The New Yorkers for Parks–East Harlem Open Space Index

Share On Social!

This report created in collaboration by the New Yorkers for Parks (NY4P) and the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, seeks to provide the community with important data to help residents decide where to allocate resources for open spaces.

The report uses a Open Space Index (OPI) standards and compares East Harlem’s existing open spaces resources to these standards.

Findings indicated that East Harlem exceeded expectations for: fields, courts, play areas, community gardens, and permeable surfacing in parks. However, in comparison to OSI standards the community ranked low in active open spaces, passive open spaces, total open spaces, walking distance to parks, recreation centers, park maintenance and tree canopy coverage.

Key recommendations provided in the report include: designing an open space strategy for New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) properties, expanding the School-Yard-To-Playgrounds program, building upon existing open spaces resources, and connecting more people to parks by creating pedestrian friendly passageways.

Learn more about this report here.