Mayor Bloomberg News

The Department of Parks & Recreation, partnering with the City Council, today announced an extension of the license terms for Parks community gardens.

Thanksgiving is just days away, and for those looking to work off that extra slice of pecan pie, Parks offers public skating throughout the city.

For the very first time, NBC 4 New York will televise live coverage of the New York City Veterans Day Parade which airs Thursday, November 11th from 12:00PM - 2:00PM on WNBC/Channel 4. The theme for this year's parade is 'Freedom is not Free.' The parade is organized by the United War Veteran's Council.

Commissioner Adrian Benepe today joined Deputy Borough President Ed Burke, Mark Russo of Friends of Abandoned Ceremonies, and Janice Blanchard of the Travis Fourth of July Parade Committee to break ground on a $1.2-million construction project at Independence Park in the Travis community of Staten Island. Later in the day, Commissioner Benepe broke ground on a $2.5-million project to construct a synthetic turf playing field and tot lot at New Dorp Beach. He was joined by Borough President James Molinaro, Council Member Vincent Ignizio, Assemblywoman Elect Nicole Malliotakis, and Congressman Elect Michael Grimm to celebrate the new field.

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Academy Award-winner Meryl Streep presented the 2010 Mayor's Awards for Arts & Culture on Monday, November 8, to five individuals and organizations in celebration of their outstanding contributions to New York City's cultural life.

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg will join Academy Award winner Meryl Streep to present the 2010 Mayor's Awards for Arts and Culture to five individuals and organizations in celebration of their outstanding contributions to New York City's cultural life. The Mayor will also present the Handel Medallion, New York City's highest award for achievement in the arts, to the world-renowned American dancer and choreographer Judith Jamison. The event, to be held at New York City's acclaimed Alice Tully Hall, will feature live performances by Arturo O'Farrill and members of the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, dancers from Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and the Ailey School, Chinese Theatre Works, and appearances by special guest artists.

Intiman Theatre continues its 2010 Season with Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter, written by Naomi Iizuka and directed by Lear deBessonet.

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg will join Academy Award winner Meryl Streep to present the 2010 Mayor's Awards for Arts and Culture to five individuals and organizations in celebration of their outstanding contributions to New York City's cultural life. The Mayor will also present the Handel Medallion, New York City's highest award for achievement in the arts, to the world-renowned American dancer and choreographer Judith Jamison. The event, to be held at New York City's acclaimed Alice Tully Hall, will feature live performances by Arturo O'Farrill and members of the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, dancers from Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and the Ailey School, Chinese Theatre Works, and appearances by special guest artists.

Commissioner Adrian Benepe today joined Council Member Vincent Ignizio, Assemblyman Lou Tobacco, County Clerk Steve Fiala, Turn Around Friends President James Wynne, and Staten Island Parks Commissioner Adena Long to cut the ribbon on a brand new $2.49 million playground at Seaside Nature Park. Later in the day, Commissioner Benepe celebrated $4.3 million in renovations to the outdoor track and multi-purpose field at Corporal Thompson Park alongside Congressman Mike McMahon, Council Member Debi Rose, and Borough Commissioner Long.

On Saturday, New Yorkers embraced the first opportunity to plant trees in public parks following the September 16th tornados, which destroyed thousands of trees in our urban forest. First Deputy Parks Commissioner Liam Kavanagh joined Irene Farrow, International Programs Manager, Earth Day Network; Amy Freitag, Executive Director of the New York Restoration Project; Frances Resheske, Senior VP of Public Affairs for Con Edison; and over 230 volunteers to kick off Mayor Bloomberg's MillionTreesNYC Fall 2010 Planting Day in Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx.

Intiman Theatre continues its 2010 Season with Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter, written by Naomi Iizuka and directed by Lear deBessonet.

Intiman Theatre continues its 2010 Season with Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter, written by Naomi Iizuka and directed by Lear deBessonet.

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Governor David A. Paterson and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver today announced an agreement to create a $100 million fund for the Performing Arts Center at the World Trade Center site with federal funds directed to Lower Manhattan. The performing arts center is part of the Master Plan for the Redevelopment of the World Trade Center and is expected to serve as a cultural anchor for Lower Manhattan. This is part of a process for defining priority uses for the remaining Federal money. Federal funds will also be used for Lower Manhattan utility infrastructure upgrades and economic development, transportation, cultural and community projects, including the East River Waterfront Esplanade and Piers Project, upgrades to Water Street, small business development, the completion and maintenance of parks and transportation improvements. The Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, the entity responsible for signing off on the federal allocation, will work to develop detailed proposals for these priority projects, and will solicit public input. The Board is expected to vote on these proposals at its next meeting in November.

Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe today joined USDA Forest Service Northern Research Station Director Michael T. Rains and Director of the Mayor's Office of Long-Term Planning and Sustainability David Bragdon to cut the ribbon on the new Urban Field Station at Fort Totten in Queens.

Queens Theatre in the Park (QTP), an iconic structure from the 1964 World's Fair, celebrated the completion of a $27 million renovation and expansion with a ribbon cutting ceremony and reception on Thursday, September 23, 2010, attended by dozens of the borough's elected officials and invited guests.

New York City Theater Subdistrict Council (TSC), City Planning Commissioner Amanda M. Burden and Cultural Affairs Commissioner Kate D. Levin announced Roundabout Theatre Company (Artistic Director, Todd Haimes) is among 15 organizations to receive grants totaling $2.1 million for a range of projects that will encourage audience development and foster the creation of new work.

On behalf of the New York City Theater Subdistrict Council (TSC), City Planning Commissioner Amanda M. Burden and Cultural Affairs Commissioner Kate D. Levin today announced that 15 organizations will receive grants totaling $2.1 million for a range of projects that will encourage audience development and foster the creation of new work.

Lincoln Square heats up this summer with an eclectic series of free outdoor concerts at Richard Tucker Park. Music lovers are invited to bring lunch, join friends and relax at the lively oasis at Broadway and 66th Street to enjoy a taste of New York's 'underground' music scene.

Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe joined Council Member Debi Rose broke ground Thursday, August 26th on the $1.7 million renovations to Mahoney Playground. The Playground is located at Beechwood Avenue, between Cleveland St. and Crescent Ave. on Staten Island.

Environmental Protection Commissioner Cas Holloway today announced that DEP has installed 50% of the city's Automated Meter Reading (AMR) units, putting the agency ahead of schedule to connect all 834,000 customers by January 2012