Latest news with #NewYorkCityDepartmentofParksandRecreation
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Seasonal jobs with the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation
NEW YORK (PIX11) — Are you looking for seasonal jobs for the summer? The New York City Department of Parks and Recreation is hiring for various positions, including recreation programming and maintenance operations. More Local News There may be multiple openings depending on the listing. Click on the links below to learn more about the duties include assisting with the planting and cultivation of trees, flowers, and shrubs, preparing soil and seed beds, and performing basic record keeping and writing simple reports. Applicants should have a year of full-time experience in gardening work or a certificate from a horticulture or botany program, including programs offered by the New York Botanical Garden and the Brooklyn Botanical Garden. The hourly wage is $23.40. Hired candidates will be subject to a processing fee of $68. Hired candidates not currently employed by the City will be subject to a $101.25 background check duties include maintaining tools, equipment, and vehicles, effectively maintaining the landscape and grounds, and maintaining accurate records, tracking assignments, and ordering necessary supplies. Applicants should either have a year of full-time experience in gardening, grounds, or tree maintenance, or in the building, construction, or maintenance trades, or a high school diploma and six months of full-time experience. Applicants should also have a Class B Commercial Driver's License. The hourly wage is $24.49. Hired candidates will be subject to a processing fee of $68. Hired candidates not currently employed by the City will be subject to a $101.25 background check fee. NYCHA is hiring across New York City: Apply now Job duties include organizing and running team games, events, and activities, documenting attendance, incidents, and injuries, and maintaining the health and safety of children under your supervision. Applicants should have a high school diploma and prior experience as an instructor, counselor, or coach in an organized recreational program, or have completed 60 credits towards a bachelor's degree. The hourly wage is $19.95. The position runs for 8 weeks beginning June 25. Hired candidates not currently employed by the City will be subject to a $101.25 background check fee. Click here to find more seasonal positions with NYC Parks. Ben Mitchell is a digital content producer from Vermont who has covered both local and international news since 2021. He joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of his work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
25-04-2025
- General
- CBS News
Bike ban will hit Rockaway Boardwalk this summer. Here's what to know.
The New York City Department of Parks and Recreation has announced plans to ban bikes on the Rockaway Boardwalk during peak hours this summer. Spanning 35 blocks between Beach 108th Street and Beach 73rd Street, cyclists will only be allowed on the boardwalk between 6-9:30 a.m. The rule takes effect Memorial Day weekend and ends Oct. 1. NYC Parks told CBS News New York: "We're looking forward to welcoming visitors to the Rockaway Boardwalk this summer. To make sure the boardwalk is safe and accessible for all users, this summer we're establishing pedestrian-only hours on the busiest stretches of the boardwalk, during the busiest parts of the day. We encourage cyclists to use the protected bike lane that runs in both directions on Shore Front Parkway as an alternative." Residents propose alternatives to bike ban Some agree that bikes belong in the bike lane, while others question cyclist safety on the parkway. "Exactly next to the drop-off lane for people going to the beach is a major disaster waiting to happen," Rockaway Peninsula activist and Community Board 14 member John Cori said. Cori is asking Parks to consider alternatives, including staggered barriers to deter speeding on the boardwalk. "What we can do here is, besides enforcement, we can have encouragement," he said. The city says it's following bike policy precedent set at Coney Island and Orchard Beach. Cori believes Rockaway Beach stands apart. "This one-size-fits-all around New York City is crazy," Cori said. "It just seems ridiculous" Ahead of the busy beach season, the mandate is already stirring up controversy in the community. "I have three kids. We go to school on the bike. We go to playdates on the bike," Melissa McAllister said. "It just seems ridiculous for us to not be able to do something that's such a basic part of our lives here." "The electric bikes cause accidents and discomfort to everyone, but me riding my beach cruiser, I don't think it's right," Willy Rodriguez said. Council Member Joann Ariola is optimistic that the Parks Department will hear community concerns. "I believe that they are amenable, so I'm looking forward to some really positive discussion," she said. You can email Elle with Queens story ideas by CLICKING HERE.
CBS News
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Brooklyn exhibit showcases art by Rikers Island inmates
A unique exhibit at the Von King Cultural Arts Center in Brooklyn's Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood is shining a spotlight on artists not typically seen in gallery spaces – people in custody at Rikers Island. The exhibit, a first-of-its-kind for the center, features 20 pieces created by incarcerated individuals. Each work reflects personal stories and perspectives rarely heard beyond Rikers' walls. Love story inspired gallery exhibit Colleen Flood, the center's manager, said the inspiration began with her own love story. Her husband Chandler, who is currently incarcerated in Idaho, sent her a hat he had decorated, creating a detailed illustration using just a pen. "I was just so blown away by just the detail and the intricacy of it that I was just like, this is absolutely gallery worthy," Flood told Brooklyn reporter Hannah Kliger. That moment sparked a broader reflection on the untapped artistic potential behind bars. "Just in the conversation that we had with the Department of Correction, they have on Rikers Island a whole dance team. They have a drama club. There's so much more to them than what they did," Flood said. "We decided to do this exhibit to give artists a voice because we knew that the talent existed by way of Colleen's husband," said Moesha Johnson, deputy manager at the Von King Cultural Arts Center. The exhibit will remain open to the public through the end of April. The Von King Cultural Arts Center, operated by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, is the only one of its kind in the city. Featured artist allowed rare trip to visit arts center The exhibit was organized in collaboration with the New York City Department of Correction, which facilitated a special visit for one of the artists featured — Brian Croskey, an inmate at Rikers serving time for petit larceny. "I'm astonished that someone viewed my artwork and thought it was worthy to put in an art center," he said. For Croskey, seeing his artwork on display was an extraordinary experience. His piece, featuring a black flower, is dedicated to his sister. "I would hope that they would see that, you know, a person who has made a mistake in life, it's just that, it's just a mistake and not something that we should be ridiculed for for the rest of our lives," he said. Inmates at Rikers Island are typically not allowed to leave except for court dates or medical visits, making Croskey's trip a rare exception. Frankie Carlucci, director of enrichment programs at the Department of Correction, emphasized the humanity behind the bars. "They're everyday New Yorkers, just like you and myself. They just happened to be incarcerated at the moment," he said. "But once they leave here, they can now take this back into the community and be better citizens in New York." Carlucci also noted the resourcefulness required to create under restrictive conditions. "Certain tools that we cannot have in here because in jail, we get very creative," he said. The scarcity of traditional supplies didn't stop the artists from creating impactful work. Instead of canvas and paint, they used markers, cardboard and bedsheets. Instead of glue, they used toothpaste. "We didn't know what to expect. And what came to us was really magical," Johnson said. Have a story idea or tip in Brooklyn? Email Hannah by CLICKING HERE.
Yahoo
20-04-2025
- Yahoo
New biking policy coming to Rockaway Beach this summer: Here's why
QUEENS (PIX11) – Summer at Rockaway Beach and Boardwalk will look a bit different this year. The New York City Department of Parks and Recreation is introducing pedestrian-only hours on the busiest sections of the boardwalk — meaning no bicyclists are allowed. More Local News From Memorial Day weekend through October 1st, biking will only be allowed from 6:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. on the boardwalk stretching between Beach 108th Street and Beach 73rd Street, according to the Parks Department. 'We're looking forward to welcoming visitors to the Rockaway Boardwalk this summer. To make sure the boardwalk is safe and accessible for all users,' a spokesperson for the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation said. 'This summer, we're establishing pedestrian-only hours on the busiest stretches of the boardwalk, during the busiest parts of the day. We encourage cyclists to use the protected bike lane that runs in both directions on Shore Front Parkway as an alternative.' The city states that this upcoming change aligns bike policy at Rockaway with policies at other busy beaches, like Coney Island and Orchard Beach. The bicycle policy in other parts of the boardwalk is not changing, the parks department said. Matthew Euzarraga is a multimedia journalist from El Paso, Texas. He has covered local news and LGBTQIA topics in the New York City Metro area since 2021. He joined the PIX11 Digital team in 2023. You can see more of his work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
‘Rosie' the Turkey, still searching for love, spotted on Manhattan's Upper East Side
Editor's note: The video aired in a previous newscast. NEW YORK (PIX11) – 'Rosie,' the turkey, is still looking for love. She was spotted on Manhattan's Upper East Side on Saturday afternoon. The turkey was seen on a resident's balcony and then flew to another building. A video on the Citizen App shows. More Local News The bird caught the city's attention in May 2024 and had been living on Roosevelt Island. Rosie was spotted earlier this week in Manhattan, hanging out in trees and on building ledges. Experts believe she is searching for a mate and will likely return to the comfort of Roosevelt Island, where she was initially spotted. 'Wild turkeys are one of the many native species that call our city home. If you spot a wild turkey, don't be intimidated — just keep your distance and observe respectfully,' a spokesperson from the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation said. The parks department advises that New Yorkers not feed turkeys, observe them from a distance, and call 311 or a professional to handle and remove wild turkeys from private property. This story comprises reporting from PIX11 News reporter Greg Mocker. Matthew Euzarraga is a multimedia journalist from El Paso, Texas. He has covered local news and LGBTQIA topics in the New York City Metro area since 2021. He joined the PIX11 Digital team in 2023. You can see more of his work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
