Landmarks
- Public Place
- Queens Botanical Garden
- Queens Plaza
- Queens West
- Randalls Island Water Park and Playing Fields
- Red Hook Cruise Terminal
- Red Hook Development
- Renaissance Ballroom and Renaissance Casino
- Seventh Regiment Armory (Park Ave.)
- Silvercup West
- SoHo Sanitation Garage
- Solid Waste Management Plan
- South Bronx Jail Plan
- South Ferry Terminal Project
- South Street Seaport Redevelopment
- South Village Historic District
- Springfield Gardens Rezoning
- St. Vincent’s Expansion
- Stapleton Waterfront District
- Starrett City
- Staten Island NASCAR Track
- Staten Island North Shore Light Rail
- Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village
- Sunnyside Yards Platform
- The Caledonia (Chelsea)
- Trump Soho Hotel Condominiums
- Union Square Redesign
- Union-Utopia Rezoning
- United Nations Renovation
- Upper West Side Rezoning Proposal
- Uptown New York (East Harlem)
- Van Cortlandt Park Filtration Plant
- Via Verde - New Housing New York Legacy Project
- Washington Square Park Redesign
- West-Park Presbyterian Church Tower
- White Plains Courtyard
- Whitestone Rezoning
- Willets Point Development
- World Trade Center Redevelopment
- Yankee Stadium Construction
Randalls Island Water Park and Playing Fields
A proposed 26-acre family-themed water park with 80 foot water slides is expected to begin construction in spring 2007 on a piece of Randalls Island parkland at the juncture of the East and Harlem Rivers, under the vast Triborough Bridge. It took seven years for the city to finalize the specifics on the water park. The plan was first proposed in 1999 by Mayor Rudolph Giuliani as a 12-acre facility. Seven years later, under the Bloomberg administration, the proposed park has more than doubled in size and is fast approaching the construction phase.
Some are concerned by the continuous commercialization of the area and the increasing size of the proposed park. Local residents also fear that the high price of admission will exclude a large percentage of the area’s low income residents. The city believes the proposed water park will be a great attraction and addition to the city with the Department of Parks and Recreation projecting that the proposed water park would attract 1.3 million annual visitors. The city's Franchise and Concession Review Committee approved the 35-year lease with Aquatic Development in April 2006.
Opponents of City’s Pay to Play Scheme for Randalls Island Back in Court
Friday, April 11, 2008 | Metro New York | Topic: Land Use
Parents and other opponents of the “Pay-to-Play” scheme were back in court this week demanding an immediate stop to construction of the parks until the plans have gone through the necessary Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP). The City recently lost their case in court on the proposed plan with twenty private schools for exclusive usage of park lands during key hours in exchange for money on the grounds but continued the construction of the parks without going through the public review process.
Construction Continues at Randalls Island Despite Court Ruling
Wednesday, February 13, 2008 | Metro New York | Topic: Environment
The city has continued construction of playing fields at Randalls Island, despite a court ruling two weeks ago that nullified the city’s financing deal with private schools to give them exclusive use of the fields during after-school hours. The judge ruled that this type of plan should have gone through the regular public review process. The city notes that the ruling only addressed the deal with the private schools, not with the actual construction of the fields. Opponents of the plan worry that the city will change the project in such a way that the lower court ruling will be moot. Both sides will appear in court next Wednesday as the judge addresses the question of whether an Environmental Impact Statement was required for the project.
Judge Rules Against City’s Plan for Playing Fields on Randalls Island
Friday, February 01, 2008 | New York Times | Topic: Land Use
The State Supreme Court in Manhattan ruled against a deal struck between Mayor Bloomberg, the Department of Parks and Recreation and twenty private schools that would have given the schools exclusive rights to 2/3rds of the playing fields on Randalls Island during peak after-school hours in exchange for $44.7 million to the city to upgrade the facilities. The judge ruled that the deal was improperly approved and should have gone through the city’s public review process, the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP). Opposing the plan were parents, students and organizations from East Harlem and the South Bronx. Park advocates also opposed the city’s plan as a step towards privatizing public lands.
Residents Fight City over Recreational Fields on Randall’s Island
Thursday, January 10, 2008 | New York Sun | Topic: Land Use
Some Harlem residents are fighting a city proposal that would limit the use of recreational space for public school children on Randall’s Island. The city’s proposal would allow 20 private schools exclusive rights to the open space during after school hours in return for them giving the city $50 million reconstruct the playing fields, which are in need of repair. The lawsuit was heard in State Supreme Court and could be decided narrowly on questions of process used by the city in developing the plan.
City Calls Off Randalls Island Water Park Plans
Monday, October 08, 2007 | Other | Topic: Finance
New York City rescinded its deal with the Aquatic Development Group to build the $200 million water park on Randalls Island, which had been set to open next summer. The city claims that the company did not meet a financing deadline.
Water Park Developer Misses Key Deadline
Friday, September 21, 2007 | New York Daily News | Topic: Finance
Aquatic Leisure LLC, the developer planning to build the water park on Randalls Island, did not meet its deadline to secure financing for the second time in seven months. In response, the city's Parks Department maintained that it was in the process of reviewing the firm's request for an extension. Neighborhood groups opposed to the park celebrated the news as an opportunity to ensure that local needs are met in the development of the park.
City’s Choice of Developer for Randall’s Island Water Park Questioned
Tuesday, September 18, 2007 | Metro New York | Topic: Politics & Government
Aquatic Leisure LLC, the developer contracted to build the proposed water park on Randall’s Island, defaulted on its agreement to close on its financing within 225 days of signing the contract with the City. However, Mayor Bloomberg resisted Comptroller William Thompson’s call for reopening bids. Instead, the Parks Department granted the developer an extension. New York State’s Department of Environmental Conservation has yet to issue a wetlands permit for the project.
Work on Randalls Island Playing Fields Begins
Friday, August 03, 2007 | New York Sun | Topic: Land Use
Work began today on 63 new sports fields for Randall’s Islands. Opponents still believe the project is unfair to public schoolchildren because private schools will get exclusive access 2/3 of the fields in after-school hours. The private schools are paying over $2.6 million a year to fund the project. The fields are expected to be fully constructed in 2009, adding 10% to the total field space in the city.
Randall's Park Costs Higher than Expected; Partnership Questioned
Friday, May 25, 2007 | New York Daily News | Topic: Finance
The cost of constructing upwards of 60 new playing fields on Randall's Island has exceeded project estimates, reaching approximately $127 million. The Parks Department and Mayor Bloomberg agreed to a financing plan for the park that would require a consortium of city private schools to finance part of the project costs in exchange for exclusive use of the fields on most weekdays. Current negotiations have private schools contributing nearly $44 million to the $127 million total cost. Criticism of the public-private partnership has not lessened, as many argue the agreement unfairly favors wealthy private institutions to the exclusion of the public.
Private School Plan Approved for Randalls Island
Wednesday, February 14, 2007 | WNYC | Topic: Politics & Government
The City’s Franchise Review Committee approved a controversial plan that will give a consortium of the city’s private schools exclusive use of many of Randall’s Island playing fields. Under the terms of the 20-year contract, 20 private schools will pay the city $52.4 million to have exclusive use of most of the parks during after-school hours. Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer was the sole dissenting vote.
Vote Expected Today on Controversial Randall's Island Park
Tuesday, February 13, 2007 | AM New York | Topic: Land Use
The six-member Franchise and Concession Review Committee will consider the controversial proposal for Randall's Island Park that would permit a group of private schools to have guaranteed after-school access to most of the city-owned ball fields at the park. Adrian Benepe, the Parks and Recreation Commissioner, has said that future improvements to the park will not be possible without the private funding source. The provisional agreement would require the schools to pay $52.4 million over 20 years for the fields' maintenance. Some members of the committee, including Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer and City Comptroller William Thompson, have already vowed to vote against the proposal, citing the potential of bad precedent and the lack of public park space for public school students in East Harlem and the South Bronx.
Controversial Plans for Randalls Island Playing Fields Expected to Be Approved
Saturday, February 10, 2007 | New York Times | Topic: Land Use
A controversial plan to fund new playing fields at Randall Islands is expected to be approved Tuesday by a panel which has been reviewing the proposal. The plan calls for twenty private school to contribute about $52M to the creation of new fields and refurbishment of existing fields in return for the right to use two-thirds of the fields from 3-6p.m., the primary time when school sports teams practice. The city would finance the remaining portion of the $70M budget estimated for the project. The private schools have been using the existing fields for some time, and proponents see the plan as a good way to reduce the city’s burden and subsidize new fields for public use. However some worry that public school students would not have enough access to the new fields
Draft Agreement Reached to Lease Ball Fields to Private Schools
Wednesday, January 31, 2007 | New York Daily News | Topic: Land Use
The City Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe has apparently drafted a concessions contract with 20 private schools in Manhattan that will have guaranteed access on weekday afternoons to two-thirds of the 68 modern ball fields that the City plans to build on Randall's Island in East Harlem. In turn, the schools will give $2.6 million annually to the Randall's Island Sports Foundation, the nonprofit group that manages the park. The New York Daily News reports that the private schools could end up using the park space 80% of the time if public schools do not request permits, according to the contract. While the Bloomberg administration calls this a perfect example of a public-private partnership, opponents have called it a naked pay-to-play scheme that could set a dangerous precedent for other private groups to "buy" special access to public parks.The Franchise and Concession Review Committee is expected to vote on the contract on February 14.
Tensions Over Plan to Lease Exclusive Use of Randall's Island Fields to Private Schools
Sunday, October 22, 2006 | New York Times | Topic: Waterfront
Randall’s Island Sports Foundation, a public-private partnership that runs the island, recently proposed a plan that would develop 65 new athletic fields, more than double the current number, with the costs covered largely by a group of 20 private schools, which would pay $85.5 million to the city over 30 years. In exchange, the schools would get exclusive use of 80 percent of the fields from 3 to 6 p.m. each school day for the next 20 years, with a possible 10-year extension.
Private Fields At Public Park
Wednesday, October 11, 2006 | Metro New York | Topic: Politics & Government
There is a new proposal under review by the franchise review committee to build 34 athletic fields and improve 31 at Randall’s Island. The controversial plan involves a consortium of 20 private schools that are requesting exclusive claims on 80 percent of these fields between 3 and 6 p.m. In return, the private schools will pay $2.85 million annually for the rights to the fields for a 30 year period.
New Legal Snag For Water Park
Wednesday, April 12, 2006 | Metro New York | Topic: Land Use
Though plans for a $168 million water park on Randalls Island won approval yesterday from the Franchise and Concession Review Committee as expected, there was an element of surprise at the meeting. Attorney John Siegal showed up with his client Barry Akrongold, a developer who claimed he was eliminated from the bidding process.
Poor Left Out of Water Park
Tuesday, March 14, 2006 | New York Daily News | Topic: General
City Controller William Thompson and Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer are unhappy with the potential exlusion of poor residents from the water park at Randalls Island. The officials also challenged the lack of public bidding for contracts related to the project.
Randall’s Island Theme Park Confronts Land Use Issues
Monday, March 06, 2006 | Other | Topic: Land Use
A theme parked originally proposed in 1999 has morphed into a $168 million proposal that would require ten of Randall’s Island’s parks to be bulldozed. Despite repeated court rulings that land dedicated as a park cannot be taken for non-park use without legislation from the NYC City Council, the city is optimistic and would ideally like to break ground by the summer of 2006.
Hearing's Postponed and Concern is Growing
Wednesday, March 01, 2006 | Other | Topic: Politics & Government
A Public Hearing scheduled for March 7th was postponed for at least a month. At the same time, opponents are becoming more vocal about their concerns.
Family-Themed Water Park is Almost Here
Sunday, February 12, 2006 | Other | Topic: Land Use
New York might soon have yet another big attraction. All that's left for the soon-to-be water park is the city's Franchise and Concession Review Committee to approve the 35 year lease.
The Adventure Before the Park
Wednesday, January 11, 2006 | New York Daily News | Topic: Land Use
The city has been quitely pushing forward with plans to build a new water park at Randall's Island. This has caused concern about the size and scope of the project.
City Nears Compromise Over Randall’s Island Fields
Tuesday, December 27, 2005 | New York Daily News | Topic: Politics & Government
The Bloomberg administration moved closer to a deal to lease some of the Randall’s Island playing fields to a private school consortium. Under the latest version of City Hall's plan, the percentage of fields reserved exclusively for private schools after classes end would be reduced slightly to 66% from an originally proposed 80%. In addition the length of the contract was reduced to 20 years, instead of 30, as the sports foundation originally proposed. East Harlem and South Bronx political leaders remain steadfastly opposed to the project, calling it a “sellout” to private schools. The Daily News columnist Juan Gonzalez encourages the Bloomberg administration to dip into the city’s surplus to finance the project rather than sell special access to private schools.