NEW YORK, NY - The following statement can be attributed to the RPA Staff and Board of Directors.

Regional Plan Association (RPA) is deeply indebted to New York City Parks Department Commissioner Mitchell Silver for his service over the past six years. Commissioner Silver leveraged his background as an urban planner to revitalize and expand park access dramatically. His Parks Without Borders initiative recognized the critical role open space plays in anchoring neighborhoods and creating community connections. Through his leadership, the Community Parks Initiative used a data and equity-driven approach to invest hundreds of millions of dollars in parks with a history of neglect in low-income communities of color.

The legacy Commissioner Silver created provides a model for how others can use resources to advocate for communities that have been left behind, and how cities across the nation can extend the benefits of parks and open space to everyone. RPA wishes Commissioner Silver great success in his next role, and will continue to advocate for the important initiatives he launched during his tenure.