NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell Silver, FAICP, oversees management, planning and operations of nearly 30,000 acres of parkland. Silver became commissioner in May 2014. He has nearly 30 years of experience in the planning profession, and is the immediate past president of the American Planning Association.

Mayor Bill de Blasio and Parks Commissioner Mitchell Silver, FAICP, have announced the doubling of funding for the Community Parks Initiative (CPI), a citywide program to improve historically under-funded parks in densely populated and growing, poorer neighborhoods.

The additional mayoral commitment of $150 million now brings the CPI investment to $285 million through 2019, along with a sustained annual commitment of over $2.5 million in expenses funding.

The mayor announced revitalization of 35 parks in 2014, all of which are on time and on budget. The city has just announced the next 12 sites, with 25 more sites to be identified over the next year.

" Every New Yorker deserves access to clean, safe green spaces, no matter what neighborhood they live in. By doubling our investment in historically underserved neighborhood parks, we are significantly improving the quality of life of families and children across this city, " said Mayor Bill de Blasio. " Our sustained investments in additional neighborhood parks will expand the Community Parks Initiative's impact to 3 million New Yorkers, ensuring countless more families and children will have a revitalized park right in their neighborhood. "

" In the 12 months since Mayor de Blasio launched the Community Parks Initiative, hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers in historically under-resourced neighborhoods have benefited from enhanced public spaces, new and increased programming, and grassroots parks scoping sessions, " said Parks Commissioner Mitchell Silver, FAICP. " Now, even more New Yorkers can look forward to 67 parks slated for complete reconstruction. The doubled capital investment reaffirms the administration's commitment to ensuring all New Yorkers a bright, green future. " Thanks to significant investments by the NYC City Council in increased funding for gardeners, maintenance workers, and community partnership, parks in the CPI initiative will receive critical operating support to sustain the capital investments. Additional staff and resources will be allocated across critical categories including community outreach, capital and planning, recreational programming and park maintenance.