New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced on Sunday the appointment of Iris Rodriguez-Rosa as the new commissioner of the Department of Parks & Recreation, marking a historic first as she becomes the agency’s first Latina leader.
Rodriguez-Rosa, a nearly 40-year veteran of NYC Parks, celebrated the milestone alongside Mayor Adams during the ribbon-cutting ceremony for two newly renovated playgrounds at the NYCHA Kingsborough Houses in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. The upgraded playgrounds are part of a $23 million citywide investment to revitalize public open spaces at several NYCHA developments.
A Career Rooted in Community and Public Service
Rodriguez-Rosa’s path to commissioner began in the late 1970s as a tenant organizer in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, working under the federal Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA) program. She later served at Brooklyn Borough Hall under former Borough President Howard Golden and became district manager for Community Board 4 in Bushwick by 1979.
She officially joined NYC Parks in 1986, where she held a variety of roles over the decades, including director of community boards, operations manager in Manhattan, and chief of recreation in the Public Programs Division in both the Bronx and Queens. Most recently, she served as the department’s first deputy commissioner, where she played a critical role in rebuilding the city’s lifeguard workforce amid a nationwide shortage.
“I am excited and honored to assume the position as commissioner of the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, the greatest urban park system in the country with over 30,000 acres of parkland,” said Rodriguez-Rosa. “Parks are the greenspaces that serve as a great equalizer in our city.”
Crown Heights Gets New Playgrounds Thanks to $23M Investment
Sunday’s event also marked the grand reopening of two revitalized playgrounds at the Kingsborough Houses in Crown Heights. The upgrades are part of a $23 million initiative to enhance nearly three acres of open space across six NYCHA developments — three in Queens, two in the Bronx, and one in Brooklyn.
At Kingsborough Houses, the city transformed a 20,000-square-foot and a 16,000-square-foot playground with new play structures, benches, game tables, spray showers, and landscaping. Sidewalk entrances were also added to make the spaces more accessible to the public.
“Here in New York City, parks and playgrounds are not just a bonus, they are our backyards, where we walk our dogs, meet our friends, and take our children to play,” said Mayor Adams. “Every family across the five boroughs should have a nice, clean place to take their child to play.”
Looking Ahead
As commissioner, Rodriguez-Rosa will now oversee one of the most expansive urban park systems in the world, with over 30,000 acres of public land including beaches, pools, recreation centers, and natural areas. Her leadership is expected to build on her long-standing commitment to equity, access, and community-driven development within New York City’s public spaces.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.