City scales back plan to turn schoolyards to parks
By Associated Press
December 16, 2009, 10:16AM
NEW YORK -- Mayor Michael Bloomberg's administration has scaled back a promise to turn schoolyards into parks.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg, center, and Schools Chancellor Joel Klein. right, seen at an event on Staten Island.The city's Independent Budget Office blames budget woes. The schoolyard proposal was widely touted by the Bloomberg administration. He unveiled it as part of his long-term environmental plan in 2007.
Bloomberg said more New Yorkers should have access to parks. He promised to keep 290 schoolyards open after school and on weekends.
Since the announcement, just 96 schoolyards have been opened as parks. The total planned has been cut to 266.