Borough President Vito Fossella, center, speaks at an event where Mayor Eric Adams, left, celebrated a $30 million investment into select Staten Island cultural sites and Bloomingdale Park during a visit to the Staten Island Zoo on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025.(Advance/SILive.com | Luke Peteley)
In what may be final Staten Island visit as NYC mayor, Adams announces $30M for parks, culturals
By Luke Peteley | [email protected]
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Mayor Eric Adams announced that nearly $30 million of his so-called “Best Budget Ever” will go toward a handful of parks and public spaces across Staten Island. Adams highlighted the allocation of funds during a press conference at the Staten Island Zoo in West Brighton on Thursday.
“New York is a five-borough city, it’s not just Manhattan-centered,” Adams said. “Each borough is important because the people of this city are important. And under our administration we have always made it clear that we have to catch up when it comes to Staten Island. For far too long they were being denied and we want to make sure we put the resources here. So today’s announcement is just the latest example of this administration’s five-borough concept and mindset.”
Adams shared the funding news alongside Borough President Vito Fossella, who publicly thanked the mayor for his service to the city during what may be the mayor’s final visit to the borough in his role.
“And for the last four years — invariably — every time I picked up the phone to say ‘Staten Island needs something,’ Mayor Adams was there for the people of Staten Island,” Fossella said.
Of the nearly $30 million allocation, approximately $8 million will go to the Staten Island Zoo, $6.5 million to Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden, $6 million to the Staten Island Museum, $5.6 million to a playground at Bloomingdale Park and $3.8 million to the Noble Maritime Collection.
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Commissioner of Cultural Affairs Laurie Cumbo praised the work of both Fossella and Adams for their efforts in preserving Staten Island culture.
“And I thank all of my colleagues that are here because we have really, really continued to thrive and to expand the visibility of Staten Island, because we know that cultural vibrancy is economic development for this borough,” said Cumbo. “And the more we invest in art and culture, the greater Staten Island will be, the stronger it will be…”
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