Tricia Shimamura Appointed as New NYC Parks Commissioner Under Mayor Mamdani

In a significant move for New York City’s green spaces, Mayor Zohran Mamdani has appointed Tricia Shimamura as the new commissioner of the NYC Parks Department. The announcement came during a press conference at Highbridge Park in the Bronx, signaling the administration’s commitment to prioritizing parks across the five boroughs. Shimamura, who brings a diverse background in public service, takes the helm of an agency responsible for managing 30,000 acres of parkland that serves as the backyard for millions of New Yorkers. This appointment represents not just a changing of the guard but potentially a new vision for how the city’s vital green spaces will be maintained and developed in the coming years.

Shimamura’s path to this position reflects a career dedicated to public service and community engagement. Before joining the Parks Department as Manhattan borough commissioner under former Mayor Eric Adams in 2024, she served as a top aide to Democratic Representative Carolyn Maloney and worked closely with Comptroller Mark Levine during his tenure as Manhattan borough president. Her professional experience extends beyond political offices, however. Shimamura has worked as a social worker and directed government relations for Columbia University, where she led an impressive vote-by-mail initiative for over 20,000 students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Though she unsuccessfully ran for City Council in 2021, losing to current Speaker Julie Menin in the Democratic primary, her continued dedication to public service ultimately led her to this commissioner role, where she replaces Iris Rodriguez-Rosa, a 40-year veteran of the Parks Department.

Mayor Mamdani’s selection of Shimamura appears to align with his campaign promises to elevate parks as a priority in his administration. During the announcement, Mamdani praised Shimamura as “an incredible New Yorker with a deep record of public service and a long standing commitment to fighting for working people.” This appointment comes at a crucial time as the mayor prepares to deliver his first city budget, which will provide concrete evidence of whether the rhetoric about prioritizing parks will translate into meaningful financial support for the department. The Parks Department has historically faced funding challenges despite managing thousands of acres of public land that serve as essential recreational spaces for city residents across economic spectrums. Shimamura’s appointment signals that the Mamdani administration recognizes the vital role parks play in the quality of life for all New Yorkers.

The Parks Department that Shimamura inherits faces numerous challenges amid changing urban needs and climate concerns. Managing 30,000 acres across five diverse boroughs requires balancing maintenance of iconic destinations like Central Park with the needs of smaller neighborhood parks that often serve as critical green spaces in underserved communities. Recent years have seen growing concerns about equitable access to quality park spaces, with advocacy groups highlighting disparities in park funding and maintenance between affluent and lower-income neighborhoods. Additionally, the department must address the impacts of climate change on the city’s green infrastructure, including increased flooding risks, extreme heat events that drive higher park usage, and the need for sustainable landscape management practices. Shimamura’s background working across different sectors of city government may provide valuable perspective in addressing these multifaceted challenges.

In her remarks following the announcement, Shimamura offered a glimpse into her vision for the department, emphasizing that parks should be more than just free spaces—they should be “engaging spaces that New Yorkers can be proud of.” This statement suggests an approach that goes beyond basic maintenance to create parks that actively serve community needs and foster civic pride. Her commitment to holding “every part to the same level of the significance as we would our own backyard” speaks to concerns about equity in park quality across different neighborhoods. If implemented, this philosophy could address longstanding criticisms about disparities in park maintenance and amenities between wealthy and lower-income areas of the city. Shimamura’s background as a social worker may also influence how she approaches community engagement and understands the diverse ways different populations utilize park spaces.

The appointment of a new Parks Commissioner represents more than an administrative change—it potentially signals a shift in how New York City values and invests in its public spaces. While parks are often celebrated as essential public amenities, they frequently face budget constraints that limit their potential to serve communities fully. Mayor Mamdani’s decision to highlight this appointment and connect it to his campaign promises suggests parks may receive more attention and resources under his administration than they have in recent years. As Shimamura takes over leadership of this crucial department, New Yorkers across all five boroughs will be watching to see whether this change in leadership translates into tangible improvements in their local green spaces. The success of her tenure will ultimately be measured by how well the city’s parks serve all residents, particularly those in communities that have historically received less investment in their public spaces.