Concessions
Most businesses that operate or generate revenue on New York City parkland are considered concessions and must obtain a permit or license from the Revenue Division of Parks.
Approximately 500 concessions currently operate in parks throughout the five boroughs, and they generally fall into two categories: food service and recreation. The food service concessions range from pushcarts selling hot dogs and pretzels to restaurants such as Tavern on the Green, Terrace on the Park, and the Loeb Boathouse. Recreational concessions include facilities such as ice rinks, indoor tennis bubbles, stables, marinas, and driving ranges. In fiscal year 2009, the Revenue Division of the Parks Department helped collect over $110 million in revenue from various sources including concessions, lease agreements, like those for Citi Field and Yankee Stadia, special events, and dockage.
Parks has a long history with concessions. The Revenue Division was created in 1934, and in 1978 Mayor Koch issued Executive Order No. 9 that established a citywide Concession Review Committee and required certain concessions to be publicly bid. The city’s 13 municipal golf courses were once operated by the Parks Department at a loss greater than $2 million per year, but in 1983 they became concessions and now make considerable income for the city: over $7.2 million for fiscal year 2009. That income goes to the city’s general fund and in turn helps to pay for the maintenance, creation, and beautification of parks. In 1989, the Revised City Charter established the City’s Franchise and Concession Review Committee (FCRC) and required that all concessions be awarded through a public solicitation process outlined by the FCRC rules (PDF).
The Revenue Division’s offices are located on the 4th floor of the Arsenal building in Central Park. The division is headed by Assistant Commissioner Elizabeth W. Smith, who also manages the Marketing and Special Events Division of Parks, and Charles Kloth, the Director of Concessions.
As part of its purview, the Revenue Division is also responsible for permitting all revenue-generating activities at special events held on parkland.
If you would like to contact the Revenue Division, you may call (212) 360-1397.
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More About Concessions
Concession Opportunities
List of Request For Proposals (RFPs), Request For Bids (RFBs), and Request For Expressions of Interest (RFEIs) for concessions opportunities in Parks.
Concessionaire of the Month
World Ice Arena (Flushing Meadows Ice Skating Rink)
Flushing Meadows Park Perimeter Road between the Pitch & Putt and the Fountain of the Planets
Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe, Queens Borough President Helen Marshall, Council Member John Liu, Commissioner Matthew Sapolin from the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities, World Ice Arena Managing Member Erik Ekstein, and members of the Community Board 7 have officially cut the ribbon on the new World Ice Arena at Flushing Meadows Corona Park.
Since opening its doors in February, the NHL sized Word Ice Arena has hosted over 100,000 skaters from hockey players to figure skaters to speed skaters to community members who tried ice skating for the first time.
People who like skating are falling in love with The World Ice Arena. The World Ice Skating School is already a big success making learning to skate great fun. Open all year round, World Ice can teach people of any age how to skate - whether you are interested in elegant figure skating, action packed hockey training or recreational public skating.
Call (718) 760-9001 or on go online to www.worldice.com to sign up for a free trial class and we are sure you will come back for more. The hospitable staff can help you move from beginner to advanced skating and before you know it, you will be a valued member of a figure skating or hockey team.