Murray Hill Neighborhood Association Pushes for Neighbors to Access St. Vartan Park Athletic Field

At the May 5, 2026 meeting of Community Board 6’s Parks & Cultural Affairs Committee, the Murray Hill Neighborhood Association (MHNA) presented community concerns about access on the St. Vartan Park Athletic Field, especially during the closure of the adjacent playground.

The issue is simple: St. Vartan Park belongs to everyone.

The Issue

Speaking on behalf of MHNA, VP and Chair of Quality of Life Jessica Lavoie shared permit schedules showing that during the hours when neighborhood children and families can realistically use the field after school and on weekends, almost all of the time is already permitted to organized groups. Out of 42 “kid-friendly hours” this week (3 p.m.–7 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m.–7 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays), only 2 hours were left unpermitted and available for open community use. Next week showed the same pattern: only 2 available hours out of 42.

With only 2 available hours over each 7-day period, neighborhood children currently have access to less than 5% of the field time available outside school hours, while organized permits account for roughly 95%.

During the discussion, NYC Parks noted that weekdays from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. had intentionally been left unpermitted. Community members pointed out that these hours fully take place while children are in school, limiting their practical use for neighborhood families, a concern NYC Parks later acknowledged during the meeting.

MHNA made clear that this is not about eliminating organized sports. It is about fairness, balance, and equitable access to one of the few open spaces in the neighborhood.

A Double Loss for Families

The concern is especially urgent because the adjacent playground is closed for construction for approximately one year. For many local families, this has created a double loss: no playground and almost no reliable access to the athletic field during the times children can actually use it. The field is more than just an organized sports space. It has historically been a neighborhood gathering place where residents exercise, toss a ball, practice a skill, play a pickup game with friends, connect with neighbors, and enjoy fresh air in a dense part of Manhattan with limited space.

Over the past several weeks, families have inundated MHNA with messages describing children being turned away from the field, struggling to find nearby open space, and losing one of the few places left for spontaneous neighborhood play.

MHNA also pointed out that nearby alternatives are not always realistic. Other nearby fields are permitted as well, and other playgrounds may be too far for families during the short window between school dismissal, homework, dinner, and bedtime.

What MHNA Asked NYC Parks To Do

During the presentation, MHNA highlighted that NYC Parks already has the authority to create a more balanced system. Parks can choose to leave time intentionally unpermitted for community use, reject permits, reschedule permits to other fields, and cancel permits when necessary.

MHNA also challenged the idea that “youth priority” permits automatically means neighborhood children are being served. Prioritizing youth leagues is not the same as prioritizing all neighborhood children. Many neighborhood kids are not on travel teams or organized leagues, but still need places to run, play, practice skills, and simply be outside with friends.

MHNA asked NYC Parks to take immediate steps, including guaranteed free-play windows, more half-field permits, better communication about when part of the field is actually available, lighting to push adult games later, and a long-term plan to ensure the field never returns to a schedule that leaves the surrounding community with little to no access.

NYC Parks Responds

NYC Parks acknowledged the concerns. Ken Conyers, Citywide Director of Athletic Permits and Policy for NYC Parks, said he “recognized there’s a need here” and that “the local kids want to play.” Parks stated that many permits had already been issued before the playground closure was finalized, which makes immediate changes more difficult.

When asked directly what MHNA should tell families about access this week, Parks confirmed that the current permit schedule is what is posted, while also noting that some permitted groups may not use the full field. Parks said it would look into regular half-field use, clearer permit representation, and whether permit holders are actually using the time they reserve.

Although NYC Parks did not provide any concrete commitments or timelines at the meeting, we did have a positive conversation after the meeting with NYC Footy, a major permit holder at the field for soccer, who expressed openness to providing temporary field lighting solutions that could shift some adult games later into the evening and help create more after-school access for local children.

The Heart of the Issue: Through the Eyes of a 10-Year-Old

One of the most powerful moments of the evening came from Daniel Martin, a 10-year-old neighborhood resident, who spoke about what this loss of access feels like for local children. Daniel explained that when he goes to St. Vartan Park, the field is often filled with adult softball or soccer, leaving children only a small area on the sidelines. He shared that he and his sister cannot easily go to parks farther away on their own because they are too young.

Daniel’s testimony captured exactly why this matters. This is not an abstract scheduling issue. It is about children who live here, families who rely on this park, and neighbors who are losing access to one of the few shared open spaces in the area.

Our children deserve more than a few inconsistent leftover hours at their own neighborhood park. Our community deserves meaningful access to the public spaces that help make Murray Hill a welcoming, livable neighborhood for everyone.

We are grateful to every parent, child, neighbor, and community member who showed up, sent emails, shared concerns, and helped bring this issue forward. The most beautiful part of this effort has been watching the community come together around a shared belief: public parks should serve the public, including the people who live right here.