NYC Council Parks Committee Hears Six Bills on Tree Transparency, Dog Waste, and Street Naming on June 16, 2026

The New York City Council Committee on Parks and Recreation, chaired by Councilmember Ty Hankerson, held a hearing on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, at 1:00 PM in Hearing Room 1 at 250 Broadway. The committee considered six pieces of legislation addressing tree pit identification, tree removal permits, tree maintenance prioritization ratings, street/ park co-naming biographical information, a pilot program for composting dog feces from dog runs, and signage regarding dog waste. Representatives from the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) and the Department of Records and Information Services (DORIS) testified, and public testimony was heard. All six bills were held in committee and laid over for further consideration.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Matt Molina (NYCH2O), Seth, Henry Villa, David Chichuka, Nikosi Newton, Sophia Hart, and Jordan Castelanovo testified in support of obtaining written authorization from DPR to resume restoration work at Ridgewood Reservoir in Highland Park. They highlighted that the work, which includes removing invasive Phragmites and planting native species, is fully permitted, funded, and conducted by paid interns, many of whom are local youth. They noted that every week of delay erodes years of progress and prevents young people from gaining paid environmental training and a sense of community. The group urged the committee to help expedite the authorization process.
• Oliver Rivera testified in favor of increased funding for the Parks Department, stating that the current 1% annual budget target (with actual funding around 0.5%) is insufficient. He advocated for 3% of the annual budget to support maintenance, enforcement (including PEP officers), and park operations across the five boroughs.
• Scott Kearney spoke about the underutilized Marine Park Nature Center in District 46, noting it is open only five hours on weekends. He suggested that the council push for a concession process to increase access and proposed posting a scannable sign directing visitors to alternative nature centers when closed.

Discussion Items

• Int. No. 0089-2026 (Councilmember Brewer) : Would require DPR to identify and map all tree pits on streets and in landscaped parks within three years, noting whether each contains a tree and the reason for disuse if empty. The sponsor argued it would increase transparency for tree planting opportunities. DPR opposed the bill, stating that a citywide canvas would be a massive undertaking with little practical benefit because planting standards change and the data would quickly become outdated. They noted that empty tree beds are not necessarily viable for planting, and their new neighborhood tree planting program aims to address this by assessing each block comprehensively.
• Int. No. 0576-2026 (Councilmember Gennaro) : Would require tree removal permit applicants to provide the name of a certified arborist and require DPR to report annually on trees removed. DPR expressed concerns that requiring a certified arborist for removal work (as opposed to care/ maintenance) might inadvertently encourage unauthorized removals. They noted they are open to discussing reporting improvements but opposed the certified arborist requirement as drafted.
• Int. No. 0666-2026 (Councilmember Williams, presented by Chair Hankerson) : Would require DPR to publish tree maintenance prioritization ratings and their reasons on the interactive tree map. DPR supported the intent but noted that a 30-day compliance timeline is too tight for website development. They stated that residents already receive risk assessment notifications when they submit service requests.
• Int. No. 0859-2026 (Councilmember Brewer) : Would allow DORIS to independently research and post biographical information for street/ park co-namings when such information is not in the legislative record. DPR and DORIS both expressed support. Commissioner Smith Cruz reported that DORIS has created an interactive map of over 4,200 co-namings and completed 393 biographies for 9/11-related names, plus 28 others dating back to 1940.
• Int. No. 0864-2026 (Councilmember Epstein) : Would require DPR to establish a two-year pilot program collecting dog feces from dog runs for composting, including collection bins, compostable bags, and reporting on compost outcomes. DPR opposed the bill, citing that processing organic waste is outside their mission and expertise, and that the pilot would be resource-intensive. They noted that dog run waste is currently placed in adjacent trash bins and collected by DSNY.
• Int. No. 0880-2026 (Councilmember Narcisse) : Would require DPR and DOT to post signs at park entrances, dog runs, and other facilities stating the prohibition on leaving dog waste and associated penalties. DPR supported the intent but raised concerns about open-ended signage requirements via 311 complaints, which could overwhelm DOT's capacity for life-safety signage. DOT reportedly shared severe operational concerns. Councilmember Narcisse noted that only 22 summonses for dog waste were issued citywide from 2021-2025, indicating enforcement gaps.
• Additional Discussion: Councilmember Nurse raised concerns about rodent abatement and park maintenance at Kelly Callahan Playground, near the Broadway Junction construction project. DPR committed to escalating the issue.

Key Outcomes

• All six introductions (Int. 0089, 0576, 0666, 0859, 0864, 0880) were Hearing Held by Committee and Laid Over by Committee, meaning no final vote was taken. The bills remain under consideration and may be amended before any future vote.
• The committee did not take any votes on the Ridgewood Reservoir authorization request or on funding allocations. Public testimony was accepted for the record; written testimony may be submitted within 72 hours to testimony@council.nyc.gov.