Parks Policy and Long-Range Planning Intern

NNIAGENCY DESCRIPTION The New York City Department of Parks & Recreation manages 14 percent of the land in New York City with facilities ranging from playgrounds and large parks, to tranquil wooded areas and more than 14 miles of beaches. Parks serve as New Yorkers’ backyards, as vital meeting areas for outdoor play and recreation – but also as an important tool in mitigating the effects of climate change, critical engines for economic growth and development. NYC Parks’ mission is to grow, maintain, and program a world-class park system prioritizing equity, access, safety, and nature. In the past year, Parks completed a number of initiatives citywide that helped New Yorkers access their shared public spaces. These include: • Securing more than $700 million in funds to build or substantially reconstruct six recreation centers, including two opening in 2026: the $141 million Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center in East Flatbush, Brooklyn and the $92 million Mary Cali Dalton Recreation Center in Tompkinsville, Staten Island. • Expanding our free learn-to-swim programs to reach an additional 4,800 second graders and bring the total to nearly 18,000 youth served by our essential swim programming.  • Keeping more than 8 million people safe at the city’s public beaches last summer along with over 1 million patrons at outdoor pools, thanks to the highest number of Parks lifeguards since 2019, including a 23 percent increase in new recruits. • Completing a $23 million investment in public space at New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) developments, bringing new playgrounds, sports equipment, and seating areas to NYCHA residents. • Launching our latest Tree Census, which involves thousands of volunteers to measure the size, location, and condition of the city’s trees. Conducted once every ten years, the census helps to identify areas where more trees can be planted, supporting a more equitable urban canopy and increasing the many benefits trees provide. • Celebrating the historic expansion of the Second Shift program, dedicating extra maintenance services for 100 additional hot spots at parks across the five boroughs during peak evening and weekend hours. This expanded the total sites citywide serviced by dedicated staff to 200 hot spots.   • Adding 100 new Parks Enforcement Patrol positions to bolster patrol strength throughout the city.  • Promoting equity in athletic spaces by rolling out new athletic permit rules and fee changes to improve access for non-profit and youth organizations. UNIT DESCRIPTION The Division of Environment and Planning aims to protect, restore, and expand New York City's green spaces and natural areas to maximize their benefits for environmental and community health and resilience.  The intern would be assigned to the Planning unit within the Division. The Planning unit is at the forefront of Parks’ open space agenda: communicating agency goals, policies and advancing plans for a vibrant and sustainable park system that meets the recreational, social, and environmental needs of our city. The team is responsible for the Agency’s real estate and land use functions including the acquisition, disposition and preservation of parkland, Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP), environmental review, and the ownership and management of the Agency’s property records. Additionally, the unit develops long-term planning strategies including management of citywide and interagency resiliency and waterfront projects, development of the citywide greenway plan, and researching new initiatives. POSITION TITLE NYC Parks Policy and Long-Range Planning Intern INTERNSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES The intern will participate in a variety of projects as needed, under supervision from the Policy and Long-Range Planning team in the Planning Unit. Policy and Long-range Planning is primarily responsible for the Agency's long-term resiliency strategy, management of citywide and interagency greenway projects, and research into agency planning needs. The intern would contribute to two large-scale projects that will be underway this summer: the Historic Brooklyn Greenway Implementation Plan and planning for the reconstruction of the Coney Island Boardwalk.      Intern responsibilities will include:  • Attending and preparing materials for project meetings with the Commissioner(s), other Parks Divisions, and other agencies  • Conducting field visits to Coney Island Boardwalk, Eastern Parkway, Ocean Parkway, and other sites on both bicycle and foot  • Observing existing conditions, conducting bicycle and pedestrian counts, and documenting other key items of interest during fieldwork and site visits • Developing maps, analysis documents, and conceptual plans using ArcGIS and Illustrator  • Compiling, correlating and evaluating data  • Analyzing, researching, and developing parks needs assessments and best practices  nyc.gov/internships • Preparing conceptual illustrations and text for web and PowerPoint presentations  • Assisting in the coordination and facilitation of public meetings and engaging with the public through tabling, flyering, workshops, etc.  • Taking notes at meetings, producing meeting summaries and reports  • Coordinating activities between different Agency divisions QUALIFICATIONS/SPECIAL SKILLS/AREAS OF INTEREST The division is embarking on data-driven work, and the intern should be highly proficient with numbers and programs such as Excel, ArcMap and/or ArcGIS Pro. The intern will be called upon to explain complex data processes in easy to understand ways for internal and external audiences.  The ideal candidate will possess the following characteristics and skills:  • Interest in and/or knowledge of urban planning, landscape architecture, climate resilience, public policy, greenway planning, and/or micromobility policy • Excellent interpersonal skills • Strong writing skills and ability to synthesize and summarize quantitative and qualitative data  • Enterprising and resourceful, adaptable, with the ability to take initiative on projects • Ability to interact with the public in a sensitive, respectful and effective manner • Proficiency with ArcGIS, Illustrator, Photoshop, and/or Sketch-up and willingness to learn new programs • Strong quantitative skills • Ability to work under deadlines and prioritize tasks • Attention to detail • Ability to work well both independently and in teams • Access to a bicycle and ability to ride along the greenway and boardwalk • Ability to conduct site visits under variable weather conditions throughout the summer • Enthusiasm for greenways, boardwalks and beaches; interest in site visits and field work • Demonstrated communication skills – written, oral, and presentation ability • Strong organizational skills • Ability to look at the big picture and search for insightful, creative solutions • Currently enrolled college student ADDITIONAL INFORMATION This opportunity does not include remote workdays Title: City Seasonal Aide Salary: $19.14 per hour Intern may work on projects related to the NYC greenways program, boardwalk and esplanade design and construction, and resiliency projects, including site visits and fieldwork.  APPLICATION PROCESS Please email cover letter and resume to Leslie.Nusblatt@parks.nyc.gov 

START DATE IS BEGINNING OF JUNE; EXACT DATE TBD